Around Town: Santa Ono, Serve Our Schools, Promise of Christian Education

TWU graduation ceremonies were held at the Langley Events Centre. (image from TWU Facebook)

Santa Ono delivered the commencement address to Trinity Western University’s largest ever graduating class (1,500 students) April 26.

He addressed both graduate and undergraduate ceremonies at the Langley Events Centre. During the graduate ceremony, TWU conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree on Dr. Ono.

Following a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, Ono worked as a molecular immunologist and then as an academic administrator. He served as President and Vice Chancellor at the University of British Columbia from 2016 to 2022 and is now President of the University of Michigan.

Here is a portion of his address to the students:

Santa Ono addressed the TWU graduating class and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

As we celebrate, I’d like to share a story. It’s a personal one – but I hope it resonates as you prepare to chart your path forward.

Many years ago, my father, Takashi Ono, made a decision that would change the course of our family’s life. He left Tokyo, where he had established himself as a scholar, and came to the United States to work at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton – at the invitation of none other than Robert Oppenheimer.

My mother Sachiko and my father arrived in North America by way of Anchorage with just one suitcase between them. They didn’t have much – no family nearby, and only basic English – but they carried with them deep faith, a strong work ethic, and the hope of a better future for their children.

I was born in Vancouver, when my father was teaching at the University of British Columbia. We eventually settled in suburban Baltimore. My mother sewed clothes at a strip mall to help make ends meet. Later, she taught Japanese downtown. Together, my parents navigated a new culture and language while raising three sons who would graduate from places like Juilliard, the University of Chicago and others.

Their journey – from post-war Japan to a new life in North America – is a powerful example of agency. Despite uncertainty and hardship, they shaped the trajectory of their lives through faith, perseverance and love.

And so can you.

One of the central teachings of this university is that you are not here by accident. Trinity Western University is built upon a belief in divine purpose – that your life has meaning, that your gifts are meant to serve the world and that you are called to be a light in the darkness.

Your education here has not only trained your mind, but shaped your character. Whether in your classes, your chapel gatherings or on the pitch with the Spartans, you’ve learned what it means to live in community, to serve others and to walk with integrity.

You’ve been taught that you have agency – and a responsibility to use it for good. . . .

TWU grads (image from TWU Facebook)

He concluded:

So today, I ask you to do three things:

1. Stay connected to the people around you. Look to your left and your right – these are your people. Don’t let those bonds fade.
2. Be bridge builders. Learn to sit with difference, to seek out stories that aren’t your own and to see others through the eyes of Christ.
3. Live with courage and conviction. My parents had almost nothing but a suitcase and a dream. Yet they built a beautiful life and legacy. You have been given much. Use it boldly – and use it well.

I’ll leave you with this:

You are ready. You have the foundation of faith, the strength of community and the benefit of a world-class education.

Now it’s time to go out and be salt and light.

Class of 2025, I’m proud of you. I am honoured to stand beside you today. Congratulations – and may God bless you richly on the road ahead.

Teaching awards were also announced during the graduation ceremonies. The 2025 Davis Distinguished Teaching Award recipient is Dr. Jeffrey Beck, and the 2025 Provost Innovative Teaching Award recipient is Dr. Jason Burtt.

On April 24, TWU celebrated the inauguration of the university’s sixth president, Dr. Todd F. Martin.

Another couple of education-related meetings this week underline the way in which churches are connecting to public schools and Christian schools are interacting with the broader community.

Serve Our Schools

This morning (May 1), three groups will lead the way for a Serve Our Schools gathering at CityReach Care Society(which operates just south of Broadway Church in east Vancouver):

Across our city, schools are facing increasing challenges in providing food security, mentorship and community support for students. With rising grocery costs and growing needs, now is the time to come together and explore how we can serve our schools more effectively.

Join us for Serve Our Schools, a gathering of organizations, churches and school leaders who are committed to ensuring every child has access to the support they need. This event will feature insightful presentations, impactful storytelling and interactive discussions on how we can work together to strengthen school communities.

You’ll hear from three key organizations making a difference in local schools:

CityReach Care Society
City Dream Centre
Vancouver Urban Ministries (VUM)

Go here for more information on the groups and Serve Our Schools. This network will carry on, so it will be worth getting in contact even if you’re unable to attend the event.

The Promise of Christian Education

The Centre for Christian Engagement (CCE) is hosting The Promise of Christian Education: Past, Present & Future Conference this weekend (May 1 – 3) at St. Mark’s College on the UBC campus:

“This international academic conference will examine Christian education beginning with Jesus’ own ministry and throughout the early Church to current questions such as the use of AI in classrooms, Truth & Reconciliation, Catholic school funding and how to teach the Catholic faith in diverse classrooms,” said Dr. John W. Martens, Director of CCE.

There will be fascinating speakers from across Canada, the USA, Africa and Asia who will help us to understand how to continue to teach the faith from elementary education throughout university.

In a changing global world, the need to teach the Christian faith remains paramount, even though the methods and challenges are changing.

But the Catholic Church has been at the forefront of Christian education from founding universities in medieval Europe to excellent high schools in Vancouver.

Though most of the focus is on the Catholic community, several local speakers from other backgrounds will also be involved: Harry Maier, Rob James and Shawn Bullock (Vancouver School of Theology); Gordon Reisdorf, Heesun Nam and Tyler Chamberlain (Trinity Western University) and Rick Faw (A Rocha Canada).

Three keynote speakers will deliver free lectures:

Dr. Margaret MacDonald (Saint Mary’s University) will begin the conference with her lecture Educating the Children of God, Infants to Elders: Rediscovering an Inclusive Communal Vision from Ancient Times. She will look at the role of the extended family in early Christian education. (May 1, 7 pm)
Dr. Samuel Rocha’s (University of British Columbia) lecture Dilexit Mundum: A Christian Education and The Love of The World will argue for a Christian education in light of the love of the world Jesus teaches. (May 2, 3:30 pm)
Rev. Dr. Stan Chu Ilo (DePaul University) will offer The Promise and Praxis of Catholic Education: Hope for a Wounded and Divided World? He will make a case for hope not simply as a promise but rather as something that emerges through a series of conversion processes that a critical and integral Catholic education brings. (May 3, 12:45)

Events & Jobs

Events are listed below, but there is also an Events page and a Jobs page on the Church for Vancouver site.

Apr 2025

Martyrs in Monochrome: The Witness of Women, Christian Resilience & Photopoetry – April 25, 2025 - May 8, 2025 at 12:00 am

May 2025

Jun 2025

United Voices Choir: Rejoice! Handel Coronation Anthems & Dixit Dominus – June 1, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Free & Empowered Conference with Doug and Teri Balzer – June 5, 2025 - June 7, 2025 at 12:00 am
AC Summer School – June 6, 2025 - June 8, 2025 at All Day
March for Jesus: Jesus Christ Our Only Hope – June 7, 2025 at 12:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Hamlet – June 11, 2025 - June 14, 2025 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Provincial Leaders Dinner (with Sam Sullivan) – June 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
58th Annual BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast (with Anthony Robles) – June 13, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
St. John's Centennial Gala – June 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Kenya, Africa 2025 Partner Visit – June 21, 2025 - June 30, 2025 at All Day
Day of Celebration: United Church of Canada's 100th Anniversary – June 25, 2025 at All Day

Share this story

Around Town: Santa Ono, Serve Our Schools, Promise of Christian Education

Apr 2025

May 2025

Jun 2025

Related

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Apr 2025

May 2025

Jun 2025

Related

Post navigation

Leave a Reply Cancel reply