Clergy and Staff
Who are we?
"Ambassadors for Christ"
What is our purpose?
As Ambassadors for Christ, we are called to
bring the Lord's grace, love and peace to everyone.
Rector: The Venerable Dr. Deborah H. Kraft
B.Sc.(Trinity College, U.of T.), MBA (Rotman School of Management, U. of T.), B.Th. (Thorneloe College, Laurentian University), MTS (Trinity)
Thorneloe College awarded her an honourary Doctorate of Sacred Theology in 2019.
Archdeacon Deborah is the happy Rector of St. Paul’s. She is privileged to serve as Archbishop Anne Germond’s Archdeacon for of Thunder Bay–North Shore. Archdeacon Deborah started parish ministry in 2002, and after serving the Parish of West Thunder Bay for five years, she moved to St. Paul’s. She continues to be passionate about serving God by striving to be an Ambassador for Christ. Archdeacon Deborah gives thanks to God for the gift of the growth in discipleship that is happening at St. Paul’s and the privilege of working with a team of Christ-centred people.
Before she was ordained a priest on May 6, 2002, by the Rt. Rev. Ronald Ferris, she was the owner of Kraft Marketing, a local firm that focused on marketing research and marketing strategies. Archdeacon Deborah has also been a professor at Confederation College and a small business consultant.
She is currently Chair of the Constitution and Canons Committee for the Diocese of Algoma and is on the Archbishop’s Council, and the Executive Committee for the Diocese of Algoma. Archdeacon Deborah co-facilitated the strategic plan for Algoma and is an Associate of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine in Toronto.
Archdeacon Deborah has been married to Dr. Jouni Kraft for 43 years, and they are blessed to have four adult children and 12 grandchildren. For relaxation, she like Pilates, yoga, running, reading, and cottage life.
Deborah prays that all stay safe and well during the challenges of COVID-19. She can’t wait to start travelling again in order to visit her grandchildren who live in Toronto, Ottawa, and Finland.
Deacon Associate: The Reverend Anne Carr
Deacon Anne has been our Deacon Associate for the past two years and we are blessed to have her. She is a kind and compassionate person who loves to visit parishioners at home or in the hospital. Anne was a nurse for many years, working in Public Health and Home Care programs. When she moved to Thunder Bay she started courses in pastoral care and worked as a chaplain at the Cancer Centre for 11 years. Following God’s call, she was ordained to the Vocational Diaconate in 2001. Anne is the mother of two adult sons and grandmother of three sweet little ones. She is married to St. Paul’s former Rector, the Rev. Canon Paul Carr. Anne hears God’s song of the universe through worship, singing, and traveling.
Honourary Assistant
Father Gordon Holroyd
Honourary Assistant: Father Gordon Holroyd
B.Th. (Thorneloe University)
After being called to serve in other parishes in the Deanery of Thunder Bay-North Shore over the past eight years, Fr. Gordon Holroyd has returned to St. Paul’s in late 2020, and we welcome him back with open arms.
Fr. Gordon was licensed as an Honorary Assistant to St. Paul’s in 2005 and that license has remained while he has been called to serve as an Interim Incumbent in other parishes.
In recognition that his license stands as the Honorary Assistant for St. Paul’s, and in anticipation of his return, his name has always remained on our church signs, as well as on the ‘Diocesan Cycle of Prayer’ listing for St. Paul’s.
We celebrate Fr. Gordon’s servant heart and his desire to serve the Lord wherever he is called. He joins the clergy team of Anne Carr, Deacon Associate, and Deborah Kraft, Incumbent.
Music Director: Dr. Sean Kim
B.Mus., Theory & Composition (Western), M.Mus., Composition (Western), Ph.D., Systemic Musicology (Western)
Sean, his wife Dawn, and their four children come to St. Paul’s from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Thunder Bay, where Sean served as the Organist. Sean has recently been awarded his Ph.D. in Systemic Musicology from Western University. He is also the new Operations & Education Manager for the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
Parish Assistant: Christine French
(H.B.A., Lakehead University)
When you phone St. Paul’s, the first person that you will most likely speak with is Christine. She has served as Parish Assistant for 15 years, and she is known for her warm and friendly personality. Christine loves God and loves this parish. She is committed to excellence and brings creativity and beauty to our weekly service bulletins and our weekly newsletter The Ambassador. Christine serves on the Lenten Retreat Committee. St. Paul’s was the first church she visited when she came to Thunder Bay; she immediately felt at home and has never left. Christine and her husband Christopher were married here 14 years ago. She loves her job and feels ever close to her St. Paul’s family; it’s a great privilege to earn a living ‘building the kingdom’ and it sure keeps her busy! (Christopher says he became Property Chair so he could spend time with her). They cherish each other and an annual trek to Quetico, where they ‘unplug’ and paddle rain or shine. They love to walk, read and putter in the garden. Christine and Christopher loved being part of St. Paul’s pilgrimage to Greece and Israel and they can’t wait to travel to Italy with our parish family next spring.
Rector's Warden
Dorothy Piccinin
807-344-0004
dpiccinin@tbaytel.net
People's Warden
Christopher Heikkinen
807-708-6754
Deputy Warden
Deborah Victor
807-356-1328
dvictor53@gmail.com
Children's Ministries & Food For The Soul
Laurie Sandham
807-707-3048
Congratulations to the Venerable Deborah Kraft!
Congratulations to the Venerable Deborah Kraft who will be honoured by Thorneloe University and receive a Doctorate of Sacred Theology at Convocation on October 11, 2019!
Archdeacon Deborah Kraft serves as the Incumbent of St. Paul’s, Thunder Bay which is one of the flagship parishes in the Diocese of Algoma. Since October 2012 she also serves as the Archdeacon for Thunder Bay/North Shore Deanery. She is a graduate of Thorneloe University, having graduated with a B.Th in May 2002. During her studies at Thorneloe she received the Peterson Ministry Scholarship (Sept. 2000) and the Thorneloe Alumni Scholarship (Sept. 2001). She was ordained as a Deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada (Algoma Diocese) on January 28th, 2001, and as a Presbyter on May 6th, 2002.
Dear Ambassadors for Christ,
I am deeply privileged and humbled to receive this honourary doctorate. I actually find this all a little embarrassing as I feel unworthy to be a recipient.
Here is what will enable me to receive this honourary degree with JOY and in THANKSGIVING: The truth is that I am receiving this degree on behalf of all of us, and with God living in us, and moving through us.
We are a team together, the body of Christ. As disciples, we are committed to walk together in the light and in the love of the Lord. When I travel with Jouni and Wally to Sudbury and receive this Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) on October 10, 2019, I will be receiving it on behalf of each of you. I see the hand of God in your support, your love, your faith, and your willingness to risk and to walk in faith. I did not earn this recognition on my own but through our efforts together. Please put the letters ‘Dr.’ in front of your own name and say it out loud.
On October 10, at Thorneloe University in Sudbury, I promise that it will be your hands and your eyes and your hearts that will reach out with mine to receive this degree.
Here is what my brother-in-law Veli emailed to me today. It was written by Charles Wesley and reminds us that “for God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
“Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, My daily labour to pursue, Thee, only thee, resolved to know In all I think or speak or do."
With Love and Blessings
Your humbled rector and archdeacon,
Deborah +
