Igumen Simeon (Weare)

Igumen Simeon (Weare) 1928-2011

Early life of Edward Albert Weare

Edward Albert Weare was born to his parents Gilbert and Winnie Weare in 1928, in Minnitaki, Ontario, (a very small settlement near Kenora). He had a brother, Ronald, and a sister, Margaret.

Edward was baptised and raised within the Church of England in Canada, which became the Anglican Church of Canada.

Edward was raised by his grandparents because of the circumstances at the time in his family.

One of Ecward's former teachers commented that as a 12-year-old pupil in a 1-room school, he was “enthusiastic, creative, very musical”. These characteristics, together with a bright sense of humour and an active imagination, remained with him throughout his life. He was certainly very intelligent.

Higher Education

After having completed his primary and secondary education, Edward entered the Saint Chad College in Regina, Saskatchewan. This college later became Emmanuel and Saint Chad College (University of Emmanuel College), an affiliate college in Saskatoon of the University of Saskatchewan (1883). It was the result of the merger in 1964 of Emmanuel College (Prince Albert, 1879) and of Saint Chad College (Regina, 1907).

In 1958, Edward Weare graduated with distinction from Saint Chad’s.

Anglican ordinations

Edward was then ordained to be a deacon and then to be a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada, which he served until his retirement.

Anglican pastoral service

During those years, he served first in Québec and then in Ontario. In Ontario, he served in the Diocese of Algoma, which covers northern Ontario. There, he met people who would continue with him in mutual prayer for many years to follow. After his service in Ontario, he transferred to Alberta. There, he served in Claresholm for 11 years. Afterwards, he was transferred to Calgary.

At some time in his pastoral service, he established the “Society of the Common Life” in conjunction with the Diocese of Algoma. This was simply a Christian community of prayer. It was not necessarily a residential community ; but rather, those who belonged (wherever they lived) would pray certain parts of the canonical hours at the same times during every day. This community and its way of life went everywhere with him.

In Calgary, "Father Ted" as he was often called served as a chaplain at the University of Calgary for more than 10 years, and also at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

In addition to these responsibilities, in 1974, he was assigned by Bishop Morse Goodman to serve as the interim rector (for 6 months) of the parish of Saint John the Divine, Calgary, until the arrival of the next rector. Afterwards, he continued to serve there from time to time. It was written later that the new rector and Father Ted enjoyed a truly joyful fraternal fellowship. Later, this parish became a part of the Anglican Ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church.

It was in 1974 that the “Community of Common Prayer” was given status in the Diocese of Algoma (which continued for the following 10 years).

During his time in the Calgary diocese, Father Ted spent a considerable amount of time meeting the spiritual needs of Blackfoot peoples.

Later, he was transferred to the Diocese of British Columbia (Vancouver Island), where he served in a parish in Nanaimo, British Columbia, for a time, and then he was transferred to the Diocese of Cariboo, where he lived in Kelowna for some years. Then he settled near Kamloops. Not far north of the city, along the North Thompson River, he established the Saint Nicholas Priory, which served that area also as a retreat centre. He gave it the name "The Sheltering Tree". For a time, there were several members of this community.

Conversion to the Orthodox Christian Church, 1991

It was at about this time that Father Ted came to the realisation that it was high time for him to enter the Orthodox Church. This transition was, predictably, a challenge. He had always been a traditional Christian believer, so this was not the challenge. However, in the West in general, theology had long ago become a mostly cerebral, rather philosophical and intellectual study. Scholastic theology is a main characteristic of the West. By contrast, in the East, theology is experienced first in the heart, in the experience of the Lord, and then expressed in words. The intellect is not rejected, but it does not rule the heart. It may be said that in the general western Christian mentality, the head leads the heart, whereas in the eastern Christian mentality, the heart guides the head. It was not an impossible adjustment for him, but as with most others, it took time. He received some help in this process from the Archpriest Lawrence Farley, who was the Dean of British Columbia (of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America) at that time.

