Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs meeting, Prince George, Feb 21, 2011

Pictured here are the participants in the meeting. Back Row, L-R: Bishop Richard Gangon (Victoria), Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI (Keewatin-The Pas and chair), Sam Quaw (Vanerhoof), Bishop Murray Chatlain (McKenzie), Rennie Nahanee (Vancouver), Greg dunwoody (Facilitator, Winnipeg), Bishop Gary Gordon (Yukon). Front row, L-R: Margo Lavoie (Winnipeg), Susie Tress (Burns Lake), Emma Nahanee (Vancouver), Sr. Eva Solomon csj (Winnipeg, Director of Building Bridges project) and Marlene Qwaw (Vanderhoof).

The Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs was put into place by the Assembly of Western Bishops in 2007. They immediately engaged Sr. Eva Solomon to provide educational sessions on First Nations spirituality and culture across all the dioceses of west and northern Canada. A sumer session (Directions on Aboriginal Ministry), a Catholic elders dialogue and a week long cultural wareness experience are the main activities of what we call the Building Bridges project.

The Standing Committee also decided to meet annually with First Nations representatives to journey more closely together. This second such meeting was focused on marriage and family life. Sr. Eva informed us about her activities. We went through a process led by Greg Dunwoodyusing images of a tree that could be either a problem or an opportunity. We explored the roots of what is working well, and the fruits that could be expected from solid roots of marriage and family life.

The outcome was three possibility statements. One group's statement is as follows: Taking the best of our Catholic faith (prayer, scripture, knowledge of Jesus Christ), traditional culture and communication skills, we seek to call forth and empower core couples to model covenant relationships based on cmpassion and forgiveness and the met human needs to be loved, to belong and to be valued, and to provide sessions on marriage and family life honouring couples, families, youth, anniversaries of sobriety and lay leaders who laboured for the church in the past.

The group also ciscussed finances, the future of the Building Bridges project, involvement with the Truth and Reconciliaiton Commission, as well as the experience of having international priets come to minister in Canada among the First Nations peoples.

Here the participants are in session in one of the modules that make up the Domano Retreat Centre in prince George.

Sr. Eva always brings along enough creative elements to decorate the room and provide a meaningful and symbolic centerpiece.

The tree of opportunity was part of the process that we went through. Participants were asked to identify the roots of positive events and realities, as well as the possible positive outcomes from those roots as fruit on the tree.

Sr. Eva Solomon csj facilitated the event along with Greg Dunwoody, and is here pictured with Sr. Donna Dolan OP, program corrdinator for the Doman Renewal Centre.

Keewatin Archdiocese Workshop, Saskatoon, Feb. 18-19, 2011

A second workshop to prepare for the Returning to OUr Roots Process that the Archdiocese of Keewatin-The Pas is initiating the first Sunday of Lent 2011, was held at Queens House in Saskatoon. The first was in Thompson, Manitoba. As the archdiocese stretches across northern Sakatchewan as well as northern Manitoba, this workshop gathered clergy, pastoral ministers and lay leaders from as far away as La Loche, Wollaston and Flin Flon MB.

This renewal process is based on Acts 2:42 and will highlight one theme a year of the essential characteristics of the early Church: prayer, scripture, the eucharist and community. For more details on the process, check the blog on the Thompson workshop below. The process is being corrdinated by Sr. Susan Gardner OP and Sr. Ellen Kennedy OP of Nelcon House. This workshop was facilitated by Sr. Ethel Detz OP., as they could not attend. The participants walked through the resource manual and experienced different kinds of prayer such as Lectio Divina and gjuided imagery. The session wrapped up with a celebration of the Eucharist, a commissioning ceremony and the presentation of the banners for each community.

12 Step Retreat, Providence Center, Edmonton, Feb. 4-6, 2011

About 45 participants gathered at the Providence Center in Edmonton for a retreat entitled The Truth Will Set You Free. Facilitated by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI, the retreat was basically on self awareness as it surfaces in the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Four of those Steps are on self awareness: Step 1 - we are powerless over something or someone in our lives; Step 4 - we make a searching and fearless moral inventory; Step 6 - we name our defects of character, especially anger and grief, and get ready to have God heal us of these, and Step 10 - we do a daily moral inventory and we are wrong, promptly admit it.

There were five sessions beginning Friday night. Each session closed with a hands-on ritual that deepened what was presented in that session. There was time for prayer, some sharing, support group meetings and one-on-one sessions with the help of spiritual directors. The retreat was organized by the program coordinator at Providence Center, Debbie Doornbos who was assisted by her staff. Plans are to have another retreat next year at about this time on the theme of Fellowship in the 12 Step program.

The picture above is of the closing circle and ritual.

A portable library of self-help books and books on recovery and addictions awareness materials is on display for the participants to use during the retreat.

Returning To Our Roots Process Workshop, Thompson, Jan 28-29

Every winter, for many years now, a workshop for lay presiders and lay leaders has been held in Thompson. This year the workshop was a preparatory event for the Returning To Our Roots Process that our archdiocese is initiating the First Sunday of Lent. It is based on Acts 2:42 which states that the early followers of Jesus were devoted to the prayers, the teachings of the Apostles, the breaking of the bread and community or fellowship. These four elements will serve as pillars for the four year process. A banner has been produced, Deacon Bob Williston of Saskatoon has written a theme song for us, a prayer card has been printed up, a pastoral letter written and an introductory video is in the making. About 50 persons braved a winter storm and very cold temperatures to attend the workshop from as far as Brochet, Kinoseao and Oxford House. Interest was keen and all left with the materials ready to implement the process which hopes to recapture in our archdiocese that spirit and enthusiasm of the early church.

The Nelson House faith community was used as a pilot community for the process. Many of the ideas and activities in the resource manual were tried succesfully in this community. Pictured here are lay leaders Angela Spence, Madeliene Spence, Agnes Linklater and Natalie Tays.

Sr. Ellen Kennedy OP and Susan Gardner OP, formators of laity stationed at Nelson House, are the coordinators of the process. They have worked hard to put together a resource manual for the process for the first year.

Neil and Crystal Merasty from Brochet participate in the workshop for the first time. Neil is considering becoming a lay presider and Crystal is in training presently. People like these are our hope for the future.

Christopher Leadership Course, South Indian Lake, Jan 20-23, 2011

Getting to South Indian Lake is an adventure in itself. The ferry 100 kilometers northwest of Leaf Rapids provides the only access.


Bro. Tom Novak OMI receives a gift of appreciation from Minnie Moose, one of the graduands. Bro. Thomas is our "roving missionary". His ministry is to go into our more isolated communities to encourage, empower and train the lay leaders in their leadership. The Christopher Course is part of that pastoral strategy. The CLC has three objectives: effective speaking skills, personal growth and community development.


One of the graduands, Roger Moose, singing an honour song at the banquet for the grads with his sons drumming.


Graduands and Instructors: Back Row - Bro Tom Novak OMI (I); Mike Nataway, Pat Moose, Troy Paul (In); + Sylvain Lavoie OMI (In); Center: Janet Tait, Laurette Stevens; Front Row: Emma Spence, Vivian Moose, Sr Margaret Sadler sej (In), Minnie Moose. Missing: Roger Moose and Annette Soulier