The approaching solemnity of All Saints (November 1, 2020) reminds us that we are all called to holiness. The challenge is to form one body, one Church, with all our differences. A look back over our Diocese’s newest parish, All Saints Catholic Parish: St. Mary’s (Ladysmith) and St. Joseph’s (Chemainus), gives us an opportunity to celebrate the fruits that can come from trying to live everything – especially change – with love and charity.
Fr. Melquiades (Mel) Bayron explains how the new name was chosen when the two churches amalgamated in 2018: “St. Mary and St. Joseph are both saints, and we are all saints, united in the Eucharist. So, the name seems very appropriate.”
“Amalgamating two churches took time, each having their own customs”, says Ellen Lavender, Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council. The biggest opportunities have come from everyone sharing the gifts that they have in order to build up the new parish. “We share listening skills, compassion and understanding, and we are able to meld all those together for the benefit of the whole.”
Fr. Mel says that the new parish is much stronger. Before the pandemic, the churches had combined their voices to make a stronger choir. In fact, at the famous Ladysmith Festival of Lights, the strength of the combined choir surprised the whole community. There is also stronger faith formation where (pre-COVID-19) the sessions would be held at alternate churches each week. There are also stronger events, with more pot lucks and more people at the annual picnic. Well, there were before the pandemic hit.
However, COVID-19 has not stopped this growth in combined strength. Ellen says that because of the limits to participation at Mass, “… it gives us a chance to outreach to those who cannot come to Mass. We all know our neighbours and the parishioners we see all the time so this is a good time to reach out and contact those who cannot physically join us. We can call and check up on them. Reminding them that they are part of our whole!”
During the summer, Fr. Mel was able to celebrate Mass outside in the church parking lot. Karen Sax, Office Manager for the parish describes one example of how the two churches now form one body. One of the parishioners designed a communion screen, one for each church. “It is on wheels and has a lovely cross on the stand. This is just one sign of how we work together as one family.”
What is on the horizon for the parish? The message from All Saints Parish is to trust in the spirit and be open to change. Know that we can still develop our personal prayer life and expand our view on how we pray. Who had even heard of the term ‘communion screen’ before COVID-19? Who had ever prayed on Zoom before? These are small steps that help us all become one body, united in Christ, and the saints.
