Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Kersi Bird, Rector
The Rev. Kersi Bird grew up in Winnipeg , studied politics at UBC, and was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of New Westminster in
2003, after completing her seminary studies at Trinity College in Toronto. She was appointed Curate at Christ Church, Elbow Park in Calgary that year. Kersi arrived at the Good Shepherd with her family in September, 2006. Since then she has enjoyed leading this creative and social parish and ministering alongside members of the church family. Kersi is married to John, a teacher, and is mother to Austin. Favourite Good Shepherd memories: A full immersion baptism in a hot tub in January; Murder Mystery dinner theatre ; snowy Palm Sunday procession down Spruce Drive. | Heather Menaldo, Organist & Choir Director
Heather joined the Good Shepherd family in December 2009 and commenced this role in music ministry in January 2010. Heather enjoys using the organ, piano and guitar to assist the choir every Sunday morning at 10AM! She has a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Heather is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Calgary when not at home with her 1 year old daughter, Annaleigh. She is married to Pete who thankfully keeps Annaleigh company during the service! Favourite Good Shepherd Memories: The warm welcome we received from everyone when we joined the congregation, working with the choir every week and their openness to new things, Annaleigh’s baptism. |
Cheryl Macdonald Baharally, Office Administrator
Cheryl joined the Church of the Good Shepherd as a teenager shortly after moving to Calgary from Montreal. One of the few people who found the church from that little blue sign on the south side of Bowtrail! After raising her three
children, she started a successful cleaning business which she ran for 15 years. God redirected her life in 2005 when He called her to the position of Office Administrator at the Good Shepherd. Favourite Good Shepherd Memories: Her wedding to Ivan in 1980. The baptisms and confirmations of her children. The opening of the Art Studio. The submersion baptisms in the Narthex. The incredible family of parishioners who are always willing to help out. Interests: Art, particularly watercolours and paper arts. | Kathie MacDuff, Artist-In-Residence
Kathie MacDuff is a writer, artist and instructor who has been teaching for over eighteen years. She has been the keynote speaker and facilitator at many weekend
retreats, Ladies Time Out programs and professional gatherings, has taught at the Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre in BC for ten years and, for the past eight years, has held weekly classes from her art studio located in the back of the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd in Calgary. Click here to link to more information about the art studio. Kathie is an active volunteer, both in the community and at her church. Favourite Good Shepherd Memories: I remember how happy I was that my seventeen year old step-daughter Tracie wanted to come with me when I told her I wanted to check out a church. It was 1991 and we’d just returned to Calgary. The priest, Rev. Ray Brassel, had been away on holidays and I was expecting a fabulous sermon. Imagine my disappointment when there wasn’t one! Then I found out he wasn’t due back for another week and the man officiating was the warden at that time, Michael Crockford! Since then, our family has experienced almost all of our recent “big” events (including baptisms, confirmations and weddings) under the Good Shepherd roof. It “feels” like home to us and despite the winds of change that always blow, the Good Shepherd family is always present. Our best “personal” events flow from there as well including fast friendships, Sorrento Centre and “strength for the journey”. I would be remiss not to include the many moving moments experienced at the “back” of the church in the art studio but there just isn’t room. I truly feel blessed to have been able to meet so many wonderful people and to be part of their journeys. Together we have laughed, cried, mourned the passing of fellow creatives and have learned that God speaks to us when we are actively pursuing our creativity. |
