LOCAL ROUNDUP
By Josh Tng

Holy Cross closing delayed

Congregants of Holy Cross Church in South Surrey have won a reprieve for the building’s closing.

According to a decree signed by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, Holy Cross Church was to be “relegated permanently to profane, but not sordid, use” on Jan. 16.

But an outcry from Catholics at the church – one of three in Star of the Sea parish – has put the closing on hold.

Letters were sent to the archbishop asking for continued support of the small church, which was built in 1942 and serves a congregation of around 85. The appeals now move to the Vatican for a decision.

Jim Garnett, a retired Mountie who spent 42 years in South Surrey, is one of those Catholics. “Some people who have supported the church for decades feel they’re getting thrown under the bus,” Garnett told the Vancouver Sun.

The archdiocese planned to close both Holy Cross Church and Star of the Sea Church in White Rock. Plans were to use funds from the sale to build a complex near Good Shepherd Church, the largest of the three churches.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Local Christian denominations will band together during an annual week of solidarity.

“The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is important because we as Christ’s disciples are called to work, pray and desire unity of all Christians,” said Marjeta Bobnar, coordinator of ecumenical relations at the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

The Week of Prayer was first proposed in 1908 and encourages Christians to reflect on Scripture together, participate in ecumenical services, and share fellowship, Bobnar said. “This year we focus on reconciliation.” Local parishes are hosting various services and events during Jan. 18-25 in celebration.

Bobnar added that “2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation,” when Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” on the Wittenberg church door in 1517. “The Archdiocese of Vancouver and the B.C. Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church will be offering joint study groups in Spring 2017,” she said.

Ecumenical prayer services will be held throughout the week at: St. Matthew’s, Surrey at 11 a.m. and St. Joseph’s, Mission at 1 p.m. on Jan. 18; St. Ann’s, Abbotsford at 3 p.m. Jan. 22; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Surrey at 11 a.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Coquitlam, at 7 p.m., and St. Mark’s, Vancouver at 7 p.m. on Jan. 25.

For a full list of services, times, and locations, call Bobnar at 604-683-0281 ext. 50469 or visit rcav.org.