Wollaston sacramental initiation and wedding

On Saturday, August 20, our volunteer pilot Ted Dodds flew me into Wollaston Lake just in time for a retreat with these confirmation candidates. They were attentive, sang out loudly, and knew their faith quite well. I shared a power point presentation with them on Human Needs and the Great Commandment, Learning to Forgive, a Jesus Quiz, the gifts, fruits and names of the Holy Spirit. Despite the wedding next door in the church at the same time, they were very present to the retreat. The celebration on Sunday was a joyful mixture of Dene and English, including the whole congregation singing our Returning to Your Roots theme song.

Here are the candidates who received their First Communion. They were prepared by a group of dedicated catechists.

A wedding of John & Mary Jane Josie took place the same time as the retreat with the candidates, as it had been postponed by a funeral the previous day. Above is a shot of the wedding cake, part of the first class decorations.

Sacraments of Initiation, God's Lake Narrows, Aug 15, 2011

Here is where Ted Dodds, our volunteer pilot who donates his plane, time and gas for amonth to fly me to our isolated missions, flew me for the celebration of initation in God' Lake Narrows.

The group of newly initiated candidates posing with Fr. Bart Burke and me.

The outdoor fish following the celebration of confirmation and First Communion.

On August 15, feast of the Assumption of Mary, I joined Fr. Bart Burke, a saintly 82 year old diocesan priest, for the celebration of the sacraments of initation in God's Lake Narrows in north eastern Manitoba. FR. Bart flies a circuit between four communities, SAndy Lake ON, GLN, God's River and Oxford House. Like Jesus, he literally has no place to rest his head in a way, always on the road, with almost no place to call home.

With perfect weather, the volunteer pilot Ted Dodds, flew me in for a retreat with the candidates in the afternoon, the celebration following, and an outdoor fish fry following that. I was even able to sneak in a swim in the lake upon arrival, and early in the morning the next day before we left to try and beat the inclement weather to St Theresa Point, where we were weathered in for a day.

Sacraments of Initiation, Lynn Lake, May 14, 2011

Sr. Margaret Sadler, the pastoral worker in Lynn Lake, worked hard to prepare these candidates with help from her leaders. The celebration was well attended given that it was held Saturday evening.

After the celebration there was a pot luck supper in the newly renovated hall in the basement. Sr. Margaret is very adept at finding funds and volunteers to carry out the much needed maintenance in the parish. Here the folks are enjoying fellowship and fine food after the event.

Pat Campbell cutting the cake. Pat is Sr. Margaret Sadler's right hand person in the parish. Lynn Lake also has a very active CWL group.

Farewell for Sr. Mary Kastens OP, May 9, 2011

Sr. Mary Kastens is one of the six Adrian Michigan Dominican women religious who came to minister in our archdiocese three years ago as part of their open placement venture. Under the leadership of their former prioress, Donna Markham, the congregation chose to try to live together in community more and to be more missionary. They established a mission fund out of which they pay their own salaries and food, and offered their services to dioceses they thought would need their services. Comint to us at the same time as our financial commitment to the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement started, they were truly a God-send.

Sr. Mary served as the Director of Religious Education during her stay with us. Her wisdom, knowledge, experience, ability to do research and cook up some great meals was all appreciated and will truly be missed. She was also a great proofreader for me as I put the finishing touches on my next book. When some health issues came up in her life, Mary decided that it was time to return to her community where she will be doing literacy and administrative ministry. We thank her for her time with us and wish her well in her new location. The farewell supper for her took place at the archdiocesan cottage at Clearwater Lake.

Returning To Spirit Appreciation Banquet, May 7, 2011

During the Knights of Columbus convention, I was able to slip out to the RTS banquet. The Returning to Spirit program is seen as one of the most effective programs in the country that manages to help participants move beyond being victims stuck in their story, to experiencing genuine personal freedom. It also brings together aboriginal and non-aboriginal people for three days of dialogue, prayer, healing and reconciliation. I would encourage all who are able to go to participate in an RTS session. Anne Taylor is the CEO of the board of directors, and there is now a cadre of aboriginal and non-aboriginal facilitators spreading across the country. Mark Pizandawatc, who originated the program along with Sr. Anne Thompson SSA, is taking on more of a mentoring role.

The Returning To Spirit symbol speaks eloquently of reconciliation of al.l nations and races

A group of Metis dancers performed an intricate sash dance, actually creating a sash as they danced and jigged back and forth, in and out. Three dancers from an aboriginal dance school also performed a very contemporary aboriginal ballet-like dance, as well as a French Canadian group. We were very well entertained.

