Introducing Our New Ministry Team!

This November, St. Luke’s, Palermo will welcome The Rev. Garfield Wu and Pastoral Associate Jody Balint to our ministry team! They will share worship and ministry duties along with the Rev. Hollis Hiscock. We hope you’ll join us in greeting them!

The Rev. Garfield Wu

Garfield Wu was born in the main land of China, where he lived for over 30 years. He heard the calling of God around 12 years ago and started his journey of pursuing the priesthood to serve the Lord. Before he moved to Canada, he was an engineer, a project manager and an entrepreneur. He attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 2014 and graduated with a Master’s degree in Theological Studies and a Diploma of Ministry in 2017. He was ordained into Anglican Church of Canada in February 2018.

Garfield is serving as assistant Curate at St Simon’s in Oakville, Rector at St Aidan’s in Oakville, and as the Anglican Chinese Missioner in the Oakville area and beyond. Garfield’s faith journey has been supported by vivid portrayals of biblical stories, which enriched his ministry life and inspired many people who heard the stories.

He currently resides in Oakville with his wife Aileen and their two lovely boys, Philip and Andrew. He has wider interests in sports, readings and creative events to bring the good news of Jesus to the wider world.

Jody Balint, Pastoral Associate

My name is Jody Balint. I was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario. I am the eldest daughter of Chris and Cindy Szoke with a younger sister named Sally. Presently, I live in Burlington, with my husband Michael. Michael and I have been happily married for 25 years this November, and I am proud to be the wife of a Toronto Police Officer. Our daughter Storm lives in Windsor and is working on her Ph.D. Our son Jakob works in the field of Fiberoptics.

In my 20’s and 30’s, I worked as a Child and Youth Worker, working with the homeless and marginalized. In my 30’s I started my journey into ministry. In my 40’s, I entered Trinity College Seminary. I have a wide range of ministry experience; my passions being pastoral care, youth ministry, lay leadership training and support, preaching, worship leadership and faith formation. 

I am excited about being on St. Luke’s new ministry team with Rev. Garfield and Rev. Hollis. I am so looking forward to getting to know everyone at St. Luke’s and I ask that God bless our time together.