New St. Paul's pastor has passion for First Nations community

NORTH VANCOUVER—A parish running without a dedicated pastor since May is looking forward to finally welcoming its new, full-time shepherd.

Father Thomas Kurudeepan, OMI, will serve St. Paul’s Indian Catholic Church in North Vancouver as its pastor starting Oct. 1.

“Our mission is to be at the service of the reign of God and wherever you are sent, you have to keep yourself open and be ready,” said Father Kurudeepen, a Sri Lankan Oblate whose most recent missions included 22 years of ministering to First Nations people in Nova Scotia.

Father Kurudeepan, who goes by Father Tap, will succeed St. Paul’s pastor Father John Brioux, OMI, who died of a heart attack in May at age 74.

Deacon Rennie Nahanee, a member of St. Paul’s, said the parish hasn’t been the same since.

“It was quite sad when Father Brioux passed away because everyone loved him, not just as a priest, but as a father,” he said. “Without him, it kind of breaks the continuity of our church.”

Several pastors have been assigned to celebrate Mass with the community since Father Brioux’s death, but none as full-time pastors, until now.

“I’m really happy that he’s an Oblate,” said Deacon Nahanee of Father Tap. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have been running St. Paul’s since they established it on the North Shore more than 130 years ago. “I was worried that Father Brioux would be the last of the Oblates coming to our church.”

Our mission is to be at the service of the reign of God, and wherever you are sent, you have to keep yourself open and be ready. 

The deacon with Squamish Nation heritage is looking forward to meeting his new pastor, and says the Oblates are well known for building good relationships with First Nations people.

“They have that connection with Indigenous people all over the world and it’s important at St. Paul’s," said Deacon Nahanee.

Father Tap was ordained in Pakistan 39 years ago. Since his ordination, he has worked as a missionary in several dioceses in Pakistan as well as in New York, Hamilton, Toronto, Halifax, Yarmouth, Paris, and Lyon.

Father Tap represented Pakistan at the Asian Bishops Conference for Inter-religious Dialogue for four years and was the vocations director for the Oblates for 10.

He moved to Nova Scotia in 1995 and served 14 First Nations communities in the area, learning Mi'kmaq, Cree, and Tigrigna and launching Shubie FM, a radio station for First Nations communities.

“It was really missionary. People loved it and I loved them,” he said of nearly 23 years of serving First Nations people on the east coast.

“I am very pleased because that is our mission: to give voice to the voiceless. So, I am part of the missionary Oblates, so I will continue whatever has been the mission of Father John.”

Father Tap said when an Oblate is sent on mission, he never knows how long he will stay. “I was sent to Nova Scotia for one year,” he laughed. After nearly 23 years, he was asked to move to Edmonton for a three-year mission. One year later, he is flying to Vancouver.

He said he will spend his first six months in North Vancouver getting to know his community.

“I don’t start anything new for at least six months to a year. Observation is very important when you go to a new place,” he said. “In a native community, you are part of them.”