New Vicar for the Cathedral

Dear Friends,

It is my privilege to share with you that our search for a new Vicar has come to a successful conclusion. Bishop John is appointing the Rev Areeta Bridgemohan as the Cathedral’s next Vicar beginning on May 1, 2022.

I am very excited about welcoming Areeta to the Cathedral. A true citizen of the world, her experience–both personal and professional–will enrich our community in many ways. I also feel that she meets many of the longings expressed during the listening sessions for our next Vicar.

Areeta was born in Guyana and grew up in Rome, Italy. She moved to Canada as a young adult and earned her Masters of Divinity degree from Trinity College at the Toronto School of Theology (University of Toronto).  She was then ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Michigan in December 2015. 

During her time in ministry she has served as the Curate at Christ Church Grosse Pointe in Michigan and most recently as the Associate Rector at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She also has experience working with refugees and migrants in a pastoral setting during her time at St. Paul’s Inside the Walls in Rome, Italy.

Prior to attending seminary, Areeta received a Master of Public Health, Health Behavior, and Health Education from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and a Bachelor of Arts, International Development Studies and Psychology from McGill University (Montréal, Canada). Professionally, Areeta worked in program evaluation and research design in Toronto with the provincial government, and was a manager with United Way managing grants and doing some fun community development work. She also has experience working in public health systems in Barbados and Guyana. She cares deeply about equity and social justice issues.

Areeta is currently enrolled in the Spiritual Guidance program at the Shalem Institute, learning about and deepening her practice of contemplative spirituality. Her toddler son and her dog are also teaching her much about slowing down and being present. In her free time, Areeta loves to practice yoga, hike, read, cook and spend time with loved ones.

Once she arrives in Vancouver the Welcoming Committee, Trustees and staff will be organizing various opportunities for the cathedral community to get to know Areeta. As Vicar her primary focus will be overseeing the pastoral care ministries, spiritual life and formation opportunities and programs at the Cathedral. I am very excited to have Areeta share her global pastoral experience with our community and further enrich our life of faith at the Cathedral.

I know you will welcome Areeta with the same warmth and love with which you welcomed me and the other clergy we have added to our team over the past two years. 

I hope you share in my excitement over Areeta and her family joining our community. 

Blessings,

Dean Christopher A. Pappas