Guillaume Benoit, Bachelor of Theology (McGill)   

“I think if new students are passionate about God, if they listen carefully in class and are not afraid to ask questions, everything is going to be fine.” 

Guillaume enrolled in the BTh and joined the Dio community to engage more deeply with the Anglican tradition and theology. He greatly values the theology he learned at McGill and believes the ecumenical way of teaching of McGill and Dio equips students to be more aware of the new world realities and to better communicate with other Christian denominations.   

“My time at Dio truly opened my eyes on other beliefs and how we are all seeking the same goal, to serve and praise our Lord Jesus Christ,” he says. He studied on a part-time basis over several years and names many highlights, including new friendships and enriching interactions with students and professors. In September he starts a new journey, leading to ordination, at Le Grand Séminaire de Montréal of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Susan Searle, Diploma in Ministry  

“Although these are uncertain times, I see opportunities in them and look forward to where this path may lead, trusting that the Lord will continue to make the ground solid under my feet.” 

Susan grew up in Ontario but travelled around the country before moving to Montreal in 1981. She worked as a para-legal, holistic therapist and church sexton before pursuing a degree in Religious Studies at Concordia University. She then earned a Master’s degree in the History and Philosophy of Religion. She became increasingly involved with the Anglican Church and began to discern a sense of vocation. In 2017, she accepted this late-in-life calling and enrolled at Dio. 

“I believe my life experience, which I often refer to as a patchwork quilt, has given me pastoral skills that will be helpful to my ministry,” she says. “I am grateful to the College for giving me the chance to hone those skills I already possessed and to learn new ones, especially in the areas of preaching and leadership.” 

Jeffrey Mackie-Deernsted, Master of Divinity  

“As a mature student, I would encourage those who sense a call to follow it. Dio has students of many backgrounds and ages so one can meet peers during their course of study.” 

Jeffrey begun his studies at McGill and Dio in the late 1980s but left to pursue a variety of other challenges. Completing his MDiv was very important to him.  He appreciated being challenged academically again at an institution such as McGill and being able to publish his poetry in the student spirituality journal.  

He names numerous influential experiences since his return to Dio, including meeting the Archbishops of Canterbury and Jerusalem in his first year and spending a week with the Ministry to Seafarers in his second year. In the summer of 2019, he took a placement at St. Mary with St. Mark in Mayo, Yukon and this March, he was part of the group that travelled to Waswanipi in northern Quebec. Both experiences allowed him to spend time and worship alongside Indigenous Anglicans. He also learned from his ministry placement at St Thomas’ Notre Dame de Grace.  

Jeffrey has decided to return to the Yukon, where he will be ordained this summer or fall as a deacon.  

This article is part of our 2019-2020 Year in Review publication. If you would like a printed copy, drop us a line at [email protected].