Pastoral Team
Fr. Mark was ordained on December 18, 1990 for the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia (Philippines). He taught at San Pablo Regional Seminary (Baguio City) for three years before he migrated to Toronto in 1994. He served in various parishes before he was appointed as founding pastor of St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. Fr. Mark specialized in Eastern Christianity, passionately promotes "breathing with two lungs" and the pursuit of Christian unity.
Sr. Necy Guan is a Canossian Sister from Cristo Rey Province – North America. She has been in the Congregation for thirty-three (33) years. She obtained her Masters Degree in Education with the specialization in Guidance and Counseling from De la Salle University, Philippines and Master in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of Chicago, USA. She also has a training in Spiritual Direction from Mercy Center, Colorado Springs, CO, USA. She had been in school ministry in the Philippines and varied church ministries in the United States. Her ministerial responsibility here at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish is the Religious Education of Children and Youth. As a daughter of Saint Magdalene of Canossa her focus is to fulfill the desire of her Foundress to “make Christ known in order to be loved.”
Fatima Chan serves as our parish secretary. She was born in Hongkong and married to Leo Chau. They have two teenaged sons, Limneus and Godfrey.
Fatima served as secretary to His Eminence the late John Baptist Cardinal Wu, Bishop of Hongkong before migrating to Toronto. She is also a member of the Lay Canossians.
Fatima served as secretary to His Eminence the late John Baptist Cardinal Wu, Bishop of Hongkong before migrating to Toronto. She is also a member of the Lay Canossians.
Deacon Michael Ho was born and raised in Hong Kong, where he married his wife Isabella and where they had two children, Teresa and John Paul. They all attended Catholic schools and Michael’s faith has been fostered by the Marist Brothers since his youth. His family emigrated to Canada in 1988. Michael and Isabella have now been married for 35 years and both of their children are now married as well.
Michael’s professional background was in finance and banking. He entered the teaching profession in 1998, and at the present time he is working as an ESL instructor for the York Catholic District School Board.
After attending the archdiocesan ‘Called by Name’ event in 1999, Michael responded to the call to the Deaconate and was accepted to the Formation Program at St. Augustine’s Seminary the following year. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2004 for the Archdiocese of Toronto and then carried out his liturgical ministry at Chinese Martyrs Parish in Markham for 6 years.
Deacon Ho also serves as the Associate Chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea. Working together with the Anglican ministers, he provides ecumenical service for sailors at the Port of Toronto. He completed the Houston Maritime Chaplains’ Training Program in 2005. He is currently an accredited Instructor for the Ship Welfare Visitor Course of International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare, U.K.
He is excited about joining the vibrant community of the St. Josephine Bakhita Parish and serving alongside the pastoral team.
Michael’s professional background was in finance and banking. He entered the teaching profession in 1998, and at the present time he is working as an ESL instructor for the York Catholic District School Board.
After attending the archdiocesan ‘Called by Name’ event in 1999, Michael responded to the call to the Deaconate and was accepted to the Formation Program at St. Augustine’s Seminary the following year. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2004 for the Archdiocese of Toronto and then carried out his liturgical ministry at Chinese Martyrs Parish in Markham for 6 years.
Deacon Ho also serves as the Associate Chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea. Working together with the Anglican ministers, he provides ecumenical service for sailors at the Port of Toronto. He completed the Houston Maritime Chaplains’ Training Program in 2005. He is currently an accredited Instructor for the Ship Welfare Visitor Course of International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare, U.K.
He is excited about joining the vibrant community of the St. Josephine Bakhita Parish and serving alongside the pastoral team.
Sr. Linda Carandang is a native of the Philippines and Educated in the field of Education and Theological Studies. She entered the Canossian Daughters of Charity as a Missionary. In the early years of her religious life she served as Directress and Principal in several Canossian Schools in the Philippines. She was given the opportunity to go to Mission Ad Gentes (outside of one's country) and has served for 16 years in Tanzania, Kenya ,Uganda in East Africa and Malawi in Central Africa as Formator for young Africans seeking to be religious and Administrator/Director in Catechetical Department and Center in several Dioceses prior to coming to United States. She ministered as Director of Parish Life and Pastoral Outreach Program for 7 years in Our Lady of Annunciation Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is currently serving as Pastoral Assistant in our parish. She carries in her heart St. Magdalene of Canossa's legacy of "making Jesus Christ known and loved."
Other Founding Members of the Pastoral Team
Sister Cristina Ovejera, Fdcc came to serve as our pastoral assistant from 2008 to 2011. She is a Canossian sister from the Province of Cristo Rey in Albuquerque, NM. Sister Cristina was responsible in setting up many of the lay ministries, including Women at the Well (Women's Spirituality). She returned to the United States at the end of May 2011 confident that our lay ministry program is strong and vibrant. Sister Cristina has paved the way for other Canossian sisters to serve in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Deacon Barry and Sheila Wood were our first deacon couple in the parish. Deacon Barry agreed to serve the parish several months prior to the establishment of our parish community while still waiting for ordination. As soon as he was ordained deacon, the Archbishop of Toronto appointed him to our parish. Deacon Barry and Sheila served our parish with joy and a lively faith for more than a year. He was eventually called to serve in the Archdiocese of Regina. Our loss is the Archdiocese of Regina's gain.