St. Peter the Apostle Filipino Congregation to Become New Parish

A family faith community that worships God together, is rooted in love and reaches out to its neighbours will soon be a new parish in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton.

On April 24, the diocesan Executive Council approved an application by St. Peter the Apostle Congregation, primarily a Filipino Anglican faith community meeting at St. Matthias Anglican Church in west Edmonton, to be established as a parish.

The Rev. Dr. Eric Kregel, priest in charge, and Cecilia Sibayan, a founding member, were invited to share the congregation's 14-year history. The congregation consists primarily of people from the Igorot culture of the Northern Philippines, “a deeply Christian area with a strong Anglican tradition.”
St. Peter’s membership includes many young families participating in communal gatherings, such as a spring break camp run by the youth at St. Paul’s, Edmonton, and a series of nine evening Mass services and Misa de Gallo (the Rooster Service) during Advent. Also characteristic of the congregation are inclusive and liturgical worship and flexible leadership.

In addition to shepherding St. Peter’s, Kregel is also the assistant priest at St. Paul’s, Edmonton, and a chaplain with the Mustard Seed. However, he remains committed to helping St. Peter’s become a parish. Eventually, the parish may employ a Filipino priest to lead what members hope will become a multi-ethnic parish.

“The dream of this (naturally welcoming community) has been to create a parish for folks who are dealing with the transition from their old world in the Philippines to their new world in Canada, coming together in a place of welcome that would be not just for the Igorot community, but for newcomers to Edmonton, and anyone dealing with transition,” he says.

Sibayan says St. Peter's would welcome support from the Edmonton diocese’s family of churches. “When we first started, it felt like we were off in a corner. It will be nice to feel connected.” 

Executive Council members raised concerns about sustainability, however, Kregel and Sibayan acknowledged that the congregation has successfully navigated significant setbacks, such as the COVID pandemic which resulted in many members leaving, eventually returning, and “claiming this to be their faith community.” Furthermore, the congregation is now stable and supporting itself financially.

“Through many different trials and successes, highs and lows of population, and leadership changes, we have survived/thrived and have ministered to the Filipino newcomers of Edmonton,” said St. Peter’s congregation in its application to become a parish.

Kregel and Sibayan expressed gratitude for the support of the Parish of St. Matthias, Edmonton, which shares its resources and space, and endorsed St. Peter’s application.

“This has been a deeply humbling experience, but it’s clear God has done a lot of work to bring us to the point where, with boldness, we can ask to be a parish,” says Kregel.