St. Mary’s Parish
A daughter of the synod

By Brian Welter
Special to The B.C. Catholic

In this series we profile parishes of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, emphasizing how the Archdiocesan Synod is being implemented at the local level.

"St. Mary’s is a joyful, vibrant, multi-cultural community proclaiming our rich Catholic heritage, common faith, and devotion to Mother Mary. We are located in an expanding urban Vancouver neighbourhood of diverse socio-economic levels" (from St. Mary’s Parish Mission Statement).

The good folks at St. Mary’s have wasted no time in implementing the synod, and they are still polishing their pastoral plan’s goals and objectives. This solid outline is already providing them with great impetus.

A seven-member Visioning Committee started after November to write a synod-inspired Mission Statement and Parish Goals. This work has followed the collegial, community-oriented way of the parish, says committee member Susan Diewold, "because the Dominicans (the priests at the parish are belong to the Order of Preachers, also known as Dominicans) live in community and so work well with other people."

Parish Goal Number 1 is "To challenge each individual to encounter and embrace Christ in their personal lives." This reflects the emphasis of Father Pierre Leblond, OP, on "a personal relationship with Christ," and echoes the spirit behind synod proposition 17, "Teach methods and practical skills for evangelization projects, recognizing cultural and social diversity." Father Leblond believes doctrine and morality won’t last without this personal encounter.

The Visioning Committee has established interesting objectives to achieve this first goal: "Establish a prayer partner to pray with parishioners before/after all Masses" and "Provide instruction regarding adoration."

On Sundays St. Mary’s, following a charismatic practice, invites speakers to give personal witness, something more traditional among Protestants, Father Leblond noted. This complements a "healing ministry": two lay healing prayer teams are led by Sister Marie Bouchard, one on Wednesday evening and one on Friday evening, from 7:15 - 9:15, with more to come soon.

One remarkable payoff in the parish’s attitude which became apparent at Easter 2006 and more so during Advent 2006 was a rapid increase in the practice of the sacrament of reconciliation. The priests regularly hear about 10 hours of confessions a week, which Father Leblond also uses for "short spiritual direction."

On Good Friday three priests heard a total of 18 hours of confessions; parishioners were "lined up around the door." This enthusiasm has continued, with up to 10 people coming for the sacrament after each weekday Mass.

In accordance with synod proposition 31: "Incorporate the Liturgy of the Hours into parish life," Morning Prayer (Lauds) is prayed before the 8 a.m. Mass (at 7:30). Father Leblond and his assistant pastor Father Mark Hoo, together with their Dominican confreres who live in residence at the parish: Fathers Claude Noel and Gabriel de Chadarevian, soon plan a Saturday night evening prayer (Vigil and Compline) at 10 p.m., and for the end of September Vespers on Sunday between 5 and 6 p.m.

Two more parish goals promote "evangelizing the baptized," in accordance with synod proposition 17.

Another goal, "To develop outreach in our parish family and in the outer community," finds expression in the parish’s street ministry, which has members asking prostitutes if they would like to be prayed for. It also tries to get people off the street and into jobs.

The parish feeds the homeless, and hopes to start a bigger project with other area churches, mosques, and even government agencies.

St. Mary’s has had no trouble implementing the synod because of its readiness to innovate. About four years before synod proposition 1 stated, "Encourage pastors to delegate more of their administrative duties to the laity to allow priests a greater opportunity to be spiritual leaders and teachers," the parish became one of the first to hand administration over to a lay person, Office Manager Ossie Fernandes, with Margherita Bordignon as a full-time secretary.

All this help, plus that of Youth Minister Eli Bautista, has allowed Father Leblond to promote Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to add two more week-night Masses. This is important because about 100 people come to each weekday Mass, and the church is full for all six Sunday Masses.

Openness to others is also particularly important for St. Mary’s because this area of the city is multicultural, with 87 registered nationalities and a high density population that includes the very poor, the working poor, and well-off families.

Diewold noted, "People see spirituality running through everything rather than being something you do once a week. Those who have a ministry gather in the sacristy before Mass to pray. The parish is trying to develop the spiritual side of the liturgy."

St. Mary’s Young Adult group (distinct from Youth Ministry), includes people between 18 and 39, who engage in theological and spiritual topics and go on retreats, chaplained by Father Hoo. Last spring the group ran a series on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, with a reprise planned for February.

At a glance

• Founded
  1923

• Families
  2,200

• Address
  5251 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC, V5R 4G8

• Phone
  604-435-9611

• Web site /e-mail
  www.stmarysvancouver.ca; stmarys@telus.net
  St. Mary’s Young Adult Community (SMYAC): www.smyac.ca; smyac_team@yahoo.ca

• Mass times
  Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m.; Sat. 12 p.m.; Wed. and Fri. 6:30 p.m. (with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Benediction at 9:30 p.m.); Sat. 5 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m., 7 p.m.

• Other
  Elementary school with 250 students offers strong music and drama programs; the only east-side school of 21 schools rated #1 for all B.C. by the Fraser Institute.

A Dominican vocation

By Brian Welter
Special to The B.C. Catholic

Montreal-born Father Pierre Leblond, OP, claims, "I was not a church person when I was 13-18 years old, but I was secretly seeking, reading the lives of the saints. I didn’t go to parish Mass." At that point, spirituality rather than religion attracted him.

At the age of 19 in 1967 he slowly got involved in a Montreal neighbourhood where priests were living with poor people. This communal and social-service dimension of the faith attracted Father Leblond because the people he was serving were asking him questions about life after death, justice, and God.

After studying at the Grand Seminaire de Montreal, Father Leblond sought community life in Trois Rivieres with the Carmelites, but they soon returned to France, so at the age of 28 he joined the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans, attracted by their service to the poor and dedication to the intellectual life. He was ordained in 1984.

The Dominican order allows Father Leblond to live out his call to the contemplative life. In contrast to the busy-ness of St. Mary’s, he needs a quiet environment, and even spent his last vacation in silence for a month.