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Nov 21, 2025 – After the Sleep Out: One Night, Many Lessons
Last night, I joined Covenant House’s Sleep Out: Executive Edition. For one night, I lay outside with only a sleeping bag and layers of clothing between me and the cold. The weather was mercifully chilly, but fortunately, no rain. Still, the ground was hard, the night was long, and the cold crept in despite my… Continue reading
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Nov 20, 2025- What Does a Victory Look Like? A Shared Mandate for Compassionate Civic Solutions
When Surrey City Council recently rejected a proposed supportive housing project, it followed a rally of over a thousand people, primarily homeowners and business owners, who voiced their concerns with clarity and conviction. Some quickly celebrated the decision as a victory. One Richmond resident even posted, “Congratulations to the residents of Surrey for a well-deserved… Continue reading
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November 19, 2025 – A Glimpse of Grace Outside the Drop-In
Yesterday, I walked toward the drop-in center with no agenda but presence. I simply wanted to say hello, to introduce myself to those gathered outside, many of whom live with homelessness and substance use. I didn’t come with answers or solutions. I came with a greeting, a name, and a collar. One young woman looked… Continue reading
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November 13, 2025 – When a Daughter Brings Her Father: A Reflection on Presence, Pain and Possibility
This afternoon, a daughter brought her father to see me. There was no fanfare, just quiet footsteps into the sanctuary, the kind that carry years of weight. Her father has lived through long seasons of homelessness. He continues to navigate the labyrinth of addiction, the ache of family trauma, and the toll of physical suffering.… Continue reading
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Nov 7, 2025 – A Coffee Conversation with Councilor Carol Day: Holding Compassion and Caution Together
Yesterday, I sat across from Richmond City Councilor Carol Day at a local coffee shop, just two people, two cups of coffee, and a shared concern for our community. What unfolded was not a political transaction, but a human exchange. Carol has been accused by some of selling drugs to those struggling with addiction, a… Continue reading
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Nov 7, 2025 – A Cold Night, A Warm Shelter: Reflections from Richmond’s Drop-In Centre
On November 5, I visited a drop-in center in Richmond; it is a place that offers warmth, food, and a measure of dignity to those who often go unseen. The visit left me quietly reflective. Some of the people I spoke with are substance users. Others are simply trying to survive another day. I was… Continue reading
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October 24, 2025 – Beyond Lip Service: A Reflection on the Cowichan Ruling
Acknowledging Land—But Do We Understand It? I’ve spoken the words countless times: “We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation.” I’ve also recognized the ancestral claim of the Cowichan Nation to a specific area of land in Richmond,… Continue reading
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Oct 22, 2025 – One Night. One Purpose. One Powerful Invitation.
Dear friends, On November 20, 2025, Fr. Bill will be giving up his bed for one night and sleeping outside—not to simulate homelessness, but to stand in solidarity with the youth who face it every day. This is part of the Sleep Out: Executive Edition with Covenant House Vancouver, an organization that offers shelter, support,… Continue reading
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October 17, 2025 – Two Weeks of Listening: Stories That Stay With Me
These past two weeks have been filled with quiet, powerful moments and encounters that didn’t ask for headlines, only presence. I’ve had conversations that left me humbled, heartbroken, and deeply grateful. At a community event, a young woman avoided eye contact and spoke softly. “I don’t really talk to people,” she said. That was all.… Continue reading
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October 10, 2025 – Thanksgiving: Turning Gratitude into Compassion
Thanksgiving is a time of joy. Families gather around tables filled with food and laughter. Friends reconnect. Churches fill with songs of praise and prayers of thanks. It’s a season that invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the blessings we’ve received. But true thanksgiving doesn’t end at the table; it begins there. Gratitude, at… Continue reading