A Visit from our Bishop
- Jodi Cook
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
Bishop Riscylla Shaw visited the Parish on Sunday, March 22nd, the fifth Sunday in Lent. In the Diocese of Toronto, Bishop Riscylla is a Suffragan Bishop responsible for the East and North areas. We are part of the North area.
A joint service was held at Christ Church-St. Jude’s at 11:00 a.m.. The service was well attended by both congregations. Young and old enjoyed the uplifting service. Bishop Riscylla preached and presided, assisted by Rev. Susan. The sermon highlighted the importance in the early church of following in the ways of Jesus rather than being led astray. When we consider the world today there are many distractions that can lead us away from the love of God. The music, especially the last hymn ‘Days of Elijah’ reflected the theme of True Allegiance. A lunch was served in the hall after the service.
Written by: Susan Snelling
Priest in Charge in the Parish of North Essa
Associate Priest, St. Margaret's, Barrie
Regional Dean of Nottawasaga Deanery
A little about Bishop Riscylla Shaw
Bishop Riscylla Shaw is a suffragan (or assisting) bishop in the Diocese of Toronto.
With Red River Métis family roots, Bishop Riscylla grew up on a small farm, learning from the land. She attended the University of Toronto, where she completed undergraduate studies in French and the humanities and earned a Master of Divinity from Wycliffe College in 1999. Following a few years of youth ministry, she was ordained deacon and then priest in 2001. She has lived and served in the parishes of Maple, Minden-Kinmount and Bolton, all in the Diocese of Toronto.
Ordained bishop on Jan. 7, 2017, her ministry has been inspired by Desmond Tutu with the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She has served as a witness and an ambassador for the Anglican Church for Canada’s National Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). She serves on the Jubilee Commission and was a member of the Primate’s Commission on Discovery, Reconciliation and Justice that produced the award-winning film Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts as part of its reconciliation mandate. She is a contributor to the publications Decolonizing Discipline – a Call to Implement TRC Call to Action 6 and Faith as Protest: Answering the Call to Mend the World.
Bishop Riscylla is connected to justice work and ecumenical community building and is actively involved in working with the National Indigenous Anglican Church in reconciliation. She serves as the Canadian Anglican representative on the World Council of Churches, Central Committee, and serves with the Anglican Consultative Council. In the community, she serves as a councillor with the Oshawa Durham Region Métis Council. On a personal note, she and her husband of more than 27 years have two young adult children and two little dogs; she loves fresh air and the northern lights. During her sabbath leave this past year, she studied the gospel and culture with — and deepened friendships with — the Māori Anglicans in New Zealand, connected with our Anglican siblings in Hong Kong and walked the Camino del Norte in Spain.
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