Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 94 No. 30 January 18, 2017 Documenting lives Water conflict boiling over in Ontario “Since cameras were invented, they’ve been used The following is reprinted from America, Jan. 6, 2017, with permis - to document sion of America Press, Inc., 2017. All rights reserved. For subscription the lives of information, call 1-800-627-9533 or visit www.americamagazine.org poor people and the By Dean Dettloff That’s the standard rate in Ontario injustice for commercial water-taking. The of their In Laudato Si’ , commenting on same reservoir near Aberfoyle is conditions,” water scarcity, Pope Francis writes, also tapped by the city of Guelph, writes “The environmental repercussions Ont., which relies solely on Michael could affect billions of people; it is groundwater for its growing popu - Swan. “That tradition also conceivable that the control of lation, already exceeding 120,000. lives on in Toronto, water by large multinational busi - During the drought, Guelph resi - in the photographs nesses may become a major source dents could be fined $130 for of Vincenzo Pietropaolo.” of conflict in this century” (31). In watering their lawns, while Nestlé — page 5 Ontario, the Holy Father’s intuition was under no obligation to modify seems about right. its bottling volume. Nathanael Following a year of public frus - Nestlé’s Aberfoyle well is not The Nathanael adult faith tration over the competition for new, but the food giant’s need to water access and use between renew a 10-year water-taking per - formation experience con - local communities and the multi - mit brought attention to the differ - tinues evolving to meet the national food company Nestlé, ent standards enjoyed by the com - CNS/Ben Nelms challenges of the Christian Ontario will have to confront a dif - pany versus drought-restricted citi - SAY NO TO BOTTLED WATER — Msgr. Murray Kroetsch, chancellor in the contemporary world. ficult question: Is water a common zens. Though Nestlé’s permit of the Diocese of Hamilton, encourages “all of our parishes to discourage — page 6 good or a private commodity? The expired at the end of July, the com - the use of bottled water. I know a number of parishes have started to issue will be further complicated pany has been allowed to continue make that shift, using the tap water and not paying for water which in Chaldean pastor the long run is diminishing the natural resource. . . . Diminishing bottled by the continuing crises of potable taking water until Ontario com - is leaving water use, says Kroetsch, is in keeping with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ , water access among First Nations pletes a review, a concession made which challenged the idea of water as a commodity. people, which has persisted in by the Ontario government in light A farewell celebration was some communities for decades. of public outrage. Opposition par - public access to water sources cated to the conservation of local held Jan. 7 Over the summer of 2016, envi - ties, including the New Democratic with the anticipation of an increas - water, gave public voice to con - for Rev. ronmental activists drew attention Party, the Green party and the Pro- ing population, the town attempted tinued concerns over the well pur - Sabah to the Ontario town of Aberfoyle, gressive Conservatives, all urged to purchase a spring water well, chase. Other activist groups, like Kamora where Nestlé was permitted to take Ontario Liberals to review the per - but Nestlé was awarded the well Council of Canadians, have called who has 3.6 million litres of water per day mit granting process entirely, with after matching the offer made by for a boycott of Nestlé while served as — amid a drought — at a rate of a the NDP and Greens suggesting no Centre Wellington, leading to drawing attention to the ways in pastor of mere $3.71 for every million litres. renewals until the permit process is more head-shaking from citizens which the well use affects First Sacred significantly changed. frustrated by the imbalance of Nations communities. Heart Chaldean Catholic Amid the Aberfoyle controver - water rights between a powerful The well draws water from the Church in Saskatoon for Dean Dettloff is America’s sy, another water clash sprung up multinational like Nestlé and local Grand River watershed, the tradi - the past seven years. Toronto correspondent and a in Centre Wellington, Ont., where municipalities. tional territory of the Six Nations — page 6 junior member of the Institute for residents learned that Nestlé had In protests over the summer, of Grand River. More than 11,000 Don’t skip Christian Studies. Twitter: outbid the town for the use of a Wellington Water Watchers, a @deandettloff — FIRST NATIONS , page 4 the dishes nearby spring. Aiming to protect non-profit advocacy group dedi -

Edna Froese makes the case Upcoming synod needs young people’s voices: pope for doing the dishes the old- fashioned way, as an oppor - By Junno Arocho Esteves held in October 2018. opportunity to contribute to the reflections “on their expectations tunity for animated family Young people will have an working document by submitting and their lives” through a dedicat - discussions that might VATICAN CITY (CNS) — ed website — www.sinodogio - not otherwise happen. Pope Francis asked young people vani.va — that will be launched — page 7 to tell him, their bishops and pas - March 1, said Bishop Fabio Orthodoxy, sin tors about their hopes and strug - Fabene, undersecretary of the gles and even their criticisms. Synod of Bishops. and heresy In preparation for a meeting of In his letter, Pope Francis the Synod of Bishops focused on referred to God’s call to Abra ham. “Does the Catholic Church youth, the pope wrote a letter to The Old Testament patriarch, he really teach that missing young people, saying the church said, “received a compelling invi - mass is a mortal sin and that wants “to listen to your voice, your tation, a challenge, to leave every - if you die in that state you sensitivities and your faith, even thing and go to a new land. What will go to hell?” asks Ron your doubts and your criticism.” is this ‘new land’ for us today, if Rolheiser, OMI. “No, that’s “Make your voice heard,” the not a more just and friendly soci - not Catholic orthodoxy, pope told young people. “Let it ety which you, young people, though popular preaching resonate in communities and let it deeply desire and wish to build to and catechesis often suppose be heard by your shepherds of the very ends of the earth?” it is, even as neither accepts souls.” “A better world can be built the full consequences.” The pope’s letter was released also as a result of your efforts, — page 11 Jan. 13 along with the preparatory your desire to change and your document for the synod. The doc - generosity,” Pope Francis told Care of the earth ument includes a series of ques - young people. “Do not be afraid to tions to be answered by national listen to the Spirit who proposes The School Garden Project conferences of bishops and other bold choices; do not delay when at Light of Christ Catholic church bodies. The responses, CNS/Agencja Gazeta, Jakub Porzycki, via Reuters your conscience asks you to take School Division has been along with input from young peo - SYNOD TO FOCUS ON YOUTH — Panamanian President Juan risks in following the Master.” developed to teach students ple themselves, will form the basis The synod preparatory docu - how to become responsible Carlos Varela poses with pilgrims during World Youth Day at the main of the synod’s working document. square in Krakow, Poland. The next World Youth Day will take place in ment offered three chapters for stewards of the earth, Pope Francis chose “Young Panama in 2019. It will be preceded in 2018 by a Synod of Bishops which reflection by bishops and youth, writes Marie Graw. people, faith and vocational dis - will focus on youth with the theme “Young people, faith and vocational which it defines as people rough- — page 13 cernment” as the theme for the discernment.” Young people will attend as auditors and will be able to synod gathering, which will be take part in the general assembly and also in the small working groups. — WORLD , page 15 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS January 18, 2017 Nigerian archbishop protests culture of brutality

By Peter Ajayi Dada $17.5 million. mind-boggling is the seeming is made to stop such carnage per - and punished accordingly, no “We are becoming so sadistic insensitivity to the killings. Does manently? matter how highly placed,” it LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) — that we do not see that such brutal - it not trouble us that the interna - “When will one Nigerian life said. The head of the Nigerian bishops’ ity creates a culture of impunity, tional community is watching matter, or must people be killed It also demanded an immedi - conference has urged Nigerian chaos, anarchy and doom; as if the Nigeria with great apprehen - in thousands or millions before ate release of southern Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari to needless killing by Boko Haram is sion?” we realize the humongous dam - youth and leaders it said were stop the evolving culture of bru - not enough,” said Kaigama. The archbishop said young age done to our people? unjustly detained by various secu - tality and savagery in Nigeria, “The manner (in which) lives people were gaining the impres - A statement from the Diocese rity agencies for trumped-up which he said was unparalleled in are being taken right now in sion that life was cheap and could of Kafanchan said more than charges. It said the government its history. southern Kaduna and many other be taken away at a whim. He said 1,400 houses, 16 churches, 19 should provide relief materials to Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama troubled areas of our nation is human life is sacred and cannot shops, one primary school and victims of the attacks and com - of Jos spoke after suspected tantamount to a declaration of be sacrificed as if it were mere five cars were destroyed in 53 vil - pensate families that suffered Fulani herdsmen attacked indige - war against helpless and innocent animal life for pleasure or cele - lages. It called for an immediate losses. nous farmers in southern Kaduna Nigerians. bration. cessation of hostilities by the “Communities overrun by state in early January. The “How can human lives be so “For how long will killings, warring parties, a commission of Fulani herdsmen and now under Diocese of Kafanchan, located in casually terminated with pictures associated with demented or irra - inquiry instituted to investigate occupation by same must be the area, estimated more than 800 of dead bodies, decapitated or tional reasoning, continue to be the crisis. vacated, and their owners people were killed, and damages disfigured corpses shown in the witnessed, especially in southern “All perpetrators and sponsors returned to their homes and farm - to property and foodstuffs topped social media?” he asked. “What is Kaduna, before a concerted effort of these evils must be fished out lands immediately,” it said. Human-made idols are figments of the imagination, pope warns

By Carol Glatz and perseverance, and when bad But those who persevere and things happen in life, he said, courageously trust and hope in VATICAN CITY (CNS) — sometimes that faith wavers and the Lord, they become more and Watch out for the tempting people feel they need a different more like him, sharing in his life promises and easy rewards of kind of certainty, something easi - and blessings, “transforming us false gods and idols because they er or more “tangible and con - into his children.” always lead to confusion, disap - crete.” “In this God, we have hope. pointment and even death, Pope “Sometimes we seek a god This is the God that is not an idol, Francis said. that can bend to our wishes and that never disappoints,” and “We are tempted to seek even magically intervene to change always remembers his people fleeting comfort, which seems to reality and make it be the way we even during their most difficult fill the emptiness of solitude and want,” he said. This is what peo - trials, he said. ease the exertion of believing” in ple love and seek — a god “that At the end of the audience in God, especially in times of trou - looks like us, understandable, the Vatican’s Paul VI audience ble, he said Jan. 11 during his predictable,” even though “it can hall, the pope told people to make weekly general audience. do nothing — impotent and sure they never pay for a ticket to But the hope and security deceitful.” see the pope because entry to that come from God “never ever The psalmist says that those papal events is always free since disappoint,” he said. “Idols who worship or trust in things “this is a home for everyone.” always let you down” since they that cannot speak, see, feel, move “I found out that there are are figments of the imagination CNS/Paul Haring or hear, will become like them pretty crafty (people) who charge and not “alive and real” like GENERAL AUDIENCE — A young woman takes a selfie with Pope with nothing to say, “incapable of for tickets,” which should have God. Francis during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Jan. helping, changing things, smiling, written on them in different lan - The pope continued his series 11. The pope continued his talks on Christian hope, reflecting on giving oneself and incapable of guages that they are completely of talks on Christian hope by Psalm 115. loving.” free of charge. reflecting on Psalm 115, which “Even we, people of the “Whoever makes you pay to warns of the false hopes and were putting their trust in a bunch kind Jesus brought freely by church, run this risk” of becom - get you into an audience commits securities offered by human-made of nonsense, he said. “giving his life for us, that kind ing worldly, he said. “We need to a crime,” he said. Tickets for idols. “We buy false hope,” which we don’t trust in so much some - be in the world, but defend our - papal masses also always are free. While the psalmist speaks of shows how much people cling times.” selves from the illusions” and No tickets are needed for the statues made of “silver and gold,” to it, he said. True hope, the Faith in God takes strength idols of the world. noon Angelus prayer. the pope said idols also include anything people hold up as the McDonald’s near Vatican to give free meals to the poor ultimate answer to their happiness and security like money, power, success and false ideologies — By Junno Arocho Esteves gram, she added, is “the begin - all of which carry “illusions of ning of a dialogue” with Mc - eternity and omnipotence.” VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Donald’s to expand in the fu - Even things like physical While the controversial opening ture. beauty and health become idols of a McDonald’s near the “It is truly a small drop in an when a person is willing “to sac - Vatican may not have all local ocean of things being done by so rifice everything” in order to residents singing, “I’m lovin’ it,” many other associations, by so obtain or maintain them, he said. the popular fast food chain is try - many people who spend their “They are all things that con - ing to do its part in the neigh - time helping others,” Ercoli said fuse the heart and mind and bourhood by helping the poor Jan. 12 in an interview with instead of promoting life, they and the hungry. Vatican Radio. lead to death,” he said. As an Medicina Solidale (Solidarity In a statement announcing the example of this, he said he once Medicine) announced Jan. 12 deal, Ercoli noted that the fast heard a woman speak very non - that it is joining forces with food chain “quickly responded” chalantly about procuring an McDon ald’s and the papal to the proposal “to donate meals abortion because the pregnancy almoner’s office, which gives the to those who live on the streets in would have ruined her figure. pope’s charitable aid to the the area of St. Peter’s.” “These are idols and they take homeless around the Vatican, to Noting her organization’s you down the wrong path. They distribute 1,000 meals to poor longtime collaboration with the do not give you happiness,” he men and women who often find papal almoner in providing med - said. shelter in and around St. Peter’s ical care for the homeless, Ercoli The pope marvelled at the Basilica. said the new agreement will huge number of fortune tellers he Starting Jan. 16, volunteers ensure that the poor also are pro - used to see sitting in a city park in from the charitable organization vided with some much-needed Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the will distribute a specially pre - nutrition. lines of people waiting their turn pared menu for the poor; it “With these meals, we’ll to consult them. includes a double cheeseburger, make a significant leap in pro - The shtick “is always the fresh apple slices and a bottle of viding so many women and same, ‘There is a woman in your water. men who live on the street in CNS/Paul Haring life,’ ‘Something dark is coming,’ ’’ Lucia Ercoli, director of this neighbourhood the possi - MCDONALD’S AT THE VATICAN — A worker walks outside the he said ominously. But the people Medicina Solidale , said that the bility of a meal that will guar - newly opened McDonald’s near the Vatican Jan. 12. McDonalds will would pay to hear such things, organization plans to distribute antee a suitable intake of pro - collaborate with Italian aid organization, “ Medicinia Solidale ,” and the and this was supposed to make 100 meals a week for 10 con - teins and vitamins for them,” papal almoner’s office to help feed the poor and homeless around the them feel better even though they secutive Mondays. The pro - she said. Vatican. January 18, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 3 Challenges ahead on science rights, religious freedom

