Returning To Our Roots Process Kicks off, Sunday March 13, 2011

The first Sunday of Lent was the official kick off date for the Returning To Our Roots process initiated by the Archdiocese of Keewatin The Pas. The process was a response to the dream of archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI to have a renewal process that would involved everyone in the archdiocese. Based on Acts 2:42 which describes the early church as devoted to the prayers, the teachings of the apostles, the fellowship and the breaking of bread, the process will highlight one of these four elements as pillars for each year of the four year process.

The banner was designed byRoger Jerome of La Ronge and portrays the roots of prayer, scripture, the Eucharist and community as nourishing the church, symbolized by the poplar tree. A theme song, Returning To Your Roots Now, was composed for us by Deacon Bob Williston of Saskatoon. A prayer for the process was composed and put on a prayer card.

Dominican sisters Susan Gardner and Ellen Kennedy of Nelson House are coordinators of the process and have compiled a binder of resource materials for the first year of the process on the theme of prayer. An introductory DVD was also produced, not without some technical difficulties.

The hope of Archbishop Sylvain is that this process will bond the archdiocese more closely together as one faith family and help each one to recapture the spirit, faith eand love of the early followers of Jesus, where no one was in need.

Two preparatory workshops were held to help clergy, pastoral ministers and lay leaders to get ready for the beginning of the process. One was in Saskatoon and one in Thompson, as the archdiocese covers the northern half of the two provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Pictured here are participants in the Saskatoon workshop, from Beauval, Canoe Narrows and Cumberland House (Ed & Angie Mihalicz, Fr. Louis Legare, and Robert & Doris McCauley).

An aerial view of the See of the archdiocese in The Pas. In the middle is the archdiocesan residence. To the right is the archdiocesan pastoral center. Next to it the cathedral. Beside it is the parish office building and Guy Hall. This will be where the chrism mass will be celebrate in early April.

Installatiion of new priests St Theresa Point Mar 6, 2011

On Thusrday, March 6, Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI flew into St. Theresa Point to install the new priests, Fr. Messia Vallapadasu and Fr. Victor Savarimuthu, both members of the Society of the Sons of de Mazenod. While there he presented a two day workshop on Healing from Addictions that was attended by about 10 people. The busy schedule included celebrations at the two missions of Wasagamach and Garden Hill. Here + Sylvain installs the two new priests as pastor and co-pastor of St. Bernadette parish in St. Theresa Point.

The ceremony at St. theresa Point also included the handing out of mandates to many involved in ministry, a strong feature of this community of faith.

Fathers Messia and Victor are installed as pastor and co-pastor of St. Margerite d'Youville parish in Wasagamach.

The installation celebration in Garden Hill, where about 24 people came to pray and worship together.

Saturday night before the Sunday celebration there was an evening of square dance competitions. Archbishop Sylvain even got to sing a few songs and hymns. A square dance, of course, would not be a square dance without fiddle music.

Two elders who were involved in the square dancing competitions that were held on Saturday evening before the installations.

Lac Brochet Youth Conference, Feb. 24-27, 2010

Two years ago, Charmaine, the daugher Rose and step-daughter of Kevin Carlson lost her life in a snow bank after experimenting with hair spray with some friends. Realizing that other youth in the community of Lac Brochet were in danger of coming to a similar tragic end, Kevin and Rose generously and courageously organized a youth conference to remember and honour their daughter, and also help out other youth. The conference brought in well known resource persons to address the topics of addictions and self esteem, such as former MP Tina Keeper, MP Ken Dryden (pictured about with Archbishop Sylvain at the airport) and other career/health organizations The conference ran for four days, with a dance, talent night and Gospel Jamborees in the evenings. + Sylvain presided at Eucharistic celebrations Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and gave a workshop on addictions and self-esteem on Sunday afternoon. The conference was attended by about 250 youth as well as many adults and elders from Lac Brochet and the surrounding communities.

Walter and Shauna Mason travelled from St. Theresa Point 23 hours on the road with 5 youth to contribute their talent to the event, serving as a back-up band at one of the evenings activites.

Part of the crowd who participated in the youth conference. They came from as far away as St Theresa Point on the winter road to the East, and South End in Saskatchewan.

Kerrie Samuel, a dynamic youth who is studying to be a youth minister, blossomed as a co-MC for the evening sessions.

Altar server Curtis and a friend sing a song during the Gospel Jamboree on one of the evenings of the festival.

Kevin and Rose Carlson, the parents who courageously and generously took a bold initiative to organize the youth conference out of their concern for other youth, and as a way to turn their tragedy into something positive for all, as a way of remembering and honouring their daughter Charmaine.

A group of youth who attended the conference, enjoying a break.

The site where Charmaine died has now become a small shrine dedicated to her and to helping other youth avoid a similar tragic death.