Canada news briefs: Ecclesiastical Province of Canada

Spirituality lunch sells out in NB

The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame was standing room only for a series of Monday lunch-hour addresses on Christian spirituality by Bishop Bill Hockin, of the Diocese of Fredericton. The idea for the series began when Bishop Hockin found his calendar free of any Lenten teaching series. So he decided to find a venue to reach out to the community in a non-church setting. “I have a strong sense that people, not just Anglicans, are hungry for hope and good news that touches the inner core of their lives. It’s easier for those people to walk in this door (the Sports Hall of Fame) than it is to walk in the door of a church.” The Bishop hoped for an audience of 25, but a standing-room only crowd of 149 turned up for one of the sessions. New Brunswick Anglican

St. Bart’s transferred to Orthodox church

After 64 years as an Anglican parish church, the parish of St. Bartholomew’s in the Bordeaux district of Montreal has ceased operating as a parish, and parishioners are being invited to join two nearby parishes. Meanwhile, the building will still be used as a place of worship for the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary. The last official service was held in December. The font, lectern, pulpit and altar were rededicated for the continuing use of the new Orthodox congregation. Extensive renovations were made to make the liturgical space conform to the requirements of Orthodox worship. The Orthodox congregation hopes to expand the building to accomodate 500 for Sunday worship. Montreal Anglican

Physiotherapist heads to Bangladesh

Gwyn Barrowman, a parishioner at St. Thomas, St. John’s, Nfld., is seeing the fulfilment of a long-time dream as she begins a two year term in Bangladesh for Volunteer Services Overseas Canada. Ms. Barrowman, a physiotherapist, will establish a physio-therapy department in a new hospital near Dhaka. The parish mission committee plans to support her work through a monthly donation to VSO, through frequent written communication with Ms. Barrowman, and through prayer. Newfoundland Churchman