A Touch of Paradise

At the end of January, my sister and her husband were kind and generous enough to invite me to spend a week with them at their home in Barbados. After nearly two months of -30's temperatures, I was very happy to accept. This is a beautiful place in the world and for me reflects very much the beauty of its Creator.


This beauty was also emphasized in the sun rise which was at 6:00 am and not 8:45 am as in Regina. Although Regina makes up for that in the summer!

During the week, Fr. Harcourt Blackett, the Rector of the Cathedral in Bridgetown, very generously took me on a tour of his island country. I felt the love and attachment he had for his home and his delight in its history and natural beauty.

He took me to Codrington College, an Anglican Theological School at which he also teaches a course. He has a degree in Ecumenism from Trinity College in Dublin which he puts to good use here. The College was opened in 1745 and thus is the oldest Anglican Theology College in the Western Hemisphere.

Another very interesting place was St. Nicholas Abbey, a plantation house built thirty years after the British settled Barbados in 1625.

And if you want to know what an authentic 17th century plantation house toilet was like, here you are. A little too social for me, I think!

Among the earliest workers on the sugar plantations were Irish who were sent by Cromwell to Barbados as "indentured servants," slaves for all practical purposes. What is seen here is a cave that served as a place where these Catholic Irish would come for Mass. The Penal Laws were in effect at that time and it was against the law to practice the Roman Catholic Religion.

Another very interesting building is the Jewish Synagogue in Barbados. It is a lovely building and also is very old, having been built in 1654.

Evidence of Faith is found in many places such as this shrine which I came across walking along the beach. And of course continued evidence of the exquisite beauty of creation. These flowering bushes were a delight to see at the end of January.

We see lots of pointsettias at Christmas, here is one growing in a natural habitat and flowering every year.

"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and the of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy." (Psalm 65:5 - 8)

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"Bishops' Day" at St. Michael's Retreat

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was celebrated this year at St. Michael's Retreat with a session with the Bishops of the three Christian denominations which operate St. Michael's: Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic. The theme of the day was "Recommitment to Christian Unity: Understanding of Fundamental Sacramental Practices in Each Tradition."


Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson of the Anglican Diocese of Qu'Appelle is in the centre and on the left is Pastor Helmut Nachtigal, who represented Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Cindy Halmarson who was unable to attend. Each of the three of us gave a twenty minute presentation on the Sacraments as they are understood in each of the denominations. This then was followed by questions and comments from the group who had assembled for the day.

And as you can see, there was a very good turn out with a sizeable group present for the event.

Fr. Kevin Lynch, ofm who is the former Director of St. Michael's acted as Master of Ceremonies for the day.

After being welcomed by Fr. Anthony Gonsalves, ofm, the present Director of St. Michael's, Pastor Nachtigal began with his presentation outlining the Evangelical Lutheran Church's theology on the Sacrament. Bishop Kerr-Wilson and myself followed.

There was a good lunch after the morning session. The lunch was excellent, as is usually the case at St. Michael's

And there was time to chat informally.

At the end of the day we gathered for prayer together in the Chapel. The prayer was led by Fr. Dennis Vvrek, ofm, the Provincial of the Franciscans in Western Canada.

It was a very satisfactory day spent in working to an answer of Jesus prayer in John's Gospel (17: 20-21)for his disciples and followers: ‘

I, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.‘I ask not only on behalf of these As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

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Dishing out the smokies at Marian Centre

I recently spent the noon hour at Marian Centre helping to serve the meal to the men who come to the Centre for food and fellowship. Marian Centre is run by the Madonna House Apostolate.



On arrival I met a couple of great guys from LeBoldus High School, Aaron and Robin. They had come that morning to donate some of their time to help get the meal ready. I thought that these two high school students were a terrific example of giving time and talent to help others in witness to the Gospel.



Here's a couple of other regular volunteers who helpled make sure that I didn't mess up in serving the food to the hungry group who had gathered.

This kind of activity is one I enjoy very much doing. The Archdiocese has set out to establish Stewardship as a characteristic way of living our Catholic Faith in all our parishes. So my visits to Marian Centre help me to give of my time (and limited talent) back to God and so help me as part of my own goal to become a "Stewardship Bishop" in what I pray will be a "Stewardship Diocese."

Stewardship Prayer: I offer this day to you dear God.Thank you for the blessings you have given me.May I use these gifts to build your kingdom.May my actions be a reflection of your love.May what I do today bring others closer to you.May my words be kind and gentle and may they bring joy to others.Today, help me to give back a portion of what you have given me.I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. (Stewardship text and Prayers ©Mary Jane Doerr published in the2008 Stewardship Calendar ©J.S. Palush Company Inc.All rights reserved. Used by permission.)

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