Catholic Missions in Canada www.cmic.info Fall 2014
Apostles of the North
ISSN 1702-2894
Sharing God’s Word in remote missions
PLUS: Students visit Yukon • Vocation stories • Tastes of Heaven 2014
Editor’s Notes
Christ in little things
O
n page 16 in this issue, you will find seminarian Kevin Toews’s vocation story. Kevin says a formation visit to Whitehorse diocese in the Yukon challenged him “to find Christ in all the little things I do.” For instance, he says, “How do I seek holiness when I am chopping wood? Or shovelling truckloads of snow? How can my work become something for the greater glory of God?” This is the same questioning that spurred fellow seminarian Sylvester Ibekwe, as recounted on page 12, to find his way to an authentic life. And perhaps the same yearning that resonates in the stories of missionaries and religious featured in this issue: from our St. Joseph Award recipient Sister Alice Walsh, p.b.v.m., to Father Eugene Whyte, o.m.i., who serves in Northern Saskatchewan to Father Damian MacPherson, s.a., who finds the time from his busy schedule to serve in the missions. As the young students find out on pages 38-39, our missionaries will not flinch to do the little stuff to keep a mission going.
Patria C. Rivera 2 Fall 2014
cont
Volume 33, Number 3
Features
6
A legacy of presence in Natuashish mission Sister brings care and catechism to Labrador community Anne Hanley
12
My journey to the priesthood In Jesus, seminarian finds answer to the true meaning of life Sylvester Ibekwe
16
Preparing for the priesthood Lessons from the North: Sacrifice and love go a long way Kevin Toews
20
Total surrender Ordained priest initially rebuffed intermittent calls to join religious life Father Damian MacPherson, s.a.
28
Enkindled hearts can transform the world Bishop of Nelson speaks at Tastes of Heaven Gala 2014
31
Sister Alice Walsh, p.b.v.m. Biggest challenge was learning how to take on various ministries
ents Fall 2014
34
Missions in Northern Saskatchewan Faithful and prayerful communities abound in small prairie missions Father Eugene Whyte, o.m.i. Sister Sheila Fortune c.s.j.
Catholic Missions in Canada Catholic Missions In Canada® is the magazine of Catholic Missions In Canada, founded in 1908 under papal mandate as The Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada, to support Canada’s missions.
President: Father Philip J. Kennedy National Director of Development: Kathleen Ancker, c.f.r.e. Director of Finance and Administration: Don Smith, c.a. Editor: Patria C. Rivera Officers of Catholic Missions In Canada are: Thomas Cardinal Collins of Toronto, Apostolic Chancellor; Bishop David Motiuk, Ukrainian Eparch of Edmonton, Alberta, Vice-Chancellor; James Milway of Hamilton, Ontario, Secretary; and Terence Freitas of Unionville, Ontario, Treasurer. Other members of the Board of Governors are: Bishop John Corriveau, o.f.m. cap., of Nelson, British Columbia; Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface, Manitoba; Bishop Robert Anthony Daniels of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador; Bishop Stephen Jensen of Prince George, British Columbia; Sister Bernadette Feist, o.s.u., of Lebret, Saskatchewan; Sister Carmen Catellier, s.n.j.m., of Cross Lake, Manitoba; Marie Fiorellino Di Poce of Kleinburg, Ontario; Leonard Racioppo of Toronto, Ontario; and Carlo De Pellegrin, c.a., of Richmond Hill, Ontario.
6 38
On a mission for Christ High-schoolers find faith and work through Christ in Yukon journey Emma Graham and Namir Khalaf
Departments
2 Editor’s Notes 4 From the President’s Desk 40 Gift Planning 46 Letters
Published quarterly by Catholic Missions In Canada 201-1155 Yonge Street. Toronto, Ontario M4T 1W2 Tel: (416) 934-3424 1 (866) YES-CMIC 1 (866) 937-2642 (toll-free) Fax: (416) 934-3425 E-mail: magazine@cmic.info Website: www.cmic.info ISSN Number: 1702-2894 Publications Mail Agreement 40044706 Member of the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada ©2014 Catholic Missions In Canada. All rights reserved. BN 11922 0531 RR0001 A yearly offering of $25 or more helps cover the costs of this magazine and our mission work. Cover Photo: After serving as Missionary Bishop of Whitehorse in the Yukon for eight years, Bishop Gary Gordon is moving on to take over the Diocese of Victoria, which comprises Vancouver Island and area in British Columbia. Photo courtesy of Bishop Gary Gordon
Catholic missions in canada 3
HANDING ON THE FAITH
Missionaries and vocations
Many are called to consider a life of giftedness and love to help God’s people By FATHER PHILIP J. KENNEDY, PRESIDENT
I
n Catholic Missions in Canada, we who work with and support the “labourers in the vineyard” are continually impressed by the commitment, and by the heroic example of the missionaries.
mission dioceses. True pioneers, they have been known to make immense sacrifices in isolated locales, teaching the people the faith and preparing them for the sacraments. This is part of what is meant by vocation. The call from Christ Himself to an individual in faith is taken seriously, and with the awareness that God will supply the grace to fulfill that vocation. The Grey Sisters, the Sisters of Saint Anne, the Ursulines and Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, as well as many other women’s orders have given their energy to the people, to help the spiritual life grow. Over the past decades many priests, too, have given of themselves to sanctify the Christian Community in which they worked. Oblates
Missionaries have handed on the faith by professing, sharing, and celebrating it in liturgy and prayer Our missionaries are seen to witness the call to spend their lives spreading the Word of God, and helping those entrusted to their care with the tasks of coming to know God through Jesus Christ. Our missionary sisters often give their whole lives to the sacred work of serving the communities of our various 4 Fall 2014
Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Prince Albert
Daughters of Providence Sisters in their horse-drawn wagon, at Whitefish mission in Big River First Nation, Saskatchewan, ca. 1941.
