Ad clerum - Summer 2026

Dear colleagues in ministry,

With summer finally upon us, it seems timely to share another ad clerum, the traditional name in Latin for a message from the bishop “to the clergy.” Feel free nevertheless to share the content of these communications with others in the congregations you serve, such as churchwardens, vestries, and parish and deanery councils.

NEW SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR – If you’ve noticed that our diocesan Facebook page is a lot more active and attractive lately, that’s entirely due to the efforts of our new diocesan social media coordinator, Cristina Gagliano. She will be glad to highlight services and other events happening in your congregations and deaneries to the wider diocese, so don’t hesitate to bring these to her attention by emailing her at cgagliano@quebec.anglican.ca.

50 YEARS OF WOMEN’S ORDINATION – St. Andrew’s Day this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the diaconate and priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada. There will be a national celebration of this milestone in the life of our church in Victoria, British Columbia, November 24-25. Although the west coast is far away, I nevertheless wanted to make sure you all knew about the event, in case any of you felt called to participate. There are also bursaries available to assist with attending the event. Please note the deadline to apply for a bursary is June 30. I would encourage you to find ways to commemorate this important occasion in your congregations. I am grateful that I have only ever known a church with women in ordained leadership. I consider it a great blessing to our church, and a gift and witness we offer to the wider Church of Christ.

NEW BISHOP ORDINARY – Speaking of women in ordained leadership, the Ven. Jennifer Gosse-Vingerhoeds was recently elected to serve as the next Bishop Ordinary of the Canadian Armed Forces. Her episcopal ordination will take place on September 15 at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa, and I hope to be able to participate in the inauguration of this new ministry of our church.

ANGLICAN FOUNDATION – The Anglican Foundation of Canada continues to be a generous supporter of mission and ministry across the country, including in the Diocese of Quebec. In addition to its usual round of grants and loans, the Foundation is also issuing a special call for proposals for initiatives aimed at addressing the housing, poverty, and drug crises confronting so many communities. The deadline to apply is October 1. Please also remember that to apply for ordinary grants and loans, it is diocesan policy that a congregation must be a paid-up annual member of the Anglican Foundation. I’d also encourage each of you to become individual annual members of the Foundation, especially if you (like most of us, me included) have at some point received a bursary to support your theological studies. Being an Anglican Foundation member is one way of giving back, and helping ensure that kind of financial support will be available for future generations.

PATIENT NAVIGATOR – This is a reminder to those of you on the North Shore, Lower North Shore, in Gaspé, or the Magdalen Islands that a new Patient Navigator is available to assist English-speaking people from the regions coming to Quebec City for medical appointments—everything from organizing rides from the airport to finding accommodations to providing translation. Anand Naraine is the Patient Navigator in Quebec City and he can be reached at anaraine@jhpartners.net or 418-932-0095.

HOLIDAYS & STUDY LEAVE – If you haven’t already done so, please advise Archdeacon Edward Simonton of the dates you’ve selected for your annual holidays and/or study leave, if applicable. The Anglican Church of Canada’s Pension Office Corporation, which manages the Continuing Education Plan (CEP) for stipended clergy and lay employees, now has an easy way of verifying how much money has accumulated in your CEP account. If you’re a CEP member, I’d encourage you to check your balance and reacquaint yourself with what you can apply those funds toward, including a sabbatical.

OUT OF THE COUNTRY – Archdeacon Edward and I will both be in Brisbane, Australia, between July 4 and 16, attending the General Chapter and retreat of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd. I will nevertheless be available by email during most of that time, but may take longer than usual to reply because of the gathering and the 14-hour time difference and lengthy flights in both directions. Administrative Assistant Spencer Nadeau will also be available during that time to help in any way he can.

ALONGSIDE HOPE’S ‘WILD RIDE’ – Alongside Hope’s “Wild Ride” is back on, this year raising funds for the Anglican-run hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus. The chronic instability in the region means the hospital is without a secure and reliable source of electricity—a particular nightmare for surgeons and obstetricians—so money collected will go toward installing solar panels so the hospital can have a measure of electrical sovereignty. To support the cause I’m planning to do my own little tour de l’île this summer. You can sponsor my Wild Ride or organize your own. All funds raised will be matched by a generous benefactor.

A PRAYER FOR THE SUMMER – I know that for some of you summer is a very busy season of activity in your communities, while for others things slow down and provide a bit of a reprieve. Whichever way your summer is shaping up, I do hope you’ll find at least some moments of rest and repose, time outside in God’s creation, and in the company of good companions. I hope you’ll be able to live into this prayer (better than I do) from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, which has been affixed to the desk in my office almost the entire time I’ve served as bishop:

O God,
in the course of this busy life,
give us times of refreshment and peace;
and grant that we may so use our leisure
to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds,
that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+Bruce