By Deborah Gyapong and Conscience. and assisted suicide that does not out,” he said. “There’s almost CMDS, Physicians for Life include conscience rights. implicit suggestion your particu - OTTAWA (CCN) — In 2017 Canada and the Canadian Federa- “There should be alternate lar beliefs will not be tolerated.” Canada faces ongoing challenges tion of Catholic Physicians’ procedures for access to proce - “We’re seeing this present on to religious freedom and con - Societies have joined five Ontario dures that don’t require health university campuses, in various science rights that can be solved doctors in a legal challenge of the professionals to act against reli - ways in other institutions and we by accommodation and respect College of Physicians and Sur - gious beliefs or their conscience,” see it often reflected within the for real pluralism, say observers. geons of Ontario’s policy forcing Worthen said. media,” Bennett said. “The big picture is how ac - doctors to refer when it comes to Former Ambassador of Reli - “There are many responses cepting is Canadian society of euthanasia or abortion “even gious Freedom Andrew Bennett, one can take and I’m not one who moral and religious diversity,” said when they have a conscientious now a senior fellow at Cardus, advocates a culture warrior re- Evangelical Fellowship of Canada objection,” said Worthen. said he expects challenges “left, sponse,” he said. Instead those president Bruce Clemenger. “Reli- The College’s policy requires right and centre” in the wake of advancing religious freedom and gious freedom protection is based physicians to “actually perform the federal euthanasia law. conscience rights “need to raise on what it means for Canada to be procedures in an emergency situ - Bennett also foresees contin - the bar of our debate, and ad - a free and democratic society.” ation,” he said. “We’re very con - ued challenges around the rights vance arguments based on the In all the cases across the cerned about what the province of parents to home-school, as theme of human dignity.” country, there is an option to defines as an emergency and the recently seen in Alberta, which “We have to be able to con - accommodate, Clemenger said, fact we are being forced to act withdrew accreditation of the vince our fellow citizens each one whether the challenges concern CCN/D. Gyapong against our conscience is very province’s largest home-school - of us bears this dignity and that is parents fighting a sex education Bruce Clemenger concerning.” ing association, though it recently the foundation of the rights we curriculum; doctors and other Worthen said he hopes the reinstated it with conditions. should be enjoying,” he said. So if health care professionals fighting credit future law students. case will be heard before a judge Too much attention is being we want to actually embrace a for conscience rights; or a private “There’s nothing impairing in June. focused on the juridical side of genuine pluralism in our country, Christian college seeking accredi - accreditation,” said Clemenger. “Most other provinces have a these questions and not enough on that pluralism must not only tation for its proposed law school. “They just chose not to.” number for patients to call to the public policy side, Bennett said. accept, but strive to continually The case of Trinity Western Trinity Western won at various access an assessment for medical “What do we want to build in welcome different perspectives, University could eventually end levels in B.C. and Nova Scotia, aid in dying,” he said. “Ontario this country?” he asked. “What welcome different beliefs and up before the Supreme Court of but lost in Ontario and has continues to require a referral and kind of common life do we want allow those different perspectives Canada. At stake is whether some appealed. B.C. may yet appeal its for doctors to go against their to enjoy?” and beliefs to express themselves provincial law societies are vio - loss at the B.C. Court of Appeals conscience.” He expressed concern over fully in the public square,” he said. lating the college’s religious free - to the Supreme Court of Canada. “The College of Physicians is “very illiberal ideas emerging “In advancing and defending dom in refusing to accept pro - When it comes to conscience out there on their own, not only from an increasingly entrenched religious freedom we must al - posed law school graduates to the rights for doctors, provinces and li - ignoring conscience protection but public reason.” ways take the high road. We must bar. The colleges have argued censing bodies also have an option trying to frustrate reasonable alter - “This public reason stipulates always seek to include and not Trinity Western’s community to accommodate, said Clemenger. natives that would allow patients to unless you are on the right side of exclude,” he said. “And most covenant barring faculty and stu - Most provinces and their gain access to this procedure with - public issues that have purported - importantly we must seek to see dents from sex outside of tradi - respective colleges have accom - out the requirement of the doctor ly been decided for the good of in every individual human being tional marriage is discriminatory modated them, except Ontario, to refer,” he said. Ontario has also all — if you are on the wrong we encounter someone who bears against gay and lesbian students. said Larry Worthen, executive tabled legislation on euthanasia side of those issues, you will lose a God-given dignity.” Clemenger pointed out that all director of the Christian Medical other law societies in Canada and Dental Society of Canada except Ontario, British Columbia, (CMDS) and a spokesperson for Faith to be part of Canada’s 150th: Cardus and Nova Scotia, agreed to ac - the Coalition for HealthCARE By Evan Boudreau ourselves that religious expression peace and a vision of peace for Humanitarian crisis The Catholic Register is a private matter,” said Bennett. the world.” “It is important for those of us Cardinal Thomas Collins of TORONTO (CCN) — Think- who are faithful to recognize that Toronto, one of 40 members of continues in Syria tank heavyweight Cardus is call - we do have a place in the public the Cabinet of Canadians, praised ing on Canadians to bring religion square. Religious expression is Cardus for capitalizing on By Deborah Gyapong “Not all opposition groups are back into the public square as the not just a private matter.” Canada’s 150 birthday as a means negotiating with the regime,” he nation prepares to celebrate He added that in order to have to celebrate faith and religious OTTAWA (CCN) — As the said. “Only a fraction of the rebel Canada’s 150th birthday. “a genuinely diverse society we diversity. civil war in Syria is poised to enter groups are negotiating, so we’re “Faith is still a dominant feature need to give suitable space in the its seventh year in March, the far from a serious peace in Syria.” in the lives of many Cana dians and public square for religious humanitarian crisis continues un - Though late last year govern - it certainly has been throughout expression and for people to abated despite a recent ceasefire. ment forces wrested control of Canadian history so . . . to cele - engage in with their faith.” eastern Aleppo from rebel hands, brate 150 years of Confederation Faith in Canada 150 is being “it’s been very difficult to reach that story has to be told,” said fuelled by private donations with people,” he said. “It’s very tense Andrew Bennett, a Cardus senior no direct funding from the federal right now on the ground and the fellow and chair of the Cabinet of government’s Canada 150 pro - infrastructures are gone.” Cana dians, a group of academic, gram, said Cardus spokesperson “We have a lot of people on re li gious and business leaders put Daniel Proussalidis. The govern - the ground, the local church in to gether to lead the faith discus - ment has reportedly earmarked particular who are very brave, sion. $500 million for celebrations and doing best they can,” he said. “To not talk about religious community improvements across “But they need permissions to go faith when we speak about Cana- the country. through checkpoints to get from dian history is to have a very seri - Another of the Cardus projects one neighbourhood to another.” ous blind spot. Millions of Cana - is Thread of 1,000 Stories, a plat - “There are army people every - dians have lived and breathed and form for faithful of all ages to where, to make sure there is no built this country with a key eye to share stories about religion’s role resistance, no rebels,” he said. their religious faith.” and influence in their life. That makes it “very complex to To assist those looking to swap “It is important to have faith as CCN/D. Gyapong bring food to regular folks who stories about their faith, Cardus a prominent player with the pub - Andrew Bennett are still in Aleppo.” put together a series of initiatives, lic life of this country,” said “The situation is pretty bad,” each with a specific target audi - Bennett. “People of faith, on a “I am delighted that Cardus CCN/D. Gyapong said Guy Des Aulniers, co-ordina - ence, grouped under an umbrella day-to-day basis, are involved in has initiated the Faith in Canada Carl Hétu tor of humanitarian aid for the project called Faith in Canada 150. building the common life of this 150 project,” he said. “As we cel - Canadian Catholic Organization In Nov ember, Bennett, Can - country.” ebrate this milestone in Canada’s “A truce, a ceasefire, is not for Development and Peace. In ada’s former Ambassador of Jean Vanier, who worked with history it is an appropriate time to peace,” said Carl Hétu, national western Aleppo, the part that had Religious Freedom, launched the Cardus in developing the Faith in highlight and celebrate the role of director of CNEWA (Catholic remained under government con - youth-driven arm of Faith in Canada 150 initiative, sees the faith as a cornerstone for so many Near East Welfare Association) trol, Development and Peace part - Canada 150. project as an extension of Can - Canadians.” Canada. “Right now, Syria is such ners run a medical clinic that is The event drew about 60 youth, ada’s role to be a model for the The initiative offers an oppor - a big mess that the needs of the still receiving patients. They also aged 19 to 35, who heard from rest of the world. tunity to “reflect on the role of people will be great for the next have partners providing humani - four guest speakers: a Catholic, a “Canada has a mission . . . to faith in our country,” while cele - several years, even if there were a tarian relief in rebel held areas, he Jew, a Muslim and a Baha’i. cultivating this brotherly-sisterly brating “the simple and extraordi - peace accord tomorrow.” said. Dubbed the Millennial Net - love amongst every person,” said nary contributions made every “At least then we could start to The offensive on eastern Aleppo work, Bennett said the event Vanier, who founded L’Arche for day from coast to coast” by the build,” he said. “That’s not the created many more displaced peo- sought to change perceptions adults with intellectual disabilities nation’s faithful. case now. Now it’s still an emer - about religion’s place in society. in 1964. “Canada is not just a For more information, visit gency situation.” — BATTLE , page 7 “Many of us have convinced place of peace, it is a source of http://www.faithincanada150.ca 4 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS January 18, 2017 Cabinet shuffle contrasts with Trump administration

By Deborah Gyapong Muslim immigration or at the society — that is also part of the opposed to Trump’s, who are very least “extreme vetting” of argument in Canada,” she said, mostly two decades older. “A lot OTTAWA (CCN) — Prime those coming from Muslim coun - noting the positive stories emerg - more women and people of dif - Minister Justin Trudeau’s Jan. 10 tries. He has also promised to ing of Syrian refugees who have ferent origins than in the Trump cabinet shuffle provided a stark build a wall on the border with only been here for a few months proposals,” she said. contrast to President-elect Trump’s Mexico to stop the flow of undoc - and have started their own busi - John Thompson, security ana - cabinet picks, and signals a big umented migrants. nesses, hired people and who help lyst with the Strategic Capital difference in attitudes toward Anne Leahy, a career Cana- each other. “The upside is far Intelligence Group, said the immigration. dian diplomat who served as more important than the negativi - Trump candidacy is in line with The highlight is Prime Min - Ambassador to the Holy See and ty that gets reported.” Brexit and the growing militancy ister Trudeau’s choice of Ahmed is now an adjunct professor at Other observers warn Can - in many European countries Hussen, 39, a former Somali McGill University, said she ada’s openness on immigration against welcoming migrants. refugee, as Minister of Immi gra - thinks Hussen “seems like a very could have a downside with the “There are limits to diversity tion, Refugees and Citizen ship. good pick,” a choice that not only Trump administration. and there are limits to our toler - The lawyer, human rights sends a message to Somali- “We already have the reputa - ance for multiculturalism,” he activist and former head of the Canadians but also to “new tion as an Angela Merkel-lite said. “We don’t mind the cos - Canadian Somali Congress, is a Canadians who come here in dif - country,” said former CSIS senior mopolitan aspects this has given first-time MP elected in 2015 to ficult circumstances that you can manager and director of Insignis to us but you have to recognize serve the York South-Weston succeed.” Strategic Research David Harris. there are dangers.” Riding, Toronto-area riding. Canada has had a policy of Trudeau raised the number to Thompson said there’s a big “I’m extremely proud of the welcoming refugees that goes more than 300,000 immigrants question hanging over the west - fact that Canadians have always back to the Vietnamese boat peo - last year, “to say nothing of hun - ern world that most of its leaders been welcoming to others, people ple and included the welcoming Art Babych dreds of thousands of temporary refuse to debate: “Can we issue a who have sought asylum,” of thousands of Syrian refugees Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visa holders per year,” he said. “If blanket cheque for tolerance of Hussen told journalists after the last year, she said. “This policy of you add to that the massive our Islamic community? Every shuffle. “I think we have always integration of refugees has always erosity of that of German Syrian migrant intake, anyone in instinct says no we can’t.” been generous with our — by put Canada in a category of being Chancellor Angela Merkel. the United States responsible for Thompson welcomes the opening our doors and opening open.” “Angela Merkel is a coura - continental security might be changes in Canadian society our hearts. We’ve been the better “This is certainly in tune with geous leader who did the right given pause.” regarding religious toleration, and for it.” Pope Francis’ messages, ever thing at the time,” Leahy said. “Moral certainties and high he understands why any move to “I’ve always prided myself as since he became pope, regarding “Obviously there’s a need to ground might be claimed by pri - filter people based on religious a Canadian,” he said. “I’m also specifically migrants,” she said. manage flows and manage inte - vate citizens, but there are issues beliefs is alarming. proud of my heritage but I think While Canada does not face gration in a tighter way just of bringing in people from a state “Even 15 years after 9-11, the two can work together. I think the same problems European because of the sheer numbers and that has its people on a diet of we still don’t know enough to Canada is one of the few coun - countries face with migrants and there are bound to be things that anti-Semitism,” he said. distinguish between Ismailis tries that that can actually happen refugees pouring in from Syria, don’t work.” Leahy said she was struck by and Salafists,” he said. “It’s the so I’m especially proud to be North Africa and other parts of The idea of “welcoming peo - the contrast of the youth and political ideology we have to given this role.” the Middle East, the choice of ple and helping them to integrate diversity of the Trudeau cabinet, target. It’s a matter of survival In contrast, Trump has at vari - Hussen places Trudeau’s policy so they will contribute to the noting it represents “the genera - if we don’t target the political ous times called for a ban on in line with the openness and gen - growth of the economy and of tion of the 40-year-olds” as ideology.” One-third of First Nations lack clean water