of Mary Immaculate, Jesuits, diocesan priests, the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy, and several others, have done just what the Catechism of the Catholic Church demands: handing on the faith from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer. (Prologue, Item 3) In addition to sisters and priests, there are religious brothers who assist in the onerous tasks of building up the Church. We also count lay men and women among the many who devote themselves to the missions in Canada. These lay men and women sustain the
Word of God by catechesis, sacramental preparation, and community service. Of enormous importance is the vocation that is still proposed and held out to men and women, especially in their younger years, to consider a life of giftedness and love to help God’s people to find their way to Christ Our Lord. It is fitting for us to pray fervently for young people to consider and commit themselves to the life to which God is calling them. The urgent need of priests, sisters, religious, deacons and lay persons in the Church needs to be answered by responding to the vocation that Jesus extends. Catholic missions in canada 5
Innu ministry in Natuashish, Labrador
instruments for God’s use Presence and support key to Sister Sheila Fortune’s ministry as she journeys among the Innu people in Natuashish STORY AND PHOTOS By Anne Hanley
A
s parish life coordinator at Tshukuminu St.Anne mission, Sister Sheila Fortune, c.s.j., has lived and ministered among the over 800 residents of the Innu community of Natuashish for the past four years. Located 300 kms (or a two-hour plane trip) north of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Natuashish is an inland Labrador community accessible yearround only by small plane, and by plane and boat in the summer months—when winter ice has melted. Her ministry in Natuashish she says is one of being present. “There is no healing without presence,” she says. “It’s so important to empower people. How can I best support the good things they do?” That presence and support have been key to her ministry in Natuashish as she journeys with the historically nomadic people in their efforts
6 Fall 2014
Sister Sheila Fortune, c.s.j., with Thomas Rich at doorway of Tshukuminu St. Anne (Grandmother St. Anne) mission church in Natuashish, Labrador.
Catholic missions in canada 7
to rebuild their lives and futures following their relocation from the troubled community of Davis Inlet in late 2002. Her compassion is felt throughout Natuashish— whether visiting elders, blessing families’ homes, opening Aboriginal days with a prayer, baptizing babies about to be airlifted out of the community for hospital treatment, answering late-night calls to comfort an injured child, preparing sandwiches, cupcakes and cakes for post-Liturgy luncheons, welcoming children to her rooms above the church for sacra-
In walking the dusty roads of Natuashish, the silence is regularly broken by children calling from passing trucks, playing or riding their bicycles: “Sister Sheila! Hi, Sister Sheila!” To every child who calls— either on these walkabouts, to children knocking at the church window or calling from the church yard—comes her cheery response, “Hello darling!” and, if she is in her living quarters, “I’ll be right down!”—a cheery promise accompanied by cookies, crackers or cupcakes, and conversation. “Our ministry should touch people’s hearts,” she says. “We have to be the vessel through which God’s unconditional love, mercy and kindness are shared.” That kindness was shared one Sunday morning this past winter. With the furnace broken, Sister Sheila told those gathered that that day’s Liturgy would be brief so that they could quickly return to the warmth of their homes. One youngster wouldn’t be rushed. Looking up at Sister Sheila, she asked, “Will we still have cookies and cupcakes?”
A child once asked Sister Sheila, ‘Does God know how kind you are?,’ to which she responded, ‘No, my darling, I think you need to tell Him.’ mental preparation, colouring and chatting, or helping teenagers prepare for their high school graduation ceremony. And for the first time during her ministry in Natuashish, this year’s graduation was a two-part ceremony—the first of which took place in the church. 8 Fall 2014
About two hours out of Happy Valley-Goose Bay lies Nain, the first stop on the flight to Natuashish. Like Natuashish, Nain is accessible only by air or sea.
Amid the congregation’s laughter, Sister Sheila said, “Yes, my darling, we’ll still have cookies.” At that, the child shyly asked, “Does God know how kind you are?” Joining in the warm laughter, Sister Sheila smiled, and said, “No, my darling, I think you need to tell Him.” The Innu were first evangelized by the Jesuits in the 1600s. After over 200 years and no priestly presence, the Oblates arrived and found the people saying the rosary in their tents at night. Their faith remains strong—thanks to the Jesuits, Oblates, and Sisters who have ministered there. It was the decision of the people to build a church in
the new community of Natuashish in 2006. Sister Sheila says, “Given their faith journey and the many transitions they have survived, there is always a fear of being abandoned by God and the Church. They are an oppressed people who need a missionary presence to promote healing, to encourage the people and help them move towards a future where there is hope.” In reflecting on her ministry and the people of Natuashish, Sister Sheila says: “I believe God has a dream for them. I hope that in some small way, we are helping them to fulfill their dream, (even if) we may not see it in our lifetime. ” Catholic missions in canada 9
Sister Sheila prepares Debbie Rich and her cousin Giselle Rich for their First Communion. “I want children to remember…talking about God.”