In 1991, Edward A Weare he was received into the Orthodox Christian Church.

Ordinations, 1991

He was then soon ordained to the Holy Diaconate and then to the Holy Priesthood in Saint Herman of Alaska’s Church in Langley, British Columbia (he had had a long preparation).

Monastic tonsure, 1991

Shortly afterwards, the Priest Simeon Weare was tonsured formally to be a monk, and he was given the name Simeon, after the God-receiver Simeon (Symeon).

This took place in the little domestic chapel of Saint Herman of Alaska at the home of Doctor Edward and Vivian Hartley in Whalley (Surrey). Because of the long experience that people had of him, however, he was often called “Father Simeon Edward”.

Pastoral-monastic service

For a time, the semi-monastic community that Father Simeon (Weare) had established north of Kamloops was able to continue. However, after some years, his health would not sustain the necessary work to maintain the property, and the financial support had begun to decline. As a result, the community of the “Sheltering Tree” was closed, and the property was sold.

Father Simeon moved into Kamloops, where he took up residence in an apartment, and from where he served the Mission of Saint Nicholas, which he founded in 1994 (to serve those who wished to worship in the English language). He opened his apartment to anyone who needed a period of spiritual quiet and refreshment. He counselled street-people. Later, when the mission had become too much for him to continue and it was declared to be dormant, he began to help the priest of All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church as much as he was able.

After the closure of both the monastic community and the missionary outreach, the Hieromonk Simeon (Weare) was attached to the Monastery of Saint Silouan the Athonite in Johnstown, Ontario, on 1 September, 2001.

Retirement, 2001

On 1 September, 2001, the Hieromonk Simeon (Weare) was given the blessing to retire from his active responsibilities because of his declining health (he was suffering from cancer). He nevertheless continued to be active in caring for other people, insofar as his health would permit. This included counselling cancer victims, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) members, and hospice residents. He also continued to conduct monthly quiet-day retreats for Christian spiritual reflection. (A spiritual retreat is time set apart to be in quiet, rest, and solitude with God. It is a way of entering into the presence of God, and allowing Him to nourish our soul.) Although the amount of such activity had to diminish as his health continued to decline, his love for the Lord impelled him to continue caring for others. It was later said of him that he would be remembered for his generosity and open arms to everyone.

In an annual report that he made in 2004, Father Simeon wrote :

 I am a Hospice Volunteer — a ‘too-busy’ one!!!  Helping out at All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 
 in Kamloops.  Five of the former mission also attend All Saints.  I also do a ‘word’ service at 
 Berwick-on-the-Park (a seniors’ complex) in Kamloops — and a lot of counselling which I am 
 trying to cut back on.  Feeling reasonably well, but tire easily.

On 24 May, 2006, the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America elevated the Hieromonk Simeon (Weare) to the dignity of igumen.

Finally, nearing his last days, Father Simeon entered the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home.

Repose, 2011

Father Simeon (Weare) fell asleep in the Lord on 17 October, 2011, at 83 years of age.

The Panikhida (memorial service) was served at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, 24 October, 2011, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints at 1044-8th Street in Kamloops, British Columbia.

The Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest took place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 25 October, 2011, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints. The Archpriest Lawrence Farley and the Priest Mykola Sawchenko served together on this occasion.

After the funeral services, his body was interred in the Hillside Cemetery of the Kamloops, Thompson-Nicola Regional District of British Columbia.

He was survived by his loving family members Frances Kehler, Glen Weare, Cynthia Weare and Vance Weare. He was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert and Winnie, his brother Ronald, and his sister Margaret.

Grave-marker

Reflections

Father Ted had a reputation for being an inspired preacher, whose words helped people both to understand the Gospels, and to apply them to their lives. He conveyed Christian joy to the rational sheep. He was particularly able in his presentation of "sermonettes" to children during services.

He was aptly described as being “a good man who would do whatever he can to help a friend”.