National Indigenous bishop visits diocese
National Indigenous Archbishop Chris Harper has been the special guest of the diocese for the past few days.
Archbishop David Edwards invited Chris to the diocese specifically to speak at the annual Clergy Conference, taking place this week at Villa Madonna in Rothesay. But he arrived a few days early to attend other events.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, he was in St. Andrews for a luncheon, followed by a service at All Saints Church. Outside, before entering, people lined up to be smudged by Kate Akagi, deputy mayor, and a member of the Passamaquoddy tribe whose home is at the waters of the St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay.
Inside, Chris spoke of his life as the Indigenous archbishop, before which he was a parish priest and Bishop of Saskatoon.
“I never ever ever dreamed I’d be an archbishop,” he said. “I never ever dreamed I’d be a priest.”
In fact, he was an EMT for the Onion Lake Cree Nation, his homeland in Saskatchewan, making a good living and contributing to his community in many ways when God’s calling on his life became too strong to ignore.
After the All Saints service, he visited St. Stephen’s University, where he gave a talk to a small group. The university has been purposeful in its desire to address the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and as such, has developed a certificate program in Reconciliation Studies.
The event doubled as a special ceremony for the Rev. Bob Cheatly, former SSU president, who was presented with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. Bob serves in the Parish of St. Andrews.
On Sunday, Chris was the preacher and special guest of Christ Church Cathedral. He spoke on the day’s reading from Mark 8: who do you say I am?
After the service, everyone gathered on the lawn to enjoy corn on the cob and desserts.
This week, Chris has been at Clergy College, ministering to more than 50 clergy and those in the discernment process. In between, he sat for an interview, via Zoom, with Dr. Terry Branscombe, CEO of Inspire FM Radio, which operates Christian stations in the Maritimes.
On Thursday, Chris will be in the Miramichi, where he will speak at a service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Then it’s off to the airport, and on the road again.
NOTE: A more detailed story of the archbishop’s visit to the diocese will appear in the November edition of the New Brunswick Anglican.
Photo captions:
- At All Saints Church in St. Andrews, where Archbishop Chris Harper spoke: Passamaquoddy First Nation member Kate Akagi, Chris, Judith Moses and Archdeacon John Matheson.
- Archbishop Chris Harper pronounces the peace during the service at Christ Church Cathedral Sept. 15, with Dean Geoffrey Hall at right.
- Archbishop Chris Harper during a Zoom interview with Inspire FM Christian radio station Sept. 17.
- National Indigenous Archbishop Chris Harper blesses the Rev. Bob Cheatley with his eagle feather at a ceremony that saw Bob awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from St. Stephen's University, where Bob was president for 15 years. At right is SSU president Bradley Jersak.
McKnight photos