Cultural Interface

In the Fall of 2007 eight of our priests who have come from overseas plus eight of our local priests travelled to Riding Mountain Park in Manitoba to join an equal number of priests from the Archdiocese of Winnipeg and also from the Diocese of Saskatoon. We spent the week following a workshop given by Fr. Anthony Gittens C.S.Sp, professor of theological anthropoligy at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The workshop dealt with ways to deal with cultural differences in a positive and productive way. Since our diocese has a sizeable percentage of priests coming from other countries and cultures working together, we found the week together both challenging and productive.

The group has continued to meet three or four times a year to develop a trust and a vehicle to try to reach some of the goals presented by Fr. Gittens. Here are some of the priests from our last meeting. Fr. Hector Seville of the Philippines who is pastor in Langenburg, Fr. Louis Kim Nguyen from Vietnam, associate at Holy Family, Regina and Fr. James Owolagba from Nigeriawho is pastor at Gull Lake.

And there is Fr. Andrew Pawlowicz who is on loan to the diocese from Poland, Administrator at Rockglen, and Fr. Tonny Dizi, pastor at Christ the King, Regina.

We had a great meal together put on by the Philippine priests - one way of getting to know one another's cultures. Seen here are Fr. Raymond Carrignan, Ponteix, Fr. Brad Fahlman, Holy Family, Regina and Fr. Thang Nguyen, pastor in Raymore.

Usually during the evening we have a presentation or two from priests of different nationalities. Fr. Dennis Remot, administrator at Moosomin,who is on loan to the diocese from the Philippines spoke about his homeland, his ministry there and the church in the Philippines.

Here with Fr. James is Fr. Neil Osiowy, pastor at Holdfast.

And a second presentation was given by Fr. Tonny Dizi, who came to Canada from Holland when he was a young boy. Fr. Tonny spoke about the church in Holland and the way of life there.

There usually follows some discussion on priestly life and the ways that different cultures can present both problems and opportunities for enrichment and growth both for the priests themselves and for the Archdiocesan Church.

The goal of the group is to eventually becine the "leaven" for all the priests of the diocese to enter into this process of personal growth in relationships, spirituality and ministry.

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Underway Again!

On New Year's Day, after celebrating the Liturgical Feast Day of Mary the Mother of God at Holy Rosary Cathedral, we held the annual Archbishop's Levee in the Cathedral Parish Hall. The Levee is a reception held on New Year's Day in which the people of the Archdiocese can meet their Archbishop and exchange greetings and best wishes at the beginning of the new year.

The Levee ws a very pleasant event for me. The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree were present to assist in the reception and facilitating my meeting with the people who were present. Msgr. Kenneth Miller the Vicar General of the Archdiocese was with me and was a wonderful help in making introductions. His long service to the Archdiocese has enabled him to know many people in our Church family.

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to chat with many people

both young and old.

It was a very pleasant way for me to begin the New Year. The Mass in the Cathedral Church celebrating Mary, the Mother of God and the Mother of all who follow her Son completed the Octave of Christmas and gave confidence to all who believe to begin another new year secure in God's love and care for us all. Then to have the opportunity to meet and spend some time with the people of our Archdiocese and wish them the Blessings of God for the New Year was "the icing on the cake."

To finish off the day, I was invited by the Sisters at Martha House to come and have dinner with the retired priests and residents who make Martha House their home. The sisters who are members of the community of the Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca, provide a great meal in a very warm and hospitable home.

With me around the table is Fr. Art Vandendriessche, Fr. Louis Kubash, Fr. Gordon Rushka.

And on the other side of the table Fr. Dan McCarthy and Fr. Mike Hogan.


Here we see the Sr. Ninfa, Sr. Vincenza and Sr. Ulrica with Fr. Van.

Along with the priests who live at Martha House, there is also a very nice group of lay people who make Martha House their home as well. It is always a pleasure to see them when I visit.

Along with the traditional Creche for Christmas, the Sisters also have in their chapel a representation of the new born Christ Child as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Is 11: 1-2)

The church celebrates this belief as it is expressed in the Advent Antiphon: O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the peoples; before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay.

And so January 1 completed the solemn celebration of the Birth of the One who gives us hope and life and the security of salvation in each of our lives.

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The Holy Season of Christmas

Since we are still in the Christmas Season, I am still not too late to bring you up to date on the busy season we are bringing to a close with this coming Sunday's Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
I did get to New Brunswick to visit my family for a Christmas visit that was before Christmas this year. None the less I did get to help trim my mother's Christmas tree. The above ornament is not a spectacular one, but it was on my grandparent's christmas tree long before I was born, so it has a special place. Christmas seems to be a time to value mementos of people who have been a special part of our lives, like grandparents and parents.



So I was able to have a "pre-Christmas" Christmas celebration with my mother and my family. Which was very special to me.


Without any planning having been made, (which for our family seems to be the best way to arrange things) all my brothers and sisters arrived at my mother's home. She seemed pretty happy about that, and it was great for me to see all my siblings and spend some time with them.

In fact there was a goodly number of family members around that day, which was very nice indeed.

Of course the Feast of Christmas always involves some feasting around the dinner table. And this visit was no exception.

This included the special Christmas treat in our house: scotch cakes. These are made with the traditional recipie with no sugar in the cookie and sweetened with the icing on the top. This baking sheet has produced a very long line of mouth watering delights!

An important part of Christmas celebrations are children. Our family has started on the newest generation. This is my great-nephew.


A FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT TRADITION

Since coming to Regina, I have visited the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre to visit the residents there and celebrate the Eucharist with them on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Before Mass I get the opportunity to visit some of the people in their rooms and bring them Holy Communion if they are not able to attend Mass that day.

We celebrate the Eucharist in the chapel. I was assisted this year by Fr. Art Vandendriessche who has been giving sacramental care at the centre and who concelebrated the Mass with me.

After Mass I have the delightful pleasure of meeting these wonderful people who are facing such challenges with health and mobility.

Some of them have become "old friends" now.

And all of these people are wonderful witnesses of patient courage. I pray that God will bless them with renewed strength and the hope and promise that is so much a part of the meaning of God's coming to share our humanity. In the infant Jesus, God takes upon himself that humanity with all its frailties and weaknesses in order to transform it.

And of course we finished the morning with a delicious pot luck lunch with all the volunteers. A wonderful way to enter into the celebration of Christmas!

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING!

And one evening a group of carolers, spurred on by Deacon Joe Lang, (green tuque) arrived at my door on an extremely frosty night and cheered the whole street with several Christmas Carols. It warmed the night in more ways than one!

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

On the Sunday following Christmas, the Feast of the Holy Family, I celebrated the Eucharist with the community of Holy Family Parish in Regina.

And I met a number of families who, through the practice of their faith, seek to travel the path shown to us by the family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

And here is the Creche at Holy Family Church.

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