First martyrs

We don't know their names, but today the Church remembers the faithful Christians who first suffered martyrdom, particularly in the city of Rome during the first century AD.

The first days after Christ's death and resurrection were not easy.  In fact, the first persecution began under the direction of the Emperor Nero himself after the burning of Rome in 64AD.  The pagan writer Tacitus provides perhaps the most detailed accounts of the torture and suffering endured by the faithful.  Saint Clement, who was Bishop of Rome also speaks of this suffering in his letter to the Corinthians:

Let us ... come to those who struggled closest to us; let us consider the noble models of our own generation.  It was through jealousy and envy that the greatest and most upright pillars of the Church were persecuted and struggled unto death.  Let us set before our eyes the good apostles.  First of all, Peter, who because of unreasonable jealousy, suffered not merely once or twice but many times, and having thus given his witness, went to the place of glory that he deserved.  it was through jealousy and conflict that Paul showed the way to the prize for perserverance.  He was put in chains seven times, sent into exile, and stoned; a herald both in the east and the west, he achieved a noble fame by his faith.  He taught justice to all the world and, when he had reached the limits of the western world, he gave his witness before those in authority; then he left this world and was taken up into the holy place, a superb example of endurance.

Around these men with their holy lives there gathered a great throng of the elect, who, though victims of jealousy, gave us the finest example of endurance in the midst of many indignities and tortures.  Through jealousy women were tormented like Dirce or the daughters of Danaus, suffering terrible and unholy acts of violence.  But they courageously finished the course of faith and despite their bodily weakness won a noble prize.  it was jealousy that separated wives from husbands, and violated the words of our faith Adam: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.  Jealousy and strife have overthrown great cities and uprooted mighty nations.

We are writing this, beloved, not only for your admonition but also as a reminder to ourselves; for we are placed in the same arena, and the same contest lies before us.  Hence we ought to put aside vain and useless  concerns and go straight to the glorious and venerable norm which is our tradition, and we should consider what is good, pleasing and acceptable in the sight of him who made us.  Let us fix our gaze on the blood of Christ, realizing how precious it is to his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

Experiences from the other side of the world

There's a movie currently showing in some of our cinemas which may pass by the majority of viewers ... but which should be seen by most.

The title is Of Gods and Men.  Filmed in French and Arabic, it is set in Algeria and is the story of a small group of Trappist monks who live in the midst of an impoverishd community and who must decide whether to return to France because of the threat of a group of fundamentalists, or to stay where they are despite the possibility of ever-growning hostilities.

• Watch a trailer

Rarely does a movie leave its audience silent for a period of time following the final frames, but this is one of those films.  The truth is that the sufferings of humanity are only seen and admitted by those who want to admit that they exist.  Especially with the distance of geography, much of the world may be truly ignorant (in the classic sense of the word) of the plight of our brothers and sisters.  Thanks to films such as these, the reality can be presented to the viewing audience.

The question is will people watch? and even if they do will they remain apathetic to the truths that are unfolding right under their noses?

Saints Peter and Paul

This is the week for celebrating important Bishops.  Today in Rome, there is great celebration.  The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is always marked with a special Mass.  This morning at 9:30am local time, the Holy Father presided at a liturgy within the Basilica of Saint Peter, during which he also presented pallia to 41 newly appointed Metropolitan Archbishops.

Today also marks the sixtieth anniversary of priestly ordination for Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), so his reflection today is that much more an opportunity for sharing his personal reflections about priesthood and about leadership in service to the Church.

In order to understand the importance of this Feast, perhaps we are better to refer to the wisdom of Saint Augustine who once wrote 'This day has been made holy by the passion of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul.  We are, therefore, not talking about some obscure martyrs.  For their voice has gone forth to all the world, and to the ends of the earth their message.  These martyrs realized what they taught: they pursued justice, they confessed the truth, they died for it.

Saint Peter, the first of the apostles and a fervent lover of Christ, merited to hear these words: I say to you that you are Peter, for he had said: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Then Christ said: And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.  On this rock I will build the faith that you now confess, and on your words: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, I will build my Church.  For you are Peter, and the name Peter comes from petra, the word for 'rock', and not vice versa.  'Peter' comes, therefore, from petra, just as 'Christian' comes from Christ.

Peter and Paul share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one.  Peter went first, and Paul followed.  And as we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostle's blood.  Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labours, their sufferings, their preaching and their confession of faith.

A second bishop

For the second day in a row, the Church celebrates the Memorials of Bishops.  Tuesday of this week was the liturgical memorial of Saint Irenaeus.

Born around the year 130AD, he was educated at Smyrna, he was a disciple of Saint Polycarp, who himself was bishop of that city.  In the year 177, he was ordained a priest in Lyons (France) and shortly thereafter was made bishop of that city.  he composed works defending the Catholic faith against errors of the Gnostics, and it is said that he received the martyr's crown around the year 200.

Saint for Monday

Monday of this week was the liturgical memorial of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, a fourth-century Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Cyril lived a monastic life, which meant that he chose to live simply, but was privileged to be among the few who learned how to read and write.  He was eventually ordained a priest and even managed to succeed his uncle as Bishop of Alexandria (Egypt) in 412AD.  He had a preeminent role at the Council of Ephesus, fighting bravely against the erroneous doctrines of Nestorius, and wrote many learned works explaining and defending the Catholic faith.  Cyril died in 444.