Catholic Missions In Canada supporters have helped make that dream possible.“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Catholic Missions In Canada,” she says. “Without that support, we would not have a presence and the mission of Christ would not be alive here.” It’s not just financial support that’s so important to Sister Sheila; it’s the knowledge that she is remembered in prayer. “You pray for us. When winter sets in and it’s dark and cold here, the knowledge that we are not forgotten means so much.” The network of partnering relationships that has come about through Catholic Missions In Canada has been invaluable to “enhancing” her ministry in Natuashish—whether through 10 Fall 2014
knitted goods (see Catholic Missions In Canada Spring magazine, page 34) or special donor cheques that miraculously appeared when her grocery money was dangerously low. “These were all the miracles of Jesus,” she says. “We’re only instruments for God’s use,” she notes. “Hopefully, we will play some small part in helping Natuashish be the community God calls it to be.” Ed. Note: Sister Sheila Fortune, c.s.j., bid farewell to the people of Natuashish in June 2014. Father Anthony Anh continues to serve the people there as resident priest at Tshukuminu St. Anne mission. This article was based on a visit to Natuashish in late May 2014.
Innu Nation Grand Chief Prote Poker proclaims one of the readings for Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word in Tshukuminu St. Anne church in Natuashish, where hymns and prayers are offered in Innu.
Catholic missions in canada 11
Every step brings new joy
My journey to the priesthood In Jesus, seminarian finds answer to the true meaning of life By Sylvester Ibekwe
I
was seventeen, and had just finished high school in Nigeria. The world had opened up to me with all its beauty, charm and possibilities. I had to consider what I would do with my life. I needed the best that the world could offer. I spent time with my friends. We talked about our future and the kind of profession we wanted. I wanted to become a medical doctor. The medical profession appealed to me because it was a prestigious profession. After the university entrance exams, I was ready to study medicine. But then I began to question myself: “What is it that I really want to do in life? To be a doctor is something great and wonderful, but is there 12 Fall 2014
something else better?” I wanted to live life fully. My questions continued: “Is there a certain way to live to find true life and ultimate fulfillment?” Answers came from my friends, but those were easy answers. I was not content with partial, immediate answers. One day, I went to pray in the Capuchin Franciscan House. It was a place of serenity and beauty. I enjoyed visiting there for my prayer and for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I stayed back to pray. I felt at peace. My concern about what to do in life left me for that moment. I wanted to remain in that peace. Eventually, it was time for the Franciscan brothers to say their midday prayers. As they
Catholic missions in canada 13
entered the chapel for their afternoon prayers, I watched them very closely.Their countenance was peaceful, and they appeared to be very content. As I left the Franciscan house that day, I felt at peace. But days after that, a new set of questions flooded my mind: Who am I? Where did I come from? What am I living for? What does the future hold for me? How can I live now so that both my present and my future will be fulfilled? In what lies the true meaning and value of life? I went back to the Franciscan house. This time, I had the opportunity to meet one of the brothers. He talked to me about the life of St. Francis of Assisi and gave me a book on the life of St. Francis. In the living room of the Franciscan house was a picture of St. Francis with the
‘I decided I was going to become a Franciscan’ words “Lord what do you want me to do?” written on it. Like me, St. Francis was a joyful youth who enjoyed the company of his friends, attended parties, and loved life. 14 Fall 2014
In reading the life of St. Francis, I discovered that at some point in his life, those things that gave him immediate joy and gratification no longer appealed to him. He sought and found the source of true, enduring, and lasting joy in Jesus. In Jesus, he found the answers to the questions that accompanied his path, not in a superficial, easy way but through walking with Jesus. He shared the life of Christ and he learned to truly live. In Christ, he found himself and the true meaning of life. I was overjoyed as I read the life of St. Francis.This was exactly what I wanted: to discover true life just as St. Francis did. After a time of prayer, I decided I was going to become a Franciscan. I wanted to follow Christ more closely. The journey began in 1999. Through this journey, it became clear that the way to authentic life is to live for others. I wanted to serve humanity, to bring to different environments that newness which can change relationships, institutions, structures, to build a more just world marked by solidarity and animated by the quest for the common good. I wanted to find my life by giving it away in service to others. This is what the Lord has called me to do as a priest. This is the path I have found—the path to true life.
Seminarian Sylvester Ibekwe assists at a church dedication in the Diocese of Nelson, British Columbia.
