Members of All Saints’ Anglican Church community in Waterloo gathered on a frigid Sunday afternoon, February 13, to participate in Groundbreaking Service for the new church.
The service began in the sanctuary of the existing church with Bishop Todd Townshend addressing the parishioners. The procession was then led to the ceremonial groundbreaking location at the south-east corner of the same property, where Bishop Todd broke the ground at the site of the altar for the new church.
More than a hundred people participated in the ceremony, including All Saints’ head pastor Rev. Marty Levesque, associate pastor Rev. Dan Bowyer and children, youth and Filipino community pastor Rambie Bernardino, as well as the clergy from other churches in the Deanery of Waterloo.
“It's a joy for the whole diocese when a parish community can develop their home in new ways to serve their ‘neighbourhood’", said Bishop Townshend after the service, adding that All Saints, Waterloo is giving wonderful witness to the goodness of God: “We celebrate their faithfulness and their continuing hard work in the name of Jesus our Lord.”
Groundbreaking ceremony marks an important step in a decade long reorganizing effort of the community.
In 2012, their joint partners, Waterloo North Presbyterian, came to an end of their life cycle and All Saints’ members, led by Rev. Canon Robin Lyon, decided to purchase their share of the building and the property.
In 2016, when Rev. Marty Levesque became the rector of All Saints, a decision was made to sell a portion of the property and relocate the church to the retained portion. Breaking of the ground for the new church on Sunday is seen as the end of the long and complicated administrative process involving numerous severance and zoning changes applications.
“Through all of the ups and downs, we can honestly attest that God has been a part of this from its inception”, commented Rev. Marty Levesque praising the courage and persistence of All Saints’ community.
The construction of the new church will begin with the excavation works this spring.
The service started in the sanctuary of the existing church
"Come and journey with a Saviour": Willing to go into the undiscovered country, with the Holy Spirit as our guide
"Surely the Lord is in this place... This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."
Many parishioners came forward to break the ground
Necessary preparation: The ground was solid frozen