West meets east

On the eve of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (that's today), the Holy Father, Benedict XVI met with the Patriarch of Constantinople.  The Patriarch is in Rome these days to mark tomorrow's feast, and so this meeting can take place as a courtesy visit, but even so such encounters don't happen often.

Admittedly, the Holy Father has been solicitous to do his part to build relations between significant figures.  Every one of these encounters is significant, and goes a long way to building better relations.

Copies of the official greetings shared by both leaders were published today on the Vatican website.  The texts (in French and in Italian) of Benedict XVIs greeting and of Bartholomew Is response should soon be translated into other languages as well.

For Corpus Christi

A few years ago, we hosted a special celebration here on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi - the Body and Blood of the Lord.  Once the Mass was complete, there was a procession including various groups, all of whom have special devotion to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist itself, carried in a monstrance was paraded through the streets, before arriving at it's destination where there was a final prayer of praise.  The entire afternoon was wrapped up with a bar-b-que and food for the masses who had gathered.

That was then, and this is now.  Today, we have not planned a parade, but we are still invited to deepen our appreciation of the gift of love offered by our God.   Together with the entire Church, we celebrate this Solemnity, giving thanks for the gift of Christ's love which calls us to love one another.

As always, the podcast version is available, as is the text version of my reflection (below). 

The communions in between
It was a month ago that little boys and girls approached in procession to receive their first Holy Communion.  For each of them, there have already been big events in their lives: birthdays, Santa Claus, ice cream, but whether they realized it or not, the day they received Communion for the first time was bigger than all the rest.  They approached the altar expectantly, some nervously, and with their families gathered around, their eyes focused on the round host.  With practiced hands, they received it on the palm and passed it reverently to their lips.  God was with them in that moment in a way he had never been present to them before.



A few weeks ago, I was called to visit with an elderly woman at one of the retirement homes here in the city.  As I approached her bedside, she asked whether I had indeed brought Holy Communion for her, and I thought then of the big events that she had known in her long life: her wedding, the birth of her children, the first time she heard a grandchild call her nonna.  Now, what she must have known would be one of her last communions, she had reached the climax of her old age. She closed her eyes reverently, as she had done so many times before, uttering a silent prayer and then inclined her white head ever so slightly, opening her lips to receive her Saviour with all the fervour her wasted body would allow.  God was with her then, as she would soon be with him for all eternity.

The first Holy Communion is always a fervent one.  So is the last.  We bring to the first the freshness of youth; we bring to the last the clarity that age brings to light.  What about the communions in between? The other opportunities we’re given to approach the altar?  The missed opportunities, whether through indifference or even sin?  Does Communion truly matter in life, or is it a religious luxury for soap-scrubbed kids and pious old folk?  The truth is that it does matter a great deal.  There are four reasons why:

First, in the Eucharist, God nourishes us.  He gives us food for our souls.  In today’s gospel passage, we find Jesus telling us, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you … for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.  What soil does for a plant, what milk does for a baby, what solid food does for an adult, the Eucharist does for the soul.  By receiving regularly and with fervour, we thrive spiritually on the body and blood of Christ.

Second, in the Eucharist, God makes us one with himself.  We know from everyday experience that people can be very close to one another.  We say of two friends who are always seen together that they are like that, and we close two fingers to illustrate the intimacy of the relationship.  The most intimate relationship we know is that of a husband and wife, where two people live with each other all their lives, but the intimacy born of Communion is closest of all.  Jesus himself explains it when he says whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in them.  This is not a question of living with one another but of living in one another, sharing the same life.  This union begins in baptism and reaches a peak each time we receive the Eucharist.

Thirdly, in the Eucharist, Jesus makes us one with one another.  Don’t think of this sacrament purely as a personal love affair between God and yourself.  It is that certainly, but there’s more to it than that.  It’s a love affair that embraces the whole community.  More than my communion with Christ, the Eucharist is our communion with each other in Christ.  Saint Paul puts it this way: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.  The Eucharist is not just a personal sacrament, it’s a social sacrament too, a circle that includes you, me, Christ and all our neighbours.  As communicants, we are not just stones scattered in a field, we are stones held together by the mortar of Christ’s love, all part of the same wall, all keeping each other in place, all being kept in place by others.

Finally, regular reception of Christ’s body is an assurance of resurrection.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.  Resurrection might seem remote to us now, so remote that our minds cannot focus on it at all.  As remote as it may seem, the Resurrection is the one event on which we base our hope.  Our faith teaches us that death is not the supreme reality, that we are not born to wither like a dried up leaf in the autumn, or to rot in the dampness of the earth. People of faith cannot believe that the good things of life: the joys of childbirth, the freshness of youth, the handclasp of friendship, the tremulous stirrings of love – we cannot believe that that all these things are false or pretentious, eventually fading away with morality.  We were not born for death, we were born for resurrection, and our Saviour assures us that if we are faithful to the Eucharist, e too will rise on the last day.  This is a mighty thought, a happy thought, a hopeful thought.  Take it away with you and may it bring you closer in the Eucharist to Jesus, our Risen Lord.