In Jesus I have found the answer to the true meaning of life for in Him is the fullness of life. As I undergo my formation to the priesthood at St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, I have discovered anew that there is nothing more beautiful than to have Jesus as a friend. Through Jesus, I have also discovered the true beauty of each human person. In the seminary, I have been given the joy of journeying with young men who are also searching for the ultimate meaning of life. My journey to the priesthood, in spite of the challenges, has been interesting and fulfilling. There is
never an end to the way the Lord surprises me with little joys every day. This joy does not grow old; it is new every day, and I am confident that it will continue as I devote my whole life as a priest in serving God and the people of the Diocese of Nelson. I am glad the Lord found me. In finding me, I have found Him, and the ultimate meaning of life. Sylvester Ibekwe is studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Nelson. Reprinted from Volume XI, Number 2, August 2013 issue of Catholic Mountain Star, Diocese of Nelson. Catholic missions in canada 15
Preparing for the priesthooD
Lessons fro In the North, people do the most of what they can with the tools and gifts that they have been given; sacrifice and love go a long way. By KEVIN TOEWS
Photo courtesy of Kevin Toews
I
n a recent conversation about The Wise Men and the path they needed to follow Jesus, the question arose as to why Herod did not go with them. He knew where and when to find the Lord. All he needed to do was leave his palace. Four years ago, when I began my seminary formation, I could never imagine where it would lead me spiritually. So far, it has taken me somewhere I thought I would never be: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. As part of this seminary year, we were sent away for a month to another religious community, in my case, to Mary’s House, which is part of the Madonna House Apostolate, where I would experience the Church and the life of a priest in the North. There, I was challenged to find Christ in all the little things I do. How do I seek holiness when I am chopping wood? Or shovelling 16 Fall 2014
m the North
Kevin Toews, a seminarian for the Diocese of Calgary, visited the Diocese of Whitehorse last year. With him in photo are former Whitehorse Bishop Gary Gordon, now Bishop of Victoria, and the Bishop’s dog, Merlin. Catholic missions in canada 17
truckloads of snow? How can my work become something for the greater glory of God? For me, it came in understanding that I am a small piece in a larger puzzle. In offering up little things I would do, which at times were annoying or exhausting, I was able to help out those who help others. The Church in Whitehorse is truly an amazing place. The Diocese of Whitehorse is led by Bishop Gary Gordon (now installed Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria), with six priests serving the whole diocese, which
‘The Church in Whitehorse is truly an amazing place’ covers an area larger than Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands combined. Needless to say, a priest in the North has to do a great amount of driving. For example, in one weekend I travelled 1,686 km— or 27 hours of driving—for three Masses in remote areas. I was blown away by the communities within these remote parishes. Though there might be just a family or a dozen people at the Mass and the Mass celebrated in a 18 Fall 2014
living room or a mission church, the energy and faith of those attending was always astounding. The Whitehorse diocese is a reflection of how God can take what is challenging for us and create something wonderful. It is also a testimony to the faith and commitment of those involved. The extraordinary people I met there do the most of what they can with the tools and gifts that they have been given; sacrifice and love go a long way. I am thankful to God that I have had the opportunity to visit Whitehorse and learn from everyone here. If God leads me to become a priest, the lessons I have learned here will be invaluable. I have learned not to take God (and the Mass!) for granted, because not everyone has the opportunity to have Mass every week, or even every month. God is amazing, and He can do wondrous things with what appears to be so little. Never underestimate the Spirit, because where it seems that not much is going on, there just might be a lively fire. Finally, any work, no matter how insignificant, is an opportunity for holiness. Praise the Lord! Kevin Toews is studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Calgary and stayed in the Diocese of Whitehorse as part of St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton’s formation program.
Establish an Endowment to create a legacy of faith for future generations
It is wonderfully fulfilling to do something good that lasts—something that makes a difference. Our Endowment Fund is growing and we couldn’t be more pleased. It means we can continue to support these four mission needs: • The education and formation of seminarians and lay leaders • The religious education of children and youth • The building and repair of places of worship • The basic needs of our missionaries To establish an endowment, a minimum gift of $5,000 is required; this can be funded through smaller installments over a period of five years, as many of our donors have done. Your endowment gift will remain intact forever—the interest earned on your gift will provide a perpetual stream of financial support to our missions each and every year—a great way to keep giving, generation after generation.
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On becoming a priest
Total surrender
Father Damian MacPherson, s.a., served as visiting priest at St. Peter’s mission in Brochet, Manitoba, in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas.Below, he shares his vocation story. By FATHER DAMIAN MACPHERSON, S.A.
I
am one of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls. My Dad was a carpenter and my mom was a schoolteacher when she was not raising her family. Someone recently said to me all mothers of priests are in heaven. I guess I can be sure of that since I also have another brother who is a priest, Father Albert MacPherson, o.s.a., who is an Augustinian and I am a Franciscan. In my case, how did it happen? As a boy I did boyish things. I loved to play hockey, baseball, cricket and even a little soccer. Early on, about the age of fourteen, the thought of becoming a religious began to circulate in my mind. At first I welcomed these sentiments, only later on to want them to go away. As I became more mature, I 20 Fall 2014
did my best to ignore such inclinations, but they insisted on visiting me intermittently, sometimes more strongly, causing me to pray vigorously, asking God that He would just take away those recurring thoughts so that I could get on with concentrating on what I really wanted to do with my life. For about five years I carried on my divine conversations, without ever feeling that I was gaining any ground. Finally, and with reluctance, I surrendered. I made a bargain with the Lord. I agreed to leave my small coal mining town of New Waterford in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. I travelled to Graymoor Garrison, New York, home of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. Even while en route I was mostly
Catholic missions in canada 21
convinced that this would not last long, and I would be able to return with peace of mind and simply get on with my life. When I arrived at Graymoor, there were thirty other postulants, as we were then called. I recall arriving at the residence in the dark of night and being greeted by a brown-robed friar who would be my director. As I stepped across the threshold of the huge monastic door, I sat down and among the first questions asked of me was if I had
‘I began to be honest with myself and give in to the process’ cigarettes. Thinking Father was asking for a cigarette, I pulled out my package and offered him one. “Oh no, son,” he said, “I will take them all.” It was the beginning of what would become a very different and disciplined style of life to which I was expected to mould myself. Once I became familiar with my surroundings, I was haunted by the thought of how I simply disliked this environment, while feeling that I owed it to myself to give it a go. Part of 22 Fall 2014
the discipline was that we were only allowed to communicate with our family by letter once a month. Our letters were to be left opened for the Postulant Master to read, if he so chose. Likewise, letters received were also opened for the same reason. After about three months, I can remember receiving a letter from my mother indicating that she seemed to think that I was not so happy at Graymoor and if that was so, I should feel free to come home. Her letter literally changed my life. Up until then I realized that I really was not giving myself to the program of formation, but simply going through the motions. From that moment on, I began to be honest with myself and give in to the whole process of formation. That was fifty years ago, on November 2, 1963. Since then I can honestly say that I have been a satisfied and fulfilled Friar of the Atonement. Each of my other thirty classmates eventually realized that life as a Friar of the Atonement was not their calling. To be honest, I must say that I am somewhat embarrassed when I think of how I initially treated my call to religious life. I am grateful that God did not give up on me!