Continued from page 1 as such, is a condition for the when most Ontarians have access exercise of other human rights” to clean tap water. Kroetsch stated Six Nations people currently live (30). Kroetsch adds that not using that the diocese would be willing without access to clean water in bottled water is “a small step that to voice its concerns over water Retreats & Workshops the region. According to an inves - we all can make, but if we make use if it were invited to such a The Healing Power of Spiritual Experience tigation by The Globe and Mail , that step it certainly sends a mes - conversation, and that it would Sr. Maureen Conroy, RSM, D.Min. one-third of First Nations people sage to the people who are bot - continue to try to address the Friday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: $55 (includes lunch). are bereft of clean water, a situa - tling the water.” With 126 parish - problem at a grassroots level in Slow Down, Breathe, Be Free! Relieving Stress with es in the Diocese of Hamilton, the meantime. tion that Human Rights Watch Meditation and Prayer — Sr. Maureen Conroy, RSM, D.Min. that step could leave a discernible The water issues in Ontario, notes should be preventable in an Saturday, Jan. 21, 9 a.m. - 4 pm. Cost: $55 (includes lunch) advanced nation like Canada. footprint. specifically with respect to the The Psalms: Opposition to expanding the All the public outcry has gar - Nestlé company, are also present in Prayers Ancient & Modern — Dr. Walter Klaassen bottled water industry has also nered attention from federal and other parts of North America, like Sunday, Jan., 22, 29 & Feb. 5, 2 - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $10 per session come from the Diocese of Hamil - provincial Liberal party officials. Michigan, where the company has Spiritual Direction Supervision: Growing in Self-Awareness ton, which includes Wellington. One of Prime Minister Justin been embroiled in lawsuits over and Freedom - A Contemplative Approach The diocese issued a letter to all its Trudeau’s campaign promises had the damaging volume of water it Sr. Maureen Conroy, RSM, D.Min. parishes criticizing bottled water been to end boil water notices in takes from local water sources for Sunday, Jan. 22, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: $75 (includes lunch) use. Rev. Edward Mahony of First Nations communities within minimal permit fees. Two other Inner Peace in Divine Love: A Spiritual Retreat in Daily Life - Corpus Christi Catholic Church in five years. Now that water politics provinces, British Columbia and 18th Annotation of St. Ignatius of Loyola — Dianne Mantyka, M.Div. Hamilton, Ont., also a member of have come to more privileged Quebec, are also being scrutinized Five evenings, 7 - 9:30 p.m. Two Sundays, Jan. 29, Feb. 26 and three Council of Canadians, has been parts of Ontario, renewed attention for policies on water taking by Thursdays, Feb. 2, 7 & 16. Limited to 8 participants, Register by Jan. 20. known for decades because of his is being placed on commitments to large bottlers. British Columbia For more information: [email protected] Cost: $195 opposition to bottled water, specifi - First Nations water access. charges private water bottlers a The Emotionally Healthy Woman: cally as the industry affects local For its part, in response to the mere $2.25 per million litres of 8 Things to Quit to Change your Life! — Dianne Mantyka farmers. Mahony brought the issue Aberfoyle and Wellington cases, water (before 2016, the water was Four Monday evenings, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Feb. 6, 13, 20 & March 6. Cost: $95 of bottled water to the attention of the Ontario government has pro - free). In Quebec, it costs $70 per Transitions: Journey of Transformation Through Grief and Loss priests at a seminar held by the posed a two-year moratorium on million litres — a significant hike Sarah Donnelly, MDiv. Thursday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. - Sunday, Feb. 12, 1 p.m. diocese last October. new or expanded takings from given the rates at other provinces. Cost: $390 (program, private bedroom and all meals). Since then, says Msgr. Murray groundwater by bottling compa - That higher rate still represents an Moving to Higher Ground: Conversations in a New Key nies, as well as stricter rules for incredibly lucrative deal for private Kroetsch, chancellor of the Dio - Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers, MDiv. Four Thursdays, Feb. 9, March 2 & 23, renewals of existing permits. It companies. cese of Hamilton, “we encouraged April 27, 7 - 9:15 p.m., and three Saturdays, Feb. 18, March 11 & April 8, aims during this time to review The upcoming decisions in all of our parishes to discourage 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (lunch available at $12 each) Cost $280 and research both the state of Ontario may serve as a model for the use of bottled water. I know a Limited enrolment of 12 (attending all sessions strongly recommended). Ontario’s groundwater and public other governments facing similar number of parishes have started to The Five Love Languages: make that shift, using the tap water opinion on its use. conflicts between public and pri - A Valentine’s Day Workshop and not paying for water which in In addition to the permit freeze vate water interests. Until then, Sarah Donnelly. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 5:30 p.m. supper, 6:30 - 9 p.m. workshop. the long run is diminishing the and additional research, Ontario actions on the part of activists and Cost: $35 with supper; $25 workshop only. Premier Kathleen Wynne suggest - faith communities in Ontario natural resource and making it dif - For program details visit www.queenshouse.org ficult for the farmers relying on ed the need for a larger conversa - should inspire others to reconsid - To register please call 306-242-1916 the well water.” tion around the private water er their lifestyles and make their or email: [email protected] Diminishing bottled water use, industry entirely, questioning the voices heard for the sake of our says Kroetsch, is in keeping with consumption of bottled water common home. www.facebook.com/Queens-House-Retreat-and-Renewal-Centre Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ , which challenged the idea of water as a 601 Taylor Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9 tel: (306) 242-1916 fax: (306) 653-5941 commodity and argues, “Access to safe drinkable water is a basic www.prairiemessenger.ca DO YOU NEED A FACILITY FOR: and universal human right, since it Inservices, seminars, workshops, retreats, or any occasion? BOOK QUEEN’S HOUSE TODAY! (306) 242-1925 or [email protected] is essential to human survival and, January 18, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 5 Social justice is seen through the camera’s eye

By Michael Swan A project for the Royal On tario Agnes in the 1930s, historically The Catholic Register Museum featured refugee fami - acting as the major community lies, another one offered a com - centre, helping immigrants find TORONTO (CCN) — The prehensive history of the waves of jobs, helping them with bureau - sword of justice sometimes takes immigration that washed through cratic problems they might have the form of a sliver of light that the Kensington Market neigh - had, finding rents. Long before slips into a camera for just 1/60th bourhood of Toronto. soup kitchens became fashion - of a second. The immigrant experience led able, churches were already doing Since cameras were invented, him to other subjects. that,” he said. they’ve been used to document “I became interested in pho - Pietropaolo’s own history in the lives of poor people and the tographing the working class — photography spans several waves injustice of their conditions. That working class cultures. That led of technology. When he started he tradition lives on in Toronto, in me to the labour movement,” he rolled his own Ilford 400 black and the photographs of Vincenzo said. “I was interested in portray - white film and spent his evenings Pietropaolo. ing and giving a voice — maybe in the darkroom. He has shot “He is a very fine photographer that’s too lofty sounding — but colour negatives, colour slides and who has made a significant contri - certainly documenting people works today with digital cameras bution to documentary photogra - who I felt were vulnerable, who and Photoshop. But the photogra - phy in Canada,” Ann Thomas, were suffering social injustices.” pher isn’t pumping out artifacts of senior curator at the Canadian Catholic Register/Michael Swan Pietropaolo’s concentration on his camera or computer. Photography Institute, told The Vincenzo Pietropaolo social justice kept him close to the Pietropaolo’s job is to tell a story. Catholic Register via email. church. The Harvest Pilgrims pro - Film develops in a darkroom “Vince’s work has and always will tions, documenting the immigrant gradually maturing until he can ject was financed by the United in a few minutes. A story devel - enjoy a critical place in the tradi - and working class experience. present an entire history. Food and Commercial Workers, ops through a lifetime. tion of Canadian documentary “Photography was always in “In looking back on my work, who have argued that migrant agri - “What a great testament,” said photography.” my heart and I was photograph - I realize that much of my work cultural workers should have the O’Connor. “To say you can apply The role of photography in ing all along,” he said. “Then I has a religious connotation to it,” right to join a union, but also by the your passion in your life and at social justice has a long history. thought I should either stop think - said Pietropaolo. “My migrant Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters the end of the day, when you’ve In the 1880s, Dutch immigrant ing about photography and con - workers, I called them Harvest of Providence, who believe the breathed your last, you’ve created Jacob Riis used a camera to centrate more on my planning Pilgrims. They’re like pilgrims church is called to minister to any - a body of work that lasts.” expose appalling conditions the career or, you know, one or the who come every year for harvest. one who is poor faced on Manhattan’s lower other. So I gave up my job.” Pilgrimage, of course, is associat - poor, alone and east side for his book How the He put years of work into his ed with religion. But in this case, human. When Other Half Lives . Just before the 2009 book, Harvest Pilgrims , these guys are pilgrims to their Pietropaolo First World War Canadian pho - documenting the lives of migrant workplace.” went looking tographer Arthur Goss document - labourers who work on Ontario The other theme that comes up for places ed similar conditions in Toronto’s farms. His 2006 book, Not Paved over and over again is migration, where migrant Irish slums. In the 1950s, Cana - With Gold , shows us the lives of displacement and life in exile. His workers gather, dian photographer Richard Italian immigrants in the 1970s. latest book, Ritual , presents a 50- he found them Harrington documented famine Celebration of Resistance brings year history of the Good Friday in churches. and the devastation of Inuit cul - together three years worth of pro - procession through Toronto’s The same ture. In 1992, Andrew Stawicki test photographs from the early Little Italy neighbourhood. is true of his launched his PhotoSensitive col - years of Premier Mike Harris’ “I started photographing this as work docu - lective of crusading photogra - “Common Sense Revolu tion” in part of an immigrant identity,” menting the phers by documenting the home - Ontario. Invisible No More pre - Pietropaolo said. “Before you can lives of per - less and the poor for Toronto’s sents the ordinary lives of people integrate anyone you have to manent immi - Daily Bread Food Bank. with Down syndrome, autism and accept their immigrant identity. . . . grants. When 18-year-old Pietropaolo other disabilities. The church is oftentimes the most “Histori - began photographing his Italian “You know there’s the tortoise visible part of your immigrant cally, churches immigrant neighbourhood of and the hare story? He’s the tor - identity.” have always Toronto in the 1960s, he didn’t toise,” Loyalist College photojour - As a boy born in Italy, who been at the know he was stepping into a long nalism program co-ordinator Frank grew up in Toronto, whose parents forefront of tradition of photojournalism on O’Connor said of Pietropaolo. “We were working class, Pietropaolo helping immi - behalf of the poor. The poor were live in a world of sexy, image- doesn’t document immigrant grants with all just his neighbours and friends moment, entertainment, pizzaz — experience from the outside. sorts of pro - and he was learning photography. all that sort of stuff. But documen - “Being an immigrant marked gramming. I By the time he was 40, tary photography isn’t necessarily me. My experience in Canada is can speak Pietropaolo knew what he was do - like that. . . . The strength of his from the point of view of an im - from experi - ing when he walked away from a work is that he has documented not migrant,” he said. “That marked ence with the successful career as a city planner the moments but the existence of my life as a photographer. I started Italian church in Toronto. As a freelance photog - people.” photographing the immigrant expe - in Toronto. It Photo courtesy of Vincenzo Pietropaolo rapher, he sought work with Almost all of Pietropaolo’s rience — not just the Italian immi - was the Italian DOCUMENTING LIVES — An apple picker from unions and social justice organiza - projects have stretched over years, grant experience but other groups.” parish of St. Jamaica, working in Thornbury, Ont., 1987. Bishops address charitable tax status concerns with CRA

By Deborah Gyapong tation last fall aimed at clarifying cy’s (CRA) categories and defini - and social solidarity or the pro - also recognized as not being lim - the rules governing political tions leave religious organizations motion of the common good and ited to the dissemination of reli - OTTAWA (CCN)—Canada’s activity by charities, but noted the at times finding themselves “mis - respect for human life do not gious beliefs but includes related Catholic bishops have raised con - time period was still too short for understood, restricted and even ‘advance religion’ and so do not activities, such as addressing cerns with Canada’s revenue min - the thousands of religious chari - unrecognizable,” the CCCB presi - meet the CRA definition of ‘reli - social, moral, and ethical issues,” ister in December on how the gov - ties involved. dent wrote. gious activities.’ ” wrote the Council’s legal affairs ernment classifies some religious “We would note that the amount “Be it through a parish, a reli - Crosby said he and his brother director Philip A.S. Milley. charitable activities as political. of time provided was insufficient gious congregation, a synagogue, bishops agree registered charities Milley said fostering public “. . . there is always a special for our own needs,” Crosby wrote. a mosque, or a temple, the activi - should not be engaged in partisan awareness campaigns is not the need to address the current and “We would suspect this is also the ties of various religious traditions political activities, but “not all same thing as charitable work often profound misunderstandings case for a number of other religious encompass worship and prayer; charities agree whether or to what religious charities do when ad - about religion in present-day charities, at least those with which spiritual, moral and social teach - extent there should be limitations dressing social, moral and ethical Canadian society, and which in we are acquainted and with which ing; and community engagement or restrictions to their participa - issues. “This permitted activity turn seem to be reflected in various we collaborate — not only other and service, including both per - tion in a democratic society.” warrants independent commentary efforts to impose categories and Catholic organizations and Chris - sonal involvement and interaction Crosby also urged CRA to find by the CRA which will re move definitions that many religious tian groups, but also involving with others, together with efforts language for its policies that ordi - unnecessary ambiguity and not charities find inadequate and even other religious traditions.” to improve and transform soci - nary people without legal training dissuade charities from speaking unfair,” president of the Canadian While “advancement of reli - ety,” he wrote, stressing the all- can understand. to relevant issues, as they are per - Conference of Catholic Bishops gion” is one of the criteria for char - encompassing nature of religion. Many of the bishops’ concerns mitted by law.” Bishop Douglas Crosby of Hamil - itable activity, along with “the relief “The Catholic Bishops of are also reflected in a Dec. 9 let - The Council also urged the ton wrote in a five-page Dec. 22, of poverty,” “the advancement of Canada would respectfully dis - ter to the Director General of CRA to use clear language, and 2016, letter to Minister of National education,” and “certain other pur - agree with instances in the past CRA’s Charities Directorate, clear presentations of the rules, Revenue Dian Lebouthillier. poses that benefit the community in when the CRA ruled that activi - Tony Manconi, from the Cana di - noting most charities that engage Crosby said the CCCB wel - a way the courts have said is chari - ties involving social engagement, an Council of Christian Charities. in political activity are aware of comed the government’s consul - table,” the Canada Revenue Agen - ethical education, peace building “Advancement of religion is them and abide by them. 6 Prairie Messenger LOCAL NEWS January 18, 2017 Nathanael now more relevant, less theoretical

