May is Leave a Legacy Month and to honour Legacy Giving we are sharing why our own Reverend Mark Munn has left Covenant House Vancouver a gift in his Will.
“I can’t get past the fact that my best friend died from a fentanyl overdose” said Travis to Mark Munn. Mark then set out to organise a memorial service to help this young Covenant House Vancouver resident grieve the death of his friend.
“I think I’d like to find out more about the Catholic Church to see if this is something I’d like to make part of my life again. I really miss Sunday mornings there” said Julie, one of our youth, to Mark. Since then, Mark has been working to reconnect Julie with her spiritual community.
As Manager, Ombudsperson and Spiritual Care, the Reverend Mark Munn leads our Spiritual Care Services team that ensures that we welcome, support and nurture youth of all faiths and traditions. Youth are supported in exploring and developing their own spiritual, religious and cultural identities. And, if a youth wishes, we connect them to safe and healthy spiritual, religious or cultural communities.
Additionally, our Spiritual Care Services team is available to support youth and staff in times of grief and loss. “Many of the youth have experienced tremendous losses and trauma in their young lives. We aim to help youth find meaning and purpose in their lives beyond just the day-to-day survival skills that they are used to”, says Mark.
A member of the Anglican Clergy, Mark is motivated by his own Christian identity to help the most vulnerable, upholding upholds all people with absolute respect and unconditional love. Mark believes that the stewardship of all resources, especially the financial resources he has been entrusted with, are central for this to be realized. Mark and his family are showing their commitment to our community’s youth with a gift through their Will to Covenant House Vancouver, a gift that will help ensure the long-term financial stability of our work.
“We are proud to be associated with Covenant House Vancouver and its transformative work. “I believe that each person is sacred”, Mark says. “Youth who are homeless have been told something different – that they don’t deserve full and happy lives and communities. The mission of Covenant House Vancouver upholds these people as sacred persons, and the people who support our work attempt to bring this truth into the world every day”.
For more information about Legacy Giving at Covenant House Vancouver, please contact Celia Campos at 604-757-6068 or ccampos@covenanthousebc.org
Manager, Ombudsperson and Spiritual Care