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Directions in Aboriginal Ministry Conference
On Sacraments and Sacred Signs A rich tapestry of grace By BISHOP GARY GORDON
O
Myra Charlie of Cowichen Nation proclaiming God’s Word. 24 Fall 2014
n July 9-11, the Directions in Aboriginal Ministry conference was held at Rosemary Retreat Centre in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia. The Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops Standing Committee on Aboriginal Ministry, with the assistance and leadership of Sister Eva Solomon, c.s.j., and in cooperation with Newman Theological College, hosted this workshop, now in its seventh year. The focus of this year’s gathering was on “The Sacraments, Sacred Signs, and Ceremonies.” The Aboriginal people of Canada have a rich history of ceremony and prayer, a rich tapestry of grace and
Photos courtesy of Bishop Gary Gordon
Rennie and Emma Nahannee of Squamish Nation lead the song in God’s Cathedral. Rennie is director of Native ministry in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
blessing that enriches and informs the sacramental ministry of the Church. The four days were an experience of Christ in Word and Sacrament, deepening our respective cultural identities and who each person is as a child of God, called by name in Baptism and called by name in a family and a culture. The gathering represented distinct regions and cultures of Aboriginal peoples from Ontario to Vancouver Island, and the far North of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The distinct culture of the Coast Salish Nations was predominant at the conference, with its indigenous and beautiful
‘Thank you, Catholic Missions In Canada. Your support makes such work possible’ traditions enhancing and deepening our understanding of Baptism and the Covenant of God’s abiding love. Thank you, Catholic Missions In Canada.Your support makes such work possible. Bishop Gary Gordon, past Bishop of the Diocese of Whitehorse, is now installed Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria in British Columbia. Catholic missions in canada 25
Tastes of
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28 Fall 2014
Bishop Corriveau at Tastes of Heaven Gala 2014
Enkindled hearts can transform the world Bishop John Corriveau, o.f.m. conv., left, spoke at Catholic Missions In Canada’s Tastes of Heaven Gala May 1 in Vaughan, Ontario. The proceeds of the gala will benefit the four mission dioceses in Northern British Columbia. On the next page are excerpts from Bishop Corriveau’s speech. By BISHOP JOHN CORRIVEAU, O.F.M. CONV.
Catholic missions in canada 29
C
ome Holy Spirit, Enkindle our Hearts! Enkindled hearts can transform the world. This describes the work of Catholic Missions in Canada over the past 100 years. I witnessed the power of this mission last Friday in Cranbrook, British Columbia, where I participated in the funeral of Mary Richardson. Mary, with the support of Catholic Missions In Canada, served for more than 20 years as a pastoral minister on four First Nations Reserves in the East Kootenay region of the Diocese of Nelson. Mary was killed in a recent tragic car crash. Mary was remembered with great affection as the compassionate face of the Gospel and the Church among the First Nations peoples she served. The dioceses of British Columbia’s Northern coast and interior share things in common. We have large territories with the smallest Catholic proportions in Canada, reaching not more than 15 per cent of the population. Each diocese has a few urban centres with several larger parishes and many more small parishes scattered throughout the mountains. Last Sunday, for example, I travelled 450 km to celebrate three Confirmation ceremonies in which I confirmed 30 Fall 2014
a total of four young people. Our dioceses have another important common reality. We have many First Nations communities.The Diocese of Nelson has ten First Nations reserves. The Diocese of Victoria has at least that number and the Dioceses of Kamloops and Prince George have many more. All the First Nations reserves in the Diocese of Nelson share a Catholic tradition, having been evangelized by the early Oblate missionaries. Although our First Nations communities represent a variety of cultures, they share a common tragic legacy from the Residential Schools. Over seven generations, Canadian government policy mandated the removal of children as young as six or seven years of age from their families and communities. It has left a tragic legacy of broken families and ruptured communities which will require years of healing. Jesus and His Gospel are an essential dimension of this healing process. “Peace be with you!” Jesus continues to breathe His Holy Spirit. He breathed His Holy Spirit on Mary Richardson. He continues to breathe that same Holy Spirit on many other pastoral ministers, priests and religious enfleshing in their pastoral ministry healing and reconciliation: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven” (Jn 20:23).
Sister Alice Walsh, P.B.V.M.
St. Joseph Award goes to Piccadilly missionary Sister had to ‘learn on the job’ By CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN CANADA STAFF
Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto, Apostolic Chancellor of Catholic Missions In Canada, centre, with Bishop John Corriveau, o.f.m. conv., and St. Joseph Award recipient Sister Alice Walsh, p.b.v.m.
