🎓 Celebrating Convocation 2026 at Montreal Dio
On Sunday, May 4, the Montreal Dio community gathered in joy and gratitude to celebrate Convocation 2026. Held at St. George’s Anglican Church in downtown Montreal, the evening brought together students, faculty, alumni, and friends to honour this year’s graduating class and give thanks for the shared vocation of ministry and learning.
We offer our heartfelt congratulations to our four Master of Divinity graduates — Yvrose Lubérisse, Morgan-Pierre Point, Nathaniel McMaster, Juyoung Lee— whose faith, perseverance, and commitment have shaped our community and will continue to bear fruit in their future ministries.
We also celebrated Nathan Zwicker, recipient of a Diploma in Ministry, and Betty Tyszkiewicz and Suzanne Oswald, recipients of a Certificate in Theology. Although they were not present in person, their accomplishments were warmly recognised during the service.
A special highlight of the evening was the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity on the Rt. Rev’d Dr. Kimberly Heath, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. This honour recognises her faithful, imaginative leadership and her deep commitment to preaching, formation, and the future of the Church. It also reflects the College’s strong partnership with the United Church and shared mission to form leaders for a changing ecclesial landscape.
In her address on Mark 4:18–19, the Parable of the Sower, Dr. Heath invited graduates to reflect on the challenges and resistance of ministry in difficult contexts. She spoke of the need for flexibility, courage, and trust in God’s work, even in places that feel uncertain or resistant. Drawing on vivid imagery of seeds, thorns, and rocky ground, she encouraged attendees to see how God brings new life in unexpected ways and to embrace the call to serve faithfully, especially in the “hard places” where transformation is still possible.
Earlier that afternoon, she led a well-attended lecture on Charting the Future of Christian Witness in Canada, inviting participants to reflect together on how, even amid uncertainty, the Church is called to be what the world needs now.
Prizes and awards were presented in recognition of academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to ministry, including achievements in theological scholarship, pastoral work, and community engagement.
Diplomas were presented to students who completed the intensive program in bilingual ministry. Through focused, immersive study, these students developed practical skills for ministry in French, learning to lead worship, offer pastoral care, and communicate the Gospel with confidence across languages and contexts. The program invited participants to step beyond their comfort zones and engage deeply with the linguistic and cultural realities of ministry in Quebec.
We celebrate their commitment and achievement, and give thanks for how they are being equipped to serve the Church in a bilingual and diverse context.
