St. Benedict Episcopal Church
Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines
Kin-iway, Besao, Mountain Province

January 28, 2025

To our beloved partner in mission,

The parishioners of St. Benedict Episcopal Church here in the Diocese of Northern Philippines, bring you our warmest greetings of shalom.

This is to express our deepest gratitude for your solid support by sharing your blessings and most especially for remembering us always in your prayers. The spirit of Christmas, indeed, does not end on Christmas Day as we were surprised with great delight to learn from our Diocesan Finance Officer another substantial amount of P112,681.20 (Philippine currency) deposited from your parish for our mission work.

Honestly, the earlier amount we received has not yet been fully exhausted as we are still exploring which musical instrument and sound system is best for our worship services. For now, copies of gospel song compilation were purchased from said amount.

Meanwhile, our annual parish assembly was just concluded last Sunday (January 26, 2025) where, among others, we noted to express our thanks and appreciation to all our supporters, benefactors and partners in mission especially to you, the St. James Anglican Church in Vancouver.

Rest assured that this substantial token of your support will be of great help in the carrying out of our program in the continuing education and nurture of our young people. Next month, we will meet with the young people of this parish to come up with an intensified program that seeks to reach out inactive young people of this parish.

Weather continues to be a bit chilly up here in the northern Philippines as the Siberian wind continues to blow.

Our continuing prayers for God who has called us into the Body of Christ to bless and prosper our common ministry of proclaiming the Good News in Christ.

 

With much gratitude,

Rev. Princel T. Balitog
Rector

The Vancouver School of Theology has announced that The Reverend Amanda Ruston will be the 2025 recipient of the TEG Award. The TEG Award (Thoughtful, Engaged, and Generous) recognizes leading practitioners in Christian ministry during their early years of career service. Mother Amanda will be honoured at the 2025 Convocation ceremony in May.

In 2021, Mother Amanda received VST’s Chancellor’s Award for extraordinary ministry potential.

Mother Amanda shows the best of St. James’ to the Diocese of New Westminster and to the wider Anglican Church. The parish is proud of her and fortunate to have the benefit of her energy and her many gifts for ministry.

For the complete press release, click here.