...

June 18, 2025

Greetings Gathering Church,

After 18 years of faithful and consistent ministry at The Gathering, and 2 years prior at Waterloo MB, Catherine will be taking a much-deserved mini-sabbatical. Catherine has consistently gone above and beyond in her role, and the Board enthusiastically approved her request for this time of rest and renewal. This decision aligns with the recommendations of the Credence Report and ongoing congregational discussions about the importance of caring for the welfare of our pastoral staff.

Catherine's six weeks off will begin on July 10th. Three of these weeks will be her accrued vacation time, and the other three will be dedicated to sabbatical. She plans to use this time for reading, studying, visioning, re-energizing, and soul care.

During Catherine's absence, Rocco will provide pastoral leadership and will contact Catherine only for urgent pastoral care needs. The Board will continue to offer leadership and oversight to the congregation.

To ensure Catherine can experience true rest and rejuvenation, we kindly request that you refrain from calling or emailing her during this time. For any congregational needs, please reach out to Rocco, Ruth, or our Vision and Care team, who will be available to assist you.

From July 2 to July 5, Catherine will be attending Mennonite Church Canada’s National Gathering in Kitchener. 

Most sincerely,

Wazir Ally

Board Chair