Adedeji Sunday Akintayo, Master of Divinity and Testamur
“I’ve learned that my calling to serve isn’t restricted to only immediate family but a broader service to humanity and the church of Christ. My greatest joy is propagating the values of the United Church of Canada among newly arrived refugees from West Africa.”
Born and raised in Lagos, Western Nigeria, Adedeji Akintayo obtained a Bachelor of Management from Ternopil National Technical University, Ternopil, Ukraine, followed by a Master’s degree in Business Information from the Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania, and a Master’s degree in Applied Informatics from Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal through a European Union scholarship. He became a candidate for ministry in the United Church in 2021 and is currently undergoing Supervised Ministry Education and coordinating refugees and interfaith programs for two churches in Quebec – Beaconsfield United Church and Riverside United Church. He attributes the successful completion of his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Divinity to the United Church of Canada’s diversity and vision for welcoming refugees into their community.
Marie Silvenie Chéry, Maîtrise en théologie professionelle et Testamur
“C’est dans un contexte de soins holistiques du corps que L’Esprit m’a ouvert les yeux et me dit mais pourquoi pas l’âme? Maintenant je veux aider les autres à retrouver la joie de la guérison de l’âme et de l’esprit dans les soins pastoraux.”
Marie Silvenie Chéry a étudié pendant quatre ans à la faculté de Linguistique appliquée de l’Université d’État D’Haïti. Puis, elle a immigré au Canada 1999 et s’installa à Laval avec sa famille. Elle retournait à l’Université de Montréal recommencer de nouvelles études où elle a décroché un baccalauréat en Sciences Infirmières. Sentant que quelque chose lui manquait, elle suivait son intuition afin de devenir ce qu’elle rêvait depuis toujours : une pasteure ordonnée. Après 19 ans de carrière comme infirmière clinicienne, elle a obtenu un baccalauréat en Théologie à McGill et une maîtrise en Théologie Professionnelle dans le cadre des Études de l’Église Unie à Dio. Actuellement elle est candidate au ministère à l’Église Unie du Canada.
Linus Buriani, Bachelor of Theology
“I have learned to understand and adopt people’s cultures and to be able to influence others toward positive changes in our communities through participatory methodologies. My big task now is to help others to understand and live their calling in my community.”
Linus John Buriani holds a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Dodoma Tanzania (UDOM). Following his ordination as a deacon in 2013 and later as a priest in 2014, he achieved a significant milestone driven by his personal spiritual vocation and faith journey and worked as Parish Priest, Diocesan Assistant Development Officer, and Rector of St Cyprian Theological College. Subsequently, He pursued and successfully obtained a Certificate of Bible Knowledge from St Cyprian Theological College, marking the beginning of his journey into Pastoral Ministry in 2014.
Wa Ching Chan, Testamur
“My time at Montreal Dio introduced me to teachers and pastors from diverse backgrounds. I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned in such an inclusive environment, an experience I had never encountered before.”
In 2022, Wa Ching Chan (Ean) arrived in Toronto with his family from Hong Kong. Formerly a pastor in Hong Kong, he is currently pursuing the candidacy pathway, aiming to serve the church in Canada.
Zixian Zou, Testamur
“The professors and staff at Montreal Dio are full of love and wisdom. Classmates from diverse backgrounds have expanded my view of God’s mission and passion.”
Zixian Zou (Cathy) is the mom of a lovely 2-year-old daughter, a wife who loves cooking for her husband, and an appointed Chinese minister of the Toronto Chinese United Church. She ministered in Hong Kong until 2017, and moved to Canada and joined the United Church of Canada in 2022. She is currently on the candidacy pathway and grateful to have finished the online certificate courses offered by Montreal Dio.
Congratulations to our Master’s students who completed their theses this year!
Tevfik Karatop
Thesis: Anglican Church Refuge Sponsorship in Montréal: A New Theology of Belonging
Jessica Gauthier
Thesis: Reading Radegund: “an enduring temple of God”