By James Buchok generation, is not like the first The team estimates that up to one,” said Fitzgerald. “Nathanael 650 persons have experienced WINNIPEG — The Nathanael has continued evolving to meet the Nathanael — and, adds Laviolette, adult faith formation experience challenges of the Christian in the “the drop-out rate has been mini - begins in September in the Arch- contemporary world.” Fitzgerald mal.” A number of Nathanael diocese of Winnipeg, the eighth holds a master’s in pastoral studies graduates will be speaking in time since 1987 the program has from Loyola College in Chicago churches about their Nathanael been offered “to deepen one’s and is participating in her fourth experiences in February. Christian Catholic identity and the generation of the Nathanael pro - There is no set expectations call to missionary discipleship.” gram. of what the program will The three-year course takes “Religious education has achieve for the participants, “or place on nine weekends per year changed,” Fitzgerald said. “People what they’ll do with it,” said from May to September at St. used to be steeped in Catholicism, Laviolette. In general, she said, Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg, but not anymore.” Nathanaelites “become evange - with one live-in retreat experience Over the years, Nathanael has lizers.” each year at St. Benedict’s Retreat gained more and more of a pres - The application deadline is and Conference Centre just north ence in the archdiocese, said April 14, with 100 spaces avail - of Winnipeg. Laviolette. “The process has able. Interested persons will be The theme for year one is become more relevant and less required to fill out a request for Personal Encounter; year two, theoretical. It once had a reputa - an interview. The form is avail - Called to the Church; and year tion of being intellectual with a lot able on the Nathanael Winnipeg James Buchok three, Sent into the World. The of studying. Our candidates are the website, www.nathanaelwpg.ca NATHANAEL TEAM — From left: Rev. Darrin Gurr, Sister Cathy experience involves liturgy, spiri - best advertisement.” Laviolette or may be picked up at one of Laviolette, Helena Fitzgerald and Rev. Geoffrey Angeles. tuality, human growth, morals and holds a master’s in spirituality the Come and See events. values, sacred Scripture, prayer from the University of San Fran- Interviews will take place in and discernment, ritual and cele - cisco and has been part of four April and May. There is a cost Chaldean parish bids bration and ministry of presence. generations of the Nathanael per person of $425 while other Organizers have arranged two course. costs are shared by the Arch - farewell to pastor Come and See events so that Gurr, who has been part of diocese of Winnipeg and the par - everyone from the “just curious” two generations of Nathanael, ticipant’s parish. to the “highly interested” can ask said it strives to “equip people The name Nathanael refers to By Kiply Lukan Yaworski “We never imagined we would questions, find out about the pro - for Christian witness in the mod - the Gospel of John 1:48, when come so far in such a short time,” gram and meet the team and some ern world. How do I reconcile all Nathanael asks Jesus, “How do you SASKATOON — A farewell said Rick Istifo, Grand Knight of of those who have experienced of this in my life?” Gurr said the know me?” Jesus answers, “I saw celebration was held Jan. 7 for the Sacred Heart Knights of Nathanael. upcoming course in particular is you while you were still under the Rev. Sabah Kamora who has Columbus Council. The Come and See events are a response “to the call of Pope fig tree before Philip called you.” served as pastor of Sacred Heart March 11 from 9:30 a.m. to noon Francis to prepare ourselves for Yet minutes earlier Nathanael Chaldean Catholic Church in at St. John XXIII Church, and the work of the new evangeliza - spoke of Jesus of Nazareth saying Saskatoon for the past seven years. March 19, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at tion.” Both Gurr and Angeles “Nazareth! Can anything good Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, the St. Mary’s Cathedral. hold master’s degrees in liturgi - come from there?” eparchial bishop of the Chaldean The team consists of Helena cal studies from the University “Nathanael is a seeker,” said Catholic Eparchy of Mar Addai Fitzgerald, Sister Cathy Laviolette, of Notre Dame and both have Gurr. “He is under a fig tree, a bib - (which includes all of Canada’s Rev. Geoffrey Angeles and Rev. been in volved in two previous lical image of where one goes to Chaldean Catholics) has appoint - Darrin Gurr. generations of the Nathanael seek wisdom. He is contemplating ed Kamora to a parish in Surrey, “This Nathanael, the eighth program. his direction.” B.C., effective Jan. 15. Kamora’s contributions to the Saskatoon Chaldean Catholic ‘There is reason to live in hope’: Bolen parish were celebrated during the farewell, which was held at the By Frank Flegel Cathedral of the Holy Family. A slide show played during the cele - bration illustrated some of the REGINA — In a chaotic many ministries, projects and world filled with violence, suf - events that have taken place in the Kiply Yaworski fering and death, as people of parish under Kamora’s leadership. faith we dare to believe that life Rev. Sabah Kamora During that time (2009-2016), is fundamentally good — a the church building purchased on As shepherd of his people, blessing — and there is reason to Landsdowne Avenue has been Kamora came to the community live in hope, “and in this holy paid off. Renovations and im - “dedicated to one thing and one season,” Arch bishop Donald provements to the building have thing only — (to) build Christ’s Bolen continued in his New also been undertaken, including church,” said Istifo, describing the Year’s homily, “that hope is cen - artwork in the worship space and priest’s dedication to his work and tred on the birth of a child who a statue of the Sacred Heart in to his parishioners, with a special came to us in poverty and humil - front of the church. concern for the youth, and homi - ity with a message of love and Ministries offered through the lies that would “shake up” the con - forgiveness. parish include choirs, St. Narsay gregation. “We will never forget “We live in a time of political School and an annual church these days.” instability and confusion,” said camp. Many newcomers have been The farewell program also Bolen. “To flourish on this earth, welcomed to the parish and hun - included choir members who we need to reach a maturity — dreds of children have participated presented a song and a gift, and reflected in economic and politi - in catechism classes and received a presentation by parish pastoral cal priorities and decision-making Frank Flegel the sacraments during his time as council chair Ayad Garges. Gifts — that would correspond to our ARCHBISHOP’S LEVEE — Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen greet - pastor. A Knights of Columbus to Kamora from the Knights of technology and the ways in which ed parishioners from across the archdiocese during the annual levee council has been established in the Columbus included a Sacred our world is changing, becoming Jan. 1. parish and community outreach Heart council shirt and a ring. more interconnected.” initiated — such as participation in Rev. Hani Joro has been He quoted Pope Francis’ mes - New years Day is also a time the archbishop and welcome his Folkfest and in the annual ecu - appointed as the new pastor for sage: “All of us want peace. to look at the past year in order to return to his home diocese where menical justice and peace way of Sacred Heart Chaldean Parish in Many people build it day by day prepare for the new, and Bolen he grew up and began his journey the cross through downtown Saskatoon, and is expected to through small gestures and acts; asked everyone to take some in the priesthood. Saskatoon on Good Friday. arrive in mid-February. many of them are suffering, yet quiet time in their day to reflect The levee has its roots in the patiently persevere in their efforts on the many blessings of the past 1600s when Louis XIV greeted to be peacemakers. In 2017, may year for us and our communities, his male subjects in his bed we dedicate ourselves prayerfully noting particularly the violence chambers shortly after rising. The and actively to banishing violence existing in other parts of the practice spread throughout from our hearts, words and deeds, world. Europe but became a formal court and to becoming non-violent peo - The traditional Archbishop’s practice in England. It spread to Small packages ple and to building non-violent New Years Levee followed in the Canada where Governors General Small Packages welcomes prepaid ads re parish events. communities that care for our Holy Rosary Cathedral auditori - and Lieutenant Governors made Rates: $17.65 for the first 60 words, $4.75 for an additional common home. ‘Nothing is um. The mass and levee attracted the levee a New Years Day tradi - impossible if we turn to God in lay people, consecrated men and tion. It has since become a mili - 25 words. Second and subsequent insertions half-price. prayer. Everyone can be an arti - women from all over the archdio - tary tradition and has been adopt - Please include cheque with ad and mail to: Small Packages, san of peace.’ ” cese who came to meet and greet ed by other community leaders. Prairie Messenger, Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 January 18, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 7 Don’t skip the dishes: making connections is important

By Edna Froese house. Some of the aforemen - tioned small children were now Despite my title, I have no gangly pre-teens or even teen- intention of weighing in on agers, with voracious appetites Saskatchewan political issues. and a talent for disappearing Instead, in the aftermath of holi - when the food was gone. My plan day feasting and gathering of for handling mealtime chores was guests, I am preoccupied with hatched as much out of my dis - recollections of previous gather - like for a crowded kitchen as it ings and feasts. So varied they was a bid for equality of labour. are, so often memorable for Beside the plates on the long food events that no one planned, or for table, I put a job jar — no exemp - plans that did not unfold as tions allowed except for the expected. Either case has yielded youngest children. I appointed family stories now told and retold my mother-in-law to help me with some relish and only a little with left-over food; all other exaggeration. tasks, from minding the little ones Concerning one occasion in the sandbox to schlepping out when two sisters-in-law were basins of hot soapy water and tak - eager to show off their still ing clean dishes back inside, were untried skills learned in Chinese determined by the luck of the cooking classes, I should proba - draw. The jobs weren’t all real bly not say too much. I just wish “work”; one slip of paper allowed someone had thought to take a the bearer to have a nap under a picture of the decidedly non-com - shady tree, another gave permis - mercial small kitchen. Even after sion to explore my library in many family gatherings of undisturbed peace. And Lady increasing size as weddings and Luck was kind: that Grandpa got births brought in new members, I the nap assignment seemed only Edna Froese cannot recall a more daunting or right and fair. While a few DON’T SKIP THE DISHES — “Conversations just happen” during routine chores such as doing the dishes. more precariously stacked accu - attempted to swap jobs, it was all mulation of dirty dishes, pots, and in good fun. out a dishwasher. Con vers a tions There is something unbuttoned our star.” Getting to know that pans. Fortunately, the whining of What I remember now is that a just happen over routine chores that about tackling a chaotic kitchen, other person — guest, family small children who had waited shy nephew paired with an aunt don’t get going as easily when peo - piled with the detritus of a fine member, stranger — happens too long for a supper that they for washing and rinsing dishes ple are seated in a tidy livingroom, dinner. Sure it’s work, but in the more easily when hands are busy then refused to eat were drowned got into an animated discussion and the temptation to withdraw into rhythm of making things clean with ordinary work. That, inci - out by peals of adult laughter dur - about the coming school year, and a book or get attached to a screen is again, people talk, and since dentally, is often when trouble - ing the marathon dish-washing that the usual teasing typical of much lessened. they’re looking at the dish cloth some topics can be discussed. that then followed (nary a dish - my husband’s family was this A former colleague, who gave in hand or scanning the cupboard Which brings me back to Skip washer in sight back then). time spread out more equally generously of her time to stu - for free space, they’re not think - the Dishes — the company that Almost as memorable was a among all generations. Important dents, supervising the student-run ing about whether to make eye makes it easy for people to order summer backyard barbecue at our connections were made — all college newspaper and planning contact or not, or what topic to in food (presumably with dispos - without filling immense bags of cultural events such as literary introduce next. Their hands are able plates and cutlery, hopefully garbage. evenings or music talent nights, busy, their bodies are moving nat - biodegradable) and not deal with Froese taught English litera - The experience certainly always insisted that the best way urally. Of course, I’m assuming a dishes, not while preparing the ture at St. Thomas More College strengthened our resolve to keep to help students form long-lasting certain basic civility here. In a food, not after eating it. Quite in Saskatoon for many years until paper plates and plastic cutlery out bonds of friendship was to make family where constant criticism apart from environmental impli - her retirement. She currently of our household, even during sure that they had work to do and pickiness is the norm, this cations here, I’m bothered by the works part time as academic edi - short-notice gatherings like funer - together, even if it was just fold - method of making connections assumption embodied in the com - tor while relishing the freedom to als, when time seems too precious ing napkins or cleaning up after a does not work well. Doing dishes pany name: dishes are clearly read and write for pleasure. to spend doing dishes, with or with - social event. does not resolve dysfunctionality. something to be avoided. At However, as anyone who has times, I agree, that may be a good ever been part of the colossal idea, even recommended. All I’m cleanup following a natural disas - saying is that the more we skip ter can testify, people who work the dishes — and the loving together to do the “right thing” labour of making the food, shar - build community. And as poet ing it, serving it on real plates and William Stafford, in “A Ritual to bowls (which can be special in Read to One Another,” pointed themselves, laden with memories out, “If you don’t know the kind of important relationships) — the of person I am / and I don’t know more we sidestep spaces in which the kind of person you are / a pat - we can get to know each other tern that others made may prevail enough to refuse to let others in the world / and following the make different “pattern(s) . . . wrong god home we may miss prevail in the world.” Canada’s Oblates have shared their spirit at home and abroad foror more than Battle continues in a century. WWouldould yyouou llikeike ttoo kknownow mmoreore aaboutbout the some parts of country MMissionaryiissionarssionary OOblatesblates ooff MMaryary IImmaculatemmaculate aandnd their mmissionission wworksorks in CCanadaanada and aroundarooundund the wworld?orld? Continued from page 3 able to live and work together.” “We already know a lot of HHaave you ever experiencienced ple who wonder what the future Chris tians have left,” he said. this missionary spirit? holds for them, Des Aulniers said. “People have to come back and to “The battle continues in some rebuild.” TheThe OblateOblate Spirit ppublicationublicationtion is distributeddistributed ve ve times per year.year. ReadRead parts of the country,” he said. Development and Peace is also Turkish forces with the help of the working with refugees in Leba non the latestlatest about OblatesOblates buildinguilding homes forforor the poor anda caringcaring United States are trying to take and Jordan. Nearly eight million foror the sick in Peru.Peru. A vibrantvibranant teamteam of missionariesmissionaries in KenyaKenya activelyactively back Raqqa, where ISIS has its people have been displaced within supportpport the educaeducationttionion of childrchildren,en, empoempoweringweringing the people thrthroughough headquarters. “In some areas there Syria, while 4.5 million refugees is still not access to humanitarian live outside. projectsects andand theirtheir most most recent ercenent jourjourneyney with the MMaasai.aasai. aid.” Half of the country’s 22 mil - On the bright side, Des Aulniers lion people have been uprooted re interested in receeivingiving future complimentary Oblate Spirit noted the Orthodox were able to because of the conflict, said Hétu. ons (we do not share our mailing list), please conontact Diane celebrate Christmas mass in eastern Des Aulniers said Devel op - toll-free phone: Aleppo for the first time since ment and Peace is committed to rebels took over. projects in Syria for the next three 1-866-432-6264 “We have to work to maintain to five years, with the main focus or by e-mail: [email protected] this plurality in Syria,” he said. “It being humanitarian aid until was one of the beauties of this peace allows for more develop - country, Christians and Muslims ment assistance. 8 Prairie Messenger CHURCH AT HOME January 18, 2017 Every day, dogs prove they are better than we are

what’s what (or the other way around), sometimes so vigorously that I push my arm into the tussle Around the to keep the play from becoming a fray. If Larraine and I get into a Kitchen Table verbal spar, Finney jumps and licks at us until we break down in laughter, while Ruby observes and Lloyd Ratzlaff no doubt remembers having done just the same, and willing now to let Finney deal with us as he may. Six-month-old Finnegan is a day these two West Highland Think of the gaps they fill in handful of soft fur. He’s an affec - Terriers prove what their veteri - from our human blabbering. tionate, gung-ho little guy who narian says matter-of-factly: No duplicity in the canine lan - eats my shorts on the laundry “Dogs are better than we are.” guage, and very little ambiguity. room floor and looks up with Every day two scoops of the They talk much with their tails earnest eyes as if thinking he’s got same food are received like manna (tail-tales, you might say). And lucky again until I catch him. And from heaven, tails mad with grati - with their arresting eyes! Larraine Ratzlaff Ruby, nearing four years, has eyes tude, never a grumble like the chil - Sometimes Ruby’s eyes especially DIVINITIES — Older and wiser Ruby (left) and little Finn provide joy already wise to the ways of the dren of Israel nor hint of a turned- say, Loht die wehte — a Menno - for their human companions. screwed-up human world. Every up nose. Every day inside the nite term of dismissal I heard as a condo a ball stays put at the end of kid, “Let yourself know,” go and teaching an ESL class, the jazz towered over me on their hind Ratzlaff is a former minister, the hall in case some human wants become wise. And Finney’s eyes channel plays Chet Baker’s legs — would they say “Good counsellor, and university lectur - to play; and outdoors, these dear from his tilted head seem often to “What’ll I Do” as I play with my boy”? or “Good god, boy, will er. He has authored three books of creatures prove they love snow the be inquiring whether we’re too own lines. Ruby lies slumbering you never learn”? literary non-fiction published by way cats love catnip, plowing and busy to play. A trip to the country - on the floor at my feet, Finney up Who is it that forgives seventy- Thistledown Press, and edited an rolling in it, the winter air like jet side with these puppies easily near my head on the back of the times-seven ? It’s Ruby and anthology of seniors’ writings fuel at their nostrils. cures my daily urban dreads. Back couch — one pup below, one Finney! (how I wish it were me published by READ Saskatoon. Then “Tweedledum and where I grew up, they sniff around above. too). They triumph non-combat - He has been short-listed for three Tweedledee agree to have a bat - the cemetery, leave deposits If I am in any sense a god to ively over me, I am disarmed, Saskatchewan Books Awards, won tle.” They go at it tooth and nail between graves, and happily head these dogs, I grant them free they make me repent of my two Saskatchewan Writers Guild and no one’s hurt, only once in for the car to wait — plainly as fin - indulgence. How I tower over human ways. I had expected pets, literary non-fiction awards, and awhile a conk on a noggin and a ished with my ancestors as I them and their beseeching eyes, and was given divinities instead. served on local, provincial, and little yelp, then it’s back to the remain attached to them. yet to me they’re bearers of gifts They are better than I. So I national writing organization playfight — Ruby shows Finney By evening we’re back in the as wonderful as any the wise men have named them 1-A and A-1, boards. who’s who and he shows her city, in our condo. Larraine’s out brought to Christ. What if they the best and the best. No misogyny in song about broken relationships and taking responsibility

