From sheep to scarves

This morning in Rome, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI celebrated a special Mass accompanied by the newly-appointed Metropolitan Archbishops throughout the world.  For each of them, this was a special day indeed, since they were invested (before the beginning of the liturgy) with the pallium.

Worn on the outside of the chasuble, this woolen scarf, specially crafted and woven for the occasion, is a sign of the unity that each of the Metropolitan Archbishops throughout the world has with the Holy Father in His role as teacher of the faith.

This year, there are four newly-appointed Archbishops in Canada, three of whom are present at the celebrations in Rome:

• Most Reverend Luc Cyr, Archbishop of Sherbrooke, QC
• Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau, QC
• Most Reverend Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal, QC and
• Most Reverend Valéry Vienneau, Archbishop-elect of Moncton, NB

Archbishop Vienneau has elected to receive the Pallium during the installation ceremony which will take place on August 29 of this year.

• Read the Holy Father's homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in which he speaks of the images of these two holy apostles

Time for the show

So today will see the Hurdles events begun in Calgary.  That's the place where the Canadian National Track and Field competitions are taking place (and the qualifying rounds for the Canadian Track and Field athletes who will represent us at next month's Olympics in London).

The times for the Women's 100m hurdles are published, along with other times for various competitions.  It appears that the first round of qualifying races will begin at 1:00pm today (that's 3:00pm EST).  The semi-finals will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 2:05pm local (that's 4:05pm EST) and the finals will take place at 3:50pm local (that's 5:50pm EST).

Coverage of the competitions will be streamed live at cbc.ca today beginning at 5:30pm EST today (Friday) and on the CBC television network tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) beginning at 4:00pm EST.

Crossroads

Summer time is here, almost.  Tomorrow is the last day of the academic year for elementary school students, teachers and staff.  Today, there was a special celebration held at one of the local churches to mark a significant milestone which is coming to pass over the summer months.

As students of St. Theresa, St. Christopher and Corpus Christi schools complete their day tomorrow, they will also bid farewell to the buildings they have called 'home' until now.  Beginning in September, these students will find themselves in a new location, at the newly-built Holy Cross school.

To mark this special passing, all the students from these three schools gathered at St. Patrick's church this morning for a special Mass of thanksgiving.  Many of the students brought rocks from their resepctive schoolyards and placed them at the foot of the cross which had been erected in the sanctuary of the church.  These rocks will be kept throughout the summer months and will re-appear when the opening Mass is celebrated in the new school on September 14.

Special note was paid to students who will be moving on to Grade 7 in September, since they will not technically be present in the new Holy Cross school, but rather at the neighbouring St. Benedict's.  In addition, all teachers from these three schools will be moving on to the new elementary school, so those who were present were asked to introduce themselves (for the benefit of students who are from others of the present schools) and to explain which grades they will be teaching in September.

After two months of rest and re-creation, the new chapter will begin.

Still in the running

Priscilla is also still in the running for CBC's on-line poll to determine which of Canada's Olympic atheletes will have the honor of carrying the flag at the Opening Ceremonies when the world comes to London on July 27 of this year.

Today only, we can vote for Priscilla in this next round.  Follow the link to the CBC online poll and cast your vote.  Results will be posted tomorrow morning for this next round.

On the way

This coming weekend, the Canadian National Track and Field competitions will take place on the grounds of the University of Calgary, and the athletes are on their way.

This morning, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep is aboard a flight to Calgary where she will be preparing along with other competitors for this weekend's competition.  Members of her family are also travelling today, and will be there to cheer her on.

Competitions begin tomorrow, and will continue until Saturday.  Go Priscilla Go!

Lessons from the Baptist

Leap with faith

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist.  Saint John had a very special role to play in the story of our faith, and it’s worth at least a moment to consider why.

• Listen to this homily

John’s earthly birthday is the only one the Church celebrates, other than that of Jesus.  John and Jesus shared significant moments even from the time they were in their mothers’ wombs.  Remember that Mary visited with Elizabeth, and that when her greeting reached Elizabeth’s ears, the child in her womb leapt for joy.  John and Jesus shared a number of similarities in their lives, but there were also some significant differences too.  Saint Augustine once wrote that John was born of a woman too old for childbirth; Christ was born of a youthful virgin.  The news of John’s birth was met with incredulity, and his father was struck dumb because of his lack of belief.  Christ’s birth was believed, and he was conceived in faith.

