Commissioning Mass For The 2025/2026 Sabbatical Year

On June 2 we were so blessed to have been able to commission our Sabbatical year companions, people who for the past nine months have been living with our community, studying the Bible and discerning God’s will for their lives. The Bishop of our diocese, Bishop William McGrattan, celebrated the mass for our companions as well as gave them a commissioning blessing to be strengthen in this next step of their journey.

Andrea, the first of our five companions to share her graces and testimony, has discerned to do a candidacy year within our community and continue to give herself, her time and her talents to the Lord through our community.

Next was Dean, the only male companion of this past Sabbatical year who discerned to follow the Lords call to grow in his knowledge and faith at university by studying Philosophy and Theology.

Isabelle, our next companion, unfortunately had to leave the Sabbatical year early due to health reasons but the Lord remains faithful even in our difficulties. Although she had to leave early she continued to discern and, with the communities guidance, felt the call to share about the graces of her year as well as what the Lord was asking of her which is to become a Covenant member of our community.

Kathleen our local barista and comedian had, by the end of her testimony, many laughing and many crying as she shared about her time in the Sabbatical year and her discernment to do a Candidacy year with the community.

Finally, Ruth-Anne gave a beautiful testimony of her time in the Sabbatical year and how this year allowed her to grow and follow the Lord’s call to be His witness in the world by working for His bride, the church.

Let us all continue to pray for our beloved companions as they walk this path that the Lord has placed before each one of them so that they may remain faithful and that He may be glorified.