Father Simon Lobo On Learning to Lead a Growing Parish, What Has Kept Him in Ministry and the Post-Pandemic Disciple
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Jason sits down with Father Simon Lobo this week for a conversation as friends leading in different types of churches, on different coasts of the country, but with a shared heart for Jesus and the Canadian Church. Father Simon is a priest at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax and a member of Companions of the Cross.
He started at St. Benedict in 2015 as they were experiencing parish renewal and moving their congregation from “maintenance to mission”. With that came a changing of leadership skills required for Father Simon as their team grew to include other priests and deacons who he was now leading and supporting. The moments of sitting with someone, praying, visiting them in the hospital, and anointing with oil are close to his heart, though he has also appreciated the focus he can now have as a leader of leaders to invest in those who can in turn multiply his efforts. He references Tim Keller’s “Leadership and Church Size Dynamics” article where it breaks down how different sizes of congregations require different leadership styles and bring new challenges.
Another dynamic Father Simon has learned over the years is the importance of relationships and friendships with others to find companionship and avoid loneliness. He lives in a house with four other church clergy currently and shares about the joy of doing life together with different rhythms of prayer, meals, and support. Without this, he is not sure he would still be in ministry.
Near the end of the interview, Jason asks what the future might look like for the Church in the Maritimes and Canada. Father Simon expresses his sense that this pandemic may be the final nail in the coffin for cultural Christianity in much of Canada. So what does that mean? Well, he thinks the key will be teaching followers of Jesus to be Missionary Disciples. The focus on outward mission and empowering the whole congregation will be required for the church to continue to reach people in post-pandemic, post-Christian Canada.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Father Simon Lobo.
“My dream for the future is that our churches will be filled with missionary disciples who are outwardly focused on the lost.”
Father Simon Lobo
Fr. Simon Lobo is a priest of the Companions of the Cross, ordained in 2009. He worked for three years as the campus minister at Wayne State University in Detroit where he witnessed hundreds of students being evangelized and coming to faith. Over the last several years, he has served in parishes throughout Ottawa. He joined the team at Saint Benedict Parish, Halifax, in July 2015 as the associate pastor where he experienced parish renewal and learned about the essential role of leadership. Fr. Simon is now the past of Saint Benedict where parish renewal continues to flourish.
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Anne Miranda
Anne is currently the Pastor of Women’s Ministries at Village Church in British Columbia. In her love to develop women in leadership roles, she co-founded Leverage, a ministry that equips leaders with practical resources, inspired by the Word of God, and connect with like-minded "leaders of leaders". Anne is involved as a board member of Ally Global, an organization that focuses on empowering women and children who have been rescued from human trafficking.
Born and raised in a Lebanese heritage, Anne understands the challenges and beauty of being first-generation Canadian. Her personal background includes developing Crime Prevention Programs for youth under the Attorney General’s Office in British Columbia and as an educator, teaching high school Spanish and English Literature. She lives in Surrey, British Columbia with her husband Carlos and their children Nathaniel and Hannah, and her Mom.