Some years ago when I was teaching theological students, I tried to arrive at a definition of the real nature of a parish. The only one that satisfied me and my students was this: "A parish is a group of people who together are learning what it means to be the People of God in a particular place." We liked that because it emphasizes the people all working together to find out what God has for them to do, and to do it right here in the ever changing often difficult conditions of parish life.

St. Catherine's is our "right here" place. Edgemont and Ridgewood in North Vancouver. And it is important to know how we got here - how we began.

Singing hymns in the bush, making do with the tarpaper shack for the first few years, growing bit by bit and building St. Catherine's into the lively centre it is today. It is a fascinating story and Janet Morris has told it well, and done us a favour in setting it all down so clearly and in detail. Now we know our story, and something of the people who struggled to discern what God was calling them to be in this place and in their time.
We can be sure though circumstances change and new challenges arise, that we can now go forward secure in the knowledge that if we remain faithful we will continue to be supported and upheld by God's loving guidance in the years ahead.

Retired Archbishop of New Westminster