Like Christmas day, today is an occasion for great rejoicing because Saint John is the last of the prophets who foretold the coming of Christ, and in a sense, he is also the first of the disciples, yet the events of his birth allow us to see that the faith he learned was a gift given him by his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth.  In their old age, they rejoiced at his birth, and no doubt spent the rest of their earthly lives telling him the story of his birth, and that his life and the life of the Saviour were intertwined.

This weekend, we will also welcome some new members to our community.  Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, their parents rejoice at the birth of their children and will present them to us by announcing their names to all who are present.  In this seemingly insignificant act, parents will continue the tradition which was observed in the synagogues of ancient Judaism.  We know the story of John the Baptist: how his father was struck dumb until the day his name was announced in the gathered assembly, but we are still to discover the story which will unfold in the lives of these young children.  Beginning today, we pray for each of them, that every day of their lives, they come to understand more and more profoundly the truth that each of us is called from the day of baptism to be a light to the nations, and to announce God’s salvation, even to the ends of the earth.  Who knows how God is calling to them even now, telling them of his special plan for them to be light for the nations.

There’s another lesson that John came to teach us:  a very important lesson that we in turn must teach our children.  Because we have been entrusted with the light of faith, we must all strive every day to share this light with others by our deeds of love and acts of faith.  We must all seek occasions to point the way toward Jesus, even though we may not think ourselves worthy even to remove the sandals from his feet.  Even in the womb, John leapt for joy when he was in the presence of God.  We too have the great privilege of gathering here in God’s presence, of leaping with joy as we receive him, as we listen to his word, and as we are then sent forth to announce His salvation, even to the ends of the earth.

When the speechless speak

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, better known as Charlie, was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era.  He died in 1977 but was well known and loved the world over.  Most of his work was done without words, but in a rare appearance, he did record some talkies.  One of them appears here, a call to action, a call to small do-able things that we can all effect, a call to make a difference.

When the scripture speaks

Seeds to be scattered

Earlier this past week, I was at a meeting held at our Burton Street site.  In attendance were about 50 of the parishioners from that place who had come to speak with our Bishop about their concerns.  This was not the first time that such an encounter had taken place within those walls, but as people I have come to know came through the doors, I could sense that they had prepared themselves to hear some sad news.  As the meeting went on though, the Bishop sees great potential for our Burton Street site as a place of gathering for the lost and the forsaken.  All the statistics show that the Donnivan neighbourhood is home to the poorest and neediest of our population, he said.  This is exactly where we, the Church, need to be present.

• Listen to this homily

As he spoke, I thought of the many people who have entered the doors of that church.  I thought of the countless souls who have prayed there, and hoped there, and laughed there and developed friendships there.  I also thought of the people who are too tired now, too challenged now by age and infirmity to give of their talents as they once did, and I wondered about how we could, even now, find ways to reach out to the people who need us.

In the tropical islands of the Caribbean, if a small farmer wants a fence that will last, a strong limb from a roble tree will do the job.  The branch, once placed in a post hole along a fence line will come alive in the moist tropical soil.  New growth will soon appear on the seemingly dead post, and it will grow into a sturdy tree which will resist rot and decay.

Life can remain dormant in a piece of wood or the most insignificant seed.  The readings we heard today offer parables that speak of cedar twigs that can be transplanted to sprout into new growth, and grains of wheat and mustard seeds which also hold the promise of new life.  The kingdom of God can come alive in our world from the most insignificant of things, often in mysterious ways that are far beyond our own understanding.

I can’t help thinking that somehow these readings are meant as an answer to our prayers, a word of encouragement and hope, and a promise that God is still among us, hoping and dreaming, reaching out to the poor and the needy and asking each of us to do what we can to be instruments of his compassion, his peace and his love.  Ever since Christ walked on this earth, he has been calling disciples to exercise small acts of kindness toward strangers, to stand up and give witness against injustices, to hand a warm bowl of soup to a hungry person.

The Church has a wonderful opportunity to be present to those in our city who need us most, but this means that we must find ways to become like the first apostles, to speak words of encouragement and hope to our neighbours and to our world.  We need to become missionaries in our own land.  We need to find ways to plant roble trees and seeds of faith and we need to find ways to provide warm nutrient soil in which these acts of faith can take root and breathe new life.

Treats and theatre

The fundraisers are at it again.  This time, we're offering an evening on the town (which some might call dinner and a show or treats and theatre.