Twice in a week

We received notice on Wednesday of this week that the Engineer would be returning for a second on-site meeting (truly a rarity, and perhaps a signal that something unexpected needed to be tended to).

As it turns out, some significant masonry (brick) deterioration was identified in the east tower, especially in two areas:

• on the south-east corner of the tower, between the two stone belt courses, and
• the masonry arches below the lower belt course on the north and south sides of the east tower.

It would appear that the cause of the deterioration is long-term exposure in a saturated condition.  In other words, water has caused this damage.  The affected areas are directly below the belt courses (the white bands toward the top of the towers) which both demonstrate some wide and open cracks where mortar has dried and flaked away.  As a result, water has penetrated through these joints, and has saturated the brick on the interior courses, causing some of the bricks to crack.

Prior to undertaking any significant brick restoration, a series of helical ties will be installed in order to unify the masonry construction.  Then each course of the brick (there are three wythes in all) will be re-built, complete with fresh mortar.

When construction projects are mobilized there are always surprises.  I suppose if this is the only thing we discover, we're really lucky. 

Preparing for Corpus Christi

This coming Sunday, the Church (in most parts of the world, including Canada) will observe the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord.  Traditionally, Corpus Christi, like the Feast of the Ascension, is observed on a Thursday, but in some places in the world, permission has been granted for the Feast to be transferred to the nearest Sunday.

Perhaps it might be helpful to use this opportunity of preparation as an occasion for reflection on the meaning of the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ.  Three years ago, Quebec City was host to the International Eucharistic Congress, and a number of catecheses were given then, teachings on the importance of the Eucharist.  These have been conserved and can still be viewed via the video recordings:

• Catechesis by His Eminence, Donald William Wuerl, June 16, 2008
• Catechesis by His Eminence, Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon (France), June 17, 2008
• Catechesis by His Eminence, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, June 18, 2008
• Catechesis by His Eminence, Télesphore Placidus Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi (India), June 20, 2008
• Catechesis of His Excellency, Louis Antonio Tagle, Bishop of Imus (Philippines), June 19, 2008
• Catechesis of His Eminence, Christian Wiyghan Tumi, Archbishop of Douala (Cameroon), June 21, 2008

Eucharistic Congresses have taken place for many centuries in various locations throughout the world.  Each of them is an opportunity for the Church to deepen our understanding of the gift of the Eucharist given by Christ for sake of his beloved.

To prepare the way

There's a special feast day being celebrated today.

For Canadians who are resident in Quebec, and for French Canadians across the land, today is la Saint-Jean, a holiday in the province of Quebec and an occasion for celebrating la francophonie.  The roots of this feast though are found in the liturgical feast proper for this day.

The Church celebrates today the Birth of Saint John the Baptist.  According to a sermon by Saint Augustine of Hippo, the Church observes the birth of John the Baptist as a hallowed event.  We have no such commemoration for any other saint but it is significant that we celebrate the birthdays of John and Jesus.

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.  Christ's birth was believed, and he was conceived through faith.

John appears as the boundary between the two testaments, the old and the new.  That he is a sort of boundary the Lord himself bears witness, when he speaks of the law and the prophets up until John the Baptist.  Thus he represents times past and is the herald of the new era to come.  As a representative of the past, he is born of aged parents; as a herald of the new era, he is declared to be a prophet while still in his mother's womb.  For when yet unborn, he leapt in his mother's womb at the arrival of blessed Mary.  In that womb he had already been designated a prophet, even before he was born; it was revealed that he was to be Christ's precursor, before they ever saw one another.  These are divine happenings going beyond the limits of our human frailty.  Eventually he is born, he receives his name, his father's tongue is loosened.

Zechariah is silent and loses his voice until John, the precursor of the Lord, is born and restores his voice.  The silence of Zechariah is nothing but the age of prophecy lying hidden, obscured, as it were, and concealed before the preaching of Christ.  At John's arrival Zechariah's voice is released, and it becomes clear at the coming of the one who is foretold.  The release of Zechariah's tongue at the birth of John is a parallel to the rending of the veil at Christ's crucifixion.  If John were announcing his own coming, Zechariah's lips would not have been opened.  The tongue is loosened because a voice is born.

Three in one day

Today you have a choice.  Actually there are two saints from the Church's history who are being celebrated:

Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop
Born at Bordeaux in France in 355, Paulinus advanced in the service of the state, married and had a son.  Seeking an austere life, he received baptism and, having disposed of all his worldly goods, he began to live the monastic life at the age of 40 at Nola in Campagna.  He later was made bishop of the city and promoted the cult of Saint Felix, assisted pilgrims and diligently alleviated the misfortunes of the day.  He also composed poems remarkable for their fine language.  Saint Paulinus died in 431.

Perhaps more well-known in our day though are the other two saints celebrated today:

Saint John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr

Born in 1469, John Fisher completed his theological studies at Cambridge in England and was ordained to the priesthood.  Appointed bishop of Rochester, he led a most austere life and fulfilled his pastoral role by frequently visiting the faithful.  He also composed works against the errors of his time.

