Parish News Archives - Faith Tides

Building a safe haven for queer asylum seekers

Naomi Racz — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:00:41 +0000

St. John the Divine in Victoria has a long history of social justice work. For 30 years the church had an active refugee sponsorship committee, but when Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada introduced new administrative requirements for refugee sponsorship in 2022, it became clear that the parish could no longer sustain this already difficult and […]

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Churches get creative to raise funds for new keys

Naomi Racz — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:10:08 +0000

Music is an important aspect of Anglican worship and for many, services wouldn’t feel complete without the accompaniment of a pipe organ or piano. That’s why a number of our parishes are currently fundraising to buy or pay for new pipe organs and pianos — and finding creative ways to raise funds. Pianos new and […]

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Lenten challenge enters its tenth year

Naomi Racz — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:09:55 +0000

Lent 2026 will see the tenth installment of the Metchosin Challenge, a Lenten challenge set up and run by St. Mary, Metchosin parishioner and long-time parish council member Sharleen Thompson. Sharleen was inspired to start the challenge because she saw a need to reach out to the wider community and to show the community that […]

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New year brings new energy to St. Peter, Quamichan

Theo Robinson — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:08:13 +0000

There is some exciting new energy happening at St. Peter, Quamichan! A new year seems to have brought with it a desire for new liturgical activity. Throughout the season of Lent, I will be teaching those interested in learning how to pray Holden evening prayer. This Lutheran format of evening prayer was composed by Marty […]

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Ripples: March 2026

Faith Tides — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:05:40 +0000

Pictured (left) are (l-r) Brendon Neilson, executive director; Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee; and Jenny Replogle at Jenny’s collation as executive archdeacon. And (right) St. Michael and All Angels, Chemainus serves up fluffy pancakes, very berry compote, sizzling sausage and decadent desserts at a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. A woodworking Fantastic Friday Words and photos by Barb […]

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Churches open their doors to feed the lonely on Christmas Day

Naomi Racz — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:13:14 +0000

A ministry of belonging In 2023, faced with the prospect of spending Christmas Day alone, without her family, Sister Ingrid Andersen, Franciscan and incumbent at Church of the Advent, Colwood, was inspired to start a “Home Alone” Christmas lunch. Ingrid thought there had to be others out there who would be spending Christmas Day alone […]

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Ripples: February 2026

Faith Tides — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:10:54 +0000

Pictured (left) are (l-r) Norman Knowles, incumbent at St. John the Baptist, Duncan and St. Michael & All Angels, Chemainus; Trish Vollmann-Stock, deacon; and Jenny Replogle, executive archdeacon at an Epiphany service held at St. John the Baptist, Duncan. Image by Jodie Phillips. (Right) an Epiphany potluck shared by St. John the Baptist, Duncan and […]

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Using video to bring the local community in

Naomi Racz — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:08:31 +0000

Before coming to Victoria and starting his incumbency at St. Philip Anglican Church in Oak Bay, Allen Doerksen was the incumbent at St. Matthew’s in Abbottsford. St. Matthew’s was one of the parishes that left the Diocese of New Westminster in 2002 when then-Bishop Michael Ingham consented to allowing churches to conduct same-sex blessings. After the congregation vacated […]

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Writing letters for social justice

Susan MacRae — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:18:13 +0000

On Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the season of Advent, about 40 people gathered at Christ Church Cathedral to act for social justice. Those gathered learned about human rights abuses in eight different countries. With this information they wrote letters of advocacy and support for eight different people (and, in one or two cases, small groups) who had been unjustly imprisoned […]

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St. John’s parishioners tour local restaurants to share food and fellowship

Maureen Polard — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:17:50 +0000

It has been said that eating together is a blessing that fosters connection and gratitude. It can also just be fun! That is why a group of us at St. John the Divine in Courtenay — called “The Restaurantours” — gather once a month to enjoy each other’s company and to sample local restaurants. […]

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