The MC and entertainer for the evening was Winston Wuttunee, seen here involving everyone in singing.

Sacraments of Initiation, South Indian Lake, May 13, 2011

The group of newly initiated candidates at South Indian Lake, prepared by Bro. Tom Novak OMI with the help of local leaders. During his last stay here, Bro. Tom gand I ave the Christopher Leadership Course with the help of Troy Paul of Thompson and Sr. Margaret Sadler from Lynn Lake.

A family gathering at one of the tables after the celebration. South Indian Lake is good at putting on pot luck suppers after the Eucharist each month that Fr. Eugene Whyte comes to celebrate with them.

Bro. Tom Novak OMI, is ministering in our archdiocese part time as a resource person. He goes into a community for a period of time with the aim of supporting the local leaders and facilitating catechesis, sacramental preparation and ministry training. Tom is also revising the Cree hymn book that we are hoping to reprint soon. Twice now we have offered the Christopher Leadership Course in the community where Tom was ministering, as a way of empowering lay leaders.

Janet Tait, one of the lay presiders, with her husband. Janet is also one of the contact persons for SIL.

Knights of Columbus Convention, May 6-8. Winnipeg

For the first time since I became archbishop, I was able to attend a Knights of Columbus convention, though I had to miss the state banquet due to a previous commitment. It was an event that I thoroughly enjoyed. Meeting so many of my brother knights was indeed a privilege and a pleasure. We were given a preview of the revised 3rd degree. The projects that the Knights are carrying out are quite impressive. Here they are pictured in session.

Catholic Missions In Canada Fundraiser, May 5, 2011

Cathoic Missions In Canada is a fund-raising organization based in Toronto that provides moral, prayer and financial support for needy and missionary dioceses across the country. Teh president is Fr. Philip Kennedy, who is beginning his second term. A board of bishops and laity oversee the actitivies of the organization. Each year they host Tastes of Heaven, a gala that gathers hundreds of Catholic laity who generoously share of their wealth to support the missions. The St Joseph award is given to outstanding missionaries in Canada. Pictured here is the awards head table at

Award winner Fr. Joseph Baril OMI with old friend Archbishop Emeritus Peter Sutton, now retired in Ricehlieu.

Archbishop Gerard Pettipas, of the Archdiocese of Grouard-Maclenan,with award winners Sisters Jeannette and Bernadette, who served in the arcdiocese for 50 years.

With a little assistance from our archdiocese and Sr. Eva Solomon csj, the staff of CMIC was able to purchase a tee pee for the event which will be donated to a local educational institution.

The beautiful art piece made up of birch bark by Les Hurlburt of North Battleford, who taught in Beauval for years, was one of the gifts that our archdiocese donated to the fundraising event.

Blessing of St Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, May 2, 2011

After the diocesan CWL convention in The Pas, I was able to travel to Edmonton for the blessing of the new St. Joseph Seminary, a beautiful structure of glass and stone in Southwest Edmonton, next to the chancer offices. About 12 bishops joined in the celebration, along with many priests, religious and laity. Archbishop Richard Smith presided at the ceremony and lavishly consecrated the altar with chrism. The new facility will house up to 50 seminarians.

The west side of the new seminary building, overlooking downtown Edmonton across the Saskatcehwan River valley.

A view of Newman Theological College, which is situated on the same grounds across the parking lot. Fr. Stefano Penna is the Dean of Theology at NTC, where seminarians and laity will take classes together.

A vew of the chapel from the back. Note the curves and swirling formation of the ceiling, which lifts our thoughts and prayers upward.

The pews inside the chapel. Note the curvature of the pews. The chapel was full to capacity for the dedication of the new facility.

This statue of Jesus the Teacher used to grace the entrance to the former Newman Theological College and St. Joseph Seminary grounds at the previous location along St. Albert Trail

CWL Diocesan Convention, The Pas, May 1-2, 2011

Another successful diocesan CWL convention took place in The Pas the first days of May, 2011. The theme of the convention was Centered on Faith and Justice. Though I had to leave early, I was able to preside at the Saturday evening Eucharist and attend the banquet. One of the strengths of the CWL at all levels is the well researched and written up resolutions that are taken to both provincial and federal governments.

Pictured here are Jacqueline Nogier of Snow Lake in our archdiocese, who will be installed as the new provincial president of the CWL at the end of May in Winnipeg, and Sr. Margaret Sadler scj of Lynn Lake, the spiritual advisor to the diocesan CWL members.