St. Boniface church closes after 16 years of ministry

WINNIPEG, MAN.

But the celebration was bittersweet as the congregation also came to say goodbye.

The congregation had decided earlier in the year to disband due to shrinking attendance and finances. SBECC had its final regular service March 22, a month after the church's decision to disband. The June 7 service was intended to bring together all those who have been involved in the church's ministry throughout its 16-year history.

Former pastor Jake Bergen and most recent pastor Don Boddy spoke of God's faithfulness in ministry. Cliff Janzen, executive director of Manitoba MB Conference Missions and Church Extension, also spoke on the theme of celebrating God's faithfulness. MCE had subsidized the church's budget for several years.

Former attender Gerry Hince performed a beautiful song written by John Michael Talbot. Church members performed a humorous ad-lib sketch which reflected on each one's memories of life at "St. B". Longtime member Henry Loewen read a brief history of the church's ministry to this largely French-speaking enclave of Winnipeg.

The church started out as a bilingual ministry in 1982 with pastor Dick Neufeld and his wife, Gertrude. In 1987, Henry and Kathy Cullihall from the congregation were asked to lead the group. In the early 1990s, Jake and Elsie Bergen served as interim pastor until Don and Heather Boddy were hired in 1993.

During its 16-year history, the church shifted from a bilingual ministry to an English-only ministry, after consulting with the congregation. In later years it integrated small groups, seniors and women's ministries along with summer children's ministries and, for a time, a vibrant coffeehouse ministry.

The church building continues to be owned by the Manitoba MB Conference, which is considering its options for the building.

Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 37, No. 14 Home Page