Darrell Critch is currently serving as Bishop of Mahajanga, Madagascar. Darrell and his wife Sara planted the Anglican Church of the Good Samaritan in St. John’s, Newfoundland. They served there for 20 years. In June 2024, while attending an international meeting of Orthodox Anglicans, he was asked if he was willing to let his name stand for election as the Bishop of Mahajanga – though admittedly he did not even know where Mahajanga was!! As he and his
wife prayed about this potential call, they began to be made very aware that this was what the Lord was calling them to. He was elected the bishop in August and came to visit Madagascar for the first time in September of 2024. He was consecrated a bishop in December and took the spiritual possession of the Diocese of Mahajanga December 15, 2024.

Madagascar is the 8th poorest country in the world. Mahajanga is in the NW section of the island. The Anglican parish he oversees is immense – covering 158,000 sq km. Bishop Darrell is seeking to train up more priests and encourage the growth in the congregations. The diocese is located in one of the more impoverished areas of the island. He is seeking to provide increased educational opportunities in the area by building up schools connected to the churches. Due to the poverty of the area, the church is seeking ways to train and provide micro-enterprise opportunities.

One of Bishop Darrell’s favourite Bible verses is from James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above”. This verse reminds us of the goodness of God, and the reality, that even our best offering, our most holy saints, are tainted by our own sinfulness and selfishness….God alone gets the credit for all that is good in the world. As Christians we understand this and it inclines our hearts to worship and adoration and thanksgiving for all that God is, and for all that He has done for us. All Glory to Jesus!