Many who will be recognized Oct. 7 have given their time, talent, and treasure for half a century
By Nathan Rumohr
The Archdiocese of Vancouver will recognize its chief stewards at the official opening Mass for the Year of Faith at Holy Rosary Cathedral Oct. 7.
"More than a quarter of the parishes in the archdiocese responded, submitting 82 nominations!" exclaimed an excited Barbara Dowding, vice chancellor of the archdiocese and stewardship director.
Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, will celebrate the Mass. He hasn't been shy about his views regarding stewardship and its importance to the Church.
Stewardship "is such a wonderful gift for renewal that touches the heart of archdiocesan life," Archbishop Miller wrote in a statement for the International Stewardship Conference. "Putting God first in our lives by practising stewardship deepens our faith in a way that we never dreamed possible."
Dowding said many of the 27 model stewards have been giving to their parish for more than half a century.
"Our nominees have been generous contributors in Sunday offerings, purchase necessities for the parish, are involved in outreach to the homeless, and contribute hundreds of hours to food banks," she said.
She added there will also be recipients who do not seek attention for their good works.
"These individuals, who are simply happy to serve, have been nominated by those who see what they do behind the scenes," she said.
Dowding is encouraging parishioners in the archdiocese to attend the special celebration at HRC beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The 27 recipients are:
Leo Ilomin, Saint Ann's Parish in Abbotsford,
Mary Anne Andersen, Saint James Parish, Abbotsford,
Iris Ramsdale of Saint Joseph's Parish in Langley,
Patrick Carey, Saint Joseph's Parish, Mission,
Floyd LeClair, Saint Mary's Parish, Chilliwack,
Ann McCaffrey, Saints Joachim and Ann Parish, Aldergrove,
Peggy Charbonneau, Immaculate Conception Parish, Delta,
Charles Hume, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Richmond,
Willem Bouwman, Saint Matthew's Parish, Surrey,
Irene Sviatko, All Saints Parish, Coquitlam,
Raymond Albert, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Coquitlam,
Bette Stirling, Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Coquitlam,
James Brown, Saint Luke's Parish, Maple Ridge,
Ed Starick, Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, New Westminster,
Roland Waechter, Christ the Redeemer Parish, West Vancouver,
Robert Lemieux, Holy Family Parish, Sechelt,
Anthony Lambert, Saint Anthony's Parish, West Vancouver,
Barbara Stuart, Saint Edmund's Parish, North Vancouver,
Elvine Kelly, Holy Cross Parish, Burnaby,
Lucilia Dionisio, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Vancouver,
Maria Sanvido, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Vancouver,
Koon Ming Lau, Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Vancouver,
Manuela Perizzolo, Saint Helen's Parish, Burnaby,
Patricia Tracy, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Vancouver,
Bob Mitchell, Saint Andrew's Parish, Vancouver,
Tilly Bara, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Vancouver,
and Penny Rogers, Saint Augustine's Parish, Vancouver.
nrumohr@rcav.org
The 27 recipients are:
Leo Ilomin, Saint Ann's Parish in Abbotsford,
Mary Anne Andersen, Saint James Parish, Abbotsford,
Iris Ramsdale of Saint Joseph's Parish in Langley,
Patrick Carey, Saint Joseph's Parish, Mission,
Floyd LeClair, Saint Mary's Parish, Chilliwack,
Ann McCaffrey, Saints Joachim and Ann Parish, Aldergrove,
Peggy Charbonneau, Immaculate Conception Parish, Delta,
Charles Hume, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Richmond,
Willem Bouwman, Saint Matthew's Parish, Surrey,
Irene Sviatko, All Saints Parish, Coquitlam,
Raymond Albert, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Coquitlam,
Bette Stirling, Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Coquitlam,
James Brown, Saint Luke's Parish, Maple Ridge,
Ed Starick, Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, New Westminster,
Roland Waechter, Christ the Redeemer Parish, West Vancouver,
Robert Lemieux, Holy Family Parish, Sechelt,
Anthony Lambert, Saint Anthony's Parish, West Vancouver,
Barbara Stuart, Saint Edmund's Parish, North Vancouver,
Elvine Kelly, Holy Cross Parish, Burnaby,
Lucilia Dionisio, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Vancouver,
Maria Sanvido, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Vancouver,
Koon Ming Lau, Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Vancouver,
Manuela Perizzolo, Saint Helen's Parish, Burnaby,
Patricia Tracy, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Vancouver,
Bob Mitchell, Saint Andrew's Parish, Vancouver,
Tilly Bara, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Vancouver,
and Penny Rogers, Saint Augustine's Parish, Vancouver.
nrumohr@rcav.org
