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)
Jan 12
This was the moment a few weeks ago when I heard Tim McCallum sings these words.
This is the moment!This is the day, When I send all my doubts and demonsOn their way!
Every endeavor,I have made - ever -Is coming into play,Is here and now - today!
This is the moment,This is the time,When the momentum and the moment Are in rhyme!
Give me this moment -This precious chance -I'll gather up my past And make some sense at last!
This is the moment,When all I've done -All the dreaming,Scheming and screaming,Become one!
This is the day -See it sparkle and shine,When all I've lived forBecomes mine!
For all these years,I've faced the world alone,And now the time has come To prove to them
I've made it on my own!
This is the moment -My final test -Destiny beckoned,I never reckoned,Second Best!
I won't look down,I must not fall!This is the moment,The sweetest moment of them all!
This is the moment!Damn all the odds!This day, or never,I'll sit forever With the gods!
When I look back,I will always recall,Moment for moment,This was the moment,
The greatest moment Of them all!
Tim McCallum is one of Australia’s most exciting and loved local performers. He is a singer, actor and speaker. His musical career commenced at an early age with a long string of successes in vocal competitions and talent quests around Australia, for which he received many awards. What has made his successes so extraordinary is that Tim is a quadriplegic. At the age of 18, and just two days before he was to start classes at the prestigious “Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts,” he was injured in a diving accident. This tragedy did not deter his pursuit of singing, which he loved. With the help of very dedicated staff at the Academy, he learned special techniques to assist his lungs so as to have the required breath of a singer. He has sung professionally in a number of festivals and musicals. In addition to his singing, Tim has been in demand as an inspirational speaker. At this first meeting of the New Year, we are certain to be inspired by his presentation.
This is the moment for all us all.
Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky.
This is the moment for all as realize at the core of our humanity is tingling principle. That which stirs us to look deep inside our being in the face of all that disturbs and inspires is that fire the ignites our daily walk.
In the text Psalm 139 we hear the writes speak in this moment
It was you who formed our inward parts;you fashioned us in my mother's womb.
We praise you, for we are fearfully, wonderfully made.Wondrous are your works; that we know very well.
Our frame was not hidden from you when I was being fashioned in secret,
intricately woven in the mystery of clay.
Your eyes saw our substance taking shape;in your book our every day was recorded; all our days were fashioned,