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Last Sunday, April 7th, the Vestry voted in favour of putting funds towards the costs of a curacy here at Ascension.  The amount agreed to was $70,333, which will come from the proceeds of the sale of St. John's Blackstock and represents 25% of the amount of that sale.  The Diocese of Toronto is paying the remainder of these costs through a generous grant of $92,000.

Our new curate will be Phil Gearing.  Phil will be ordained as a Transitional Deacon on Sunday May 5th at the Cathedral.  He will begin his curacy with us on June 1st and we will welcome him officially at our 10 am service on Sunday June 2nd.

Here's a little bit about Phil...

He is the second youngest son of a family of seven children.  He will be celebrating his 54th birthday on May 25th, just before he joins us. 

He is married to Tamara and has a step-daughter, Alannah who is now 28. 

Phil was born and raised in Scarborough.  He left Toronto when he was 29 and has since lived in Bobcaygeon, Bala and Wasaga Beach.  He is a cradle Anglican and his father was an Anglican Priest. 

Favourite Bible Passage:  “Behold I make all things new”

Favourite Sports Teams:  Maple Leafs and Blue Jays

Favourite Activities: Golf and Singing, which, in his own words, "are two activities I enjoy a great deal and at which I possess no discernible talent."

Again, in his own words, "I am looking forward to joining the parish family at Church of the Ascension and am excited at what the Lord will do with and through all of us over the next two years."

Please keep Phil in your prayers as he navigates the joys and challenges of the transition before him.  We look forward to welcoming him into our church community.