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The Rev. Brian Choto was formally inducted as Rector of St. Alban’s church in Burnaby on February 2 - the feast of The Presentation of Our Lord. The faithful waiting embodied by the prophets Simeon and Anna in the scriptures of the recall the faithful waiting of the parishioners of St. Alban’s did, waiting since 2023 for their next rector.

In his sermon, the Rev. Simbarashe Basvi said, “Candlemas is a feast of waiting fulfilled. Simeon waited. Anna waited. Israel waited. And when the moment came, they recognised Christ because their waiting had shaped their faith. St. Alban’s, this is your story too. You have waited for Brian. You have prayed, discerned, hoped, interviewed, and waited some more. And you did it with grace and patience. You know how to wait without losing heart. You know how to hold hope without letting it slip away.”

Rev. Basvi said he met Rev. Choto 25 years ago in their native Zimbabwe. They met when Rev. Basvi - then a seminarian - was sent to a parish where Rev. Choto was Rector. “I made all the classic Ordinand mistakes,” Rev. Basvi said. “But Brian was patient. He corrected gently. He guided firmly. He let me grow. He never crushed the zeal of a young ordinand. He shaped it. And that is the mark of a true priest.”

Addressing Rev. Choto, Rev. Basvi said, “Just as Jesus was brought into the Temple: not to be hidden, not to be preserved, but to be revealed, so too your ministry here is not for quiet maintenance but for holy revelation.”

Rev. Choto came from a parish in Zimbabwe with over 1000 parishioners. St. Alban’s is smaller. “But hear me clearly: A smaller congregation does not mean a smaller ministry. Sometimes it means deeper ministry. More personal ministry. More transformative ministry. Jesus changed the world with twelve.” Rev. Basvi said.

Turning to a sports metaphor and soccer, Rev. Basvi recalled the Liverpool FB motto and anthem,

“YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE.

Brian, as you begin ministry here, remember: You will never walk alone. You have Jesus Christ. You have the Archbishop. The Executive Archdeacon. The Archdeacon. The Regional Dean. Your fellow priests. The wardens and council. The parishioners. And of course, Wendy and Rufaro. This is your team. And this team plays for the Kingdom of God.”

“Today, we hold the light of Christ again. We place it into your hands, Brian. And into the hands of this parish. May your ministry together be:

· a light to Burnaby,

· a witness to Christ,

· and a sign that God still keeps His promises,” Rev. Basvi concluded.

Following the sermon Executive Archdeacon Nick Pang administered the Oaths and Subscriptions and formally issued Rev. Choto’s license to officiate.

The Venerable Ruth Monette, Archdeacon of Westminster, said a few words welcoming Rev. Choto to the archdeaconry to which St. Alban’s belongs. She said “this parish is so excited to have you!” She then said when thinking about a welcome gift to give Rev. Choto she reflected on her own experience as an immigrant to Canada. “I didn’t know what my parishioner know about their own history,” so she took it upon herself to learn what her parishioners knew about the history of their country and city. In that spirit she presented Rev. Choto with two books: Canada: A People’s History and a book about the history of Burnaby.

Rev. Choto was then presented with the symbols of ministry by parishioners before the service continued with Archbishop John Stephens presiding over the Eucharist.

After the service the parish gathered in the parish hall for fellowship with Rev. Choto and his wife and child.

Photos from the service can be viewed here.