By Caitlin Ward thinking a lot about the words. them is patchy at best. I’ve to stay a vegetarian for four Positions have got to be nuanced They reminded me of a rather decided to no longer eat choco - years is because I decided early and considered to hold weight I can’t get “Dang!” out of my grand pronouncement I made late at least half a dozen times in on that avoiding animal products long term. head. This song has been in there shortly before Christmas: I was the last two years on account of entirely was going to be practi - That’s why this “not listening for weeks. I’m not even sure no longer going to listen to how little of it is produced ethi - cally impossible. I have compro - to misogynistic music” thing how I heard it, but it’s been music that was misogynistic. cally, and the fact that I’ve made mised when situations necessi - confuses me sometimes. Most Dang Listening to music that objecti - the decision that many times tated it. And also, vegan leather blatantly sexist music annoys me fies and demeans women is tacit tells you how well I’m doing. is stupid. Rabbit fur is warm, far too much for me to want to Mac Miller featuring acceptance of that behaviour, What it comes down to, I sup - durable, and renewable. For as listen to it. There’s a good chunk Anderson .Paak and I was going to have none of pose, is that all-or-nothing deci - long as I have not eaten meat, I of the 1970s that have vanished it any longer. sions tend to make you crazy have also walked around with from all of my most played lists, I make pronouncements like more than they lead to positive the flesh of dead bunnies on my for example. I’m not sure why I stuck in my head. I start singing this regularly, and my record on changes in your life or the world. feet — I must hold my downfalls listened to Led Zeppelin in the the hook once or twice an hour managing to follow through on One of the reasons I’ve managed in tension with my ideals. first place, and there’s only so some days, and I’ve nearly many times I can hear Ronnie memorized the entire rap despite Lane be annoyed that a woman HOOK Kiss me, touch me, tease me, me excited the fact that, before today, I’d is asleep when he wants to have God, the devil, who is who? never looked up the words. sex with her before I think, “You I can’t keep on losing you Tryna get through to you because Which, if you’ve read them know what? I don’t really need Over complications already, you may think are kind to listen to the Faces.” Gone too soon HOOK of iffy. But there’s this other collec - Wait, we was just hangin’ It’s not the words that have tion of songs that are more com - I can’t seem to hold onto, dang Well, you can’t go away girl, I’mma need you drawn me into this song, though. plex than that: Jidenna almost The people that know me best Play your games like they my ticket to an Ivy It’s the sound of it. Anderson invariably rapping a single sexist The key that I won’t forget, too soon league school .Paak sounds like a husky Curtis line in the middle of a song of I can’t keep on losing you (x2) Won’t get hall of fame dick from a minor league Mayfield when he sings the his that I love; a narrator in a dude hook, and the music underneath Kate Nash song talking down Yeah, yeah, yeah I seek pussy, other people need food is somewhere between a throw - another woman when she’s done How many mistakes do it take ’til you leave Only got a little time, I ain’t tryna spend it back and brand new: a 70s-style nothing to deserve it except be When I’m left with my hand and my face all red Arguing about who ain’t giving who attention funk instrumental that loops like another woman; Leonard Cohen And a face looking at you like (Wait) Starting up the engine, need to reboot a newer track, old school horns saying you’ve touched her per - I know I ain’t a saint, if it ain’t too late, well I seek pussy, other people need food and brand new synths. The music fect body with your mind when I can’t keep on losing you, I run away so fast And I use every bone in my body video is brightly coloured and as a woman yourself you’ve no Know my heart like gold but it break like glass Keep on holding on to your trust imaginative, replaying a scenario doubt her real (not perfect) body Knowing shit get old when I act so young I know you don’t want nothin’ to do with me twice over the course of the song, has been touched by many things Baby you so cold, never had no sun But just one more time, let’s make love only the second time everyone in besides your mind and often not You don’t wanna grow up, yeah that shit no fun One more time it ain’t much the background is a professional in a way that she wanted, so So when I get home I’mma give you some F___ ‘em all, let’s be us, summer’s soft sweetness dancer. There’s much to love leave your mind out of it and Make you feel like woo, when I hit that drum Call you late drunk, you hang up about the whole thing. stop thinking she’s the Virgin Yeah the dick ain’t free, I don’t give no f___ What a mess I made us, sense, I make none When you listen to a song Mary simply because you don’t Yeah it’s complicated, got you frustrated It’s complicated, keeping me up late that often, though, you do end up understand her. Get home late and you don’t trust me baby Can’t concentrate, you’re always on my brain That last one’s the song You way too drunk, you don’t know what I’m If it’s love then why the f___’s it come with pain? “Suzanne,” by the way, if you’re saying I just think that’s some bullshit Ward is a Saskatoon-based not familiar with Cohen. You can drive my car, don’t drive me crazy OK, it’s seems inviting, trust me, she’s a titan freelance writer who spends her At this point, you may be Complicated, got you frustrated This week she like him, next week they fightin’ days (and most nights) working thinking if I have that much ire Every single night I keep you waiting Need protection, your dress is bulletproof at a small Catholic college. Her over a Cohen song as gentle as You say you don’t care, is what you saying You safe with me girl less eloquent thoughts can be “Suzanne” I must have a deeply found at http://www.twitter. We both know that’s some bullshit com/newsetofstrings Okay, we be fighting, we be reuniting HOOK — SONG , page 10 January 18, 2017 ARTS & CULTURE Prairie Messenger 9 Looking back at another great year of documentaries

wise to let the native people, hunters, miners, loggers and con - struction workers speak for them - Screenings selves instead of falling into a pre - dictable polemic. And the stun - & Meanings ning landscapes play a captivating role in their own right.

Gerald Schmitz Honourable mentions: Indigenous peoples are on the More documentaries are being - 95 murder trial, shocking acquit - frontlines of debates over environ - made than ever before. Today I’m tal and sorrowful aftermath. The mental protection and resource headed to the Sundance festival year 2016 saw two excellent pro - development in many parts of the which is a major global showcase ductions recounting the events that world. When Two Worlds Collide for some of the best. Last year I created a media firestorm, both received a Sundance special jury saw well over a hundred docs and made for television. The FX chan - award for its dramatic story of keep finding out about others. I’ve nel presented a dramatization, what has been unfolding in the yet to see Raoul Peck’s I Am Not “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” as Peruvian Amazon. Your Negro or Ava DuVernay’s part of its American Crime Story The worst refugee and migrant 13th , both multiple award winners series. Even better and more com - situation since the Second World that speak powerfully to a racially plete was this definitive nearly War will continue to be a major charged atmosphere that seems eight-hour documentary treatment documentary subject. Especially more relevant than ever. directed by Ezra Edelman. Beyond ESPN Films informative is the two-hour ex - Non-fiction films are making a masterful exploration of the amination “Exodus” produced for O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA — In this 1980 photo, seen in the docu - waves and what they reveal serves many details in question, it speaks the PBS program Frontline mentary O.J.: Made in America , O.J. Simpson returns to Rich Stadium a critical purpose in what’s been to the continuing issues of race for his induction into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/front - called a dangerously “post-truth” and class in a divided America. line/film/exodus/) which first historical moment. Even if few get awe-inspiring and challenging Sonita aired in December. a significant theatrical release, the Fire at Sea (Italy/France images. Cate Blanchett narrates (Germany/Switzerland/Iran Violence in the form of guns, good news is that more are receiv - http://www.fireatsea.com/) the 90-minute feature; Brad Pitt http://www.wmm.com/sonita/) police and prisons was a hot topic ing television or online broadcast Gianfranco Rosi’s striking the 40-minute IMAX version. Winner of the Sundance jury for American filmmakers in 2016 through various networks (includ - observation of the impact of the and audience awards for world — among the titles: Under the ing the CBC and its dedicated doc - refugee crisis on the tiny Italian After Spring (U.S. cinema documentary, director Gun, Newtown, Midsummer in island of Lampedusa, awarded http://www.afterspringfilm.com/) Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami draws Newtown, Do Not Resist, Solitary, the top “golden bear” prize at Co-directors Steph Ching and an engaging profile of a spirited The Return. Expect more in 2017. the Berlin film festival, pro - Ellen Martinez present an eye- young woman, Sonita Alizadeh, Gleason is a deeply moving vides a window into these opening perspective of life inside growing up as an Afghan refugee account of a former American urgent and compelling events Jordan’s Zaatari camp, the world’s in Iran. An aspiring rap musician, football star and his family cop - that is less about dire statistics largest concentration of Syrian she fends off traditional family ing with the ravages of ALS and than the intimate human sto - refugees with a population of over pressures for an arranged marriage turning their ordeal into some - ries behind the headlines. Rosi 80,000. We get to put names and in order to pursue her dreams. thing positive for others. Life, spent many months on the faces to the daily struggles of Given the opportunity to pursue Animated is a remarkable family Mediterranean island includ - refugee families and to the efforts studies in America, her refugee story of the ingenious way that a ing among the families of of international aid officials, local story stands as a positive example severely autistic son learns to longtime residents. We see the workers, and volunteer benefac - of female empowerment overcom - communicate through the years reality being experienced tors responding to the daunting ing societal obstacles. and in the transition to adult - through their eyes as well as circumstances created by Syria’s hood. in the challenges faced by the long-running civil war. It should Weiner (U.S.) flood of desperate migrants be required viewing for those Directed by Josh Kriegman and who survive the perilous spreading anti-refugee fears. Elyse Steinberg, this penetrating crossing by sea. look at the rise and mostly falls of Before the Flood (U.S. disgraced former New York City Tower (U.S. http://www.tow - https://www.beforetheflood.com/) Democratic Congressman Anthony erdocumentary.com/) Directed by Fisher Stevens Weiner took the Sundance U.S. Keith Maitland’s extraordi - and narrated by Leonardo documentary jury prize. The rather nary account of the seminal DiCaprio, this globe-spanning aptly named Weiner brought him - INTO THE INFERNO — This is the 1966 mass shooting at the exploration of the effects of self down by inviting a notorious poster for Werner Herzog’s documen - University of Texas in Austin anthropogenic climate change “sexting” scandal — repeatedly, tary Into the Inferno , available to has received much deserved and the ecological threats from including during a mayoral bid watch on Netflix. praise since claiming major environmental pollution doesn’t after resigning his congressional awards at the South by hesitate to call out the skeptics seat. In granting the filmmakers umentary channel) and via stream - Southwest festival last March. and deniers including incoming unprecedented behind-the-scenes ing services like Netflix. You can Seamlessly blending archival U.S. president Donald Trump. It access, he also can’t seem to con - also check out the films’ websites footage and interviews with strik - may not sway ears that are deaf to trol his urges, to the exasperation for information on video releases ing animated recreations using the such warnings but, as the over - of his wife Huma Abedin who also and other screening possibilities. technique of digital rotoscoping, whelming evidence accumulates, happens to be a longtime top aide From 2016 viewings here are the film makes a powerful state - the case against taking action to Hillary Clinton. The damaging 10 that most impressed along ment about the phenomenon of grows weaker by the day. political postscript to this docu - with some honourable mentions. gun violence that, a half-century mentary exposé is that during the later, haunts America more than Into the Inferno (U.K./Austria 2016 presidential election cam - O.J.: Made in America (U.S. ever. http://www.tiff.net/films/into-the- paign, when Abedin finally sepa - http://www.espn.com/30for30/ojs inferno) rated from him, the FBI’s investi - impsonmadeinamerica/) Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey Available on Netflix, master gation into hers and Weiner’s Gerald Schmitz Much has been written about (France/Germany/U.S. filmmaker Werner Herzog teams emails became linked to Clinton’s SONITA — Sonita Alizadeh the story of former football star http://www.wildbunch.biz/movie/ up with volcanologist Clive email woes. How ironic for this attends the premiere of the docu - O.J. Simpson, his sensational 1994 voyage-of-time-lifes-journey/) Oppenheimer for a fascinating minor and much-ridiculed serial mentary Sonita at Sundance Reclusive Texas director examination of volcanic activity sexual impropriety to have become 2016. The film is a profile of Terrence Malick is legendary as a on our largely molten planet and one of The Donald’s trump cards! Sonita growing up as an Afghan cinematic poet whose luminous the mythologies and bizarre refugee in Iran. Are you screen meditations accompanied beliefs which have arisen from Koneline: Our Land Beautiful by brooding voiceovers will try such eruptions. Among the (Canada) https://www.canadawild On a bright note, kids and Moving? the patience of some viewers. strangest is the role of a revered productions.com/film/koneline/) adults will marvel at Otto Please let us know a Here he tackles nothing less than volcano in the foundational pro - Awarded best Canadian feature Bell’s The Eagle Huntress , month in advance. the mother of all subjects: the ori - paganda of North Korea’s totali - at Toronto’s HotDocs festival, which follows the exploits of a Write to: gins and meaning of the universe, tarian hereditary Communist her - director Nettie Wild captures the 13-year-old Mongolian girl Circulation Dept. of earth’s existence, of the appear - mit kingdom. Herzog’s trademark intense feeling of contrasting ways Aisholpan Nurgaiv who, under Prairie Messenger Box 190 ance and evolution of life and the probing narration muses about the of life affecting the Tahltan First her father’s guidance, becomes Muenster, Sask. S0K 2Y0 human prospect. That may be a sublime indifference of these Nation in their traditional territory the first female to master the [email protected] mission impossible that invites remarkable geophysical processes of northwestern British Columbia traditional skill of hunting with Undeliverable papers cost twice skeptical reactions. But I was to the designs and conceits of the that is also host to major and golden eagles in rugged moun - as much to return. moved by the deep spiritual yearn - humans scurrying over the plane - sometimes controversial resource tainous terrain. This one really ing that underlies an epic flow of tary surface. extraction enterprises. Wild is soars. 10 Prairie Messenger DEEPENING OUR FAITH January 18, 2017 In song we can find healing, comfort and courage