Saint Thomas More, Martyr
Saint Thomas was born in 1477 and was educated at Oxford.  He married and had one son and three daughters.  While serving as Chancellor in the King's Court, he wrote works on the governance of the realm and in defense of the Faith.

Both Saint John Fisher and Saint Thomas More were beheaded in 1535 by order of King Henry VIII whom they had resisted in the matter of his divorce: John Fisher on June 22 and Thomas More on July 6.  While detained in prison, Bishop Fisher was named to the College of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church by Pope Paul III.

After the second meeting

While the construciton project is in process, we have the privilege of bi-weekly meetings with the Engineers, and the Contractors.  The purpose of these meetings is all about communication, and the frequency of the dialogue allows us (we hope) to stay ahead of the process.

In addition to these bi-weekly encounters, there are also visits on opposite weeks with other representatives from the Engineering firm, just so that we can keep all the pieces together.

Yesterday, the second 'big' meeting was held.  In short, things are going well.

• The scaffolding is all in place now (on the outside of the two towers, and the interior scaffolding is almost complete in the east tower.
• Work has begun on the labour-intensive removal of the mortar on the inside of the east tower.  For each course of mortar, four inches is being removed.  Once it has been, it will be replaced with fresh mortar and allowed to properly cure before the outer four inches of mortar is removed and replaced.
• Some adjustments to the measurements and design of the steel ring beams have been suggested in order to allow for the irregularities in the inner tower construction.  We are expecting that the steel will be ready for installation within three weeks.
• There will also be some wooden phases of the structure (ie the platforms within the towers) that will be attended to within the next weeks.
• While the construction is taking place, we have also asked about the possibility of installing some safer stairs within the towers.  Deatils about this addition to the contract are still being worked out at the present time.

The next regularly scheduled project meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 5.  An update will follow.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Today, the Society of Jesus (otherwise known as the Jesuits) are in the spotlight as the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga.

Saint Aloysius was born of the princely family of Castiglione (northern Italy) in 1568 near Mantua in Lombardy.  Instructed in piety by his mother, he manifested an inclination to religious life.  He legally delivered his share of the ancestral dominion to his brother and entered the Society of Jesus.  While serving the sick during a plague, he himself contracted the disease and died in 1591.

For the Trinity

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.  We remember and pray especially for parishioners in our parish who have a particular connection to the former parish of the Holy Trinity today.  We also take this rare opportunity to consider the great love of our God, made known to us in the persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

For your convenience, the podcast version of this reflection can be accessed here.  As always the text is also available:

May I have this dance?

Many years ago, when I first began to seriously entertain the thought that God was calling me to a life of service, a wise person counseled me not to be in a hurry to find the answer to this quest, not before I had had the opportunity to fall in love first.  The advice sounded strange to me at the time, but as the years have unfolded, I have come to appreciate the wisdom these words contained.

When two people fall in love, there is an almost euphoric joy, and all things seem to be better when they are together.  As long as they don’t fall out of love, they may discover that they can truly rely on one another to work through the problems of life, to find solutions and to help one another to become the best, most loving people they can be.  Even better, love is not limited to just two people.  The more it is genuinely shared, the more it can strengthen bonds of friendship and trust between ever widening circles of people.

Today, the Church’s liturgy invites us to consider the fact that we have all been invited to fall in love with God, and what’s even better, God demonstrates the power of perfect love as it is unfolded in the relationship of the Holy Trinity.  The tradition of the Church tells us that God is one, but God is also made known to us in three persons: the Father, who created us, the Son who came to live among us and to model for us the ideal of the Father’s love, and the Holy Spirit who was sent among us as the Father’s gift of perfect love.  Each of these three manifestations helps us to know and to appreciate a different aspect of God, but all three of them are part of the same God, and all three invite us to be caught up in God’s love, as if we were entangled in a slow-moving dance.

In our modern day, dancing seems to be more and more a community affair.  Have you ever noticed that modern music lends itself more to groups of people gathering on a dance floor?  Admittedly we still count the slow dance among our repertoire, but the intricate movements of a tango, or of a Viennese waltz hold a certain beauty for the bystander which seems almost to be lost except to only some relative few.  For a waltz to move gracefully, there must be one who will lead and another who will follow.  If both partners tried to lead, there would be confusion, and if both were to follow, there would be equal muddle.

So it is with the relationship we are invited to explore with our God.  From the day of our baptism, we are invited to stand on the dance floor, and to allow God to lead the dance.  If we ourselves are intent on dictating the movements, we often may find ourselves stumbling, but if we are willing to listen, to follow the promptings of the spirit, the dance can be fluid, graceful and moving in perfect time to a music that seems even more sublime than any instrument could render.

From the beginning of time, God has invited his people to enter into this dance.  Moses was privileged to discover these graced movements when God revealed himself as merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.  Jesus revealed another aspect of this dance when he instructed Nicodemus in the dark of night: God did not send the Son into the world to condemn it, but in order that the world might be saved and the apostle Paul also revealed another layer of the relationship when he urged the Corinthians to agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

The dance of divine love continues today.  We in our turn are being invited to play our part, to discover what it’s like when we allow the Father to lead, when we look to Jesus for guidance and when we allow the Spirit to act through us.  This is a gesture of mutual love, and we are being asked, May I have this dance?

