Mission congregation hosts installation of LCC’s newest Missionary-at-Large for the francophone community

by David Somers

QUEBEC CITY, Que. - On October 3, 2021, the congregation of Sainte-Trinité in Quebec City, hosted the installation of Rev. Marco-Antonio Jacobsen as assistant Missionary-at-Large for Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s French Ministries.

Rev. Marco-Antonio Jacobsen (Photo: Roni Martins).

Sainte-Trinité was formed through the cooperation of half a dozen or so LCC members who happened to move to the city within months of each other, in partnership with LCC Missionary, Rev. Dr. David Somers. An application for seed funds for exploratory outreach was approved by the former LCC East District in mid-2008. A sum of $3,640 was provided for publicity and transportation.

A formal church building was not available, so the group held monthly services at a 19 th century prisonbecome-private library. The local community covered rental costs and, subsequently, transportation costs for the pastors, including Rev. Razafy Razfindrakoto.

In the summer of 2010, this confessional Lutheran community in Quebec decided to assume more responsibilities at the local level since, up until this point, they had been operating under the directives of the Missionary-atlarge. This step forward was encouraged following the recent arrival of some relocated members from the Sherbrooke Lutheran Mission (Rev. Razafy Razfindrakoto) to Quebec City (a young family of three and a single woman) as well as by the arrival of a member from our sister church in France (with whom we had been in contact two years before when he was studying in Trois-Rivières, Quebec). A solidifying sign of this progression was the choosing of a name for the congregation: Église Évangélique Luthérienne de la Sainte-Trinité (Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity)—which became a Recognized District Mission. Another part of this formative process was the decision not to request further District Mission Funds.

By September of that same year, the mission had developed further as they moved to the Université Laval chapel, affording a visible Lutheran presence for the student population. The free-of-charge and regular availability of the new venue permitted the addition of another worship service per month (second and fourth Sundays). Those services plus the monthly Lutheran service led by the military chaplain Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau (and subsequently others) at nearby Valcartier army base chapel allow for three services per month for the Lutherans of Quebec City. When the university chapel was no longer available, an Anglican church was rented for Sunday services. In spite of challenges, this mission was growing steadily, and at a rapidity not seen in the early years of Lutheran francophone missions.

In June 2011, just when a five-member family was being transferred away, news was received of the pending arrival of a retired LCC pastor moving to Quebec City, in large part, to support the mission. By November, he had arrived. A contact who had periodically attended services in Montreal but was making the transition to Quebec City, also joined the mission and invited a family she had met in a grocery store line to come as well—they later became members! Then, in January 2012, a Malagasy couple (formerly Reformed) who had become faithful communicants at l’Église Luthérienne de l’Ascension (Montreal) announced their forthcoming move to Quebec City.

Sainte-Trinité is a congregation that could have given up many times over the past decade, and yet continues to grow in spite of adversities. This small community has withstood four changes in worship venues within the last ten years, and its humble beginnings as a monthly service in French for less than ten people whose first language was not French. On top of this, the members were from five different countries, with a variety of church backgrounds (some Lutheran, some not).

When the members of Sainte-Trinité were finally able to meet together on a weekly basis, there was often no pastor available, sometimes at a late notice, because many of the supply pastors were military chaplains whose primary duty was service on the base. Still, this congregation continued on with no full-time resident pastor and, further, with many of the members faced with frequent relocations.

Sainte-Trinité members continue to meet—and, joyfully, at that—in spite of fragility, diversity, dispersion, and a lack of full-time pastoral presence. In fact, many members are strongly present, actively assisting in the worship and contributing their time and treasure, bringing one another to church.

Pastoral care is often via regular emails, by phone, as well as through monthly visits by the LCC Missionary-at- Large, before and after services. In addition, the presence of a very active, retired pastor the Rev. Frank Morget, mentioned above serves as the Resident Pastoral Advisor. Along with his wife, Nancy, they have provided stability for the congregation throughout the years.

The frequent departure of families, anywhere from four-six members at a time, could have had devastating effects on this church body. However, each time a family moved away, others seemed to show up within a matter of months. Among the arrivals was Lutheran pastor Walta Clercius and his wife and family from Haiti, both doctoral students in Quebec.

Rev. Jacobsen and Rev. M.L. Smith, LCC's Missions Director (Photo: David Friesen)

More recently, pandemic-related restrictions lead the local Anglican Church to lose its doors between March and September 2020 and then again from January to March 2021, which meant that Sainte- Trinité members could no longer make use of the building for weekly services.

Once again the congregation adapted, joining LCC Lutherans in Montreal for Zoom services, a new Bible study, and monthly youth activities. Amazingly, despite the shutdowns, the congregation grew.

During that time Rev. Marco-Antonio Jacobsen, a doctoral student in sociology, and his wife and daughter moved from Montreal to Quebec City. Remarkably, a young couple immigrating from Brazil to Quebec found us online and got in touch. This couple became active members just as we opened back up again in the spring of 2021—and which point, we ‘happened’ to have a Brazilian pastor available to welcome them!

Each step backward for Sainte-Trinité, seems to be followed by a step forward, and the congregation now has 25 members. Average attendance is consistently at around 12 people, despite many members regularly having to work weekends.

It was truly a joyful experience for the people of Église Évangélique Luthérienne de la Sainte-Trinité to celebrate the installation of Rev. Marco-Antono Jacobsen as LCC's newest Missionary-at-Large.

The Jacobsen Family (Photo: David Friesen)

Rev. Dr. David Somers serves as Missionary at Large for Lutheran Church–Canada’s French ministries in the province of Quebec.