Releasing Forgiveness Tour, Flying Dust, May 18th, 2010

Fr. John Zunti OMI from La Loche, Fr. Paul Guzman, pastor of Meadow Lake and I attended this event which was held on the Flying Dust First Nation. This meant traveling down from Patuanak for me and from Beauval for Fr. John. The agenda was simple: prayer by and elder, a meal, entertainment by coutnry gospel award winner Yvonne St. Germaine, a grand entry with a drum group, eagle staff and flags, messages by dignitaries, some sharing by survivors, comments by non-aboriginal participants, a candle-light ceremony and presentation of a charter of forgiveness that will be taken to Ottawa for a national event in June. The event was a unique blend of traditional and Christian spirituality which in itself speaks of reconciliation and respect. This tour is traveling across the country to set the stage for the national event in Ottawa where the message that will be communicated to the Prime Minister by the First Nations peoples involved is: "We forgive you."



A large crowd of folks from Flying Dust and the surrounding area gathered for this event that began of course with a catered meal. For me it was like a homecoming as i knew people from most of the areas from which them came, such as Red Pheasant, Loon Lake, Canoe Narrows, La Loche, Waterhen and the Flying Dust community, to name some.


The elementary school grades of the local Flying Dust School sang the Oh Canada in Cree, and were invited to do so in Ottawa.


Former FSI Chief Lawrence Joseph, who was recently awarded an honorary doctor of Canon Law degree by the Emmanuel Chad College at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, spoke eloquently of his hopes for the future through the power of forgiveness. He mentioned that the residential School was a blessing for him as his family was mired in poverty. He also mentioned the impact that the visit by former National Chief Phil Fontaine to Pope Benedict in Rome had on him as he witnessed the pope praying over cultural symbols that in the past were seen as pagan. Developments such as these and this event filled him with hope for the future.


Former chef Kevin Blacksmith from Quebec was the inspiration behind the tour. He explained that the purpose for the tour was bigger than simply to respond to the apology by Prime Minister Harper in 2008, though it included that element. The deeper purpose was to promote forgiveness as the best way to heal, to move beyond victimhood, and to open the way to a brighter and better future.


Marcie Merasty was the one who took the initiative to organize this event for our area after experiencing it elsewhere.

Confirmation in Patuanak May 18-19th, 2010

Though the numbers preparing varied, ultimately there were seven young men who were confirmed, almost enough for a hockey team. In a sense they were joining God's team. This is probably a first in that no girls were confirmed. Always there is a hope that one of these fine young men will respond to God's call to become a priest to replace Fr. Mathieu, who is 86 years old! On the left is Fr. Gaspar Savarimuthu, a priest from India who is experiencing a time of orientation in preparation to minister in our archdiocese. He also helped out with the retreat.


The evening before the confirmation celebration itself was given over to a retreat in preparation for the event. Seven candidates, along with some of their parents and sponsors gathered in the Church for the retreat which involved singing, exercises and teachings.


Here Archbishop Sylvain leads the participants in singing and also facilitated the retreat that focused on living a Christian life more fully, learning more about Jesus, being open to the Holy Spirit and a ritual run through of the ceremony itself.


Our retreat for the nine candidates and sponsors wrapped up with a closing circle that included the pastor Fr. Bertrand Mathieu OMI.


The other half of the closing circle for the retreat in the Patuanak Church.

Initiation and Cursillo meeting in La Loche, May 15-16, 2010

This picture was taken just after the celebration of the sacraments of initiation in La Loche on May 16th, as we were getting ready for a group photo. Candidates and sponsors were from both communities of La Loche and Turnor Lake. This celebration followed the invitation of the archdiocese to restore the order of sacraments in that confirmation was followed by First Holy Communion for many of the candidates. It was truly a joyful and happy event.


We arrived in La Loche after a day long journey from Pelican Narrows just in time to begin a preparatory retreat withthe candidates and their sponsors who almost filled the church in La Loche themselves. Facilitating a retreat for 100 people sitting in pews poses a special challenge but it went well, as the participants were very attentive and involved. A group of about 9 candidates and sponsors came from Turnor Lake for the retreat and the celebration itself, as i was unable to go to Turnor Lake this time around. This retreat keeps me in touch with a bit of youth ministry as the archbishop, and helps me to get to know the candidates a little before the celebration itsef.


A unique aspect of this retreat for candidates was a tree planting spree where dozens of trees were planted by the candidates and their sponsors as a sign of hope that their faith would continue to grow like these trees.


As it was a beautiful sunny spring day, our retreat with the 100 or so candidates, sponsors and parents finished up outside in a huge circle, with only a quarter of them pictured here.




A very hopeful and encouraging event happening in La Loche the same weekend as the sacraments of initiation was a meeting of Cursillista's preparing for the up-coming Cursillo retreats to be held in La Loche the end of June (men's retreat) and early July (women's retreat). The Cursillo is a four day walk with the Lord, a crash course on Christianity, which has come to Saskatchewan from Alberta where it is quite popular. Cursillo's have been held in Beauval in 1992; Pelican Narrows in 1994 and Dillon in 2009. Here the men are meeting together to plan the men's retreat.


Fr. John and Fr. Gaspar are pictured here with one of the womens' teams preparing for the upcoming Cursillo. Some of the women came from as far as Pelican Narrows and Cold Lake, Alberta for the meeting.


There were almost a hundred candidates for full initiation into the Church. Here as many as possible fit into the viewfinder of the camera for a group picture with the archbishop.


Before being sealed with the oil of chrism, the candidates stand to reject evil and profess their faith in Christ. After that a special prayer for the Holy Spirit to come upon them is prayed by the presiders and the whole congregation.


After the ceremony folks lined up in the community hall to continue the celebration with great food and fellowship.


Here the Keith and Brenda Janvier family enjoy a meal together.


These three young ladies dressed up for the occasion and enjoyed visiting with each other.


Folks from La Loche, Turnor and the surrounding area enjoyed the table fellowship after the ceremony.

Kater Hall Renovation Visit Sandy Bay May 14, 2010

On the way to celebrate the sacraments of initiation in La Loche, I went to Sandy Bay to pick up Fr. Gaspar Savarimuthu, a priest from India who will be ministering in our archdiocese. Fr. Susai Jesu OMI, pastor of Sandy Bay and Pelican Narrows, took advantage of that occasion to organize a meeting of all the teams that he has put in place to carry out the renovations of Kateri Hall. Vaiouus teams are finding creative ways to raise funds for the project. Here the catering team provided meals for the youth conference put on by the community at the school. They are now gearing up to cater for several weddings over the summer.



Here Fr. Susai, Archbishop Sylvain, Mr and Mrs Ernie Rae and Fr. Gaspar Savarimuthu enjoy a meal at the youth conference cooked by the catering team.



Work on the kitchen part of Kateri Hall has progressed to where it is almost ready for the concrete to be poured with the rebar in place.


The newly painted hall with new trim around the pillars and baseboard is very warm and inviting.


Fr. Susai, Ernie Rae and Archbishop Sylvain look over the work that has been done on the kitchen part of Kateri Hall.


Here Fr. Susai leads the group in prayer and then provides an update and some background for everyone on the project.


Ina Rae has accepted a leadership role in the project and here is providing the gathering with an upddate.


The whole group gathers for a picture with Fr. Susai OMI. The cake has an inscription from one of the elders: Where there is a will there is a way; way to go Sandy Bay.


A group of wise elders who attended the gathering, showed great interest in the project and added their advice.

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.