As more monies became available, parishes received grants for building improvements and accessibility projects, as well as ministries including thrift stores, youth choirs and food security. In time a partnership was created with the Kingston and Area Community Foundation which allowed our foundation to share in projects such as Pathways to Educations for youth mental health services, computers in rural schools and the Kingston Sexual Assault Centre. In 2021 partnership with the ‘Say Yes to Kids’ campaign of the Anglican Foundation of Canada secured feeding programs in Napanee and in Elgin.

Unfortunately growing financial pressures on parishes and foundation members grew in recent years and were exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline of available funds made for the inevitable decision in early 2025 to bring the foundation to an end, which the Board made in January of this year.

Providentially the diocese, through the sale of properties, has created Reach and Stretch Grant Program to support parishes in their current or new ministries. So, the good work that Anglicans are doing will go on. Further, a few parishes have begun to work on their own legacy funds for future development and new ministries.

As this chapter of our diocesan stewardship has closed I wish to thank all of our members, donors and Board Members for their invaluable contributions.

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The Sisters of Saint John the Divine are an order of the Anglican Church of Canada, and their Motherhouse is in Toronto. The sisters continue to reach out in teaching, healing, caring, and loving the people God brings to them at the Motherhouse where they provide active hospitality, retreats, spiritual direction, and outreach into the community. They also continue to provide spiritual care to patients, staff, and students at St John’s Rehab, founded by the Sisterhood in 1936 and now part of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

During the 2023 synod we were addressed by Sister Constance Joanna of the SSJD in Toronto, a frequent visitor to and previous speaker at our diocesan synods over the last three decades. She acquainted delegates with the Sisters plan to renovate and upgrade their guesthouse.

Their project “Home for the Heart” meets the urgent need to replace the roof, the windows, and the heating/cooling system with more environmentally friendly systems, as well as to upgrade and in some cases reconstruct bedrooms, bathrooms, and meeting rooms, including new flooring. One of the most crucial reconstruction projects is a new accessible entrance into the Guest House. The majority of the $6 million for this project has already been raised, but the final $1million is still needed to complete what was begun.

At our last Synod, a motion was made by the Very Reverend Doug Michael and seconded by the Rev Lynn Mitchell: “Now, therefore this Synod resolves to pledge by way of contributions and solicited donations, at least $30,000 towards the refurbishment of the guest house of SSJD to support their ongoing ministry, and for the support of the future life of the Anglican communion in Canada.”

The motion was carried to raise these funds outside of the diocesan budget. In this work we celebrate with thanksgiving the hundred and thirty-eight years of ministry by the sisters of the SSJD in Toronto and the contribution of the guest house and retreat ministry of SSJD has made in that time to the common life and spirituality of the Anglican communion in Southern Ontario and across the Anglican Church of Canada.

The time has now come for our diocese to move forward on a promise made just over a year ago. Individual donations are welcome, and parish advisory councils are encouraged to undertake a fundraiser to support this appeal. Funds raised are non-assessable for the purposes of CMM. Cheques can be made payable to the Anglican Diocese of Ontario with the notation of ‘SSJD Motherhouse’ on its memo line. Please support this appeal and It is our hope that we can discharge this obligation by year’s end and do our part in the renovation and restoration and repair efforts at the Motherhouse of the SSJD.

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Now that the Diocese of Ontario is funding Reach and Stretch Grants for parish ministries. So then what makes the Foundation distinct from these diocesan programs? 

The distinction is that the Foundation pivots further out into the communities that make up the Diocese of Ontario. In 2022 we will build on the relationships we have established to assist at the very margins of those communities. To go, and be with agencies and programs that serve people, who may never have thought of either reaching out to a church community or would have expected help from said community. Is there a precedent? 

I reflect upon the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. Has anyone ever given thought as to how the victim of the story, a Jew, feel about his rescuer, his enemy, a Samaritan? Did he see or realize who it was who washed and bandaged his wounds? Did he resent or dismiss the innkeepers account of who had so generously provided for him as so much drivel or fanciful tale – “no Samaritan would ever have helped a Jew”. Or, just perhaps, did his heart and mind open to the possibility that what he had believed about those people all his life had been wrong? Did some, if not all, of his prejudice fall away from his heart like the scales did from Saul’s eyes.

We can be like that Samaritan, we Anglican Christians, and help others by binding their wounds, helping where least expected, and so bring God’s love where it was not experienced before. If you are excited by that possibility than prayerfully consider a monthly, or one time donation to the Anglican Foundation of Ontario and become a member of a part of our Church going out into the world to proclaim by action and word the love of God. 

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