The Reverend Denise Doerksen has been appointed interim priest-in-charge at St. David, Delta effective February 1, 2016. Rev. Doerksen leaves her ministry as associate priest at St. Mark, Ocean Park. The Reverend John Mash, chaplain to retired clergy of the diocese has been appointed interim associate priest at St. Mark’s also effective, February 1.
As many of you know, the Reverend John Marsh, ordained leader of the new parish of St. Mary Magdalene, Vancouver suffered a stroke on December 29, 2015, while on vacation in Ontario with his wife, the Reverend Paulina Lee (rector of St. Chad’s, Vancouver). Pam Martin of the parish wrote the following on January 27, “"John and Paulina flew home on January 16. John walked off the plane, albeit slowly and with Paulina's support (only to discover that someone else had taken his luggage! Soon straightened out, however). On January 18 he was offered a bed in the in-patient stroke recovery program at GF Strong which amounts to a full-time job of intensive rehab. On Sunday, January 17, John walked into the church in time to receive communion and hear the reading of Bishop Melissa's letter declaring the establishment of the new parish of St. Mary Magdalene. He still has a lot of work to do in recovering, but he is in the best place to do that and progress he has already made is amazing. Thanks be to God!"
On Sunday, January 31, Rev. Marsh was permitted to leave the rehab facility and he attended the 10:30 worship service at St. Mary Magdalene. Prior to the dismissal he made the happy announcement that the application for the refugee group being sponsored by St. Mary Magdalene in conjunction with West Vancouver parishes had received approval from the federal refugee office in Winnipeg. The parish was delighted to hear the news that the two Syrian sisters (each with two children) will soon be entering into the next stage of the process which will hopefully have them arriving in Vancouver in the not too distant future.
Images:
- The Reverend Denise Doerksen October 10, 2013
- The Reverend John Marsh exchanging the Peace, January 31, 2016