Jason Haggstrom, commissioned in 1991, has recently been called to Peace River, AB from Prince Ruprt, BC to serve as the Dean of Athabasca and Rector of St. James' Cathedral.
Jason, his wife of 23 years, Nova, and their two sons moved across the mountains from Prince Rupert, BC in late August 2017. “It has been a few weeks now since we came to Peace River and began the process of settling into life in town”, Jason commented. “The boxes are mostly cleared away from the house and a few parishioners are even making good use of them, for a move of their own.” He continued, “we’ve received such a gracious welcome from our new community. Our boys (Joshua, 21 and Aaron, 15) have marveled at the welcome we have received from the St. James family and from the Diocese of Athabasca.”
Jason has been in full time ministry for the past 26 years. The first 16 years of his ministry were spent with Threshold Ministries in Ontario, in the Yukon and in Western Newfoundland. Then, having sought further education, he earned a theological degree in 2007, and was subsequently ordained Deacon and Priest that same year. In 2011, the Haggstrom family moved west from Western Newfoundland to Prince Rupert and the Diocese of Caledonia, where Jason served as Rector of St.Andrew’s Cathedral and Dean of Caledonia for the past 6 years.
"I am a parish priest in a community of about 6700 people. I spend my time teaching the scriptures, in prayer both public and in private and in leading worship. Our parish participates in the local Soup Kitchen which is held here three times a week and supports the local Food Bank with regular donations. There are lots of opportunities in the community to preach and to share Christ in the retirement and nursing homes. In the Diocese, I assist the Bishop with administration and other like matters. As Dean I am a senior counselor to and a confidante the Bishop along with the Archdeacon. With the Regional Deans, we are pastoral care givers for the clergy. I sit on the Management Committee and the Diocesan Executive Council to assist in the leadership of the Diocese. I am the Chair of the Matrimonial Commission in the Diocese. I spend a lot of my time enabling others to do ministry which in and of itself is an important ministry."