Flin Flon confirmation, May 13, 2010

The newly initiated young people of the parish of St. Anne's in Flin Flon are pictured here with their pastor Fr. Calixtus Fernando; Marilyn Jackson, Family Life coordinator, Archbishop Sylvain and Lucille Rossington, Religious Education Coordinator.


The confirmation celebration was preceded the evening before by a preparatory retreat facilitated by Archbishop Sylvain OMI. The themes were being fully human, self esteem, Who is Jesus and the names of the Holy Spirit, as well as run-through of the ritual itself. Pictured here are about half of the participants.


Lucille Rossington, the Religious Education Coordinator, and Fr. Calixtus Fernando, the pastor, oversaw the preparation of the candidates and the celebration itself.


Mark and Crystal Kolt along with many others made a special effort on a week night to provide music ministry for the celebration. Here Mark provides meditative music before the celebration with the violin while pedaling the organ with his feet.


Young Master Kolt did a magnificent job of serving and here poses with the archbishop.

CCEPIRSS Board Meeting Grand Prairie, May 8, 2010

Our board met in May in Grand Prairie in the archdiocese of our chair, Archbishop Gerard Pettipas. On Sunday we joined the local faith community for a celebration of the Eucharist in the beautiful new church complex that was built while + Gerard was pastor of the parish in Grand Prairie.


CEPIRSS stands for the corporation of Catholic Entities party to the Indian Residential School Settlement agreement that was signed Sept 20, 2007 by the federal government, Assembly of First Nations and the Churches historically involved in Indian residential schools. The board represents the now 54 dioceses and religious congregations that were third partied by the federal government when it faced class action law suits due to the harmful effects of the flawed and colonial system of the schools at the time.

The federal govenment's commitment under the agreement was to provide compensation to those who attended the schools especially for the forceful removal of chidren as young as 5 years old from their families and the generational harm that ensued. The commitment of the entities is to provide around 80 million dollars for healing and reconciliation: 29 million in cash, 25 million In-Kind services and 25 million through a best-efforts national fundraising campaign.

Our board pictured here is mandated to over see our commitments until they are fulfilled. We are: Front row: Sr. Shirley Walsh; Sr. Claudette Robert; Erin-Renne Keddo (axecutive assistant); Sr. Lea Boutin and Fr. Jacque L'Heureux. Back row: Rod Donlevy and Pierre Barribeau (legal counsels); me; our chair Archbishop Gerard Pettipas, Fr. Al Hubenig and Gerry Kelly (advisor).

Domano First Nations Retreat, Prince George, May 01 2010

At the invitation of Bishop Gerry Wiesner OMI and Sr. Donna Dolan, director of the Domano Retreat Centre in Prince George, I presented a retreat for First Nations persons that had the 12 Step program of recovery as a focus. This retreat was unique in that it divided the program into five themes, each accompanied by a ritual to deepen the experience of the theme. The themes were Powerlessness and Faith; Forgiveness; Healing; Reconciliation, and Service. A special treat was the opportunity to visit with my brother, Fr. Roger who himself had just finished giving a retreat to seniors.

The retreat centre itself consists of individual buildings for cooking, dining, lodging and holding the sessions, as well as a chapel, all located near the diocesan offices and chancery.


Here most of the participants posed for a group picture as they prepared for the outdoor ritual.


Participants moved out of doors for the Saturday afternoon ritual that involved using flammable symbols they had gathered up to symbolize their need for inner healing which were then burned in the context of prayer for healing.


I was able to catch the end of the closing liturgy of the high energy youth conference that was held the same weekend in Prince George, along with a marriage enrichment session and a Returning to Spirit seminar. This is one busy and involved diocese under the encouragement and guidance of their chief shepherd + Gerry.

Southend Confirmatiion April 26th, 2010

Pictured here are the faithful who gathered for the celebration of the sacraments of initation in Southend. The joyful celebration concluded with the hymn Bind Us Together which naturally led to the invitation to join hands across the aisle to symbolize the unity to which the Lord Jesus calls us through the power of the Holy Spirit.


The group of newly confirmed candidates pose for a picture with the archbishop.


This young couple treated Fr. Mark and me to supper at their home before the celebration. Unfortunately I do not remember their names.


Adult parishioners relax in the living room at the reception after the celebration while younger folks crowd around the kitchen area.


Fr. Mark Blom OMI graciously opened his humble dwelling to all who attended for a reception after the celebration. Fr. Mark is in the process of renovating the house and transforming the basement into a meeting space.



Two ladies relax and enjoy the socializing at the reception in Fr. Mark's home after the celebration.


Elder Sedley Cook has been helping out in the Church for years, often leading the music.

Beauval Sacraments of Initiation April 25th 2010

A preparatory retreat for the candidates, sponsors and parents and others who care to attend was facilitated by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI. This allows him to get to know the candidates and do a little bit of youth ministry, which was a predominant part of his ministry as a priest.


