Emmanuella Kim has been a quiet, humble, and loving presence in Vancouver for the past 18 years. The third local director of Madonna House in our city, she recently left Vancouver to return to the Madonna House Motherhouse in Combermere, Ont.
Her departure marks not only a personal transition but also comes during a season of significant change for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. This spring and summer of 2025 — our Jubilee Year of Hope — saw the arrival of a new Pope and Archbishop, and the farewell of three remarkable consecrated women who profoundly affected our faith community: Sister John Mary Sullivan (Franciscan of the Eucharist), Lioba Na (from the Focolare Movement), and Emmanuella of the Madonna House Apostolate.
Emmanuella will be deeply missed by many in Vancouver, and I was moved to reflect on what she leaves behind: a legacy of deep friendship, faithful teaching, and a lived witness to God’s love through everyday presence and service.
When asked about the highlights of her time in Vancouver, Emmanuella answered without hesitation: it was the people. For her, the friendships and the unique beauty of each person she encountered were the true treasures of her ministry.
Speaking about her transition, she reflected honestly on the nature of detachment in her vocation. The most difficult separation, she said, happened many years ago when she first left her family in Korea to join Madonna House. In those early days, she felt profoundly homesick — her heart still anchored in Korea while her body was in Canada.
She admitted there were many tears. But what kept her going, she said, was the clarity of her calling: the unmistakable signs, graces, and encounters with God that confirmed her path.
Over time, Madonna House became home. And just as she came to embrace her life in Canada, she now carries the love and bonds formed here as she returns to Combermere.
Before joining Madonna House, she served as a social worker in Seoul. Here in Canada, she was known for her humble service, her gift for connecting people, and her quiet attentiveness to those in need — especially the sick, the grieving, and the lonely. She journeyed closely with many families, offered retreats in the Ignatian tradition, and, alongside her fellow community members, welcomed countless guests into their home with warmth and sincerity.
Hospitality is central to the Madonna House charism — a hospitality not just of the home, but of the heart. Foundress Catherine Doherty spoke of the “Chit Chat Apostolate,” where the simple act of listening and being present allows people to feel seen, heard, and loved, and in that, to encounter Christ.
Before she left, parishioners of St. John the Apostle Parish hosted a farewell celebration after Mass. The parish hall overflowed with people wanting to express their gratitude and say goodbye. Among them was an elderly woman who had travelled from White Rock. She shared that she had known Emmanuella for more than 15 years and called the Madonna House women her “prayer warriors.” Even when she could no longer visit in person, she would call often to chat and share her prayer intentions.
A fellow parishioner and friend of Emmanuella’s shared that Emmanuella has been pivotal in her faith and personal journey, and that she will dearly miss the spontaneous walks and many conversations they shared together. She expressed how Emmanuella was always there for others. She was selfless, and yet knew how to be a friend. The parishioner is planning to visit Emmanuella in Combermere to experience first-hand the graces and blessings of spending time at the motherhouse.
Much of Emmanuella’s good work is quietly hidden — known only to God and to those blessed to walk closely with her. As she begins this new chapter, may her next mission be filled with joy, peace, and the continued presence of the Holy Spirit.
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