The Rt Rev. Dr. Vincent Fenga
Bishop of the Diocese of Yukon
Box 31136, Whitehorse, YT.  Y1A 5P7
Ph: 867- 667-7746
Email: vfenga@yukon.anglican.ca

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another.” Romans 13:8

Dear People of God in the Diocese of Yukon,

As we come towards the end of summer and enter the harvest season, I pray that you have had a beautiful and refreshing summer. I hope that our gardens, fields, forests, and communities have brought us joy, and that those who have been working the land are experiencing a bountiful harvest.

For me, this summer brought the joy of growing a garden. I planted different crops, but one of the highlights was kale from Zimbabwe. It was wonderful to see it flourish in this land of the North. There was something deeply meaningful about watching a crop from my homeland take root and grow here in Yukon soil. It reminded me that God’s creation is generous, and that life can flourish in places we may not have expected.

As summer draws to a close, we are reminded that every season has its own beauty and purpose. The harvest calls us to give thanks for what has been received, to share with those in need, and to prepare wisely for the seasons ahead. May we carry the lessons of summer into autumn and winter, preparing our homes, our gardens, our churches, and our hearts for what lies ahead.

As many of you may be aware, I was away on vacation from mid-July until mid-August. I am now back in the office and looking forward to working with you as we continue the ministry entrusted to us.

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Rev. Glen Gough, my Commissary, for standing in during my absence. His ministry and support have been greatly appreciated. Glen is my Commissary, and I want the diocese to know that we will continue to work closely together as we serve the Church and the people of the North. Please continue to pray for him and support him in this important ministry.

The Season of Creation

I also wish to apologise for mentioning this late, as the Season of Creation began on 1 September. This season, which runs through 4 October, invites us to renew our relationship with God, our Creator, and with all creation.

Creation is not merely a backdrop to the story of salvation. Creation is part of the story. The God who created the heavens and the earth is the God who calls us into a life of love, stewardship, justice, and reconciliation. As Christians, we are called not only to care for one another but also to care for the world God has entrusted to us.

I encourage every parish and congregation to take part in the Season of Creation during the coming weeks. You may use different liturgies and resources as you see fit. I particularly encourage you to make use of the resource provided by the Anglican Church of Canada:

https://www.anglican.ca/resources/feast-of-the-creator/

I used this resource in our service at Christ Church Cathedral today, and I found it to be a wonderful resource for worship and reflection. It offers readings, prayers, and other materials that can help us celebrate God as Creator and deepen our commitment to the care of creation.

May this season help us to see more clearly that the earth is the Lord’s, and that our calling is to love and protect the gift of creation.

A Diocesan Newsletter and Northern Lights

Now that I am back in the office, we are also working towards establishing an electronic diocesan newsletter. We hope to publish it monthly, so that we can share the life, ministry, and witness of our parishes across the diocese.

I encourage all churches to take photographs and, where appropriate, record some of the events and activities taking place in your parishes. These may include worship services, community outreach, celebrations, parish gatherings, ministry with children and young people, and other important moments in the life of your church. We would love to share these stories in our newsletter.

We are also aiming to produce Northern Lights on a quarterly basis. This will be another opportunity to tell the stories of our diocese, celebrate what God is doing among us, and strengthen the bonds that unite us.

If your parish needs any help from the Synod Office, please feel free to get in touch with our Administrative Assistant, Ms. Catherine Chapeskie, who is in the office Tuesday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Catherine will be glad to assist you.

Parish Visits

I am pleased to announce that I will be beginning parish visits this month. The purpose of these visits is simple: I want to know the parishes of this diocese, to listen to your stories, to learn about your ministries, and to walk with you in the life of the Church.

The current schedule is as follows:

  • 20 September - St Martin's, Atlin
  • 27 September - St Luke's, Old Crow
  • 18 October - St Mary Magdalene, Fort Nelson
  • 25 October - St Paul's, Dawson City
  • 15 November - St Mary and St Mark, Mayo
  • 22 November - St Christopher's, Haines Junction
  • 29 November - St Philip's, Teslin

I encourage clergy and lay leaders to furnish me with any important matters I should take note of as I visit your parishes. Please let me know about the joys and challenges of your ministry, the needs of your communities, and the hopes you have for the future.

For other places where we wish to make our presence known, including St James, Pelly Cross, Carmacks, Faro, Ross River, Keno, Beaver Creek, Watson Lake, Telegraph Creek, and others, I will be planning visits during the week. During these visits, I hope to make myself known to local leaders, visit key offices in the area, and explore how the Church can continue to be present and serve the people of those communities.

Continuing to Learn and Work Together

Before and after my consecration, I have been meeting with Archbishop John Stephens, who has been helping me to understand this position more fully and the ministry to which I have been called. These meetings will continue, though we will likely reduce them from twice a month to approximately once a month, as we see fit.

I am grateful for the wisdom, guidance, and support that I have received, and I look forward to continuing this journey of learning and service.

Important Dates

Please keep the following dates in your prayers and calendars:

  • Provincial Bishops’ Meetings: Every second Thursday of the month.
  • 5–9 October: National House of Bishops meeting in Niagara Falls.
  • 30 October–2 November: Council of the North in-person meeting at St. Charles Retreat Centre in Winnipeg.

I ask you to pray for these meetings, for the ministries of our diocese, for the province, and for the wider national Church. May God guide our leaders, strengthen our partnerships, and help us to remain faithful to the Gospel.

A Call to Love

Today’s reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans reminds us:

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another.” Romans 13:8

These words are a powerful reminder of what it means to be the Church. We are called to live in love, to bear with one another, to forgive one another, and to seek the good of our neighbours. In a world where division can so easily take root, the Church must be a place where people experience the reconciling love of Christ.

And in this Season of Creation, that love must extend beyond human beings. If we love our neighbour, we must care about the world in which our neighbour lives. We must care about the land, the waters, the forests, the animals, and the communities that sustain life. We must recognise that our neighbour’s well-being is connected to the well-being of creation.

May our love therefore become practical: in the way we use resources, in the way we care for our communities, in the way we protect the land, and in the way we stand with those who are vulnerable.

As we move from summer into autumn, I give thanks for the beauty of God’s creation, for the harvest we have received, and for the many ways in which God continues to bless our diocese.

I look forward to visiting you, working with you, and learning from you. Let us continue to pray for one another, support one another, and remain united in the love of Christ.

May God bless our parishes, our clergy, our lay leaders, our families, and all the communities we serve. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to be a faithful and loving presence in the North.

With my prayers and every blessing,

+Vincent Yukon

Bishop of Yukon