Archbishop Smith stresses co-responsibility in Vancouver visit

Pictured left: Archbishop J. Michael Miller (left) welcomes Archbishop Richard Smith to the John Paul II Pastoral Centre for his first official visit to his soon-to-be home and archdiocese. (Nicholas Elbers photos)

John Paul II Pastoral Centre staff lined the balcony and crowded the ground floor to welcome Archbishop Richard Smith for his first official visit to Vancouver, his soon-to-be home and archdiocese.

After flying in from Edmonton and navigating Vancouver morning traffic, Archbishop Smith told pastoral workers he was deeply touched by their welcome.

As part of his visit, he sat down for an interview with Archbishop J. Michael Miller and Deacon Zak Santiago, a Vancouver actor and permanent deacon at Holy Rosary Cathedral.

Pastoral Centre staff greet Archbishop Smith with applause as he walks through the door.

Archbishop Smith is greeted by pastoral centre staff from the second-floor balcony.

During the 30-minute conversation, the two archbishops shared their thoughts on topics ranging from evangelization and parish renewal to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

For his part, Archbishop Miller introduced the Archdiocese and its unique character, praising the Proclaim Movement as an engine for evangelical formation, reviewing the Sacred Covenant signed with the Tk̓emlúps First Nation, and describing some of the ways parishes are embracing renewal through innovative approaches to co-responsibility and parish leadership.

“What’s really important is to learn from the local people here and members of the local Church,” Archbishop Smith said. “What really are the dynamics at play here in Vancouver?”

It’s important, he said, “that we don’t rush forward with answers to questions that people aren’t asking,” adding he wants to get “a better sense, a deeper sense of what is going on here [in Vancouver].”

Deacon Zak Santiago greets Archbishop Richard Smith before their interview with Archbishop Miller as communications director Matthew Furtado watches.

Archbishop Smith emphasized that truth and reconciliation should move the Church not only to listen to Indigenous peoples but to learn from them as well. He praised their focus on the Creator and their tradition of beginning gatherings with prayer.

Vancouver’s new shepherd is also eager to learn more about parish renewal initiatives in the Archdiocese.

“I want to keep to the fore the idea of co-responsibility,” he said. “We all have these God-given gifts that come to us through baptism. How do we work together, collaborate, and grasp the co-responsibility that we all have for the mission [of evangelization]?”

Archbishops Miller and Smith look at photos of the first 10 Archbishops of Vancouver at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre.

Archbishop Smith and Archbishop Miller both received their episcopal appointments in  2007, and they were asked about leaving their episcopal appointments.

For Archbishop Smith, leaving his longtime home of Edmonton comes with some sadness, but he said he is ultimately excited about the opportunities the Church in Vancouver offers.

Archbishop Miller, on the other hand, said he has had time to process the emotions of the change.

“There is a part of me that doesn’t want to think about it because it brings forth emotions that are a little harder to control,” he said. “But of course, the people of Vancouver—the faithful, the priests, and the consecrated—there is a great depth of holiness and goodness. I certainly admire so many of the people [I have worked with].”

Archbishop Smith told Vancouver priests to reach out to him if they ever need his support.

Later in the day, Archbishop Smith met with Vancouver priests and, in a packed hall, told them he recalls what it was like to be a parish priest in Halifax. “I know what it’s like to be on the front lines, and those front lines are getting tougher and tougher.”

It’s “important that we rally together and support one another for all those challenges that are coming our way,” he said.