S
ister Alice Walsh, p.b.v.m., pastoral administrator of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Piccadilly, Newfoundland, in the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, received Catholic Missions In Canada’s St. Joseph Award for outstanding missionary work at our Tastes of Heaven Gala 2014. Aside from serving at Our Lady of Fatima parish, Sister Walsh, 84, who is retiring this year, also ministered to the mission communities in Ship Cove,
Abraham Cove and West Bay on the Port-Au-Port Peninsula on the West Coast of Newfoundland. Sister Walsh said her biggest challenge came when she came face to face with the various parish ministries: “I had to learn on the job and with the help of priests who came to our parish for Sunday Masses and other sacramental ministries. I did a lot of learning— and what a good experience it was—with a good instructors to inform me on the journey.” Catholic missions in canada 31
A missionary’s prayer Before Sister Sheila Fortune, c.s.j., opened this letter (at right) and cheque from Catholic Missions In Canada, she had just $11.40 in her Natuashish account—and in a community accessible only by plane and boat, that wouldn’t go far! Groceries and gas are expensive—a half tank of gas costs $50— and groceries were needed for her simple meals, light lunches for children, parents and elders after Sunday Liturgy, and her baking for children visiting throughout the week. That gratitude on her face? It’s for Catholic Missions In Canada donors! While Sister Sheila bid farewell to Natuashish in June 2014, resident priest Father Anthony Anh faces the same financial challenges as he continues the mission in the Innu community. Will you welcome Father Anthony to Natuashish with a gift this Christmas? Your gift will help fund his annual expenses of $24,000
Since arriving in the Cowichan Valley of British Columbia in December 2011, Sisters Vinda Ochoa (left) and Elisa Lavarias— both Religious of the Virgin Mary Sisters—have begun a number of outreach initiatives and launched a First Nations Children and Youth program. Changes are amazing! One three-year-old boy whose father had passed away came to the program needing to be fed by volunteers who also guided his hands in art sessions. Now he counts the days ’til next session, happily greets visitors, feeds himself and even has a hearty appetite! You can bring such joy to children and their grateful families this Christmas! Your gift will help provide the $9,000 Sister Vinda and Sister Elisa need for the annual operation of these programs.
Guess who celebrated a milestone this year? Sister Margaret Sadler, s.e.j.! While continuing to serve in three Northern Manitoba missions, Sister Margaret celebrated the 50th anniversary of her religious profession this spring. Thompson is the nearest major centre to the missions, but it’s not near; the mission of Kinoosao is a six-hour drive from Thompson! While Catholic Missions In Canada supporters fund Sister Margaret’s travel and sustenance, her Lynn Lake residence needs repairs—as do both mission churches. You can honour Sister Margaret’s dedication with a special Christmas gift.Your donation will help cover the nearly $9,000 needed this year for heating and repair costs to her residence and the two churches. If and when a Christmas wish is answered, additional gifts will then be gratefully and with donor permission, directed to other Christmas petitions.
Make this a Christmas that shows our missionaries you remember them…and the people they serve! Please designate my Christmas gift to answering a missionary’s prayers this Christmas: Father Anthony • Sister Vinda • Sister Margaret Name_______________________________________________________________ Fr./Sr./Br./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms.
Address____________________________________________________________ City_____________________ Province_____________Postal Code_____________ Phone____________________________ Birthdate (D/M/Y) ___________________ BN# 11922 0531 RR0001
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Missions of Northern Saskatchewan
Faithful and Blessings abound in missions
34 Fall 2014
prayerful
STORY AND PHOTOS By Father Eugene Whyte, O.M.I.
Mass is celebrated twice a month at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Pinehouse Lake, Northern Saskatchewan. Catholic missions in canada 35
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eauval, a beautiful valley, lives up to its name. And the best view is from the church, St. Mary Magdalene, and the rectory next door. They look out onto the Beaver River, and in the distance, a large pond-like lake, and farther still, hills that clearly bear witness to the particular season we are in. St. Mary Magdalene has been blessed generously over the years, thanks to the fulsome support of Catholic Missions In Canada. About fifteen years ago, the church building received a new steel roof, and it continues to shine brightly in the sun. Aside from this particular effort, Catholic Missions In Canada continues to fund the missions of Northern Saskatchewan each year. I serve five missions in Northern Saskatchewan: Beauval, Cole Bay, Canoe Narrows, Pinehouse Lake and Patuanak. They are adjacent to the missions of Father Wendelin Rolheiser, a fellow Oblate missionary who serves Île-à-la-Crosse, Dillon, and Buffalo Narrows.
Challenges of mission work Such a collection of missions, all about 100 or so kilometres from Beauval, present some challenges at Christmas and Easter, but fortunately Father John Zunti, an 36 Fall 2014
Oblate priest now in his eighties, is able to help out over the different seasons. At St. Dominic parish in Pinehouse Lake, Sunday Mass is celebrated twice a month, and on the other two Sundays, a service in the absence of a priest is celebrated by the local community. The community has a number of people working farther north in uranium mines as well as in the local community itself. The parish provides catechism preparation for the sacraments and also prepares people for marriage. St. Louis parish in Patuanak is the home mission of a small Dene community located on a part of Île-à-la-Crosse lake, at the origins of the Churchill River.The community is very supportive of the Church. Sunday Mass is usually well attended by the community when the priest is present to celebrate Eucharist; this happens two Sundays out of four every month. The financial contributions from Catholic Missions In Canada are important to maintain the church through the very cold winters, and also to provide continuing travel and other expenses for the missionary priest. There are also many elderly people in Patuanak. They have a limited use of English, but have been blessed for many previous years in having Oblate priests who speak Dene.
Parishioners wait for Mass to begin at St. Louis Church in Patuanak, Northern Saskatchewan, in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas.
