Wydmarck Kwan

I was born and raised in Cebu City, Philippines. Being the eldest child of three, I witnessed how my parents strove hard to provide us with the best education they could afford. In my case, I was blessed to receive basic education in a private Catholic school ran by the Salesians of Don Bosco. I did my elementary and high school in Don Bosco Technical School. For university education, I went to a university ran by Augustinian Recollects, called University of San-Jose Recoletos, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Development in 2000. Although I was educated in Catholic schools, I honestly was one of those adolescents who were a bit self-centered and who didn’t really care about Catholic faith. My life took a 180 degree turn when I was around 18 or 19, when I had a profound religious experience during a weekend retreat. I attended this retreat because of my parent’s promptings. A few months earlier, they both joined a Catholic Charismatic group for married couples in our parish. I witnessed their spiritual transformation as they became more and more involved in our parish community. When our parish organized a charismatic weekend retreat for the youth, my parents were relentless in making sure that I participate in this event. Through this retreat and by God’s grace, I experienced Christ in a deeply personal way. This experience has led me to make life choices that involved discernment for God’s will and purpose in my life. I became actively involved in our parish youth ministry and was discerning for religious life within the last three years of university. After graduation, I entered the Philippine Province Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, and received priesthood seminary formation for seven years. After seven years of formation, it became clear to me that I was not called to the priesthood vocation. What was clear to me then, was that my calling entails serving in the faith formation of the youth as a lay person. In this sense, God has led me to Campus Ministry work in a Jesuit-run university called Ateneo de Davao. I met Julie, who became my wife in 2008, in Ateneo. She served as campus ministry head in the grade school; while I was assigned in the college department. Our married life was deepened by a shared vision and common goal to make Christ known and loved in our respective school communities. In 2013, God has blessed us with a beautiful boy, Jeremy. To this day, Jeremy remains to be our only son. Life, for us, took another sudden turn. Through sheer God’s providence, we found ourselves migrating to Canada as permanent residents upon entry in 2016. Like all immigrants, we faced uncertainties in transitioning life in a foreign country and culture. But then again, if there is one thing we were certain is this: that God, who paved this way for us, has sent us to share our ministerial gifts as lay persons for the Catholic Church in Canada. Our journey of faith in Canada has been a testament of God’s mercy and providence. We volunteered in parish communities and was involved in married life faith formation through the Couples for Christ community. I graduated with an MDiv, STB degree from Regis College and consequently was hired as chaplaincy leader, under the Niagara Catholic District School Board in 2021. We, as a family, became Canadian citizens in 2022. Our journey of faith eventually took Julie and I towards discerning for the permanent diaconate. Please do keep us in your prayers as we undergo this process of discernment and formation as collaborators of Christ’s kingdom for his Church in Canada.

Autobiography written by Wydmarck Kwan.

 Jean Max Philome

My name is Jean Max Philome, born in June 1972 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, into a loving Christian family. My parents, Christian Philome and Clairicia Louis, profoundly shaped my life and faith. Though they are now with Jesus, their legacy of morality, respect, and unwavering faith in Him continues to inspire and guide me. As the fifth of eleven siblings, I grew up in a close-knit and supportive family environment.

Marie Ange and I have been blessed in our marriage since October 2003. Together, we have two wonderful children, Rose-Arielle and Maximilian Oliver. I consider my family as the greatest accomplishment in my life.

From a young age, I dedicated my life to vocational service in the church and my community. Guided by Ecclesiastes 9:10a, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” I have always sought to serve wholeheartedly. Through these experiences, the Lord has drawn me into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ a constant source of joy and fulfillment. My faith grew stronger through youth ministry. God preserved me from straying from His path and cultivated in me a heart for service. To this day, I find immense joy in helping others, which motivates me to say “yes” whenever someone asks for assistance. Making someone’s day brighter remains one of my greatest joys.

This same passion for service inspires my community involvement. Over the last ten years, I have volunteered with organizations such as Hamilton/Niagara Community Health Centre, Habitat for Humanity, Niagara Health System, the Canadian Cancer Society, Niagara College, and the Multicultural Center in Fort Erie.

Currently, I serve as a volunteer at Sacré-Cœur Parish in Welland, the Knights of Columbus, and Canadian Tire Corporation.

In addition to my passion for service, I have pursued an academic and professional development, as I hold a bachelor’s degree in business management, a bachelor’s degree in science of accounting, and certifications in human resources management and health and safety from the Ontario Ministry of Labor. I am also a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) in Ontario under HRPA.

My professional journey has been diverse. I began my career managing a restaurant for four years while attending university before transitioning to Human Resources’ field, where I worked for 13 years. Currently, I now work in Fraud Investigation at Canadian Tire Bank. Additionally, I serve as the current trustee for the regions of Welland and Port Colborne for the French Catholic School Board MonAvenir.

Living in Canada has enriched my perspective and broadened my horizons. As a bilingual individual, I bring a deep understanding of cultural diversity, religious interpretation, and a profound love for all people.

I feel deeply blessed and joyful as I embark on this journey of becoming a Deacon. At the start of my diaconate formation, I reflected: “You may have taken something seriously, but that thing you’ve been taking seriously may need to be taken even more seriously at a certain point in your life based on who you truly are.”

I am immensely grateful to have the agreement and the full support of my wife, the support of my children, my 10 siblings and my childhood friends. However, I humbly ask for your prayers as I seek to fulfill God’s will through this ministry. My heart is open, and I am excited to see how the Lord will continue to use me to serve His Kingdom and His people with faith and love.

Autobiography written by Jean Max Philome