City Parish, Shared Life

For the past century (we just celebrated our 100th Anniversary in 2025), St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church  has been located in the heart of downtown Saskatoon. I took the call here in 2018 because I wanted to do good, missional work in an urban context. I have loved every minute of it.

One of the things that is really amazing about our congregation is its openness to diversity. For many years, Presbyterians of many different countries have found a welcoming worship home at St. Andrew’s. Every Sunday we have new Canadians from Cameroon, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, and Taiwan in our fellowship. We have also, since 2021, welcomed Grace Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to worship in our building and share in our ministry.

Another great sign of diversity is our ministry to children and youth. We are blessed to have a strong Sunday School and Youth Group and every person is so welcoming and wonderful toward our “young Christian friends.”

One of the biggest challenges I have encountered in my time as minister was the departure of our long-time Music Director a few years ago. When I first arrived to preach for the call at St. Andrew’s and asked people “What do you think this church is known for in the wider community?”

It’s important that every Elder has a chance to make their mark on their church and share the gifts God has given them. 

Almost everyone had the same answer (“the music,” “the organ,” “our concerts”). When the relationship with our former Music Director came to an end, there was significant concern and anxiety in the congregation. However, after entering faithfully and prayerfully into the search process, we ended up finding an amazing Music Director/Organist duo who are not only incredibly talented musicians, but who understood and accelerated our sense of mission: to be a place of hope and belonging aligned with the reconciling mission of Jesus Christ.

One of the things that I believe has allowed St. Andrew’s to grow and strengthen during my time here has been to lean into our name: “Presbyterian”, (literally “Rule of Elders”). The fore-fathers and -mothers of our denomination knew that for our church to succeed in its Christian witness, it has to start and end with the Elders. I am proud of the work I have done to help equip and encourage our Elders to not only know their districts, and to be involved in their peoples’ lives, but to also be active in Session. Even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to make motions and take on additional leadership through committees, it’s important that every Elder has a chance to make their mark on their church and share the gifts God has given them. 

The other big thing that has helped St. Andrew’s to grow in mission has been to pursue relationships with our Christian partners in the downtown. As a student and young minister, I was deeply impacted by two incredible books: Missional Church by Darrell Guder and Loving the City by Tim Keller. The point these books make to the church is incredibly simple but impactful: serve where you are. As a downtown church, I believe it is our job to serve here: to know our community, to know our neighbours (their joys and struggles), and to know those who serve alongside us.

For this reason, it has been a huge priority of mine to build a stronger bond with Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry (PCC), as well as partners like the Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed (who operate shelters and warming centres in our downtown). I am also the chair of our inner city ministerial, where St. Andrew’s and 19 other churches and service organizations are working together to share in our Christian mission in downtown Saskatoon.

Jesus gives me hope in ministry. That name is always the right answer in Sunday School for a reason. Seeing people “get” the mission of the church delights me. To see people who have never participated get involved in raising clothing donations for Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry, or to cook burgers at our downtown Welcome BBQ, or to join in discussions with our downtown service partners is an amazing experience. 

In addition to the downtown mission, I’m honestly just a big lover of church. As an adult convert, as someone who remembers very well the first time I felt “at home” in church, I treasure worshipping together: the prayers, the hymns, the Sacraments, it all fills my heart so much.

For those preparing to enter into congregatioonal ministry… you will touch lives, hear stories few others hear, and witness God’s work in extraordinary ways.

For those preparing to enter into congregational ministry, congratulations, you are about to embark on the greatest adventure of your life!  In the coming years, you are going to see, hear, and experience things you’ve never dreamed of. You are going to touch lives, be invited into the inner-most parts of people’s stories, and get a view of life few will ever see. It is a lot of work, and there are certainly risks and dangers, but you will have so much fun if you let yourself be led by the Spirit.

In short: have fun, say “yes” first and figure the rest out later, and make your day off a true Sabbath.

Roberto De Sandioli describes himself as a proud “Western Canadian”: born in interior BC and spending parts of his life in Alberta, Vancouver, and now Saskatoon. After receiving the call to ministry in the back pew of St. Andrew’s Lethbridge he enrolled in the M.Div program at Vancouver School of Theology, before graduating in 2018. For the past seven years Roberto has served as minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Saskatoon, where he lives with his wife Heather.