Hail and Farewell

Three masses this morning had a common element - saying thank you and farewell to Mother Jennifer Schick as she completes four and a quarter years of outstanding ministry at SMM and becomes priest in charge of St. Bede's in the east end of metro Toronto.  We have valued her time with us and been inspired by the wide range of programs that she has initiated and fostered.  Gifts and tributes, thanks and cakes were all part of an eventful morning.  Thanks to Jennifer and Shane, Nolan, AJ and Emily Grace.  We have all been enriched by your presence.

Our Associate Priest moves to new parish

Mother Jennifer - seen here with the newest member of the Sunday School

On February 25,  Father David made the following announcement:

It is with deeply mixed feelings that I announce that Mother Jennifer has been appointed the full-time priest-in-charge of the parish of St. Bede’s in Scarborough and will be concluding her ministry here at SMM on Sunday April 8th. I say with mixed feelings because Jennifer has made a profound and, I hope, lasting impact on the life of this parish over the last four years here, enhancing and enriching our ministries for children and youth, sharing in the priestly ministry of liturgical leadership, preaching and pastoral care. She has challenged us and shown us how to engage in new ways in our community. We will miss her deeply. But, at the same time, I have thought over the whole time she was with us, and have often said to her, that Jennifer has all the gifts and skills to be a wonderful and effective leader in a parish, and I know that now is the right time, and this is the right opportunity, for her to exercise those gifts. I hope you will join me in congratulating Jennifer on her new appointment.