Breaking Open the Ordinary

Sandy Prather

The melody has been playing God in anger, from deep within his in my head for weeks now and it’s pain.” With sorrow, it asks why hard not to break out into song. people are allowed to suffer and Even though Christmas has come then plaintively asks God, “Where and gone, one particular song was is your mercy now?” The singer ubiquitous this year and it has implores God: “Speak to my become stuck in my head. Not aching heart. You are the only only was Leonard Cohen’s b e - hope I cling to. Where is your lov - loved song “Hallelujah” being ing face? Where is your saving played repeatedly on the radio in grace? Where is your mercy commemoration of Cohen’s death now?” (“Job/Where is your in November, but our favourite Mercy?” from Tales of Wonder, M. Weber Christmas album featured a beau - Marty Haugen, 1989). GIFT OF MUSIC — “Music heals the soul, comforts our hearts and sustains us in courage,” writes Sandy tiful version of it. Sung a cappella, Partway through the song, tears Prather. the haunting chorus entranced us. welled up. By the time the song Indeed, a favourite memory for ended I was in full weeping, and “Hail Mary.” “On Eagle’s expresses the same yearning. us to dance; some simply lead us me is of my 10-year-old grandson touched by emotions I hadn’t even Wings” became a mantra, offering Songs might be lament, praise, to close our eyes and rest. soulfully crooning, “Hallelujah, realized were there. I listened to it both consolation and strength dur - celebration, intercession or Whatever the case, we do well to hallelujah . . .” even as he played about four times that morning and ing my mother’s last illness. Taize thanksgiving. They can be sung take more words of Augustine’s on his iPad. He doesn’t yet under - wept every time. chant quieted my fears at her from hearts full of pain or ones words to heart, “Sing up and keep stand the deep meaning of the I played that one song on repeat deathbed. Simple songs like overflowing with gratitude. Some on walking!” In the song, we find song but, for the rest of us, for about three months. It became “Refiner’s Fire” or “Purify my songs make us cry; others move our healing, comfort, and courage. Cohen’s classic captures a pro - my prayer, a lament and a plea all heart” speak to my longing to be found human experience and our in one. Even though I couldn’t holy in ways that my spoken hearts resonate when we hear it. articulate what was happening, I prayer alone cannot. Song is worth a listen Such an experience reminds knew it was touching something My spirit is fed with Scripture me once again of the power of deep inside me. Tears accompa - as various psalms, set to music, music. Over the years I have nied the song for almost two accompany my day. “Like a shep - Continued from page 8 woman, and it’s not about him come to recognize and appreciate months but then they ceased and I herd, he feeds his flock,” I sing as blaming her out of hand or putting the way melodies and words sang the song with a newfound I go about my chores, and I hold complicated relationship with this her on a pedestal. It’s about reach in and touch places in my freedom. fast to God’s daily care. Advent Mac Miller song if I like it but knowing there’s a mess, knowing heart and soul that I am not other - “Those who sing pray twice,” readings come vibrantly alive those are the words. But honestly, it’s partly his fault, and having no wise able to access. Music heals Augustine wrote, and certainly it when I read Isaiah and hear in my I don’t. A lot of Miller’s earliest idea how to fix it. There’s nothing the soul, comforts our hearts and is true for me. Prayer and music head the choirs from Handel’s music is posturing and sexist, cer - misogynistic about that; it sounds sustains us in courage. I often are intertwined in my life. I “Messiah” thundering, “And his tainly, but he was also about 17 at like just about every romantic recall, with gratitude, a time remember as an adolescent doing name shall be called . . .” or lilt - the time. In retrospect it sounds a relationship I’ve ever been in or when one particular song broke kitchen cleanup with my sisters. ingly proclaiming, “All we like lot more like he was playing at seen. And yeah, there’s a lot of into my heart and unleashed a We attended the same Catholic sheep . . . .” When set to music, something than actually having his bawdy images going on in this cascade of healing. school and were in choir together. the words become more power - own opinions on any of it. At the song, but it’s also clever. The line, It had been an especially stress - Our dishwashing and drying duties ful, memorable and inspiring. not-really-ripe age of 24, the age “I’ll use every bone in my body / ful and even dark number of were accompanied by three-part Prayer comes not only in he was when this song came out keep holding on to your trust” is months. A beloved family member harmonies of the Latin parts of the hymns, though. Like Cohen’s last year, a lot of that posturing is one of my favourite lyrics from was undergoing chemotherapy and mass and our favourite hymns. “Hallelujah,” all kinds of songs still there. the past five years. So despite suffering greatly. I lived with three With our voices rising, the mun - can reach in and speak to our spiri - I don’t think a song about try - how these lyrics might come off, teenagers, each full of angst, each dane chores became sublime tual hungers. I love John Fogerty’s ing to hold a relationship together and even though I’ve tried to challenging my parenting skills. moments of prayer. “Don’t You Wish It Was True” need have quite so much bragging swear off misogynistic music, I My job, while rewarding, was new Hymns have been my prayer in from the album Revival (2007). about his sexual prowess . . . if don’t feel a bit bad about listening and demanding. On the surface I all kinds of circumstances. I have It’s a rocking number that speaks any. But the thing about this song to the song. was coping but, in truth, I was kept vigil in various waiting of the heart’s longing for heaven, a that separates it from the others I may not start singing it down white-knuckling my way through rooms, comforting myself with place of peace, equality, and jus - I’ve mentioned is that it’s not the hall at work, mind you. the days. hummed versions of “Our Father” tice. John Lennon’s “Ima gine” about Miller objectifying this Because, you know — nuance. Then one day a friend dropped a CD off at the office. I put it on to play, more as background music than anything, while I con - tinued working. I enjoyed the first three songs but it was the fourth track that caught me. The first lines caused me to stop what I was doing and listen attentively: a woman’s voice, strong and pow - erful, telling a tale of loss and pain, with a haunting refrain that questioned God’s very presence and begged for God’s mercy. The song, I learned, is the story of Job and it speaks of Job’s strug - gle with God in the face of unjust suffering: “And Job cried out to

Prather, BEd, MTh, is a teacher and facilitator in the areas of faith and spirituality. She was executive director at Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert, Alta., for 21 years and resides in Sherwood Park with her husband, Bob. They are blessed with four children and 10 grandchildren.

January 18, 2017 DEEPENING OUR FAITH Prairie Messenger 11 ‘Blessing’ an often misused and misunderstood term

to be beyond the reach of God’s blessing. eousness are also among the blessed in the Beatitudes. Jesus reverses our notion of blessing as he proclaims The prophet Zephaniah calls us to be a humble people his sermon on the mount. As he lists off his criteria for who seek refuge in the name of the Lord. What a radical Liturgy blessing, it is the have-nots who are blessed, not the haves. stance! Rather than claiming the goods of the earth as proof The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry, of God’s blessing, we seek blessing in our relationship with and Life the reviled and persecuted are blessed. Jesus turns our God and in our solidarity with those who suffer. By human human logic of blessing on its head! God’s gratuitous love standards, this is folly! Where is the status? Where is the — God’s blessing — is more concerned with those who prestige? Where is the security in an uncertain world? We Gertrude Rompré lack than with those who have in abundance. are blessed when we “put out into the deep” and trust that Some theologians call this the preferential option for God will sustain us. We are blessed when we receive God’s the poor. We could also call it divine love, God’s solidarity sustenance and break bread to share it with others. There is a French Canadian tradition whereby the par - with all who suffer and are vulnerable. The blessing is not I began by speaking about my father. He began each ents bless their children on New Year’s Day. Every year, in the things we have, as wonderful as these things may year by offering his blessing to his family. He was able to growing up, my father would enact this ritual and bless his be, but in the fact that God-is-with-us no matter what, in do so because he lived each year in humility, seeking family. No matter what my relationship with my father our most vulnerable moments. That is the blessing. refuge in the name of the Lord. He was a Saskatchewan was like throughout the year, I knew that undergirding it farmer. He lived through the Depression and has lived all was a blessing. For that, I am eternally grateful. It is Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 with depression his whole life. He did not offer us his Fourth Sunday from this experience of blessing that I ponder this week’s Psalm 146 blessing out of his strength, but out of his faith. He was for in Ordinary Time readings, readings that call us to examine the deep logic of 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 us a conduit of blessing. Like my father, we are called to January 29, 2017 blessing. Matthew 5:1-12a be conduits of blessing. We come to God with our humble Blessing is an often misused and misunderstood term. We offering, our own poverty and meekness, and receive will say that we are blessed when we experience good for - Reversing the logic of blessings calls us, as Christians, God’s blessing with open hands. Then we give it away. tune. For example, I am blessed because I got a new car or to act in a special way. We are called to participate in this That, in short, is what discipleship is all about. blessed because I have a healthy family or blessed because I reversal, to extend blessings to those who do not benefit Let us then “consider our own call, brothers and sisters: am gainfully employed. The problem with this logic is that it from “earthly” blessings. Some would say that blessings not many of us are wise by human standards, not many are suggests that those who do not have these things are not can only bear fruit if they are given away. By this logic, it powerful, not many are of noble birth. But God chooses blessed. When blessing is associated with having the good is our own experience of God’s embrace in our most vul - what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chooses things in life, then those who lack these goods are presumed nerable moments that allows us, in turn, to offer blessing what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chooses to others. It is this stance of being open and vulnerable to what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to God that allows God’s blessing to flow through us and reduce to nothing things that are . . . ” (paraphrase of 1 Rompré is the director of Mission and Ministry at St. into our broken world. That’s why the merciful, the peace - Corinthians 1:26-28). Blessings emerge from our lowly Thomas More College in Saskatoon. makers and those who are persecuted for the sake of right - places. Let us seek them there and then give them away! We need to be more careful about term ‘mortal sin’ and our judgments

mass on a Sunday we are commit - echesis often suppose it is, even as teach that categorically would ting a mortal sin and should we neither accepts the full conse - itself be bordering on heresy. In die in that state we will go to hell. quences. Simply stated, Catholic moral Then, aware that what he was Here’s an example: Some years theology has always taught that saying would be unpopular, he ago I presided at the funeral of a sin is a subjective thing that can Exile protested that the truth is often un- young man in his 20s, who had never be read from the outside. We popular, but that what he just said been killed in a car accident. In the can never look at an action from Ron Rolheiser, OMI is orthodox Catholic teaching and months before his death he had for the outside and say: “That’s a sin!” that anyone denying this is in all practical purposes ceased prac - We can look at an action from the heresy. tising his Catholicism. He had outside and say: “That’s wrong!” It’s sad that this kind of thing is stopped going to church, was liv - But that’s a different judgment. Recently, while on the road and you are the branches , to tell still being said in our churches. ing with his girlfriend outside of From the outside we can judge giving a workshop, I took the the congregation that what Jesus is Does the Catholic Church real - marriage, and had not been sober an action as objectively wrong, but opportunity to go to the cathedral teaching here is that the Roman ly teach that missing mass is a when he died. However, his family we can never make the judgment in that city for a Sunday eucharist. Catholic Church constitutes what mortal sin and that if you die in and the congregation who sur - that it’s a sin. Moreover, this isn’t I was taken aback by the homily. is referred to as the branches and that state you will go to hell? No, rounded him at his burial knew new, liberal teaching; it is already The priest used the Gospel text the way we link to those branches that’s not Catholic orthodoxy, him, and they knew that despite his found in our traditional cate - where Jesus says, I am the vine is through the mass and if we miss though popular preaching and cat - ecclesial and moral carelessness he chisms. Nobody can look at the had a good heart, that he brought action of someone else and say: PRAIRIE MESSENGER PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY sunshine into a room and that he “That’s a sin!” To teach that we was a generous young man. can make such a judgment goes At the reception after the funer - against Catholic orthodoxy. We MCKERCHER LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS KAPOOR, SELNES, & al one of his aunts, who believed can, and must, affirm that certain that missing mass was a mortal sin things are wrong, objectively KLIMM SASKATOON: John Schachtel that could condemn you to hell, wrong, but sin is something else. Barristers & Solicitors (306) 653-2000 approached me and said: “He had Probably the most quoted line W. Selnes, B.A., LL.B.; L.J.(Dick) Batten, QC 1201 - 8th St. East G. Klimm, B.A., LL.B.; Michel G. Thibault Saskatoon, Sask. such a great heart and such a won - from Pope Francis is his famous David M.A. Stack,QC (306) 978-5200 derful energy; if I were running re sponse to a moral question Phone (306) 752-5777, P.O. Box 2200 Curtis J. Onishenko Melfort, Saskatchewan S0E 1A0 the gates of heaven, I would let where he simply responded: “Who Galen R. Richardson   
  Phone (306) 873-4535, P.O. Box 760 him in.” Her comment wonderful - am I to judge?” He’s in good com - Tisdale, Saskatchewan S0E 1T0 REGINA:     306.565.6500 ly betrayed something deeper pany. In the Gospel of John, Jesus David E. Thera, QC 
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 sial rules in terms of who gets to does not mean there isn’t any Barristers& GASPER & Solicitors needs of Religious Organizations for the past 90 years. go to heaven and the belief that judgment. There is, it’s real, and it Russel Weber (B.A., LL.B.) MALINOSKI & DANYLUIK God has wider criteria for judg - can condemn someone to hell. But Tabbetha M. Gasper (B.A., LL.B.) FUNERAL HOME ment than those formulated in it works this way: God’s Love, 517 Main Street, Humboldt, Sask. external church rules. She Life, Truth, and Light come into Phone: 306-682-5038 HWY 5 EAST HUMBOLDT Humboldt’s only 100% believed that it was a mortal sin to the world and we judge ourselves Fax: 306-682-5538 locally owned and operated. E-mail: mckercher.ca miss mass on Sunday but, for all apposite them. God condemns no [email protected] PH : 306-682-1622 the right reasons, could not accept one, but we can condemn our - the full consequences of that, selves. It is God’s Love, Life, Assante Financial RAYNER AGENCIES LTD. Management Ltd. www.rayneragencies.ca Est. 1948 namely, that her nephew was Truth, and Light against which we going to hell. Deep down, she weigh ourselves and these deter - Peter Martens, FICB 301 - 500 Spadina Crescent East General Insurance Broker Systems Ltd. Financial Advisor Saskatoon, SK S7K 4H9 Motor Licences & Notary Public knew that God reads the heart, mine who goes where, al ready T: (306) 665-3244 1000 Central Avenue, Saskatoon Hearing Aid Sales, Service & Repair understands human carelessness, here on earth and in eternity. Cara Martens, CFP Your Best Insurance 1-800-465-2100 Is An Insurance Broker Financial Advisor Phone: 306-373-0663 Ph: 306.979.4543 #16-1945 McKercher Dr. welcomes sinners into his bosom, In our catechesis and our popu - E: [email protected] Shawn Wasylenko Norbert Wasylenko Cell: 306.881.8602 Saskatoon, SK S7J 4M4 and does not exclude goodness lar preaching we must be more VOLUNTEER INTERNATIONAL from heaven. careful in our use of the term CHRISTIAN SERVICE MAURICE SOULODRE Bookkeeping, But that still leaves the ques - “mortal sin” and in our judgments Charity Returns, requires Teachers, Administrators, Medical Professionals and Architect Ltd. tion: Is it orthodox Roman Cath - as to who goes to heaven and who Trades People, aged 21 - 65. If you are interested in serving Maurice Soulodre, B.A., B.Ed., M.Arch., SAA, MRAIC GST Filing, overseas for two years, we may have an FRAME Reports olic teaching to say it is a mortal goes to hell, fully aware that there assignment for you! Please call 780-485-5505, 1815C Lorne Ave., Saskatoon, SK S7H 1Y5 ACCOUNTING SERVICES Tel: (306) 955-0333 Fax: (306) 955-0549 sin to not go to church on a wasn’t any group that Jesus was Email: [email protected] or visit Specializing in parishes and parishes with schools. E-mail: [email protected] Sunday and that such an ecclesial harsher on than on those who were our Website at www.volunteerinternational.ca Mira Salter ~ [email protected] lapse can send you to hell? No, to making those kinds of judgments. 12 Prairie Messenger FEATURE January 18, 2017 In 100-year-old essay, a plea for women’s voting rights

Just over 100 years ago, in March 1916, women won the right to vote in Saskatchewan (the prairie provinces were the first to allow women that right). Ellen Edna Hickey wrote the following essay in 1916 before voting rights for women had been secured. Born March 12, 1895, Edna was the third youngest child in a large Irish Catholic family of three girls and 10 boys (two of whom died in infancy). Their parish church was St. Paul’s Cathedral in Saskatoon. Edna became a school teacher for many years and at age 39, in 1934, married Joseph Gregory Condon in St. Paul’s Cathedral. She gave birth to a daughter, Maureen, in 1936. The essay is provided by Maureen Condon Horon who asks readers to keep in mind that the terminology and manner of speaking are typical of the era.