On Tuesday, October 2, the Sudbury Theatre Centre will be the venue for some live entertainment.  The play in question is called Henry and Alice: Into the Wild.  We've managed to find 28 tickets for this show, and combined it with a dinner option to set the scene, courtesy of the Respect is Burning Superclub.

Proceeds from this evening will help us to pay down the cost of renovations we completed last summer.

This promises to be a wonderful evening out.  Act quickly if you want tickets.  They are available online or at the parish office which can be reached by phone at 705.674.6447.

Raising an Olympian

Six weeks to go before the Olympic Games hit London.

In recent days, the shocking revelation that Canada's diving hopeful Alexandre Depatie hit his head on a springboard in practice in Spain.  He had some stitches but is determined to continue his preparation.

Determination: that's a big part of the preparation for competition at the top of this food chain, as is the support team that stands in the shadows.  Another of Canada's medal hopefuls, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep has the undying support of her husband, her family and even her baby.  In preparation for the competitions, her mother has agreed to care for baby Natalya so that Priscilla can devote her energy and attention to making sure that she's in top shape.

Procter and Gamble has featured Priscilla's mom in one of their Raising an Olympian series.  In case you haven't see it yet, here it is:

For Corpus Christi

The new covenant

Children in this parish who received the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time just a few weeks ago had a unique privilege during the weeks previous to First Communion Sunday.  At one of the preparation sessions, the entire catechesis about the roots of the Eucharistic feast was explained by living with them an experience of a Seder meal.  I remembered this experience when I read through the gospel that we have just heard.  In particular I was struck by the words they prepared the Passover meal.  To the untrained eye, this seems to be a rather insignificant detail, but to those who know what it’s like to prepare a meal, especially a meal that is rich in tradition and, in this case religious significance, these few words speak of meticulous, detailed work.

• Listen to this homily

In Jewish homes, the Seder meal is celebrated on the first two nights of Passover.  This ritual meal commemorates the night when our God literally passed over the houses of the Hebrews, but brought suffering and death to the Egyptians who were their captors.  The Seder meal is a celebration remembering the freedom that was bought for God’s people, and a reminder to all those who participate that our words and actions should always be used to free the captives of our day.

Earlier this week, the Ontario Legislature passed the Accepting Schools Act, and made Bill 13 a law within our Province.  The debate that surrounds this legislation has caused much political turmoil and has been closely followed in places far beyond the borders of Ontario.  As Cardinal Collins has recently stated, we must continue to seek opportunities to foster safe and welcoming school communities, where bullying in any form is unacceptable and where every person is welcomed with love and respect.  The unfortunate fact is that in all schools (and in some of our workplaces), there are students and co-workers who are bullied for any of a number of reasons: some because of physical size, others because of the colour of their skin, some because of their religious beliefs, and still others because of their sexual orientation.  In our schools, bullying that results from a student identifying him- or herself as either gay or lesbian has even resulted in suicide.

There are lessons for all of us to learn here.  The issues raised by the Accepting Schools Act affect us all.  When the Israelites entered into the original covenant with God, Moses marked that covenant in blood as a sign of the permanence of God’s promise and the commitment of the people to abide by it as well.  We are still bound by this covenant, which has been renewed by the covenant Jesus established when he poured out his own blood.  The government is concerned about making our schools safe, but we must be willing to go one step further: demonstrating our willingness to foster safe and welcoming communities in our schools, our parishes and our workplaces.  Bullying in any form is indeed unacceptable and every person has a right to be welcomed with love and respect in the name of Jesus who invites us here.

As we partake in the sacrifice of the Eucharist, we remember the words of the letter to the Hebrews and give thanks that Jesus’ sacrifice purifies our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.  This moment of prayer is an opportunity for all of us to renew our commitment to being living witnesses of the covenant of love created by our God.  We do this by using the power of speech, not to create a culture of us and them, but an ever deepening understanding that there is a place for all people at the table of the Eucharist.  We do this by supporting parents and grandparents who struggle with the news that someone they love is hurting.  We do this by finding contexts in which to explore animosities and discomforts, so that these too might become opportunities for compassion and reconciliation.  We do this by banishing fear from our hearts and our communities, and replacing it with love.

The Eucharist is a celebration commemorating the freedom that was bought for all God’s people, and a reminder to all those who participate that our words and actions should always be used to free the captives of our day.

Then and now

Mexico and it's Catholic history are in the spotlight today.