Saint Romuald

Today, there is another of the heroes of the church to be celebrated, but because his feast falls on a Sunday, the liturgy does not put him in the forefront.

Saint Romuald was born in Ravenna in the middle of the tenth century.  He embraced the hermit's life and for many years traveled through various lands seeking solitude and establishing small monasteries while directing himself to a life of perfection (read asceticism) by the practise of virtues.  He fought strenuously agains the depraved habits of the monks of his day.  He died around the year 1027.

Celebrating 55

A few weeks ago, Reverend James Myles Sharpe, the oldest priest in the diocese, celebrated his 55th anniversary of Ordination.  As it happened, his anniversary coincided with a major liturgical celebration which involved the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal order of Catholic men with whom he had served as chaplain for more than 30 years.  Therefore, he was able to celebrate this major milestone in his ministry and his life in company with the men who had played such a large part of his life.

That was two weeks ago.

Today, we had the honor to present him with a special gift in recognition of his years of service to the Diocese and to the people of God.  A few days before his anniversary, I had begun to investigate the possiblity of procuring a copy of the Misale Romanum (the Latin version of the book that contains the texts proper to the celebration of Mass) as a gift for him.  You see, whenever he is present and concelebrating the Mass, he chooses to pray the Pater Noster (Our Father) in Latin, and even greets me at the time of the exchange of peace with the words Pax vobiscum (Peace be with you).

From what I can tell, I think he was suitably impressed with the gift.  So were a number of the people who were present for the Mass.  Many of them came forward to take a closer look at the book after the Mass was complete.  How often do they get close to it?  Answer, for some of them, this was probably the first time they had ever seen the book so close up.

When he picked it up and brought it into the sacristy, Father Sharpe commented that he would have to find some younger servers who would be better able to hold the book and carry its weight.  At age 85 years, he's more than earned his rest.

Ad multos annos!

Towers enrobed

While I'm at it, here are some more of the pictures taken from the exterior of the church:

A close-up of the top levels of the east tower

The west tower, from the vantage point of the adjacent parking lot.

The west tower in the distance, complete with the stone work surrounding the central stairs.

The west tower, completely shrouded in scaffolding

Here's what it looks like from Beech Street

Look really closely and you might see the rust pluming on the upper stairs

More than one casual passerby is curious about the project.  What are they doing?  How long will the construction continue?  The questions seem endless, and that's ok, because if they're asking that means that they'll keep watching as the progress continues through the summer months.

Construction, phase 2

Now that the scaffolding is all up (at least the exterior scaffolding around the towers), work has begun on the interior of the towers.  It may be difficult to spot from the ground, but each course of mortar now has to be ground out, and then refilled with fresh mortar.

Work has begun in the top part of the east tower (above), where there is also some additional scaffolding which has been installed inside the tower so that the workers can reach each course of the brickwork.  In the past couple of days, we've begun to hear the grinding as course by course, the mortar is removed from the inside of the tower.

Plans are also advancing regarding the fabrication of steel reinforcement beams and bands which will eventually be installed inside the towers.  More info about that will come in the next couple of weeks.  For now, I've been led to believe that the steel is still in the design phase, but that it won't be long before fabrication happens.  If I'm right, there will be a crane brought in to lower the steel into the towers via the open windows at the top.  Watch for more pictures about that when it comes to pass.

Once the scaffolding was in place (last week some time), the next phase was to install security fencing in order to protect the passerby from possible injury.  Signs such as these were also affixed, but at least one of the wedding couples who came to exchange their nuptials in the last few days snickered at the sign, postulating that the blank could be completed with the word 'MARRIAGE'.

Construction in the neighbourhood

Sorry folks, but I've been away for a few days of retreat, and then been attending some pretty interesting meetings this week.  Finally there's a bit of time to get caught up with the goings on in the neighbourhood.

A few weeks ago, I first met with a project manager from the local hydro company.  They are considering doing some re-wiring in the area, and since there are other construction projects also taking place right now, they figure that they may as well get into the fray.

Pictured above are the first signs that progress with this phase of the construction is truly being made.  The sidewalk that runs along the west side of the church property is now dotted with these red posts, indicating where the new light standards will be installed.

Once it's done, all the overhead wiring will be concealed in the culvert that is also open at the present moment (you can perhaps make out some of the construction equipment in the distance above), the old wooden light standards will be removed and replaced with more modern black poles, each sporting new lighting technology.

Can't wait to see it once it's all done.

A feast in Padua

Can you imagine the festival in the Northern Italian town of Padua today?  It's normally the site of a stream of pilgrims, but today as we celebrate the Memorial of their most famous inhabitant, the crowds will undoubtedly be increased, and not only for the Mass but also for the feast that will follow.

Saint Anthony wasn't born in Padua though.  This honor belongs to the city of Lisbon, Portugal.  Since he is thought to have begun is journey here on earth around the end of the twelfth century, it was probably sometime in the early part of the 13th that he joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine.  However, this was relatively short-lived because he eventually transferred (shortly after ordination to priesthood) to the Franciscan Friars Minor, intending to devote his life to spreading the faith among the African peoples.

