In 2023, St Michael’s, Vancouver aka St. Michael’s Multicultural (SMM) will celebrate the parish’s 134th anniversary with Bishop John’s episcopal visit on St Michael’s Day, this coming September 24. In anticipation of this visit, the parish has been reflecting on its evolution over the last twenty years, and on the miracle of the journey from failing church to thriving church.
The primary proxy for this reflection was James Baldo, ODNW, who came to Canada in 2003. As has been the case with many Filipino-Canadian families, James followed his wife Sandra and daughter Christine, who led the way six years earlier. This is an example that mirrors the continuing lived experience of many others, including Bishop Alex Wandag, the parish’s Honorary Associate, who came to Canada following his retirement in the Philippines, to join his wife Grace, a member of SMM since 2006.
James is a proxy for the many new Canadians at St Michael’s who have transformed it from the failing church it was at the turn of the millennium, to the thriving church that it is today. In James’s case, he was People’s Warden for over fifteen years. James was there when the idea for SMM’s Multicultural identity flashed into being when driving past the signage of the Multicultural United Church on Grandview. As People’s Warden, James has been a leading champion of the multicultural focus within the Filipino-Canadian community at SMM. In that vein, he recently organized a 20-year celebration on June 10. Also on that day, building on that theme, James made the following presentation regarding the second of three 20-year reflections:
“Michiko and Greg’s 20 years, from 2003 to 2023, closely tracks with St Michaels Multicultural over the last 20 years. The best example of this has been their twenty year involvement with the Meal Ministry program..
A forty line prayer prophesied the partnership of Michiko & Greg, and how the 20 years would be as servant leaders at St Mike’s:
“Hito is a perfect sign
It’s all we need to know our place
Together, yes, but, more, for Him
Only for Him, to grow in Him.”
The Hito sign is like two praying hands. Michiko & Greg designed their wedding rings to be a circle of Hito’s. Ask them to see it. And how have they fulfilled that servanthood prophecy? Can you think of the ways you have seen them fulfil this prophecy?
Could I suggest three ways that I have discerned?
- Meal Ministry - how many of you have seen the Tatchell’s involvement with Meal Ministry over the last 20 years?
- Multiculturalism - being married in Jerusalem by a Palestinian Priest & Bishop, and then renewing their vows with a Filipino-Canadian Priest & Bishop, is a most appropriate symbol of their multicultural foundation, grounded in their faith,
“Teaming together for his great works
Out of ourselves, one for his Grace."
- Family - in the 40-line Hito Prayer, Michiko & Greg used the language of “This Great Gift,” referring to their love & life together as servant leaders. 20 years later, “This Great Gift” could now equally refer to their love and life together with their other family, their greater family, their SMM family - How many times have you heard them express that love for their SMM family?
- How many times have you felt that same love?Is this last point, this love of church family, the most important point of all?
All we have achieved over the last 20 years at St Michaels, all we have achieved in becoming recognized as the Resurrection Multicultural church, is it not because of the trinity of our love that we have
- for our church & families,
- for one another,
- and for the love that we have for Him?
Do these words from the Hito Prayer of 20 years ago capture this?
“Teaming together for his great works
Out of ourselves, one for his Grace.”
For the 3rd 20-year reflection, James wanted to ensure acknowledgement of the contribution of another couple, who returned to the church 20 years ago. This couple was married in the church 62 years ago (and will celebrate their 63rd Anniversary the day before Bishop John makes his episcopal visit). They have been instrumental in the physical resurrection of the church building. Terry & Marg Cutforth (both members of the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster) originally built the Day Care facility in the basement of the church hall, 50 years ago. In this third 20-year story, the condition of the SMM complex 20 years ago reflected the failing church of 2003. Eleanor Jones (SMM’s 1st ODNW recipient in 2009) invited the Cutforth’s back, and through Terry’s organization & hard work, anyone looking at SMM today could quickly tell from the building, with its Camp Artaban sign outside, that it is now a loved church, a thriving church. To Terry, and his supportive wife Marg, goes the glory.
As authors, in preparing for Bishop John’s visit, the trustees were aware of the downside of highlighting just three stories from the 20-year resurrection history of St Michael’s, and the injustice of leaving out so much that was just as important. But, it is hoped that these three 20-year focused SMM proxy reflections, about the Baldo’s, the Cutforth’s, and the Tatchell’s, will give the greater church, and the congregation, a small sense for how the miracle at SMM has been wrought over the last 20 years. And, the discernment that if we do our part, then the Good Lord will do his. To the last 20 years, and the next, Soli Deo Gloria!
(This article was submitted to diocesan communications for publication by the Rector of St. Michael's, the Reverend Wilmer Toyoken and credited to the SMM Servant Leadership Team)
IMAGES
- From L to R - Bishop Alex & Grace Wandag, Greg & Michiko Tatchell, Terry & Marg Cutforth, James & Sandra Baldo, and the Reverend Wilmer Toyoken.
- The theme on June 10 was Hawaiian – the women of SMM in their Hawaiian dress
- Men in their Hawaiian dress.
Photos: Betha Kollin (Betha was also MC for the June 10 event)