According to American Catholic, today's Saint is the Servant of God Joseph Perez, a Mexican martyr whose cause for Sainthood is being considered in Rome.  Joseph's story is a reminder for modern-day Catholics that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.  In the third century A.D., Tertullian spoke these words; they are just as true today as they ever have been.

Evidence of others who have planted the seed of martyrdom in Mexico is also in the spotlight with the newly-released film entitled For Greater Glory.  It opened in Mexico in March of this year, and in the United States just last week.  Watch for it; it's a story that needs to be told.

What a team!

Some people need a helping hand once in a while to show them the way.  Some people who receive these helping hands, do themselves end up giving back so much more.  Consider the case of Patrick Henry Hughes.  Have you seen this video yet?  If not, take a look, and learn the lessons this father and son teach every day, just by living life.

For the Holy Trinity

Three in one

The Church celebrates the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil with adults who have identified a call to the Roman Catholic faith.  Following the celebration of these sacraments, these neophyte Catholics continue their faith lessons throughout the liturgical season of Easter.  In this stage of their catechesis, known as mystagogia, the learning happens through reflection on the lived experience, and each week, they are encouraged to reflect on the mystery of their call to follow Jesus, paying particular attention to the lessons he taught his disciples after his resurrection.

• Listen to this homily

The practice of reflection in this manner doesn’t stop just because the Easter Season has now come to a close, so even the weeks immediately following the celebration of Pentecost bear their own opportunities for deepening our understanding and appreciation for the mysteries of our faith.  Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, or Trinity Sunday as it has come to be known.  No matter whether we celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter, or as little children, this Solemnity allows us an opportunity to deepen our appreciation for a very special gift which has been given to us, but in order for us to do so, we must dare to unwrap it, gaze at it, allow it to mould us, and teach us.

The words of the book of Deuteronomy remind us today of a truth which has been revealed to the Jewish people, our ancestors in faith.  The Lord is God in heaven above and on earth beneath; there is no other.  Since the days of Moses, we have known that there is only one God, however our understanding of who this God is has been deepened and explained further when, in the fullness of time, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to live among us and to reveal Him to us.  Having taught his disciples that he and the Father are one, Jesus then commissioned them to spread this good news to the whole world.  Go therefore he told them, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

Like the disciples who were sent out from Galilee, we who receive the gift of life in baptism are commissioned to continue this work of making disciples of all nations.  Led by the Spirit of God, we are all sons and daughters of God.  Ours is the task of continuing the mystagogia for the sake of others in our world who perhaps have indeed been brought to the font and been baptised, but who have not had the opportunity to understand the true depth of the gift entrusted to them.   There are many in our world today who have received the bread of life, and even celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation, but who still have not had the experience of knowing the true depth of love that has been shared with them.

It sometimes takes an entire lifetime to understand that our God is one, that He sent us the gift of His Son Jesus, and that after Jesus returned to the Father, they in turn sent us the Spirit as the enduring gift, the Paraclete who will remain with us to guide us until we ourselves are reunited with Him in heaven.

Behind the bills

They say it's a loosing battle.

The Ontario Legislature is currently entertaining two separate Bills known as The Accepting Schools Act and The Anti-Bullying Act.  It's true that bullying is a reality (as it has been) in many if not all of our schools, and the aim of these two pieces of legistation appears to be the adoption of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) as part of all High Schools in the province.  In fact, GSAs are explicitly named in the above-mentioned legislation.

Toronto's Cardinal Archbishop has recently been portrayed as being at odds with Ontario's Premier because this past Monday, the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario issued Observations on a recent change in government policy re: proposed anti-bullying legislation, which follows upon a previously-submitted Brief submitted by the Catholic Bishops of Ontario to the Standing Committee on Social Policy re: Bills 13 and 14. and since Cardinal Collins is the current President of the ACBO, his name appears at the end of these two documents, although the comments made are spoken on behalf of all the Catholic Bishops of Ontario.

In essence, the Bishops agree that all schools should be safe and welcoming places for everyone, regardless of race, colour, gender or orientation.  They recognize that All of those who care about Catholic education are committed to assuring that Catholic schools are formed by the principles of the Gospel, in which all people are treated with love and respect. As we Christians put it, not as some pious platitude but as a practical norm for life: Catholic Schools must be places where each person is received as Christ.

The question that is raised however is that one particular form of bullying should necessitate (by means of legislation) only one particular form of responding with love and respect, namely the creation of GSAs.  One thing is certain: the debate will continue, in the public forum as well as in the Legislature.  The outcome will no doubt shape the world in which we live.