Accessing Ascension House
Carole Breton, who was hired as director of Communications and Development in April, introduced herself and highlighted some of the work of the department.
Sharing stories, information and connecting Anglicans through the digital and print newspaper, social media, and other platforms
Populating the Learning Commons platform on the diocesan website
Working with the Synod Secretaries to prepare for the episcopal election
Hosting the Anglican Editors Association annual conference in May 2026 with the Primate as guest speaker
Launching the Hearts of Compassion Fund as a successor to the past Today for Tomorrow campaign to raise funds for the Community Ministries
Noting that one of the key triennium priorities is that the diocesan staff will provide increased assistance and support to parish leaders, Ms. Breton introduced the directors at Ascension House and encouraged people throughout the diocese to reach out and call Ascension House when they need support and advice in their ministries and work.
Stewardship
Carole Breton said she is making efforts to visit parishes and get to know their unique contexts. She recommended drawing on the Stewardship Resource Hub for guidance and expertise. The members serving with her are Derwyn Sangster from St. Thomas the Apostle, who is also the chair of the Stewardship Resource Hub; Barb Dransch from St. John the Evangelist, Ottawa; and the Rev. Jonathan Askwith from St. Clare, Winchester. “Together we are here to listen, to support, and to help shape stewardship initiatives that are grounded in real life of our parishes, of your own reality.”
She encouraged everyone to benefit from the resources available to all parishes in the diocese through the partnership with The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.
Financial Update
Sanjay Grover, director of Financial Ministry, said the 2024 audit had been completed with total assets increased to $155 million from $139 million in 2023. He noted that property sales including that of St. Martin’s Church in Ottawa had increased revenue.
In keeping with the strategic plan, Parish Proportional Share decreased from about 20% to 12%.
One area of concern were deficits in the Community Ministries for Belong Ottawa and Centre 105 in 2024 amounting to about $700,000 combined. Belong Ottawa was able to cover much of its deficit with some reserve funds, and the diocese covered the remainder from its reserves. Grover said that the new management team at Belong Ottawa has done a lot of work to stabilize the situation and is now anticipating a small surplus with hopes to start building up a reserve again. Centre 105 in Cornwall’s deficit was smaller, but the program and needs of the community that it serves are growing, so they are looking for new ways to help break even, Grover said.
Community Ministries Update
The Rev. Canon Peter John Hobbs, director general of the Community Ministries, offered a brief overview of the many essential and compassionate services the five community ministries — Belong Ottawa, Centre 105, Cornerstone Housing for Women, The Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre, and the Refugee Ministry Office — provide to some of the most vulnerable people in our midst.
Addressing the deficits referred to in the financial update to Synod, he noted that Belong Ottawa’s new executive director Shauna-marie Young inherited the deficit when she was hired. Under her leadership and that of director of operations Michael Howard many of the problems have been rectified. Hobbs shared the good news that:
- An accurate costing of Belong Ottawa operations led to a much more robust funding agreement with the City of Ottawa.
- Fundraising and donor development has been prioritized and the annual fundraising goal for 2025 has been already surpassed.
- And there is hope that the creation of the Hearts of Compassion Fund in support of the Community Ministries established by Archbishop Shane Parker this summer will rekindle the support previously received through the Today for Tomorrow campaign.
Hobbs said that Centre 105’s deficit, though smaller, is as concerning. Contributing factors were cost overruns in a capital project to construct showers and washrooms, a change in United Way funding that meant a $30,000 reduction in funding, and an exponential increase in demand for services among the people Centre 105 serves. Currently, the City of Cornwall does not provide core funding the way the City of Ottawa does for Belong Ottawa and Cornerstone but talks with the city council are ongoing. Monica Patten, Chair of the Community Ministries Committee, is leading a task force exploring ways to make Centre 105’s important ministry in Cornwall sustainable.
“We know God calls us to this work, these ministries. We know we are invited to follow Jesus. We know we are to use our gifts, resources to bring something of God’s infinite compassion to bear upon this world,” said Hobbs.
St. James, Morrisburg — Stormont Deanery