Future Fund fuels new connections between Julian of Norwich parish and Algonquin College

Julian of Norwich parish has launched an innovative project, Julian’s Place, to support the food, financial and spiritual needs of students at nearby Algonquin College.

With a grant of $7,815 from the diocese’s Future Fund the parish invites students to “come over to Julian’s Place” once a month for a warm meal, check out the highly affordable Nearly New shop and renew their sense of well-being by walking a labyrinth in the parish hall.

Julian’s grant is among the first three approved by the Future Fund which was officially launched by Synod 2024. The fund is designed to support innovative and effective initiatives that foster engagement with the wider community and the formation of new worshipping communities.

The fund is based on an investment of at least $1 million, yielding annual dividends estimated at $62,000. From that amount, grants of up to $10,000 are available to parishes within the diocese.

Looking to Algonquin, Julian recognized that among its 20,000 students there are concerns about the rising costs of food, affordable housing and education.

“Our parish anticipates that developing relationships with Algonquin students through Julian’s Place will plant seeds for a more fulsome and sustained engagement between students, the Julian community and the college itself,” the Rev. Karen McBride said.

It’s also seen as a first step towards an intergenerational community event. “As we get to know students’ needs and interests better…we will work with them to design and deliver a first event together,” McBride said.

Three students from Algonquin’s Culinary Skills Program are recruited to work with parish volunteers Helen Creighton, Sevilla Leowinata and Sandy Holmes.

They each get a $100 honorarium to lead the cooking and serving.

An Algonquin website design student, Jamie Li, has been awarded a $500 honorarium to build a new parish website.

The project fits perfectly with the Future Fund’s goal of supporting new worshipping communities. The opportunity to walk the labyrinth offers an introduction to fostering the spiritualty of students.

The parish’s application says much research shows that yearning for spirituality is important for young people, even though they don’t participate in “organized religion.” Actual attendance at services now is minimal – four or five alumni and occasionally a student will show up.

During the fall term McBride has found considerable interest in presentations she has made on “Anglicanism 101” at the college’s Spiritual Centre. There is particular interest in the labyrinth, designed by visual artist Barbara Brown. While not central to Christianity, labyrinths have been used as tools of meditation and prayer by Christians for centuries.

Would all this have come together without the Future Fund?  Possibly, because some members of the congregation suggested fundraising for a go-it-alone project. But McBride sees the support of the Future Fund as an opportunity to build momentum, re-energize volunteers to create long-standing connections and relationships with Algonquin.

Grants from the fund are administered by a panel whose members are executive archdeacon Linda Hill, director of Financial Ministry Sanjay Grover, director of Communications and Development Carole Breton, Ron Brophy representing the Contextual Mission subcommittee and bishop’s appointments, Lily Frampton and Cat Keresztesi. The panel consults with the Bishop’s Panel on Housing Justice when applications are related to homelessness and affordable housing.

As the Julian’s Place initiative allows the parish to deepen its ministry with Algonquin students, the parish also continues to discern how it’s called to best steward the (now rezoned) church property, in the wake of the realization that its initial vision for The Anchor, an affordable housing project, is not feasible at this point in time.