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Journey
of a Family Chapter
11: 1987 - 1993
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The
Reverend William P. Pike
The process of finding a new rector was long and difficult.
Starting in the early Spring, the Canonical Committee interviewed
a number of well-qualified priests from other provinces as well
as British Columbia but when the Reverend William P. Pike of
Maple Ridge appeared before them, members knew they had their
man.
People's Warden David Rice commented that the committee had
displayed excellent judgment in selecting William and added
he had it on good authority that "William is extremely
pleased that God has brought him and his family to St. Catherine's." |
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However,
a few more months passed before parishioners were to meet him,
his wife Mary and their family, Jane and Jonathan.
Before the new rector arrived and after eleven years of service
as parish secretary Phoebe Stenson decided to retire.
In the eleven years she was Parish Secretary, Phoebe Stenson
became an institution at St. Catherine's. "Ask Phoebe"
was the standard reply to those seeking information about practically
anything in the parish. Many church members were as familiar
with her telephone number as they were with their own. She knew
how many chickens to order for two hundred a la king servings
at church dinners; she could unplug a toilet with expertise;
and she was an authority on all things financial. In between,
she handled with ease the myriad situations and emergencies
that arose. One emergency she will not soon forget was the day
she was robbed at knifepoint in the church office. By handling
the situation with typical calm she avoided any injury. She
served on Parish Council for many years, and was president of
the Parish Guild for four terms. Many parishioners decided to
join St. Catherine's after being greeted with Phoebe's friendly
response to their initial inquiries about the church. Surely
she shares with Mrs. Greig the "omnicompetent" description.
Phoebe, her husband Reg and their children Ed, Susan and Brenda
arrived on the North Shore in 1958. They bought a hardware store
on Lonsdale and much of their leisure time for ten years was
devoted to the Scouting movement. Reg was leader of the 3rd
Capilano troop and Phoebe used her secretarial skills on the
Group Committee and District Council. They became part of St.
Catherine's family after a friend, who lived in Edgemont Village,
told Phoebe about the nearby Anglican Church. Reg died in 1974.
When she left the office Phoebe did not lessen her workload.
That was not her style. She has continued to be active as bookkeeper
and in many other aspects of parish life. She has not limited
her ministry to St Catherine's, but has also served on Diocesan
Council and the Diocesan Synod Planning Committee. Following
Phoebe's retirement Nancy McColl assumed the position of secretary.
Previously a Sunday School superintendent, Nancy was a familiar
figure at St Catherine's and when visiting the church office
parishioners were welcomed by her obliging and friendly manner.
William Pike became rector on September 1, 1987 and was inducted
by Archbishop Douglas Hambidge on September 9th. While he acknowledged
the fact that St Catherine's had run fairly smoothly between
incumbents, William was anxious to address the immediate needs
of the parish. A series of neighbourhood group gatherings in
23 private homes enabled him to meet a large number of people
in a comparatively short space of time. In the 1970's a program
of parish communication by telephone was coordinated by Frances
Best and Dorothy Jenkins. However, some time before William's
arrival Brenda Stenson and Sharyn Thomson saw the need for some
means of better communication and pastoral care in the parish
and so devised the concept of the neighbourhood groups. They
were divided into geographical areas, with a facilitator and
telephoner in each one, enabled news to circulate throughout
the parish in an efficient manner. Communication was not the
only object of neighbourhood groups; a sense of belonging to
the family of St. Catherine's was further enhanced through the
gatherings.
Asocial highlight of 1987 was the parish auction. The evening,
which was the brainchild of Brenda Stenson began with a silent
auction and after dinner bidding began on the open auction.
The event raised approximately $5,000.
St. Catherine's responded to Archbishop Hambidge's call to be
Stewards In Action when the program was initiated in 1988. Since
then the parish contribution has increased each year. The program
is a means of providing resources to help diocesan and Canadian/overseas
assistance projects. St. Catherine's 1992 contribution of $40,085
was a 25% increase over 1991.
Heather Luccock resigned her position of Pastoral Associate
in April 1988 and in his thanks to her William expressed pleasure
that she would remain a member of the congregation. Another
staff member, organist Jerry McDonald, left for Victoria in
July and was replaced by Barry Waterlow. After many years of
service as a sidesperson and later as coordinator of the sides
persons Don Shockley passed on his duties to Felton Kent.
Sandy Stickney, a seminarian from Vancouver School of Theology,
joined the staff as part of her field training. In the few months
she was in the parish she contributed much in the area of Christian
Education and worked with the youth in the parish. When she
returned to V.S. T. she was presented with a green stole by
the congregation. She was ordained deacon in January 1989 at
St. Catherine's by the Right Reverend John S.P. Snowden, Bishop
of Cariboo, the diocese in which she would be serving.
A new project initiated by the Rector was an altar bread roster
that was organized by the Altar Guild. A number of parishioners
responded to the invitation to bake bread for the Sunday Eucharist.
Archbishop David supplied the original recipe and baked the
first loaf!
The Reverend Wilfred Sullivan arrived from Newfoundland in October
1989 to become Assistant Priest at St. Catherine's. Among his
many contributions was leadership in the field of Christian
Education, particularly the Kerygma program. The word "Kerygma"
is from the Greek New Testament. The root "Keryx"
means "herald" or "one who proclaims news".
Open to all denominations, the program was designed by a group
of Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and United Church scholars.
Participants found deeper meaning in the Bible through a better
understanding of events of Biblical times. All who attended
either of the twice-weekly sessions discovered an "adventure
of learning" which helped increase their awareness of God's
presence. Bible study has played an important part in the life
of St. Catherine's parish for many years. There have been various
Bible study groups in the daytime and evening, including the
Tuesday night group that has been in operation since the 1970's
and has a present average attendance of twenty people.
For the second time St. Catherine's had nationwide coverage
when the program "Meeting Place" broadcast the Remembrance
Day service in November. William, Wilfred and a number of parishioners
talked about the parish and as well as participating in the
service viewers were able to "drop in" at the Holly
Fair that took place at the time of the taping. |
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