The Rev. Canon Anne Privett will leave our Diocese effective October 31st to join her husband Nick and to begin a new position in the Diocese of New Westminster. We wish her every blessing. Below is a text from Cathy Corrigan, The rector's Warden at St. Andrew's, about Anne's ministry in the parish.
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The Rev’d Anne Privett joined the Diocese of Kootenay as the incumbent of St Andrew’s in Kelowna in the fall of 2014. Over the last 10 years, Rev’d Anne’s impact on the parish, region and wider community has been remarkable. Her legacy is one rooted in the steadfast importance she placed on welcoming everyone into the gift and work of choosing God’s Kingdom.
Her compassion and unwavering dedication for the spiritual well-being and growth of her parish families (Sunday and Messy Church) transcended into the community in the important relationships she cultivated through the Kelowna General Hospital’s Spiritual Advisory Board, the Ecumenical Young Pastors Group and local tasks forces on suicide prevention, food security and homelessness. Anne helped the parish grow in our work of building beloved community with the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, New Opportunities for Women, Willow Bridge Transitional Housing, Okanagan 4 Ukraine and others.
With Anne’s leadership, Covid became a gift for the parish St. Andrew’s as she led us through a visioning process issuing in a renewed understanding of the purpose of the Church and the importance of discipleship, the structural renewal of the parish and the birth of The Gift Farm-Garden. Through the Farm, regional Anglicans, ecumenical groups, a local middle school, neighbours, Mission Rotary members, and most recently students from the Vancouver School of Theology, have been invited into an understanding of all of life as gift with Christ as center and source, the gift of God for us. This work grew ongoing partnerships with St Michael’s Cathedral and St Mary’s East Kelowna sharing in the Farm and in the (Cathedral) Food Cupboard together. This work has even sprouted a new, shared youth group with St. Michael’s.
With Anne’s leadership, Covid became a gift for the parish St. Andrew’s as she led us through a visioning process issuing in a renewed understanding of the purpose of the Church and the importance of discipleship, the structural renewal of the parish and the birth of The Gift Farm-Garden. Through the Farm, regional Anglicans, ecumenical groups, a local middle school, neighbours, Mission Rotary members, and most recently students from the Vancouver School of Theology, have been invited into an understanding of all of life as gift with Christ as center and source, the gift of God for us. This work grew ongoing partnerships with St Michael’s Cathedral and St Mary’s East Kelowna sharing in the Farm and in the (Cathedral) Food Cupboard together. This work has even sprouted a new, shared youth group with St. Michael’s.
The Rev’d Anne will be truly missed at St Andrew’s for her leadership, her preaching, her tireless and empathetic pastoral care to all those in need, her welcome of all seeking God’s Kingdom and the inspiration she provided through her faithful proclamation of the Gospel.
Cathy Corrigan, Rector’s Warden