A candlelight ceremony was part of the preparatory retreat.


The newly initiated candidates are pictured here with Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI and their catechists.


Leda and Alvena share a moment of friendship and pose for a picture at the reception after the celebration.


The gathering space in the church proves very useful for food and fellowship after celebrations such as this celebration of initiation.

Nelson House MB Confirmation April 19th, 2010

The first confirmation in many years in Nelson House was preceded by a retreat for the candidates facilitated by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI. The retreat covered topics such as being fully human, self esteem, forgiveness, Who is Jesus Christ and the Names of the Holy Spirit, as well as a run-through of the ritual of confirmation itself. Great hospitality was provided by the Dominican Sisters Susan and Ellen who shared their residence with the group and fed the bishop for two days.


This warm up exercise during the preparatory retreat involved everyone and provided a short break between input sessions.


Lay Formators Sr. Susan Gardner OP and Ellen Kennedy OP as well as lay presider Karen Spence participate in a warm-up exercise during the preparatory retreat. Sue and Ellen are Dominican sisters from the States who have generously offered their knowledge, skills and presence to empower the local lay people of Nelson House and area.


Lay presider and community leader Madeleine Spence joins others in warm up activities during the preparatory retreat.


The group of newly initiated members of the Catholic faith community in Nelson House are pictured here with Archbishop Sylvain OMI.


A reception for the candidates, family, friends and parishioners took place in the meeting room of the sisters' house after the ceremony. Pictured here is about half of the group that enjoyed food and fellowship.


Part of the reception was participating in the game called Mrs. Mumbly which had everyone laughing till their sides hurt. The point of this exercise is to remind everyone that living our faith is meant to be a joyful experience even in the midst of our challenges and difficulties.

Thompson Confirmation April 18, 2010

Pictured here is the newly initiated young peoplle with their pastor Fr. Eugene Whyte, Fr. Terry Kraychuk, Archbishop Sylvain and the two young catechists Tamara and Patricia.


Thompson parish is blessed with dedicated young catechists Tamara Landego on the left and Patricia Sroga on the right who have helped out with sacramental preparation for some years now. What exemplary young people they are and a role model for others.


Fr. Terry Kraychuk, uncle of one of the candidates, was able to attend this special event in her life and is pictured here with Sr. Andra Dumont csj., pastoral assistant.


After the ceremony a reception was held in the hall in the front of the church for the candidates, family, friends, relatives and parishioners.

Caritas Award Banquet April 15th 2010

Every year the Caritas Foundation, a Catholic charitable organization based in Winnipeg founded by the Knights of Columbus, recognizes an outstanding person who has contributed to the life of the Church in Manitoba and Canada. This year the award was presented to Archbishop James Weisgerber, past president of the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops. Among many other accomplishments, his work in caring for the environment, social justice and improving relationships with the First Nations peoples of the country was noted. A highlight of that effort was his role in organizing the historic meeting of past national chief Phil Fontaine with Pope Benedict XVI in June of 2009.


Archbishop James Weisgerber is pictured here with his award and Tom Lussier, president of the Caritas Foundation.


Caritas Award winner Archbishop James Weisgerber is pictured here with some of his brother bishops, clergy and dignitaries. To the far left is Bishop Reynald Rouleau OMI of Churchill. To the far right is Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface. To his right is Bishop Douglas Crosby OMI of Corner Brook and Labrador who was the keynote speaker. Metropolitan Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg had not arrived yet when the picture was taken.

Visit to the Trappist Monastery in Holland, MB

On April 15th, while waiting for the Caritas banquet to start, I made the hour and a half journey to Holland, Manitoba, where the Trappist Monastery is located. There a community of 11 Trappist monks live out their lives dedicated to prayer and work (ora et labore). Though the farming activity has been scaled back, they still make and sell their well known cheese.


I was able to join the monks for Nones, their prayer at 1:30 after lunch. Not comfortable in taking a picture while we were praying, I took this picture of their beautiful chapel on my way out.


The main purpose of my visit of course was to visit these two esteemed holy men of God, Bishop Emeritus Noel Delaquis, bishop of the former diocese of Gravelbourg, and Fr. Norman Schurter, a diocesan priest who served in our archdiocese. Both have taken on a new life as Trappist monks. Norman is fully professed, while Bishop Noel still has a year and a half to make a final decision. We had a brief but very warm visit that was long overdue.

Southdown Conference 2010

Every two years, Southdown Institute in Aurora, Ontario, a treatment centre for priests and religious of all faiths, offers a conference for major religious superiors and bishops on human growth and development as well as addictions awareness. Pictured here are the participants who come from all over North America as well as from abroad. The conference this year was held in Toronto from April 11-13th.


Dr. Miriam Eukaritis, director of Southdown, gave an opening address and was one of the presenters.


Fr. Edward Arsenault, director of St. Luke's Institute in the USA and Lynn Ledo, one of the presenters, share a conversation.