Christmas in the missions Before Christmas, at each of the missions, one or two evenings are spent celebrating a Christmas Vigil. The church becomes a place conducive to silent waiting—the purpose of Advent—and an empty manger is set up surrounded by judicious lighting, usually candles, to evoke emptiness and a longing for the Coming of the Lord. People are encouraged to wait and pray in silence. At Advent, we are also blessed with those wonderful feasts of Our Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, and they also encourage prayer and devotion to Mary and her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Vigils also provide a time for
Confessions, which are sought after by many in these isolated communities. Faithful teams of lay ministers support and encourage the priest and lead the people in Sunday Services in the absence of a priest. The lay ministers often lead the rosary, a popular devotion in these areas. They are a great testimony to the priests and sisters who served so many years as missionaries in these areas, and a great testimony to the deep faith of the people, a faith that continues to fill me with awe and wonder. Indeed, how good is the Lord! Oblate Father Eugene Whyte is pastor of five mission churches in Northern Saskatchewan, in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas. Catholic missions in canada 37
Yukon adventure
on a mission for Christ A life-changing experience By Emma Graham and Namir Khalaf
Yukon survivors: Volunteer crew of Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School.
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rom May 11th to May 19th this year, seventeen students and six teachers from Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, went on a mission trip to the Yukon Territory. We spent two days tearing down and rebuilding decks at Braeburn Summer Camp, then moved up to Carmacks to do an
38 Fall 2014
array of work at St. Jude Catholic mission church in preparation for a missionary to live there. Throughout our journey, Christ was present in our hearts, and His presence was clearly evident through our work and actions. While we were at Braeburn camp, we slept on wood floors— with no toilets, no showers—as well as cooked and cleaned and shared chores with one another.
Photo by Pamela Guy
If you ask us to describe our experience, we would call it “a life-changing experience.” We discovered the dignity of hard work, while being vulnerable outside of the comfort of our daily lives. Also, we began to appreciate the smaller luxuries in life that others may not be fortunate enough to have. Through this experience, we learned much about our
faith and the ability to rely on one another, focusing on Paul’s words to the Philippians: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Emma Graham and Namir Khalaf are students at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Catholic missions in canada 39
Gift Planning
A Gift that gives forever
Find out how endowments can provide for the most basic necessities of our missionaries BY WINNIE QUINN, CHARITABLE GIFTS MANAGER
P
aulette, Louise and Cecile gave their Mom a special Christmas gift a couple of years ago. Having known the work of our missionaries and their good works, they funded an endowment with Catholic Missions In Canada in her name. What a wonderful testament to their Mom’s faith and to their Catholic family values. Their endowment is also a special gift to our missions and will be for long into the future. It provides an ongoing annual gift for the most basic necessities of our missionaries to help keep them going—food, electricity, heat, transportation. It also enables them to share the love of Christ with both the young and old in our mission communities across Canada. So their endowment
is a gift that keeps giving. Their Mom, I think, would have been very pleased with her Christmas gift that year. The longevity of an endowment is exactly what attracts many of our donors to this means of supporting Catholic Missions In Canada. They like the idea that the principal of their endowment gift will stay invested while the interest earned will just keep coming year after year after year to assist our missionaries keep the Word of God alive in the missions. They realize that someday they will be gone and their outright annual or monthly gifts will no longer be available to support our mission needs, but through an endowment they can keep making their annual gifts.
Endowments are a special gift to our missions that will keep giving long into the future
40 Fall 2014
Photo by Anne Hanley
Many of the roads our missionaries travel on are sandy and gravel, just like the roads these boys are on in the Labrador community of Natuashish!
Some endowment donors, such as the three sisters mentioned, like the idea of an endowment to honour a loved one or a person they hold dear. Other thoughtful donors establish an endowment in their own name as a testament to their Catholic faith and as a means to share their faith with those people living in our Northern missions. Endowments can also draw other family members into supporting Catholic Missions. Bill
and Molly Callaghan, former CMIC missionaries, established an endowment in their family names, and in subsequent years, their children, grandchildren, and even their siblings have added to their “family” endowment. We call it “the little engine that could.” It just keeps growing and growing. An endowment can be created during your life, or at death through a gift in your will. Endowments can be established Catholic missions in canada 41
with a single gift or over five years with repeated gifts. Others have started their endowments now and plan to add to it later through a gift in their will. You can fund your endowment through a gift of cash or publicly-listed securities.You can also direct the proceeds from your Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), or Tax-Free Savings
Accounts (TFSAs) to create or add to your endowment.Yes, there are so many ways to give. The reply form below will let us know how to assist you. Please take a moment to fill it out and mail it to us. We will respond immediately. If you would rather talk to me personally, I will be pleased to hear from you.You can reach me at 1-866-YES-CMIC (937-2642), or 416-934-3424.
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42 Fall 2014
Catholic Missions In Canada 2015 Calendar
Art Reflects God’s Grandeur
Paintings by Canadian Artist Libby Dulac Our 2015 Catholic Missions In Canada calendar reflects the passion that Canadian artist Libby Dulac has for the awesome scenery she enjoys from her log home in the Yukon—from mountain and ice-field grandeur to lake, forest and wildflower splendour. Libby and her husband, Claude, are one of the lay missionary couples who keep the faith alive in the remote Catholic communities of Canada. Bishop Gary Gordon, recently of the Diocese of Whitehorse, says of them: “Whether it is Claude leading the Sunday liturgy of the Word or Libby cultivating the beautiful gardens around the church, they are both planting seeds of God’s Kingdom.”
Availabl purchas e for $12.95 e for a copy
Fundraiser for Catholic Organizations
Take part in our Free Calendar Program and receive up to 25 Calendars to sell as a fundraiser for your charitable works. Last year, Catholic organizations including parishes, the Catholic Women’s League, and the Knights of Columbus distributed calendars across Canada, with many donating back the raised funds to support the needs of our Canadian missionaries.