He had his greatest success though, preaching in France and in Italy where he converted many heretics.  He was the first member of the Franciscan Order to teach theology to his brothers.  His sermons are notable for their learning and gentleness.  In recognition of this, the Church accorded him the title of Saint and Doctor of the Church following his death in 1231.

This morning, we will celebrate the funeral liturgy for Lionel Laframboise, one of the quiet men who have graced these walls and the life of this church for many years.  Officially he can't be referred to as a saint, but based on what I've heard, he (and a number of others who have been part of this community, and many who still are) would easily be ranked with those who are well on their way to their heavenly reward.

Enter the Holy Spirit

Today is Pentecost Sunday.  This is the day when the Church celebrates and remembers the gift of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus, and confided upon the first apostles.  We need days like this to help us remember the important promises of our God, that faith is never far from us, that hope is always present, that there is always a companion close at hand to walk with us and to encourage us.  Maybe we don't always feel like we need this close friend, but when we do, it's never far away.


Listen in to the homily as it was proclaimed, or read the text at your leisure:

Enter the Holy Spirit

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost.  Today, we finally complete the celebration of the Easter Season.  Today, we rejoice and remember the day when the promise of the Father, spoken by Jesus was fulfilled and the gift of the Spirit was sent to the apostles, the first believers.  This gift is also given to us to be our guide and constant reminder that we are not alone.  

Thanks to the gift of the Spirit, we are able to recognize Jesus’ presence still in our world today.  We are able to see his face and to know his peace.  This is the same gift of peace he confided to his disciples in the upper room in the evening of the same day he rose from the dead.  This is the same gift of the Spirit that was given to his followers, appearing in the form of the rush of a violent wind, which filled the house where they were sitting.  It must have been a rather disturbing and frightening sight, but not for those who understood it as a gift of faith for people of faith.

Sometimes experiences such as these, recounted in the scriptures and in other places, can seem like the stuff of fables, but the thing about gifts given in faith is that their presence and their work in our world today can be proven, if we have the eyes of faith to see, and if we have the hearts of faith to believe.  Thankfully, hearts of faith are the gift of our baptism, and eyes of faith are trained as we continue the routine of prayer, as we come to the table to receive the special food that Jesus first confided to his disciples, as we celebrate forgiveness and reconciliation offered freely out of love, as we look forward to the promise of resurrection and the fullness of life.

The gospel speaks of Jesus breathing on the apostles as he gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen too many people who are able to do this, but every now and then I am particularly conscious of a violent wind, whistling through the trees, blowing through an open window, and I wonder (sometimes just for a moment or two) whether it is indeed the breath of God, the breath of the Holy Spirit trying to remind me that I’m not alone.  In truth my friends, none of us is ever alone on our journey of faith.  There are moments of doubt for the human heart, but Jesus is always close, waiting only for us to wake up, to become aware of his presence, to become conscious of the breezes that are blowing.

When we do, we too are given wonderful gifts.  The apostle Paul spoke to the community at Corinth about some of these gifts, and we too need to pay attention to these words of wisdom, for there are indeed varieties of services that can be offered, and varieties of activities to be undertaken.  Just as no two people are exactly alike, so no two people are asked to undertake the same charism, or to offer the same talents, or to look at the world in the same way, or to find the same solutions.  However, we are all asked to offer our talents so that together we can make this world a better place.  Together we help one another to discover the wonders of God, together we assist one another in the task of listening for his voice, of looking out for his various actions and invitations.

Before Jesus left this earth, he promised that he and the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be with us always.  In the Spirit (the third person of the Holy Trinity), Jesus himself, and God the Father too are present in our world.  Be on the lookout for the many ways they make this presence known to us.  Be ready for the day when we too will be asked to respond in faith, to bring God’s love to the world.

Saint Barnabas

Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Barnabas.  Born in Cyprus, Barnabas is numbered among the first of the faithful of Jerusalem.  He preached the Gospel at Antioch and, as a companion of Saint Paul, accompanied him on his first journey.  He was also present at the Council of Jerusalem.  Upon returning to his own country, he continued to spread the gospel and eventually died there.

Today, we celebrate the funeral liturgy for Elizabeth Singbush, a long-time parishioner who has finally returned home.  This should be a wonderful celebration of faith, and a reminder to all of the faith we have been gifted with.  How fitting that it also happens on the eve of Pentecost.

And as it happens, we also will celebrate a wedding today: a joyous celebration of faith for Brian Wood and Amelia Thompson.  They and their families will be here in a few hours' time to witness the joyful exchange of their wedding vows.

I wonder if Barnabas and Paul knew what they were starting when they traveled throughout the land, spreading this Good News.

At prayer

A deacon who'se a doctor

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Ephrem, a fourth-century deacon who was raised to the distinguished honour of being named a Doctor of the Church.

