I was involved with St. Bernard from the beginning (1978) and have fond memories of this small community meeting at Saint James, Hull and informally gathered around the altar with Charlotte, as always, caring for the children, which at times seemed to outnumber the adults. When I was the Bishop of Ottawa and while the congregation was still in what was then called Hull and before it re-located to Aylmer and now to St. Alban’s, Ottawa, I made an annual visit and always, at their request, at the same time. It was Epiphany and I felt that it was because they wanted to share something with me, as well as their usual kindness.

In place of a sermon was the ‘Living Nativity Scene,’ and one might expect the familiar tableau of Christmas pageants and, of course, this was a part of it enacted by children and adults. However, the story did not end with the shepherds and Magi visiting Bethlehem. It continued with the flight into Egypt and it became clear why this part of the story was particularly important to the cast. Many of them and much of this congregation had come, some recently, as refugees from Africa. I then remember how, after the play, they would stand at the chancel steps and tell their story of having been refugees. It was so moving for me that I have shared the experience as I visited throughout the Diocese.

The Holy Family’s story was their story of escaping violence, of being displaced, of living in refugee camps, of having hopes and disappointments and waiting for a permanent and safe home. As The Word became incarnate in Jesus, it did so in the lives of the experience of these people, God’s people, in this case as refugees in Africa who would, in time, come to safe haven. Their story is a familiar one but sadly it is repeated and many have not yet found that haven. This story is also that of those who are displaced in our own communities by violence, rejection or for any cause and are homeless or otherwise vulnerable and also seeking that haven. They too have their story. “Those who have ears to hear…”.

The beauty of the Incarnation is that God enters our experience and accompanies us and calls us to accompany each other so many ways and on so many journeys. I just give thanks for those who have reminded me that this is so by sharing their story.

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This has been an exemplary model of how faith communities can come together to fulfil what the prophet Micah envisioned. The requirements of faith would come about as people “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with their God” (Micah 6:8). This is now a coalition of over 70 faith communities, including the Diocese of Ottawa and a number of our parishes with Bishop Shane as a patron of MHI. With Suzanne Le, MHI’s executive director, and a small but dedicated staff supported by a myriad of volunteers and generous donors within and beyond the faith communities, MHI has grown considerably.

MHI’s modest beginning was with Kent House with five units purchased in 2005. There are now five different property sites composed of 179 units, housing an estimated 400 people. More units are on the way, one being in partnership with the Parish of Julian of Norwich, Ottawa.

This Remembrance Day will be the first for veterans in their new home in the Veterans’ House— the Andy Carswell Building of 40 units, appropriately located on the site of the former Rockcliffe RCAF Base which was just awaiting a project such as this.  In response to homeless veterans of the Canadian Forces and the RCMP, many of whom were ‘living rough’, this has been a unique project involving partnerships with a number of veterans’ organizations as well as the community at large and it is planned to be a model for similar projects across the country. 

Veterans’ House is honoured to bear the name of Andrew “Andy” Carswell, who at age 19 flew Lancaster Bombers and became a prisoner of war in Poland in 1943. After the war, he re-joined the RCAF and flew PBY Cansos on the West Coast on search and rescue missions. In 1958, Her Majesty awarded him the Air Force Cross. Andy died in July of this year having seen the opening of a building bearing his name and that would honour veterans by providing them with homes.

There is also the ongoing need to enhance and maintain these properties well and to support the residents by providing subsidies so that their homes are truly affordable. MHI members and volunteers, a generous public, and many partner organizations make this happen. MHI’s major annual fundraiser is the “Tulipathon,” which previously was a walk through the tulips but has had to be virtual these past two years with amazing results (raising an astonishing $105,405 this year). And, of course, there are regular donors and our member communities sharing the endeavour.  Check out MHI and see the whole story at www.mutifaithhousing.ca.

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