The Rev. Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea
The Rev. Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea became minister of spiritual growth and pastoral care development at Metropolitan United in 2000. John Joseph cut his teeth in the Etobicoke area of Toronto and now resides in Cabbagetown, he is "connected with the urban landscape, with the internal and eternal song."
He has Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Education, Master of Arts and Ministry of Spirituality degrees , all from the University of Toronto. John Joseph completed his Doctorate from Chicago Theological Seminary, May 2009. Ordained in 1989, he is a certified Labyrinth Facilitator, Stephen Leader, and Spiritual Director following in the footsteps of Ignatius Loyola and Teresa of Avila. John Joseph believes in nurturing body, mind and spirit. Monday to Friday at the local gymn, reading and meditating daily weaves three key components of life. Nurture for self to nurture for others. This is the credo he lives by. John Joseph is a Christian Mystic who lives by these words.
“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.” Henri Nouwen
John Joseph has served congregations from the Maritimes, Saskatchewan, northern Ontario and rural Quebec to urban and suburban parts of the Greater Toronto Area.
John Joseph's volunteer work for the church and community includes: Chairperson of the Toronto South East Presbytery Pastoral Relations Commission, membership in the Toronto Area Interfaith Council, Police Chaplin to 51 Division, Membership in the Toronto Rotary, Chair Person the Toronto Rotary Community Services Committee and Chair of the World Aids Concert Committee a benefit for Casey House. Volunteer ministry has included positions as chairperson of the Worship and Liturgy Committee of Toronto Conference for four years, chairperson of the Mission Committee of Toronto South Presbytery, chairperson of the Planning and Development Committee and co-chairperson of the Christian Development Committee in York Presbytery north of Toronto, chairperson of the AIDS Committee of York Region since 1998, and member of the Pastoral Care Committee of York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill. He represented Canada as a delegate to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, in February 1990.
Today John Joseph seeks to meet people where they are and build the capacity for relations between people in a diverse spectrum of society.
Dr. Mastandrea's Thesis: 
Mastandrea - Even The Rocks Will Cry Out (2.6 MB)
Dec 11
THE DAY CHRISTMAS STANDS STILL
The Day Christmas stands still or so it seems as we approach the threshold of the shortest day and the longest night.
For countless generations before, the legacy of lighting fires to push back the night was all the rage.
The custom was for people at this time to join as tribe, family and community. All living in a village or the knoll wherever and however the people place would pay tribute to the land and sky.
The custom and ritual of marking the Winter Solstice has been named Yule. The ancient Celts had an affinity for Yule when you look at the monuments, older than the pyramids of Giza. They represent the stone legacy of human sweat gripping stone in the formation of a monument to heavens. The ancient Celts built three epoch monoliths to the passage of Yule. In New Grange (Ireland), Maeshowe (Scottland) and Brynn Celli Ddu Wales. These megalithic structures are over 5,000 years old, older than stone henge. The main passageways align with the solstice. They align with the rising sun of December 21. It is all about fire and the passage of time. When we move from midnight to the brilliance of midday in the moment of midyear something new is born into our lives.
Then and now we mark the passage of time by the changing of the guard from the longest night to the growing light of the new day. There is story from Myth of the Holly King and the Oak King.
The Sun-God rules the seasons. At Yule, he is the new babe, the embodiment of innocence and joy. He represents the infancy of the returning light. The golden Oak King is the light twin who rules from midwinter to midsummer. The darksome Holly King rules the dark half of the year from Midsummer to Midwinter.
It is all about light. It is about the longest night and the growing day. The longest night and the darkest hour came in Tsunami, earthquake, financial crisis, the occupy movement. The longest day and brilliant second, came in this year past in the celebration of the Royal Wedding and the outpouring of aid to the environmental disasters on the planet.
The dark path becomes the way to the light when we cross the threshold from one realm to another.
New Grange is a vibrant monument to a legacy of ancient memory.
Brought to a brumal standstill, here I lie
Obliquely floored, mouth curbed by stones that speak
In pick-dressed spirals, egghead sucked bone dry,
Waiting for dawn inside my skull to streak.
Sungod and riverbride died in my bed
To live as bead and elkshorn under earth.
One cairn eye stayed open to feed the dead
A ray of wintry hope, fixed on rebirth.
Up a dark passage, brightening from far back,
A sunbeam seeks my carved leakproof abode.
As pollen dust ignites my pebble stack
The tomb I’ve made becomes a vivid road.
Once a year it may strike me, a pure gift
Making light work, a mound of greywacke lift
When we cross from the realm of darkness to the brilliant beacon of day something happens. Our heart quickens and we feel the weight of our step become lighter.
This happens for me when I hear of the news for the good day. A dear friend and new Canadian just received word that she can now look for a position in her field. She has received a hard copy of affirmation from the Canadian government. For my friend this piece of paper represents invitation to the good day.
Today a truck load of people arrived from Windsor with 25 bags of winter coats and blackest, and hundreds of pounds of food for the foodbank. This is the invitation to the good day.
When we cross the realm of darkness from interior thinking to outward compassion, something is born and begun. The spark of the new day pushes bag the shadow of indifference and the catalyst of the event ignites in a chain reaction. The power of which could revolutionize energy production if everyfully harnessed. This passage of time is captured for many in ritual and custom in the growing day.
AND THE GROWING DAY-Yule (the lighting of fire), Diwali (the festival of lights), Eid-al-Hadha (the pilgrimage to Mecca), Hanukkah (festival of light, Zoroastrians(Yalda-festival of light), and the Christian celebration( the birth of Jesus),
These festivals stand as a connection with the deep part of our humanity to push back the night and be reborn. The Day Christmas stands still, love is reborn. This is the invitation to the good day!
May you have a wonderful Holiday.
The time has come for the sun to be reborn
He lies in his Mother's womb waiting...
Awaiting his reappearance on this plane.
Let us all rejoice in his rebirth and ours.
Blessed Be!