The Ordination of Reverend Vivian Seegers

It was wonderful to be at Christ Church Cathedral, attending the ordination of Rev. Vivian Seegers.  Bishop Skelton and Rev. Peter Elliott were there along with a marvellous group of the finest Anglican priests and deacons.  The music as always brilliant.  I loved the sound of the organ.  The great  bells peeled.   Taking communion from Rev. Seegers was special.  

Afterwards there was the gathering of friends and community. It was a miracle. It was evidence of grace. But despite the controversies of work and faith, Vivian’s  hard work was known to all of us who had seen this journey from beginning days when she was a student at Vancouver School of Theology with an impossible dream.  She wanted to serve her indigenous people from the start. She started Urban Aboriginal Ministry. She picked up native women late at night in what was ever an “Indian car’, a vehicle that ran on prayer power alone. She did so much for the DTES native women and men, their  lives wracked by the residential school system and now caught in the Fentanyl epidemic. She is a centre of love and reconciliation, serving in the tradition of St. Theresa to the poor of Vancouver.

Her son Steven was there, a loving man, proud to see his humble mother acknowledged.

Dr. Barbara Harris, renowned therapist and Dr. Andrea Scotland, philosopher, Juliann, United Church minister and others who had all known Vivian in their shared student days were there as well. What a community! What a tribe! I was glad to be  there myself.  

Vivian, like St. Francis,  has always been loved by  my dog Gilbert.   We’ve attended St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church where Vivian preaches.  I remember her saying, when the children in the church and the dogs got rambunctious during one of  her sermons.

 “I love to hear the children and see the dogs because it reminds me of my home in the Northwest Territories where all the community are welcome in the church.”  When this quiet woman of vast experience laughs all around laugh as well.  Her spirituality is like the Dalai Lama that way,  

As an indigenous healing woman she  is as at home in the native medicine circles as she is in the body of the church. 

 The sun was shining synchronistically this day as we made our way out of  Christ Church Cathedral.  Hooray for Rev. Vivian Seegers. Hallelujah! 

Vivian Seegers Ordination January 2018

Hallelujah! Rev. Vivian Seegers is now a deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada!
 I’m proud to say I’ve known her since she first began her dream journey at Vancouver Theological School nearly a quarter of century ago. I’d been a flyin doctor in Northern Canada when for years they couldn’t recruit doctors to work on the reserves. I’d also been honoured to work with Dr. Jack Hilldes and the Northern Medical Unit at University of Manitoba training indigenous people to be doctors.  With that back ground I was wholly supportive of Vivian who feared she’d never be able to shoulder the responsibilities given where she’d been. Rising above a past  of alcohol, residential schools, abuse and violence she became a leading medicine woman within her own Chippewyan community and one of the Sun Dance community.  This night she would take her hard earned rightful place in the larger spiritual  Christian community of the Anglican Church of Canada.
It was glad to be there ,seeing her family, especially her son,  and old friends we share in the recovery community. I was especially pleased to sit with my friend Bill.  I won’t “old" friend Bill because we’re so very young at heart.  Terrific to see Dr. Barbara Harris and our mutual philosopher friend, Andria. So many had come out that rainy cold night to share the warmth of this occasion.
Vivian was radiant.  The ritual was uplifting.  Right Reveverend Melissa Skelton, Bishop of New Westminster,  and the other priests were divinely human. I enjoyed the sermon by Reverend Emilie Smith.   The drummers made the old church vibrate.  We sang gospel songs and when the time came we all joined in saying we welcomed and would support Vivian.  She had said her vows much as in baptism.  But this was a different kind of total immersion.  The ordination ceremony was followed by eucharist.  And I was glad to take the blood of Jesus from Rev. Seegers hands.
Later over coffee, sandwiches and cake, Bill, Barb, Jolene, Ray and I shared together. I told these few how for years I’d attended this church St. John’s Shaughnassey, first when I lived down the street but more so when our mutual recovery friend played saxophone in the evening church  band.  Bill had been here then as well.  Small worlds.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah.  It was so good to be present for Vivian’s ordination.