Leadership
Our Staff
Rev. Andrew Colman
Andrew grew up in Winnipeg and earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Trumpet Performance from the University of Manitoba. He currently plays trumpet in the Super Cool Brass Band in Winnipeg. Andrew received his Master of Divinity from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. After his studies, he served in eight different parishes during his formation including a curacy Holy Trinity Guildwood, Scarborough. Some highlights include acting as the summer chaplain for the Parish of Georgina at Saint George’s Sibbald Point, engaging with summer visitors to the historic heritage site. Andrew became known as the “swinging chaplain” for his jazz trumpet performances at the local community restaurant. He also worked for Christ Church Deer Park as Children & Youth Director and served on the Bishop’s Youth Ministry Committee of the Diocese of Toronto.
Andrew has called saint ben’s home since the season of Advent in 2007. Like many people who discover sbt, he initially found refuge in participating in worship without further obligations. He moved into actively participating in the community through music ministry by joining the worship team. After 5 years, he was called into ministry and sent by saint ben’s to Toronto for study. Andrew returned home to Winnipeg in 2022 and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land in 2023. He has been serving as rector at saint ben’s since February 2024. Andrew is excited for this next chapter in the life of saint benedict’s table and looks forward to all the gifts the Holy Spirit has in store.
Ruth Denton
Ruth is our Administration and Communications Coordinator. Her experience as a musician and preacher’s kid (both parents!) helps her build community and connections across a diverse range of people and their gifts while coordinating the growing to-do list for st bens. Ruth has a Master of Music in Historical Performance from the University of Toronto and is an Assistant Conductor of the Joie de Vivre Community Choir. She freelances as an oboist and educator, and most recently wrote a fictional holiday story-concert for all ages. She is also the Interim Communications & Marketing Coordinator at the Manitoba Choral Association.
Ruth recently returned to the beloved Manitoba prairies—after a decade living in Ontario and Colorado—where she resides with her husband Vijay Chalasani and Nellie the poodle. Ruth is new to the st. bens community, but grew up listening to music by Steve Bell as he attended the same high school as her family. She is looking forward to meeting everyone and gathering together each week.
Kitchen Table
The Kitchen Table is the saint ben’s version of a church board, so called because our very earliest meetings were held around a big kitchen table in our first church home, the long-closed St Alban’s Anglican Church.
This group currently gathers a half dozen times over the course of the year, to consider not only the usual church board matters such as budgets and staffing, but also to act as something of a discernment group and sounding board for the wider saint benedict's table community.
Kitchen Table Meeting Minutes and Resources:
Curious about the topics on our plate and the discussions and the policies that inform them ‘round the table? Please feel free to review meeting minutes and our HR Policy Handbook, below. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our Wardens for more information.
2024 Kitchen Table Team:
Rob Kwade
Warden
Beth Downey Sawatzky
Warden
Rod Gray
Rod has been attending sbt since 2014. He is currently retired but has had 3 major employment areas: Canadian Forces (14 years), Winnipeg Transit (8 years) and, finally, RBC Royal Bank (10 years). Rod has a B.A. from the University of Manitoba in Political Science.
Marvin Kopp
Katharine Langille
Katharine has attended sbt for over 10 years and has served on church vestries since the 1980s. Katharine enjoys taking minutes to feel completely engaged in the meeting, and has completed training in minute taking and meeting management. Katharine believes in the value of community; serving on the Kitchen Table allows her to make new acquaintances and serve the other members. She is also an active member of sbt Book Club!
David Lipinski
Zoe Matties
Zoe has been attending sbt off and on since sometime around 2009, and regularly since 2018 with her partner Tim. She continues to be drawn in by the excellent music, and welcoming open communion table. She joined Kitchen Table in 2022, and often volunteers as Lay Reader or Communion Assistant during services.
Zoe works for A Rocha Canada, which is part of an international network of Christian nature conservation organizations. In her spare time she enjoys walking in the woods, reading a good book, and sharing a meal with friends.
Jonny Moir
Jonny and his wife have been attending sbt since 2010 and can often be found at the 4pm family-friendly service. Jonny has a BSC in Applied Computer Science and in Business Administration from the University of Winnipeg. He currently works as a data analyst but prefers his other role in life as a nerdy dad. He enjoys being a maker and is drawn to all forms of creative expression both for their apparent beauty and for what they reveal about us as people.
Danielle Morton
Danielle has been calling sbt home since fall of 2012 when she moved to Winnipeg. She has been involved in a variety of roles including communion administrant, scripture reader, lay reader and tidy up, as well as participating in the Canonical Committee, Communities of Calling team, and as a Kitchen Table member from 2017-2021. As a Synod Delegate, Danielle brings a deep love and appreciation for the Anglican liturgy, theology, and ecclesiology to the Kitchen Table.
Pat Mowat
Pat and Ian have been attending sbt for 17 years. Pat loves the liturgy and the contemplative worship time. She and Ian are committed to providing hospitality and encouragement to others and being able share their home.
Pat has been retired for 9 years from her work for the Province of Manitoba as a social service worker. Pat has enjoyed helping behind the scenes at sbt during this time and is looking forward to a larger responsibility as a member of the Kitchen Table.
Paul Peters Derry
Paul wandered and wondered his way into saint benedict’s table in the fall of 2015, later discerning a shift from ordination as a United Church Minister to ordination to the transitional diaconate (2021) and thereafter the priesthood (2022).
With foundational studies at Vancouver School of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary – DMin thesis, “‘May I Have a Word?’ Preaching from Points of New Location” – and University of Winnipeg, Paul shared pastorates in Vancouver, BC, Sept-Iles, QC, Norwood-Westwood, ON, and Winnipeg, and from 2007-22, worked Spiritual Health Services at several Winnipeg healthcare facilities, and worked as Certified Supervisor-Educator, Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC).
An “ex officio” member of kitchen table as Honorary Assistant (Priest), in addition to occasional presiding and preaching, Paul compiles and edits our Annual Report, and happily shares creations from WineSense, where he’s engaged front-line retail services for the past couple of years Embarking on yet another new venture as a real estate agent, Paul wonders where next God will lead.
Christen Rachul
Christen started attending sbt in 2016 and joined the Kitchen Table in 2022. She lives with her partner in the West Broadway community and believes the church plays a valuable role in the neighbourhood. Christen has a PhD in applied linguistics and discourse studies and is a researcher in the field of medical education, but when she's not at work she enjoys doing pottery, cycling, and gardening. In addition to the Kitchen Table, she serves on the Missions Fund Committee, participates in one of the book clubs, and can often be seen volunteering on Sunday evening either greeting people at the door or making coffee.
Rachel Sutton
Rachel Sutton (spouse of Chris Titterton) has been attending saint benedicts table regularly since 2015 or so. Rachel's two day jobs involve a lot of administrative work and collaboration with others, and she loves bringing those skills to Kitchen Table. Rachel volunteers in a variety of roles at SBT, including music ministry and leading prayers of the people. She is also one of the Artist in Residence participants for 2024, and is working on a project focused on the many shapes and forms of mending.
Brad Vrolijk