Patricia Stock, Author at Faith Tides

Final women’s retreat explores faith in the turbulent 2020s

Patricia Stock — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:31:03 +0000

On Sept. 27, 2025, women from across the diocese gathered for the final women’s retreat. Attendance at the retreat has declined in recent years, reflecting broader trends of diminishing stability and participation within Western church communities — an issue resonant with the theme of the conference, “Keeping the Faith in the Turbulent 2020s.” The fall […]

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Bidden or not bidden, God is present

Patricia Stock — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:35:47 +0000

The Women’s Spring Retreat, held at the picturesque Camp Pringle, Shawnigan Lake on 19-21 April, had thirty-two attendees. The retreat facilitator was Archbishop Linda Nicholls, and the spiritual leader was Lynn Mills, incumbent at St Mary’s, Metchosin. Archbishop Linda’s warm, understanding and easy-going nature eased us gently through the theme of “God’s Story in Us.” […]

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“God at work in us” — Women’s Spring Retreat (April 19-21)

Patricia Stock — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:12:48 +0000

This spring’s women’s retreat will be back at Camp Pringle, from April 19 to April 21, with the Most Reverend Archbishop Linda Nichols as facilitator and the Reverend Lynn Mills as spiritual director. Linda delights in opportunities to exercise her gifts as a teacher in leading retreats and conferences. We are thrilled to have […]

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A ministry of action in liturgy, word and charity

Patricia Stock — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 19:02:50 +0000

As a deacon in the Diocese of Islands and Inlets, I work alongside some fantastic people at the Cowichan Valley Basket Society (CVBS), also known as the foodbank in the Cowichan Valley. The CVBS’s mission statement is “Ensure no individual or family in the Cowichan Valley goes hungry either physically, spiritually or emotionally.” Poverty is […]

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Finding hope in liminal times at the fall women’s retreat

Patricia Stock — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:30:34 +0000

The joyous noise of 32 women could be heard in the hall of St John, Duncan as they settled in to the fall women’s retreat. The retreat was facilitated by Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee, who led the women through how they can find hope in liminal times. The retreat took place on Oct. 14–16 and spiritual […]

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I look for God in the ordinary

Patricia Stock — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:49:02 +0000

What made you decide to pursue the role of deacon? My sense of call was not an easy feeling. Since I was a teenager, I felt different than other people of my age group in terms of my empathy for the poor, marginalized and lonely, as well as stray animals. I began picking up litter […]

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Women’s Retreat a beautiful mosaic

Patricia Stock — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 16:38:31 +0000

After a two-year separation, the Women’s Retreat was back in person under the direction of Clara Plamondon, archdeacon for Cowichan Mid-Vancouver Island region and incumbent at St Paul, Nanaimo. The theme was “We are the clay.” We began by offering our feelings before God and taking some quiet time to nurture ourselves after being away […]

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