Dear Friends in Christ,
Over these past weeks, many in our communities have been living with deep anxiety about the future. The news from Algoma Steel and other industries has left families, workers, and entire communities uncertain about what lies ahead. These are not abstract concerns — they are fears that touch homes, livelihoods, and the wellbeing of people we know and love.
Our Church is not separate from these realities. In every congregation across this Diocese, there are parishioners who work in industries now facing difficult times. There are small business owners worried about staying afloat, families stretching every dollar, and communities that feel the ripple effects of change far beyond their control. We also know that our parishes, too, have experienced their own financial pressures in recent years.
In such moments, the Gospel calls us to respond with compassion, steadiness, and prayer — to bear one another’s burdens and to look for the signs of God’s presence even in uncertainty. Scripture reminds us that our worth is never defined by economic security, but by our belonging to God and one another:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink… Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” — Matthew 6:25–26
As people of faith, we can pray not only for relief from hardship but also for the courage to act with kindness and solidarity — to care for neighbours, share resources, and encourage one another in hope. The Church’s witness in times like this is to be a sign of that hope: a place of belonging, prayer, and practical support.
A Prayer for Tough Economic Times
God of abundance and mercy,
In times of uncertainty, when work is scarce and livelihoods are at risk, we turn to you, the source of our strength and our provider in all things.
We pray for all whose jobs are threatened, for families facing anxiety about the future, and for communities that depend upon industries now in turmoil.
Grant them your peace, your wisdom, and your sustaining grace. Bless those who lead and make decisions affecting the lives of many—that compassion may guide policy, and justice may temper power.
Strengthen your Church to be a place of hope and refuge, a community that shares what it has, listens well, and stands alongside those in need.
May we remember that our true wealth is found in your love, and that even in scarcity, your grace abounds.
Through Jesus Christ, who became poor that we might be rich in faith and love.
Amen.
As the people of Algoma face these uncertain days, let us continue to walk together in prayer, generosity, and steadfast hope — trusting that God is already at work in ways seen and unseen, bringing light to the shadows and grace to every struggle.
With every blessing,
+Anne
Archbishop of Algoma