P. Thomas Mooren O.F.M.Cap.
Diakon Bob van de Laar
I was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands, but was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba where I completed my academic education. I retired in 2009 from the Canadian Forces as a Personnel Selection Officer working in the area of applied military psychology. I am a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan. I am married to Leslie and we have two adult children, Nicole and Michael, also a granddaughter, Clare.
I was ordained in 2004 to the Permanent Deaconate and my initial liturgical base was at St Edith Stein Parish. I have been active in several diocesan ministries: Catholic Chaplain at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Center, pastoral visitation of the terminally ill at the Union Mission hospice and with prisoners at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Center. I have held several Diocesan appointments; Deputy Coordinator Permanent Diaconate Ministries, Diaconate Selection Committee, and earlier the Archdiocesan coordinator for Responsible Ministry, which was the ground work for the new Safe Environment Office.
I have be assigned to St. Albertus since 2022, in addition to my liturgical base at St George’s, where I have been given the responsibility of oversight of Liturgical ministries such as Altar Servers, Readers and alike. In addition, I have shared responsibilities for all the sacraments with specific duties for Baptisms and Weddings. With a very active Eritrean community I am involved with the numerous Sponsorship agreements for immigration and the community at large.