Annual Dinner Supports Bishop's Pastoral Ministry

On Tuesday, May 13, a spirit of celebration and fellowship was felt at Carmen's event centre for the Annual Bishop's Company Dinner. 

Over 180 members and their guests attended the annual dinner, which included a cocktail reception, silent auction, photo booth provided by Smart Booth Images, and live music by Rebecca Marshall. The Reverend Leighton Lee, rector of St. Mark's, Niagara-on-the Lake, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. 

As part of the evening, Bishop Susan Bell sat down in conversation with Cynthia Mulligan, chief correspondent and anchor for CityNews. Together, the two discussed Mulligan's road to journalism and some of the early hurdles she overcame to establish herself as a respected journalist. Mulligan reflected on some powerful moments in her career and the people she's met along the way, from reporting in Paris in November 2015 after terrorist attacks, to her story following Danica Rain who underwent gender reassignment surgery in Bangkok, and to a memory of a young man who was suffering from cancer, whose words would stay with her as she began her own cancer battle years later. 

Mulligan reflected on her series Kicking Cancer which documents her firsthand experiences facing cancer. Having first been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2010, Mulligan shared that in December of 2020 she had learned that her cancer had returned, and she continues to battle stage 4 cancer. Bishop Susan applauded Mulligan for the bravery it required to share her journey publicly. Mulligan attributed that courage to her experiences as a reporter. She had recognized that so often in her role she was asking people to open up to her through some of their most traumatic experiences, and that "to not do the same would be disingenuous." 

Mulligan reflected on her vocation and the balance it takes to bear witness to someone else's pain and trauma, meeting them with grace and compassion, while also maintaining composure and professionalism, acknowledging that it is not unlike what clergy and those in pastoral roles face. Together she and the bishop discussed the importance of boundaries and self-care to protect personal mental and physical health while continuing to support others with dignity and care.

The two continued the discussion addressing current world politics, and a world of "fake news," with Mulligan reminding guests that the best way to navigate through the webs of news coming from all different sources is to look to reliable, reputable, and well-established news sources.

Before ending the conversation Mulligan thanked Bishop Bell and those in attendance or allowing her to be a part of the event. She noted that guests had shared with her some of the incredible ministries that were happening across the diocese and how moving and meaningful the work of the Bishop's Company was for her.

At the end of the evening Hannah Keller, registrar for the Bishop's Company announced the silent auction winners and informed guests that the evening raised nearly $14,000 for the endowment fund.

A special thank you was offered to the event's sponsors: The Dunham Group, Fenton Paving, Ross and McBride,and Russell Investments, as well as to the hard-working planning committee for making the event possible.

The Bishop’s Company is a group of members dedicated to providing resources to allow the bishop to respond compassionately and strategically to the emergent needs of our diocesan leaders. Funds raised also allow Bishop Bell to respond to the needs of fellow siblings in Christ within our diocese and beyond. In recent years, the bishop has been able to use the fund to support an average of 25 individuals per year.

Membership remains open through the year should you wish to share your support for the fund, and donations can be made online or by cheque by making your cheque out to the Bishop's Company and mailing it to Cathedral Place, Attn: Finance Team, 252 James St, N, L8R 2L3.