Sherlock Lecture

Inspired by Synod 2021-2024, the Diocese of Victoria has been walking the path of a Permanent Pastoral Synod — a permanent, ongoing listening and discernment process to promote communion, participation and mission. Why does this matter? And how could other communities begin this journey of fostering a “listening church”?

The Most Reverend Gary Gordon was born in 1957 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and ordained to the priesthood in 1982 at his home parish, St. Francis de Sales, Burnaby. During his almost 24 years working as the Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Chilliwack and St. Joseph’s Parish in Mission, he was very involved in building relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

In 2006, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Bishop of the Diocese of Whitehorse, an event described by Bishop Gary as “hearing a call from God to go to the great white north,” which he happily followed. Shortly after being installed, Bishop Gary was invited to the Richard Malloway Longhouse in Chilliwack for a naming ceremony and received the name “Xyolhmetoxw,” which means “taking care of the people” in Halq’em?ylem, the language of the St?:l? Nation.

In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Gary as the Bishop of Victoria. Over the years, Bishop Gary has served in various roles with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, including in the fields of Pr*son chaplaincy, justice and peace, and legal and political affairs. He is a board member of the Providence Health Care Society, Providence Living, and the National Catholic Broadcasting Council; he has served as Liaison Bishop to Serra International in Canada and State Chaplain for the BC & Yukon Knights of Columbus; and he is a long time member of the Anglican / Lutheran / Roman Catholic Bishop’s Dialogue.

At Pentecost 2023, Bishop Gary announced the formation of the Diocese of Victoria Permanent Pastoral Synod as a way to continue the journey that began with Synod 2021-2024. He believes that synodality is an ongoing journey of renewal—calling us to listen, discern, and engage with one another in a spirit of communion. Guided by the Holy Spirit, this approach invites us to reshape how we interact, make decisions, and walk together as a faith community.

The lecture series is named in honour of Bishop John Michael Sherlock, ninth Bishop of London and first Episcopal Liaison to the CCCM.

The Sherlock Lecture is hosted is by Campus Life and Ministry at and and in Vancouver, BC as part of the 2026 National Conference for Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry.

The 2026 Conference for Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry is taking place from May 25-28, 2026 at Corpus Christi College and St. Mark's College at UBC in partnership with UBC Catholic Campus Ministry at St. Mark's Parsh. For more info about the conference and the association, click the link below.

www.thecccm.ca

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