The fundamental plea for dence, are allowed suffrage women suffrage is exactly the without any preparation or same as for manhood suffrage, study. The ignorant, the half- “democracy.” If democracy is wits and sub-normals, the drunk - right, the vote should be given to ards and the criminally inclined, women. If democracy is wrong, who are not only allowed to the vote should be taken away vote, but have the vote thrust from men. Democracy means upon them. This argument, government of the people, by the while doubtless true, seems a people, for the people. Are rather puerile one, since there women people? would be small advantage in All anti-suffrage arguments multiplying the clerical work of come down to two things. Either the voting booth if some consid - they are arguments against erable good were not to be democracy and apply with equal gained thereby. We believe that force to men and women, or else the women who want the vote, they are based on the feeling that who have worked to get the women are not really persons. vote, and believe in the justice CANADIAN SUFFRAGETTES — Canadian suffragettes are seen marching in a photo from the early part Just as if women were the person - and necessity of equal suffrage, of the 20th century. The first women to get the vote in Canada were in the four western provinces in 1916, al property of man, and not a are capable of handling that in 1917 in Ontario, in 1918 in Nova Scotia, in 1919 in New Brunswick, in 1922 in Prince Edward Island, responsible human being. responsibility in an intelligent and in 1940 in Quebec. Women are probably quite as manner. capable of putting the vote to One of the arguments against small amount of investigation and and energy, which has heretofore governed. And whether she holds good use as are the foreigners, suffrage is, that to use it intelli - study, to accomplish which, will and which according to those an active or passive position, she, who, after a brief period of resi - gently is going to necessitate a no require an expenditure of time who oppose the movement, might as a “free and independent citi - better continue to be used in zen,” has a right to express her catering to the physical necessi - wish and have her wish recog - Soul work draws us into fullness of humanity ties and wants of family life and nized, as to the manner in which such domestic social pleasure as she shall do — either govern or discover what “dying to self” may benefit her station. Women, be governed. Heretofore she has means. in general are pretty well aware attempted to do this second hand, After a few days, when the that no really intelligent, system - through influence, but now she Outlooks from panic subsides and the incessant atic and forehanded woman, can proposes to go about it in the first internal dialogue collapses like a or need, in these days of labour- person. the Inner Life house of cards into the surround - saving devices, spend all her time The woman’s interests are no ing silence, one is forced to pay actively working. longer absolutely within the walls attention to “time out of mind” or The day has gone when of her home. Knowing a few women can sit back entrenched things about how laws are formed Cedric Speyer the kairos dimension of life. As the core of the constructed self behind the door which husbands and what laws are best for the unclenches from its many attach - and sons close upon them when safety of the home, the family “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter ments, personality skins are shed - they go out into the world’s work, and the individual, isn’t going to into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and ded, and a much larger field of and leave everything pertaining prevent a woman from knowing that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” — Jesus vision is revealed. The mythic to the government of that world, how to care for her home. It is mission of self-fulfilment or so- to their men. nonsense to assume that a “Everybody, at some time in life, wrestles with an angel that threat - called spiritual attainment returns Every woman is bound to be a woman’s brain couldn’t hold ens to overpower them.” — Joan Chittister to the dark wilderness womb and part of the government under both, just the same as a man may we are “born again” of something which she lives. If she is not one know how to run his business and “Can you find strong medicine within yourself to poison the demons else, an “I” that encompasses but of the governors, she is one of the vote intelligently as well. on your back?” — Steven Foster ( The Book of the Vision Quest: doesn’t belong to “me,” and is Personal Transformation in the Wilderness ) the source of reconciliation of our often divided and competing When it comes to truly follow - that is truly transpersonal and animal, human, and spiritual ing Christ and not just subscrib - “of the kingdom,” guided by natures. ing to a belief system, we are all grace and not a matter of self- The devil, personifying forces led into a personal wilderness and mastery. However as we journey of the world that need to be subor - confronted with three major chal - with Jesus, we are called to dinated, would have us put securi - lenges which, when mastered and work out our salvation physical - ty/survival needs first, and let integrated, shape our full person - ly, psychologically, and spiritu - Jesus prove himself by enabling hood. Consider that “flesh,” ally, by overcoming temptations the cravings of the body. But “water,” and “spirit” correspond on those three levels, tempta - “bread alone” would be our ani - to body, psyche/soul, and the tions reflecting counterfeits of mal nature ruling the rest of us. divine spark of Spirit within each the redeemed self. That’s not to The next temptation to overcome of us. (In Freud’s intrapsychic mention how they are mirrored is the ego’s need for power/con - system, these would be the primi - in the powers and principalities trol and measuring success by tive “id,” the self-managing of the world. For this we are what we have and own. Yet Jesus “ego,” and the oversight of the given the archetypes represented will not sell out our true human “superego.”) by the trials Jesus went through nature to inordinate attachments, Of course there is a fourth in the desert. distorted desires, and unregulated level running the whole show This is far from an academic emotions. He puts the soul’s need exercise! Native spirituality first, to surrender itself to a unify - offers it in the form of an ordeal ing coherence. Speyer is a Benedictine Oblate therapy called the Vision Quest. I Finally, significance/belong - as well as an author, subject mat - went on one in 1999 to prepare ing at the highest level doesn’t ter expert for e-therapy, clinical for my vocation in the healing come from appropriating divine consultant and director of arts. There’s nothing like being favour. Soul work doesn’t sepa - InnerView Guidance International alone in the forest as the sun goes rate us out at the elite pinnacle of (IGI). Connect with Cedric on down, without any props, crea - the temple. It draws us into the https://www.facebook.com/cms94 ture comforts, or other consola - fullness of shared humanity, the or via [email protected] tions; to face primordial fears and kingdom. January 18, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 13 Stewardship of the Earth alive and well at LOCCS

Catholic Connections

Marie Graw

Central to Religion curricula dents planted tomatoes, peppers, in Saskatchewan Catholic high spaghetti squash, lettuce and kale schools is the Community Action and tended to the watering, weed - Project (CAP) in which all stu - ing and fertilizing of the growing dents are required to take part. plants. A community partner was CAPs are based on the five found in the local Discovery Co- actions identified by the Canadian op as the organization provided a Conference of Catholic Bishops $500 grant to pay for the seeds, to achieve the mission of the bedding plants and tools for the church: proclaiming, worship - Garden Project. ping, building community, giving By late June the first of the witness and serving. produce, kale and lettuce, was During the 2015-2016 school ready to harvest. It was at this year a special CAP project that time that the FI group hosted their embraced several of these actions first annual Garden Luncheon in was undertaken by Light of Christ the beautiful surroundings of the Catholic School Division teacher lush raised bed gardens. Invited Rhea Good. Good, a special edu - guests were the high school’s Light of Christ Catholic School Division cation teacher in charge of John three administrators and four BOUNTIFUL HARVEST — Students and staff display the produce they harvested through the School Paul II Collegiate’s Functionally members of the school’s SRC: the Garden Project at John Paul II Collegiate in North Battleford. Integrated Program, developed outgoing senior leaders and the activities (outdoor and indoor) newly elected SRC leaders. The and served it to staff and students this past November. The building through making the Bokashi that allow students to become group of seven was served a for lunch on Sept. 8 and 9. The of this greenhouse provides space recipe to “grow” their own batch responsible stewards of the earth: lunch from the garden featuring bounty of the land was shared for the messy business of starting of inoculant. The School Garden Project. the fresh kale and lettuce in a with community. Also harvested seedlings, and for growing other To bring the Garden Project full Reflecting concepts from Pope salad and freshly cut chives in an and used in the community meal plants in permanent beds in a circle and to teach sustainability to Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato egg salad mix for sandwiches, were herbs that included flat-leaf greenhouse environment. The 12’ students and staff, a “seed saving” Si’ , Good’s students, along with items harvested and prepared by parsley, chives, sweet basil, rose - x 20’ structure will allow for project was initiated. Stu - other students from the school the FI students and staff. mary and thyme. The crop of an entire class to work dents and staff worked community, became stewards of Throughout the summer the herbs was so abundant, the extra together. to collect and store the Earth. Through this hands-on gardens were tended by special produce was offered to the Gold To reduce waste seeds from produce ministry students created gardens education students who were Eagle Casino Restaurant, Kihiw, and to replenish the grown this year so on-site, fed others with the har - involved with local agencies. where chef Jesse Bossman used earth used to grow that they can be vested produce and replenished More community partnerships all that could be provided. the produce, Good used to plant next the land they used by learning were established to help with the Meanwhile, Kardynal and brought in envi - year’s crop. To about and creating a Bokashi Garden Project, as agency sum - Good received news that another ronmental manager fundraise for other composting program and a seed- mer staff were trained by Good. community partnership had been for the City of North costs, seeds were sharing program. Building community through established. Cargill offered to Battleford Tammy also packaged for sale The school Garden Project these partnerships ensured the sponsor the building of a green - MacCormick to do a at a pre-Christmas trade was started in the fall of 2015 by gardens were cared for through - house and donated $7,000 to workshop on the Bokashi com - show event and some packages Good and fellow teacher Jeffrey out the summer, so the harvest jumpstart the project. Other grant posting method. The Bokashi were made into Christmas tree Kardynal to provide hands-on could continue in the fall. monies were received from SIGA method uses a substrate inoculat - ornaments and given to colleagues, learning for their students, and to When September arrived, and and TD Friends of the En - ed with effective micro-organ - family and friends. teach Christian stewardship of students returned to school, the FI vironment Foundation. isms that promote fermentation The School Garden Project our earth. While there was program staff took over again. A plan was put into place to instead of putrefaction. The inoc - will join in a province-wide seed- already an off-site community The harvest from the raised beds build a greenhouse, next to the ulant accelerates the breakdown sharing initiative that is to be garden where Good’s FI students provided an abundance of pota - raised beds, on-site at the high of the food and creates free, launched in 2017. Members of had volunteered, a plan was put toes, carrots, onions, parsley and school. Kardynal was in charge of organic fertilizer in a four-week the “seed library” will be able to in place to create an on-site space beans. So plentiful was the har - the construction and his crew turn-around. The sealed contain - order seeds like ordering a book. for students to engage more fully vest the FI students and staff took included students, staff and com - ers are easy to manage in a class - Any extra seeds saved from the in the growing and harvesting of the project to the next level: they munity members. The beautiful room environment because there John Paul II School Garden the vegetables and to beautify the turned the produce into a big new facility, complete with heat is no smell and no fruit flies. Project will contribute to the school environment. batch of “garden harvest soup” and water access, was completed McCormick guided the students “seed bank” for this new program By the spring of 2016 to increase everyone’s accessibili - Kardynal’s woodshop classes had ty to seed varieties. built four raised beds in a former Going far beyond the tradition - grassed area of the school that al CAP project, Good’s Func - was adjacent to the concrete stu - tionally Integrated Program stu - dent parking area. Good’s stu - dents and staff have benefited greatly from the breadth and scope of the School Garden Project. Graw is Religious Education Students not only worked the earth Co-ordinator/Communications for with their hands, planted seeds and Light of Christ Catholic Schools watched them grow, they harvest - in North Battleford, Sask. ed a bounty of produce and shared it with their school and communi - ty and they learned sustainability practices. They built community To advertise in the as they shared with others when they had more than they needed. They learned to be good stewards Prairie of the earth and of their brothers Messenger and sisters. call The ongoing School Garden Project is teaching all of John 306-682-1772 Paul II’s students and staff, that or fax the earth, when cared for and nur - 306-682-5285 tured, can take care of us and enhance our lives. It allows email: Light of Christ Catholic School Division [email protected] everyone involved to taste and GARDEN LUNCHEON — Functionally Integrated (FI) Program students at John Paul II Collegiate in see that the Lord is indeed good North Battleford serve the soup they made from the produce they grew. (Psalm 34:8). 14 Prairie Messenger EDITORIALS January 18, 2017

Knights of Malta cealment of these problems from the grand magistry,” Today’s controversy may draw attention away the order said. He is accused of distributing condoms from the extensive charitable ministry of the Knights. Right beside the Benedictine abbey of Sant and failing to accept church teaching on sexual matters The Knights of Malta were founded as the Anselmo in Rome are the headquarters of the — charges he strongly denies. Knights Hospitaller around 1099 in Jerusalem, mak - Knights of Malta. The spot is a tourist attraction The condoms were distributed by aid agencies ing it the world’s oldest surviving chivalric order. It because of a small keyhole in its main door through working with the order’s worldwide relief corps, provided medical care for pilgrims to the Holy Land which you can see the dome of the Vatican. Tourists Malteser International. during the First Crusade and it became a military line up all day waiting to take a peek. Boeselager explained that condoms had been dis - order to protect Christians against Islamic persecu - Today, however, the Knights of Malta are more tributed by three projects in Myanmar without the tion. Its motto is “Defence of the (Catholic) faith and known for a controversy. The group’s former grand order’s knowledge. “When this was discovered in the assistance to the poor.” chancellor, Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager, was course of routine project auditing, two of these pro - Today, the order has approximately 13,500 mem - sacked in early December and Pope Francis has jects were immediately ended,” he wrote. “An imme - bers and employs about 25,000 doctors, nurses, auxil - launched an investigation. The leader is refusing to diate closure of the third project would have led to iaries and paramedics. It is assisted by 80,000 volun - co-operate. the abrupt end of all basic medical services in an teers in more than 120 countries. It works with children, Adding to the drama is the fact that Cardinal extremely poor region of Myanmar, so this dilemma the homeless, handicapped, refugees, elders, terminally Raymond Burke, a frequent critic of Pope Francis’ was submitted to an ethics committee. Subsequently ill and lepers around the world without distinction of policies, is the Vatican-appointed patron of the order. the project was closed, following a statement by the ethnicity or religion. Through Malteser International, He, along with the Knights’ Grand Master, Matthew Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.” the order aids victims of natural disasters, epidemics Festing, was involved in the removal of the chancel - In a blog, Christopher Lamb, columnist for The and war. In several countries, local associations of the lor. Both have claimed that the dismissal was the wish Tablet, writes: “In Rome, rumours are swirling that the order provide medical emergency services and training. of the Holy See, which is denied by the Vatican. The dispute is not really about condoms, with talk of money, As the Canadian CCODP and the American pope had counselled dialogue to settle the dispute. freemasonry and other associated theories, while Catholic Relief Service have found out, providing Von Boeselager, a German nobleman, was Vatican journalists are reporting mysterious anonymous global relief with local partners has its challenges. removed due to “severe problems” during his tenure as phone calls trying to discredit von Boeselager and the Critics can find it easy to point fingers. We hope the grand hospitaller of the order and “his subsequent con - papal investigation into the knights.” pope’s commission brings out the full story. — PWN Doctor asks: why spend money on old people, who have little benefit

