From the Vineyard

From the Vineyard

Newsletter No. 165 - January 14, 2022

I RECENTLY APPOINTED NEW DEANS in the four geographic regions (Deaneries) of our Diocese.  Elections were held among the priests, and I was happy to confirm the following individuals as Deans:  Father Craig Cruikshank (Southern Deanery), Father Joseph Devereaux (Central), Father Randy Foster (City), and Father Roy Villas (Northern).   The Deans have a leadership role of communication and organization among the priests of their Deanery and act as the Bishop’s representative or “vicar.”  They also sit on Diocesan committees like the Council of Priests and the Personnel Board.  I am grateful to our four new Deans who have accepted this important leadership role for the next three years.   I also wish to thank Father Gerry McMahon, Father Vic Valles, and Father Neil Campbell who recently concluded their terms as Deans. 

THE ANNUAL ST. JOSEPH DINNER can’t be kept down by a pandemic!  This yearly event in support of Campus Ministry at Trent University and Fleming College was a great success when it moved online last year because of Covid.  We are looking forward to similar success this year as it takes place virtually on Saturday, February 5 starting at 6:30 p.m. Participating is easy!  You simply order your tickets (including meal) online: food will be delivered to your door or picked up depending where you live, and you can enjoy the meal while watching the livestream program.  (Last year, I managed to watch it on my television, and I’m no technical wizard!)  The evening promises to be an excellent one, with entertainment provided by Rhythm and Grace and the keynote speech given by Dr. Chuck Stokes.  All the details can be found on the Peterborough Campus Ministry website. 

CAMERON AYLES HAS BEEN THE TEAM LEAD for the missionaries from Catholic Christian Outreach since their arrival in 2018 for ministry at Trent University.   And he has done excellent work, as C.C.O. has greatly enriched our Campus Ministry.   Cameron was recently promoted to be Missions Manager for Catholic Christian Outreach which means he has moved back to head office in Ottawa.  While we are sorry to see him go, this new position will allow him to serve Campus Ministry in universities across Canada. We wish you all the best, Cameron, with much gratitude for all that you did for us here in Peterborough!

THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY is celebrated around the world from January 18 to 25, encouraging Christians to pray that we “may all be one” as the Lord desired.  While gathering for prayer is once again complicated by the pandemic, we are promoting this virtual Prayer Service being sponsored by the Greater Toronto Council of Churches.  Other resources for the week, whose theme is “We saw his star in the East and we came to worship him,” may be found here at the website of the Canadian Council of Churches. 

BISHOP NICOLA DEANGELIS (11th Bishop of our Diocese) sent me greetings both at Christmas and New Year’s!  I was happy to get his latest email, where he sends photos and writes of his life at Villa St. Margherita (north of Rome) where he ministers to a community of over 200 people, many with physical and special needs.  He also writes of his many happy memories of his life in Peterborough.  I assured him that he is always happily and gratefully remembered here!

                                                                                                                                                Fraternally,   + Daniel

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