Men Enrich Their Faith at Ecumenical Gathering

By Carl Rose

Photography:

Carl Rose

Topics: Central Newfoundland, December 2025

Published: December 1, 2025

September 26–28 was a weekend of reflection, revival, and renewal for men of different denominations in Grand Bank, Fortune, and the surrounding areas.Forty men met at St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Grand Bank and All Saints’ Anglican Church in Fortune for a “faith enrichment program.”

It was planned by The Rev’d Charlie Cox, rector of the Parish of Grand Bank and the Parish of Fortune-Lamaline, and The Rev’d Robin Trevors, rector of the Grand Falls-Windsor-Bishops Falls Parish.

Rev’d Trevors facilitated the conference.He explained, “Charlie and I have been trying to set up this for the last two years, a ‘faith enrichment program’ for men of the Deanery.”

Two men on a stage with a blue curtain backdrop. One man stands at a wooden lectern with an acoustic guitar, and the other man stands to the right singing and playing an acoustic guitar into a microphone with a music stand in front of him.

Rev. Charlie Cox introduces group facilitator, Rev. Robin Trevors.

A priest in a white alb with green vestments stands in front of the altar, raising his index finger to make a point while speaking during a church service.

Rev. Trevors was the guest preacher at the joint service in All Saints Anglican Church in Fortune.

A priest in a white robe and a deacon in a green vestment stand at the front of a church with their hands raised. A group of young children are seated on the steps of the chancel, also with their hands raised in the air. A large stained glass window is visible in the background.

Rev. Trevors ministered to the children at All Saints Church in Fortune.

Two men seated at a table, smiling at the camera while eating lunch. The man in the foreground has a white beard and glasses, and the man behind him is wearing a bright blue long-sleeved shirt.

Rev. Charlie and Rev. Robin enjoyed the meal.

A group of eight men seated around a white-clothed table eating a meal. One man in a plaid shirt is looking at his phone.

The roast beef dinner was delicious.

Rev’d Trevors outlined the focus of the weekend. “I chose the theme, ‘Yesterday, Today, and Forever’ for the weekend gathering, looking at the divinity of Christ and how He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

He added that it was also an opportunity for introspection for the men to look within.

“The weekend gave us the opportunity to look at our lives in the light of yesterday, today, and forever: not only our personal lives, but also our church lives and make a correlation of what we were, who we are, where we are heading, and how we are going to get there.”

Rev’d Trevors said he felt the men were blessed. “The music has touched their hearts very deeply and I think the experience they had was a very positive one.”

One participant, Tom Banfield, agreed entirely with that assessment.

“The leader opened up to us who God is and what He means to us. He challenged us to look at ourselves in comparison to what God has to offer. I, for one, went away looking at God regarding where I am in my spiritual thoughts; my heart was blessed when I left church Friday night.”

Banfield added, “The second day of the conference showed us again that God is one we can depend on, a God who loves us and leads us day by day. All He asks of us is that we would surrender ourselves to Him and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from day to day.”

Seven women wearing hairnets and brightly colored tops stand in a row in a church kitchen with white cabinets, posing for a group portrait.

Members of the Anglican Church Women from Grand Bank and Fortune prepared and served all the food for the weekend. Everything was delicious. (from left) Shirley Rose, Hazel Caines, Stella Cumben, Shirley Walters, Jaunita Skinner, Amy Dominie, and Jean Rose.

Two women serving food from large silver pots on a serving cart to a large group of men seated at tables in a church hall. The serving women are wearing patterned tops and gloves.

The ACW ladies served a delicious midday meal of soup and sandwiches.

A group of men gathered in a room for a sing-along. One man is playing the upright piano, another is playing a guitar, and several others are standing and singing along with them.

Music and singing during a coffee break.

A group of men seated at tables in a large room during a meeting or conference, listening to a speaker off-camera. Religious signage is visible on the back wall.

The participants were very attentive and involved for the whole weekend.

A close-up of a smiling bald man with a beard, wearing glasses and a blue-gray collared shirt, speaking into a lapel microphone. A banner for an "Anglican Church 2023" celebration is visible in the background.

The presentations were lively and passionate.

Each session began with signing. Here, Rev. Trevors is joined by participant Jimmy Strickland.

Four men sitting around a wooden table during a small group discussion, with one man on the far left reading from a paper.

Rev. Trevors chats with some of the participants before the beginning of the conference. (from left) Winston Walters, Les Price and Sam Barnes.

A bald man with a beard and glasses, wearing a short-sleeved blue-gray shirt, stands and reads from a book to an audience whose backs are visible in the foreground.

A bible reading by the facilitator sets the stage for the beginning of the session.

Rev’d Cox summed up his feelings on the weekend this way. “The energy in the room during the men’s weekend was very encouraging and inspiring. The gathering gave us the opportunity to not only fellowship with one another but also to reflect on who we are as people of God.”

All the delicious meals were prepared by the Anglican Church Women of Fortune, and Grand Bank.

The weekend ended with a joint service at All Saints’ in Fortune, with Rev’d Trevors as guest preacher.