Vancouver Sisters to bestow sainthoods in ceremony

As the Vancouver chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence celebrates their full initiation into the order at its upcoming Exequatur Party, they will also take the opportunity to bestow sainthoods on three local leaders in Vancouver's queer community.

A worldwide order of 21st century queer nuns with a stated goal of "spreading joy and to challenge the forces of bigotry, complacency, and guilt with humour and irreverent wit", the Vancouver Sisters have focused their work on issues of HIV/AIDS and homelessness in the local queer community.

Taking the final step into full recognition with the international activist group, the Vancouver Abbey of the Long Cedar Canoe will become the first fully professed house of Sisters in Canada for over twenty five years.  The ceremony, known as an Exequatur Party will take place on August 4, 2012, during the height of Vancouver's pride celebrations.

In addition to becoming a fully-fledged house, the sisters will award their highest honour, sainthood, to three Vancouver activists: Barb Snelgrove, Jim Deva and Janine Fuller.

Snelgrove will be honoured for her years of community service while Deva and Fuller from Little Sister's Book & Art Emporium will receive their sainthoods for their achievements in queer activism and in promoting the principles of intellectual and sexual freedom.

"I am so happy for the Vancouver Sisters in becoming a fully professed House, they have all worked so hard in our community since coming on the scene and will continue the wonderful work that all the Sisters do worldwide," said Snelgrove. "And to be recognized for my work in such a way by them is truly an honour, especially alongside good friends Janine Fuller & Jim Deva".

Vancouver Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Exequatur Party
Saturday, August 4, 2012 @ 3pm
Milestones Grill and Bar, 1210 Denman Street, Vancouver

With tons of glitter and fabulous outfits, the Vancouver Sisters be taking their lifelong vows to spread universal joy, expiate stigmatic guilt and be of service to their community. They will also be recognizing some of the other amazing community organizations they have done fundraising for over the last year and bestowing the three sainthoods.  Visit http://www.yvrsisters.ca for more information.