WEYBURN (Qu’A) — On July 4, Rev. Brian David Paul Buydens was commended to God by his family, his parish and diocesan families, and the community.
Brian was a bit of a renaissance man. In addition to his careers in education and IT, he played several musical instruments; his funeral featured a clip of him playing the cello, but he also played various types of flutes and whistles, the guitar, and other stringed instruments.
He was extremely gifted with his hands, and enjoyed tinkering with cars — which led to an entertaining story at the funeral involving the unexpected use of a fire extinguisher — and, besides speaking English and Dutch, he could make quips in several languages, including Old English.
Buydens was born on Oct. 27, 1962, in Russell, Man., and completed high school in Manitoba. He came to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan. There, he received degrees in mathematics, computer science and education. From then on, Saskatchewan became his home.
While at university, he met his future wife, Norma, with whom he shared a birthday. They were married in 1984, and were committed partners through parenthood, foster parenthood and further education. Brian was teaching high school when he and Norma had their first child, Stephanie Marie, in 1989.
Shortly thereafter, he and Norma took in and fostered some abused teenagers who were related to him. It was working through their issues that prompted Norma to consider studying law. In the meantime, they became parents to Adrien Paul, born in 1997.
The family returned to Saskatoon so Norma could study law part-time. She completed law school, as well as her master’s in history. Eventually she articled for the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench, in Regina, caring for Adrien, while Brian remained in Saskatoon, caring for and home-schooling Stephanie, who had been struggling with the standard school system and was later diagnosed as autistic.
By this time, he was working in Information Technology.
Brian and Norma moved to Weyburn in 2011. There, he worked in IT for the school board and became active in All Saints Anglican Church, where he soon became a warden.
It was All Saints that recognized his call to ordained ministry. After taking courses through the Qu’Appelle School for Ministry and Mission, he was ordained a transitional deacon in 2022. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina, by Bishop Helen Kennedy on Nov. 30, 2023, the feast of St. Andrew.
He was assigned to All Saints, Weyburn and was known for his thoughtful and humorous sermons.
Shortly thereafter, Brian started to experience health difficulties. It took some time before he was diagnosed with liver disease, a less common complication of Type II diabetes, which had been part of his life for several years. While seeking a diagnosis, Brian was frequently in and out of the Weyburn hospital.
He lived his ministry, even while in hospital, where he would visit and pray with other patients. He was deeply committed to the ministry of prayer, and prayed for all who asked, and many others, unasked.
Brian faced death several times before he ultimately died. Each time, he said he would be disappointed to go, especially because it meant he wouldn’t be able to attend the high school graduation of his beloved granddaughter, Kai, born in 2022 (Stephanie); but he was not afraid to go, because he knew he would be in the arms of Jesus.
As Brian’s disease progressed, he was put on the list for a liver transplant, eventually being airlifted to Edmonton, the Prairie centre of expertise for liver transplants. In the several weeks he was there awaiting a suitable liver, it became apparent that he was no longer a good candidate for transplant, and that it would be unsafe to move him back to Saskatchewan. After lengthy visits with family and friends, he returned to God on June 10.
Brian rose out of childhood poverty through intellect, heart and hard work. He was a gift to the people of All Saints, Weyburn and to the Anglican Church of Canada. Rest in peace and rise in glory, good and faithful servant.