1 Email: calendar@cmic.info 2 Phone: 416-934-3424 or toll-free at 1-866-937-2642 • Free Calendar Program – Patricia Gyulay, at Ext. 227 • Calendar Purchase – Christine Villamor, at Ext. 230 3 Fax: 416-934-3425
MA-2014-03-Cal
Three easy ways to order
We reme Photo by Anne Hanley
Sister Yvette Perreault, P.M. 1930-2014: ‘A true woman of God’ Sister Yvette Perreault, a Sister of the Presentation of Mary, passed away May 28, after a short illness. She had just celebrated her 84th birthday on May 22nd. Since 1995, Sister Perreault had ministered to the people in Big River (Whitefish) First Nations reserve in Northern Saskatchewan, in the Diocese of Prince Albert. Sister Perreault joined the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in 1948. Throughout her religious life, she served in various capacities as teacher, teacher’s aide, nurse’s aide and school secretary. She inspired numerous students in the communities of Duck Lake, Prince Albert (Academy and P.A. Separate Schools), Spiritwood, and Vawn. Those who knew her described Sister Perreault as “a prayerful woman, a true woman of God, so gentle, compassionate, and full of joy. She lived her motto: ‘Loved into being, held in Love!’ with integrity and faithfulness.”
Remember your faithful departed with a gift in their memory. Your intentions will be remembered in our prayers and in the All Souls’ Day Mass offered by our President, Father Philip Kennedy. If you wish to have your intentions remembered on All Souls’ Day, please clip coupon (on page 45) and send your in memoriam offering in your magazine envelope today.
mber... On March 2, missionary Mary Richardson and her husband Clay, longtime residents of Cranbrook, British Columbia, were heading home after visiting family in Calgary, Alberta, when they met a tragic highway accident and suffered severe injuries. Clay lost the use of his legs and faces intensive therapy while Mary suffered a traumatic brain injury, and subsequently died on March 29. Mary Richardson had served the First Nations people in the East Kootenays region in the Diocese of Nelson, British Columbia, for close to two decades. In her recollection, Darcelle (Sturm) Lundeen, Mary’s friend of 57 years, said Mary enjoyed visiting with the elders and other people in the First Nations communities, learning the language of the Ktunaxa, and arranging many of the activities. “It was not uncommon for Mary to preside at a wake until the early hours of the morning and then do the funeral the next day.”
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Photo courtesy of the Richardson Family
Mary Richardson 1952-2014: Missionary in East Kootenays
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MEMOR Y
Fr./Sr./Br./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms.
LETTERS: YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
Help for upkeep
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e received your generous cheque in the amount of $15,000, which you very kindly sent to assist our four seminarians. Thank you very much for this financial assistance from the Catholic Missions which, as you say, will be used to help with our efforts in promoting, and helping to build the “New Evangelization” in our Church today. Archbishop Richard Gagnon Archdiocese of Winnipeg Manitoba
‘I love reading your magazine from page to page’
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n behalf of the parishioners of St. Patrick’s parish, McBride British Columbia, I am writing to express our gratitude for the ongoing support that is extended to us. Without the kindness of Catholic Missions In Canada, this parish would struggle to keep its doors open! 46 Fall 2014
Your grant helps considerably toward the day-to-day operational and repair costs of our parish, and, in particular, covers the travel expenses of the priest who, twice a month, travels over 200 km to celebrate Eucharist with us. It also allows for a fulltime resident pastoral life director who coordinates the life of the parish and attends to parish visits, sacramental preparation, adult faith formation, and catechetics. Be assured of the continuing prayers of the faith community at St. Patrick’s for God’s blessings upon those benefactors whose generosity is shared with us. Detta Smith Pastoral Life Director St. Patrick’s Parish McBride, British Columbia Diocese of Prince George OUR READERS WRITE: love reading your magazine from page to page about Catholic Missions In Canada’s work in Canada. What a beautiful ministry, and such dedicated people.
I
Gemma (and Lionel) D’Souza Scarborough, Ontario
Will Planner A GUIDE TO MAKING A WILL
Photto by Terry Quinn
Your will is one more way that you can provide for the neediest missions in our country. Preparing your will is an expression of love for those you leave behind: your family, your friends, and the charities whose work you believe in and want to continue to support.
The gift of a bequest won’t add financial stress but it will give you the assurance that the work of our missions will continue into the future.A will planner—with key information about your assets and your wishes—will help you get started.
Transform your faith into your legacy.
Yes, I’m interested in supporting Catholic Missions In Canada! Please send me information on:
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‘Storytelling keeps the reader on edge’
CMIC magazine wins 3 awards
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atholic Missions In Canada magazine won three awards in the recently-concluded Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada Conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina June 18-20. Father Mark Blom, o.m.i., won second place for his article, “All night in the bush,” in the best feature article in Mission magazines, overseas and home category. The judges noted: “Not only is the story itself
engaging and exciting, but the storytelling keeps the reader on edge.” Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Keewatin-Le Pas won an honourable mention for his essay, “The mystery continues,” in the Best Essay Mission magazines, overseas and home category. Father Vincent Travers, o.p., won an honourable mention for his article, “Life North of Ordinary,” in the Best In-Depth Writing, all magazines category.
P.S. This fall, please feel free to send our magazine to your friends and family. They will thank you for it — and so will we! To send a free one-year subscription to a friend or family member, e-mail us at information@cmic.info, or call 416-934-3424, or toll-free, at 1-866-YES-CMIC (937-2642), or fill in the coupon below. Your gift of $25 will help defray for the costs of this magazine and our mission work. From (Your Name): To (Name of person you want it sent to):
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