Yvrose Luberisse, a third-year Master of Divinity student, is completing her field placement at St. Hilda’s Church following her Bachelor of Theology at McGill University. This placement, part of the final In Ministry Year, places students within a congregation to practise ministry under the guidance of an experienced priest. During this full-year placement, students continue learning about ministry while applying their knowledge directly in a church setting. Yvrose describes it as an opportunity to “immerse yourself in the life of a church and live with the community of faith,” integrating teachings from McGill and the Montreal School of Theology into practical experiences. A highlight for her has been “exercising the Ministry of the Word by preaching,” and receiving constructive feedback from her supervising priest and a supportive lay committee. This experience has been invaluable in learning to manage parish life, provide pastoral care, and grow into her ministerial role.
St. Hilda’s, in Yvrose’s words, is “a welcoming and diverse community,” formed from the merger of several Anglican churches in Montreal’s east end. It embodies “a new way of doing church, of being alive and vital,” distinguished by active partnerships with local organisations and an inclusive spirit.
Recognising the need for additional outreach, Yvrose proposed and developed a Sunday ministry for newcomers and immigrants. “Just taking part in the Sunday service wasn’t enough for my weekly placement hours,” she shared. Her work extends beyond the church walls, offering practical assistance such as helping with school admissions, job applications, and referrals to specialised organisations. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people, solving problems, and generating hopeful solutions,” Yvrose explained, noting that her attention to detail and empathy are vital to this work. She added, “It’s a joy to inspire hope and enable people to envisage new horizons and a new future.”
Yvrose believes her outreach embodies a deeply spiritual mission, stating, “Stirring up hope, working to build a new future, and bringing out new perspectives is a highly spiritual task.” She envisions this work as “the other face of the church,” a continuous effort to empower individuals and instil pride and self-esteem. This connection between theology and practical ministry exemplifies her belief that the church’s role is to be a beacon of support and inspiration for those navigating complex systems and building new lives.
Reflecting on her studies, Yvrose credits her courses at Dio, such as “Mission and Context” and “Pastoral Care,” with expanding her understanding of what it means to “do church.” She explains that ministry often happens outside the walls of a church building and emphasises the importance of meeting people where they are. “The church is not only or no longer the stone building. It can be everywhere. When we establish bonds of trust with people, it’s easier for them to discover, through our interactions, the face of the compassionate and caring God,” she shared, reflecting on her ministry.
In the past, newcomers were often defined as those who had been in Canada for one to five years and needed that time to fully integrate economically. But Yvrose has realised it often takes much longer—sometimes ten years or more—to untangle oneself from the system, understand its workings, and pull one’s head above water. For her, immigrant aid must be ongoing, responding to new needs as they arise. She sees this work as “another face of the church,” inspiring hope, opening perspectives, and helping people gain control over their lives, all while fostering pride and self-esteem.
“I’m living a dream at St. Hilda’s, just as I did on my first day at Dio. It’s a dream that will come to an end in April 2024, but one I will remember forever. I wish every Christian could have this experience, because at Dio and St. Hilda’s, we discover God, tolerance, diversity, acceptance of differences, and the joy of giving of ourselves and finding happiness—even amidst pain, but always in peace.”
Thank you to the entire St. Hilda’s congregation for welcoming me with open arms, to Rector Josée Lemoine, Reverend Jean-Jacques Goulet, and the entire lay committee for their support in making this field placement an extraordinary experience.
