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Dear Friends in Christ,

Warm greetings to you all as we enter this holy season of Advent. As I write from Whitehorse, the weather around us tells a different story from what we usually expect at this time of year. By now, we would typically have had much more snow, but this year’s snowfall has been gentler. Perhaps as we move further into winter, more will come.

As we enter Advent 2025, we are reminded once again of the depth and meaning of this season. Advent calls us to prepare the way of the Lord, to examine our lives and ready our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. We are called to watch and pray, and to make room for God’s light to break into the darkness in which we sometimes find ourselves. Here in the North, where the nights grow long and the cold settles in, this image carries particular weight. We know what it means to wait through extended darkness, and we see the power of even a small light shining in that darkness.

As disciples of Christ in the Diocese of Yukon and beyond, Advent invites us to be beacons of hope, messengers of peace, servants of love, and heralds of joy. It challenges us to be committed to justice. It calls us to open our hearts to the coming of Christ, both in our prayers and in the ways we care for one another. May this season renew our faith, strengthen our sense of community, and deepen our hope in the One who is to come.

As we prepare for the coming of Christ, we also find ourselves in a time of transition. With the retirement of our bishop, the Diocesan Executive has set Saturday, January 10, as the date for our Electoral Synod, where we will elect a new bishop. During this Advent season, I invite all members of our diocese to pray for this day, asking that the will of God may prevail and that the Holy Spirit guide our discernment.

To support this time of prayer, I am designating Wednesday, December 10, as a Diocesan Day of Prayer, with the theme: “A shepherd after God’s own heart.” This theme is drawn from Jeremiah 3:15–16, where God promises:

“Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.”

For those who are able to fast, I encourage you to do so. My prayer is that we may enter this day as a community united in prayer, reflection, and openness to the Spirit’s leading.

Let us also hold Rev. Mary Battaja in our prayers following the passing of her beloved husband, Lino Battaja. May she know Christ’s comfort, hope, peace, love, and joy in this time of sorrow. The Celebration of Life will take place on December 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Mount Mac, with a reception to follow.

May God move our hearts and direct us toward Him in this blessed season.

In Christ’s service,

The Very Rev. Dr. Vincent Fenga