Born of a Christian family at Nisibis (more recently known as Nusaybin, Mardin Province, Turkey), around the year 306, Ephrem was ordained a deacon and exercised his office thorughout the country and in Edessa, where he founded a theological school.  Despite his ascetic life he did not relax his ministries of preaching and writing books to confute the errors of his time.  We now count the writings of this saint, who died in 373, among the magesterium of the Church.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke extensively about Saint Ephrem during his General Audience held in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.

When words can't be spoken

There are times when no words will do to express the movements of the heart.  At times such as these, the better way to speak is not to speak at all.  Instead, let the images speak for themselves.

Simple beauty

And isn't it the grace of a time such as this that we recognize at least that on this side of the curtain we see only dimly what we will one day see clearly?

One of the community gardens on the property

From the heart

Its time for some rest and prayer.

You'll excuse the lack of words in the next couple of days, please.  The silence does not however mean that there is no conversation going on.  The silence of physical voices is necessary at times in order to hear again, and to pay attention to another voice that calls ... and we're best to listen.

In Ireland and in Rome

Last year, the spectre of reported cases of abuse of minors by priests and members of the clergy were reported in Ireland, and this caused such an uproar that the Vatican stepped in quickly.  Especially in light of other cases previously reported in the United States of America, Canada and elsewhere, something had to be done.

The result: an Apostolic Vistation (that's a fancy term meaning that some high ranking clergy are chosen to represent the Vatican as visitors to the places of concern).  The Visitators first met with those affected, including some of the victims as well as those responsible for the formation of and the life of clergy in that country.  They then wrote and submitted reports to the relevant offices in Rome: in this case the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Today, the Vatican Press Office issued an interum report on the findings of the Visitators.  It would appear that things are on track.  More work still remains to be done, and more reports will undoubtedly be filed.  The process of uncovering the problems, of enumerating the issues and of finding the solutions continues, delicate work indeed.

Saint Norbert

Yesterday it was Saint Boniface.  Today it's Saint Norbert.

Norbert was born in the duchy of Cleves around the year 1080.  A canon of the church of Xanten, (canons still exist in major basilicas in some places in the world today) Norbert was converted from a worldly life and, embracing the religious state, was ordained to the priesthood in 1115.

Undertaking the apostolic life, he accepted the duty of preaching, particularly throughout France and Germany.  Gathering together some companions, he laid the foundations for the Premonstratensian Order, for which he also founded monasteries.  Elected Archbishop of Magdeburg* in 1126, he reformed the Christian life and spread the faith to nearby pagan nations. 

Saint Norbert died in 1134.

*The Archdiocese of Magdeburg was supressed in 1622, but there is still a Diocese of Magdeburg in existence today.

Yesterday's saint

In accordance with the liturgical tradition, it is not customary to observe a Memorial which falls on Sunday, since the Day of the Lord always takes prescedence.  As such, poor Saint Boniface was left aside yesterday in favor of the liturgy proper to the Ascension.

Saint Boniface was born in England, about the year 673.  He was first professed in the monastic life at Exeter but in 719 went to Germany to preach the Gospel (see travelling was in his blood).  He made many converts there and was consecreated bishop, ruling over the church of Mainz (the diocese still exists today).  He attracted many companions with whose help he founded or restored dioceses in Bavaria, Thuringia and Franconia.  He also convened councils and ppromulgated laws.  While preaching the Gospel to Frisians, Saint Boniface was killed by pagans in 754.  His body is buried in the monastery of Fulda.

Revisions to the Roman Missal are on the way

In the early part of the 1960s, His Holiness John XXIII convoked the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, and the very first of the documents published by the Council was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. One of the major reforms proposed by this Constitution was permission for the celebration of the Mass in the vernacular (the language of the people).

Following the completion of the Council (December 1965), work began on the translation (into English) of the texts used for the celebration of the Mass. In the very short period of four years, this hasty translation was complete, and the Sacramentary which is used for the celebration of Mass to this day was published in 1972. Even at that time though, this text was understood to be a temporary solution, and the intent was to properly study the texts, then prepare a more suitable translation. The original plan was that this study would be completed by 1980, and that a new Sacramentary would be published shortly thereafter.

Like many other things in life, there were a number of delays to this process, and the promised revisions to the English translation have only recently been completed. The revised texts are currently being used in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales, and are scheduled to be implemented in the United States of America and Canada beginning with the first Sunday of Advent (November 27) this year.

In preparation for this implementation, priests of the diocese were invited to a two-day workshop which took place on May 24th and 25th of this year. A subsequent workshop was held on May 28th for musicians and parishioners in positions of pastoral leadership. Other workshops are also taking place in the coming weeks in other parts of the diocese.

Many people can attest to the fact that when the English translations of the liturgy were first introduced in the 1970s, there was very little time consecrated to explaining the reasons for the change. The coming months will provide us with a rare opportunity to provide some catechesis about the Liturgy of the Mass, and a chance to deepen our appreciation for the beauty of this liturgy.

According to an ancient belief of the Church, it is through our prayer (specifically the public prayer of the liturgy) that we come to believe. May the next few months be a time of grace for us all.

First printed in the parish bulletin published on June 5, 2011.  Watch for more details about the implementation in the coming weeks.

Progress report

The work continues on the towers.

