Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Dr. Christine Jones, TWU President Dr. Jonathan Raymond, and Senator Gerry St. Germain celebrate Dr. Jones' installation as the second president of Redeemer Pacific College.
Dr. Christine Jones was installed as the second president of Redeemer Pacific College, the Catholic liberal arts college affiliated with Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. The inauguration took place on Saturday morning, October 15, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Langley. The solemn ceremony was officiated by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Archbishop of Vancouver.
Students at Redeemer Pacific College can receive a Catholic Studies Minor while enrolled in any of Trinity Western’s 40+ undergraduate degree programs. The Redeemer Pacific program of study includes scripture, philosophy and theology, giving students a firm grounding in the Catholic faith. 220 students are currently taking courses at Redeemer Pacific.
In the presence of Archbishop Miller and the college’s Board of Governors, Dr. Jones took an Oath of Fidelity to the teaching magisterium of the Catholic Church and, with the faculty of Redeemer Pacific, made a Profession of Faith. In attendance were local political leaders, including Mayor Peter Fassbender, City of Langley; Acting Mayor Councillor Grant Ward, Township of Langley; Honourable Mary Polak, MLA Langley; Honourable John van Dongen, MLA Abbotsford South; Mr. Russ Hiebert, MP for South Surrey.
Dr. Jones stated, “I am extremely honoured to be called upon to serve an institution dedicated to offering young people an authentic engagement with the great spiritual, intellectual, and cultural patrimony of the Catholic Church, in an environment that allows for thoughtful dialogue and collaboration with Christians of other traditions as well.”
Dr. Jones holds degrees from the University of British Columbia (BA) and McGill University (MA, Ph.D). She has 17 years teaching and administrative experience at four Canadian universities including Simon Fraser; UBC; the University of Montreal and McGill University. She also taught at Redeemer Pacific College during the fall 2010 term.
Speakers at the ceremony included Archbishop J. Michael, Miller, Dr. Jonathan S. Raymond, President of Trinity Western University, and Senator Gerry St. Germain, Senate of Canada. Official greetings were sent by the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio; Corpus Christi College, Vancouver; and Trinity Western University. During the ceremony, Dr. Jones was presented with the medal of St. Luke by the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Redeemer Pacific College, Mr. Hugh Buckley.
Dr. Jones took over from past president, Tom Hamel (BA, TWU ’95), this August. Hamel founded Redeemer Pacific College in 1999 with the assistance of Archbishop Adam Exner; Trinity Western University; Richard Sewell CGA; Psychologist James Marland (MA, TWU ’95); Father Michael Scanlan (Franciscan U); Dr. Stephen Miletic (Franciscan U) and Dr. Andrew Minto (Franciscan U).