As of this past Thursday, the East-facing tower is completely shrouded in its scaffolding, and the West-facing tower has already been clad on one side.  Work continues on the other three sides, and the word on the street is that this part of the job will be complete by Wednesday of this coming week.

In the meanwhile, there will be a site meeting on Tuesday, and the stone masons are expected on site beginning that day.  Then the true work will begin.  At first, we may not see much progress from the outside, but eventually, there will be lots to tell and to see.

For two days now, the mechanisms that make the bell ring have been disconnected.  That means that it will sit silently from now until the time that the restoration work is complete.  Then it will be re-connected and will peal for all to hear.

What was left behind

Today, the Church celebrates the Ascension of the Lord.  Actually, in Canada (and a few other countries, this Feast has been transferred to Sunday, but in other parts of the world, it is observed - more traditionally - last Thursday).  When Jesus finally left the earth and returned to the Father's House, he left his disciples with the promise of good things to come.  We too receive that promise from the day of our own baptism.

Listen to the podcast if you wish, or read the printed version of this week's reflection below:

Words of confidence
Welcome to the month of June.  With only a few weeks left in the academic year, the grade twelve grad ceremonies have already begun.  This is the month for celebrating achievements among the students who have worked so hard over the past year.  Give credit where it’s due: devotion and dedication deserves its reward.  Grad ceremonies are one of the moments in life that represent major turning points.  While graduates may look back at years of growth and achievement (and it’s right to do so), there is also a certain level at which they are looking forward to the next phase of life.  For some, plans have been made for continuing their study at post-secondary institutions of various kinds.  Others are not quite ready for the big leap and will choose to wait for a while.  Regardless of the choice, this is a new chapter in life, complete with the promise of adventure and the accompanying vote of confidence.

Perhaps it is fitting that the Church also celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension today, for the disciples themselves were faced with a graduation ceremony of sorts when Jesus departed this earth, and left them to continue sharing the good news with our world.  There were achievements to be celebrated then too, and confidence to be instilled.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.  They were instructed then to make disciples of all nations, and this instruction has been passed down to all generations, even to modern times.  Even today, Jesus continues to call disciples, some among the young who are celebrating the end of one era and the beginning of another.  He calls to them in the same way as he has called to men and women of all generations, to make disciples of all nations, but no one does this on his or her own.  Thankfully Jesus fulfilled his promise: to be with us to the end of the age, but more about that next week.

Have you ever noticed that there are some moments in life and some experiences we live that stay with us that leave their mark with us?  For some, these experiences are pleasant and for others they are the stuff of bad dreams, but regardless, we learn some valuable lessons from them.  Often, these are the experiences that we will recount for years to come, sometimes in great detail as well.  The first time we set eyes on a newborn child, the last time we speak with a loved one, the experience of a first romance, the pain of separation and loneliness that is known only too well to those who mourn.  These are the moments that provide the best lessons for us: lessons about how to live and how to love, lessons that impart wisdom if only we are willing to learn.

When the disciples were left standing there gazing up into the heavens, their hearts must have been breaking, yet immediately there were words of consolation: Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?  We too have a choice to make.  We can stay here, within the walls of this building, within the safety of our family and friends, on our own home turf, or we can venture forth to share the good news with those of our generation who so need to hear it.  There are many in our streets, in our workplaces, in our social gathering places who would marvel to see the example that we can set.  As we do, let’s remember always that the work of evangelization is Jesus’ to do.  He works through us, giving us a spirit of wisdom and revelation as we come to know him, so that, with the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we may know what is the hope to which he has called us, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.

Relay 2011

Once a year, the community gathers to raise money for cancer research.  The Relay for Life provides an opportunity for each community where it's held to rally around friends and family who are living with cancer, and to remember those who have lost their battle.

The festivities officially begin at 7:00pm with the victory lap, an opportunity for cancer survivors and their families to walk a lap of the track.  Each survivor carries a balloon bearing the number of years since they were diagnosed.  As the lap concludes, all the walkers make their way into the mid-field and the balloons are released.  Since they are all helium filled, they float away into the sky.

From that point onward, anyone who has come is free to walk laps of the track.  In fact, each walker is also given a cord and invited to collect a bead for each lap he or she completes.  The beads are threaded together to become a necklace or a wristband, a small reminder of those who are suffering with cancer.

On the outer bounds of the infield, luminaries are arranged: each one for a person who has lost the battle.  As the sun sets, these luminaries (white bags containing candles and sand) are lit.  Flames flickering within the bags give the impression of lamps lighting the way through the darkness.

At an appointed hour, all the movement around the track comes to a halt and those present are invited to observe a moment of silence in memory of those who have lost their battle.  Whether there are prayers offered or just silent reminders, this is a very emotional moment for some, and a touching occasion for all.

Throughout the night hours, people come and go.  They walk, they sleep, they visit, they pray.  Over the years, the Relay continues to grow.  Sponsors bring food to feed the participants, all free of charge, but donations to the Canadian Cancer Society are always welcome.

The Relay continues throughout the night hours, and concludes when the sun rises.  In the case of this city's offering, the parade continues until 7:00am local time.  Twelve hours devoted to remembering, celebrating and fighting back.