By Kenneth Rockwood, Halifax their single illness, no matter how for restricting care for frail peo - benefits from not having medica - have been less celebrated. complicated and no matter what ple? Should frailism be the new tions reviewed, or from poor Compared to disease research, Should medicine be ageist? their age, is their main problem. ageism? nutrition, or inadequate pain con - ageing and frailty are barely on A young trainee doctor recent - Subspecialized care may work For health care, such a notion trol, or getting admitted when the funding radar screen. ly proposed to me that it should. very well for them. would be self-defeating. If frail care at home would be better or In any guise, ageism can be Health care is overstretched, she But as we age, we’re more patients are unsuited to the care in not clearly discussing goals of insidious. We don’t have to go far argued. “We can’t do everything likely to have more than one ill - that doctors provide, we must care. Just because the health sys - to find it. I find it in myself when for everyone, so why spend ness and to take more than one provide more suitable care. tem mostly gets away with it in I’m in a long line. It’s not the sci - money on old people, who have medication. And as we age, the Frail older adults consume a fitter patients is no reason to ence of how movement becomes little chance of benefit?” illnesses that we have are more lot of care. Far better that those of forego change. slow that saves me then — it’s For her, ageism is not all that likely to restrict how we live — us in the health system treat them Changing routines to improve realizing that slowness is not a bad — in fact, it’s a practical not just outright disability, but in as our very best customers. That care will benefit everyone. But it moral failing, much less one response to limited resources. our moving more slowly or tak - would improve care for everyone. won’t happen if we see frailty as directed at my busyness. I’m unpersuaded. Ageism is ing care in where we walk, or No one admitted to hospital an acceptable form of ageism. We What we do in our health sys - not benign. We fail older people what we wear or where we go. benefits from poor sleep, but need to invest in better care and tem now fails older people who when we treat them, as typically Not everyone of the same age (mostly) we get away with it in in better understanding how to might benefit if we provided bet - we do, in ways that are at odds has the same number of health our fitter patients. Not so in the design, test and implement it. ter care. In that way, it fails us all. with how ageing works. Ageism problems. Those with the most frail, in whom it leads to worse As important as subspecialties Attitudes must change. Medi - masks our need to do better. health problems are frail. And outcomes: longer stays, more are, by definition each subspe - cine should not be ageist. It The challenge is the complexi - when they’re frail, they do worse. confusion, more medications, cialty group benefits a small frac - shouldn’t even be frailest. We ty of ageing. With age, almost all Often, those with frailty do worse more falls and a higher death rate. tion of people. The skills required must work to provide better care diseases become more common. because health care remains No one benefits from being to provide expert general care, for frail older adults, especially Health care has become pretty focused on single illness. Our immobilized too long. No one particularly for frail older adults, when they are ill. good at assembling teams that success with a single-illness specialize in specific problems, approach has biased us to think creating focused, subspecialized that this is the approach we Hanoi once known as Paris of the Orient care. should always take. And patients do best when When frail people show up By Donald L. Telfer, red roses. maybe a huge Burmese python with all their health and social Humboldt, Sask. “They’re for my mother’s waiting for the dinner table. problems, we see them as illegiti - birthday,” the girl said in broken Nearby is the Lake of the Rockwood is a geriatrician in mate or unsuited for what we do. As the young girl handed over English. Grabbing the tiny parcel, Returned Sword and the landmark Halifax, N.S., and a researcher So would the young doctor be a crumpled dong bill, the Hanoi the beaming girl and her friends St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Consecrated with Canadian Frailty Network right if instead of restricting care street vendor smiled and deliv - disappeared into the crowded on Christmas Eve in 1886, the (CFN). www.troymedia.com in old people, she simply opted ered a colourful bouquet of three Hoan Kiem District. In a country cathedral was built over several with an average annual income of years after the French conquered about $150, the gift was a monu - Hanoi, demolishing an ancient mental purchase. pagoda temple to accommodate the This fascinating capital of a new church. With its twin square unified Vietnam, once known as bell towers, the cathedral is similar the Paris of the Orient, Hanoi is in design to the famed Notre Dame typified by shaded boulevards, in Paris, though much smaller. verdant public parks and a dozen Known as “The Big Church,“ the scenic lakes. interior is decorated in popular A mishmash of busy one-way Vietnamese red and yellow; the streets crowded into the Old altar and stained glass windows are Quarter, its street names describe especially notable. A statue of its wares on offer: Hardware St. Mother Maria in front of the cathe - (stores that sell household goods), dral welcomes worshippers. Broiled Fish St. (seafood), and Masses are only on Sunday, and the Ancestor St. (caskets, funeral flags evening worshippers often over - and picture frames). Hun dreds of flow out the front door onto the tiny shops display every product plaza, numbering into the thou - imaginable. These are the troopers sands especially on Christmas Eve. of private enterprise with their Hanoi’s hypnotic street life is fresh fruit, colourful birds and an irresistible magnet. When peo - ple manage to tear themselves away, many head for the monu - Former travel writer-photog - mental Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. rapher, and editor and publisher Situated in a huge park-like of the Humboldt Journal, Telfer square in the centre of Hanoi, uni - CNS/Marko Djurica, Reuters has contributed to over a hundred formed soldiers are out in force to MIGRANTS BRAVE THE COLD IN SERBIA — Migrants wrapped in blankets wait in line to receive a newspapers and magazines in plate of food during a Jan. 11 snowfall outside a warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia. Canada, the U.S. and abroad. — ExTRAVAGANCE , page 15 January 18, 2017 LETTERS Prairie Messenger 15

American billionaires oppose government regulations

The Editor: Joseph Stiglitz, a largest private company in “free market.” They, Koch In- Columbus University professor America. In 2009 the government dustries, were simply opposed to and a Nobel prize winner once estimated the wealth for Charles government rules that were trying stated that “wealth begets power, and David was about $14 billion to stop powerful industries from which begets more wealth.” for each brother. Their business doing businesses that pollute the This is probably true, in partic - interests involve pipe lines, lumber, atmosphere and the dumping of ular in the U.S., which could now paper, coal and chemicals. They poisonous material, like mercury, be labelled as a plutocracy, rather are huge traders in commodity in its lakes and rivers. than a democracy. This could be futures, and other businesses. The above is actually taking the case for the American econo - The Koch brothers worked hard place in the U.S. But it is very my, where there are now a num - with other conservative interests to important for all Canadians, espe - ber of exceedingly wealthy per - stop the Obama government from cially voters, to recognize that sons and corporations. implementing policies that the allowing a greater amount of Among the top of the wealthiest American public had voted for. Canada’s wealth to accumulate to are two American brothers, Koch industries saw these policies fewer and fewer people and cor - Charles and David Koch. It is sug - as being catastrophic to their own porations could lead to Canada gested that they probably are the interests of acquiring more wealth losing its democratic base and its sixth or seventh of the wealthiest and did not favour any govern - sovereignty. — Leo Kurtenbach, Design Pics people on Earth, and the second ment regulations of the so-called Saskatoon Aging

Senior discount received Hanoi is a city of extravagance, poverty Not requested. Humph. Mere child at till. Continued from page 14 Ho Chi Minh as much as his mark is now used for official request being denied for crema - receptions. In my mind I still run, skip rope, keep the crowds moving, main - tion after his death in 1969. At the southern end of the jump, climb trees. tain peace and ensure hands are Hanoi is a city of extravagance country is Ho Chi Minh City or I used to…. kept visible outside pockets. contrasted with stark poverty. Saigon as southerners commonly I used to…. Embalmed in the tradition of Near the mausoleum is one of the call it, a bustling polluted metrop - I used to…. Lenin, the final resting place for most striking buildings in Viet - olis which makes Hanoi appear “Uncle Ho” is a glass sarcopha - nam, the former Presidential rural by comparison. Hanoi was Walking backward gus set deep in the cold, dimly lit Palace opened in 1906 for the untouched by the Vietnam War Kicking memories. bowels of the marble edifice. governor general of French Indo- unlike Saigon which has many By Linda Ducharme “The body is sent back to china. The bright ochre building, gleaming hotels and office build - Moscow twice a year to keep it in with its green shutters and ings that replaced ruined build - shape,” I overheard a guide whis - European design, was too lavish ings. per to a visitor. Such extrava - for the governor who refused to There are many reminders of World is rapidly changing gance would have surely upset live there. The picturesque land - Vietnam’s tumultuous history. One is the famed Cu Chi Tunnels that now are part of greater Continued from page 1 through marriage, the ordained Saigon, a city that has grown ministry or the consecrated life?” from one million at the end of the ly between the ages of 16 and 29: One of the major challenges war in 1975 to more than 10 mil - young people in today’s world; for young people in defining their BOSCO FOUNDATION lion. Located about two hours faith, discernment and vocation; personal identity and finding their John Bosco northwest of downtown, the inge - and pastoral activity. path in life is the countless op - Child & Family Services Foundation nious multi-level tunnels were the Through the synod, the docu - tions available — particularly great defences of the North ment said, “the church has decided when it comes to their careers — The John Bosco Child and Family Services Foundation (Bosco Vietnamese to fight the French to examine herself on how she can that may impede them from mak - lead young people to recognize ing a definitive life choice. Foundation) is a public foundation dedicated to the provision of and later the Americans. One of Vietnam’s architectur - and accept the call to the fullness Many young people today, it buildings and facilities used for the treatment, education and al marvels is the Basilica of Our of life and love, and to ask young said, “refuse to continue on a per - housing of children, adolescents and adults who are in need of Lady of the Immaculate Con - people to help her in identifying sonal journey of life if it means support. ception in downtown Saigon. A the most effective ways to an - giving up taking different paths in nounce the Good News today.” the future: ‘Today I choose this, Bosco Foundation believes in assisting non-profit and charitable standout in the largely Buddhist country — only about seven per The church, it said, needs to tomorrow we’ll see.’ ’’ organizations who provide vital services which aid vulnerable cent of Vietnam’s 90 million evaluate its pastoral approach to Lack of employment and social people in our society. We do this by providing our facilities to people are Catholic — the red young people living in a rapidly and economic hardships, it added, various non-profit and charitable agencies at below market level brick cathedral was built over 17 changing world where globaliza - also contribute to “their inability to rental rates. years and consecrated in 1880. tion, technological dominance, as continue in one career. Generally An Italian granite statue of Our well as economic and social hard - speaking, these obstacles are even Our facilities are used for social services group care, foster Lady of Peace in front of the ships pose significant challenges to more difficult for young women to care, adult mental health care, the St. Francis Food Bank, two cathedral is said to have shed discovering their vocational path. overcome,” it added. AA groups and a NE Edmonton cadet core among others. tears in 2005. Though the “From the vantage point of Gender inequality and discrimi - nation against ethnic or religious In addition, we provide volunteer services to assist two small non- Vatican has refuted the claim, it faith, the situation is seen as a has not stopped thousands of sign of our times, requiring minorities, which can force people profit organizations working with low income seniors and victims people from visiting Saigon’s greater listening, respect and dia - to emigrate, are other detrimental of stroke with fundraising and volunteer recruitment assistance. most famous site. logue,” the document said. factors that the church is called to The Bosco Foundation is currently working with a large service I hired a cyclo (a three- A special focus of the synod, it address to help young people become “agents of change.” organization on a joint project with the aim of providing wheeled bicycle taxi) to return to said, will be “on vocational dis - affordable housing for low-income seniors. the Rex Hotel, the hotel made cernment, that is, the process by famous during the Vietnam War which a person makes fundamen - Thank you 100% of donations go toward charitable purposes. (its rooftop bar was a hangout for tal choices, in dialogue with the Administrative expenses are covered by other sources. the military and war correspon - Lord and listening to the voice of The Editor: I wish to thank dents). Without agreeing to price the Spirit, starting with the choice Peter C. Venable for his beautiful Please forward your donation to: at the outset, I was given a round - of one’s state in life.” poem Messiah that appeared in Bosco Foundation about trip through downtown Specifically for Christians, it this newspaper just before 315-6770 129 Avenue NW, Saigon. The entertaining tour cost said, the question is: “How does a Christmas. It will be tucked away Edmonton, AB T5C 1V7 N 50,000 dong (about $3), giving person live the good news of the in my collection of favourite Tel: (780) 809-8585 Fax: (780) 809-8586 the ride and that bouquet of red Gospel and respond to the call poems that I have collected over www.boscofoundation.com roses another spin on money, peo - which the Lord addresses to all the years. — Alma Barkman, *Charitable Tax Number: 85985 8664 RT0001* ple and values. those he encounters, whether Winnipeg

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By Cindy Wooden ments, said the bishops of Malta. able to celebrate the sacraments new relationship should be en - other questions. With “an informed and en - of reconciliation and the couraged to abstain from sexual “This discernment acquires VATICAN CITY (CNS) — lightened conscience,” a separat - eucharist,” the bishops wrote. relations since the church does significant importance since, as Under certain circumstances and ed or divorced person living in a The first step, they said, not consider their new union a the pope teaches, in some cases after long prayer and a profound new relationship who is able “to always must be to affirm church marriage. Sometimes, however, this help” from the church in examination of conscience, some acknowledge and believe that he teaching that marriage is indissol - the couple will find practising the growing in holiness “can include divorced and civilly remarried or she is at peace with God,” the uble. Then, the bishops said, the virtue of “conjugal continence” the help of the sacraments,” the Catholics may return to the sacra - bishops said, “cannot be preclud - couple’s specific situation should impossible. Malta document said. ed from participating in the sacra - be examined to determine if their Scicluna and Grech urged “While exercising our min - ments of reconciliation and the first union was a valid marriage. priests to devote time to such istry, we must be careful to avoid eucharist.” If not, they should be encouraged couples, guiding them in a reflec - falling into extremes: into ex - The Maltese “Criteria for the to seek an annulment. tion on their first union, their con - treme rigour on the one hand and Application of Chapter VIII of Without an annulment, the tributions to its failure, the impact laxity on the other,” the bishops Amoris Laetitia ,’’ Pope Francis’ bishops said, couples living in a on their children and a host of wrote to their priests. apostolic exhortation on the fami - ly, was published Jan. 13 after being sent to all of the country’s Christian witness takes three stages: pope priests by Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and Bishop By Cindy Wooden Mario Grech of Gozo. Significantly, the text prepared ROME (CNS) — Being a real was published by L’Osservatore Christian does not mean being a Romano. saint, but giving witness to Jesus in The bishops urged their priests word and, especially, deed, Pope to recognize how “couples and Francis told members of a parish families who find themselves in on the eastern edge of Rome. complex situations, especially Spending more than three those involving separated or di - hours Jan. 15 at the parish of St. vorced persons who have entered Mary in the Setteville neighbour - a new union” may have “ ‘lost’ hood, Pope Francis had the same their first marriage,” but not their basic message for the children hope in Jesus. and youth as he did for the parish “Some of these earnestly as a whole: “Christian witness is desire to live in harmony with done with three things: words, the God and with the church, so CNS/Paul Haring heart and the hands.” much so, that they are asking us As is his custom for parish visits Archbishop Charles Scicluna what they can do in order to be in the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis arrived in the late afternoon Order of Malta questions and held separate meetings with the CNS/Paul Haring children and teenagers from the POPE VISITS PARISH — Pope Francis kisses a child in the crowd legitimacy of commission religious education program and outside the church after celebrating mass at the parish of St. Mary in Scout groups; with the parents of the Setteville neighborhood of Rome Jan. 15. the 45 babies baptized in the parish By Junno Arocho Esteves diplomatic corps accredited to the over the past year; with a group of man from the parish post-confir - other times through the great wit - order Jan. 10, Festing told the parishioners who are sick or have mation program; and the father of ness of martyrdom. VATICAN CITY (CNS) — international representatives that disabilities; and with the parish a sick child. “The apostles didn’t take a The leadership of the Order of von Boeselager’s removal will not council and more than 100 parish - In response to the questions of course to learn to be witnesses of Malta denied the legality of a affect the order’s charitable opera - ioners active in parish activities. the parish young people, Pope Jesus,” the pope said. Instead, Vatican investigation into the tions. Before celebrating mass, he Francis insisted, “If I say I am they followed him and listened to forced resignation of the group’s “Our decentralized nature heard the confessions of four Catholic and go to mass every him and tried to imitate him. former grand chancellor, but the ensures that our activities assist - parishioners. The Vatican press Sunday with my parents, but I “But they were sinners,” he said. commission established by Pope ing people in difficulty and need, office said they were the young don’t speak (about Jesus), I don’t “All 12 of them” as the Gospels Francis said it “is completely continues unaffected in the 120 couple who care for the 50-year- help my grandparents, don’t help recount. They experienced pride legitimate and authorized” to countries where the Order of old assistant pastor, who has amy - the poor, don’t visit the sick, then and jealousy and “when Jesus was investigate the matter and inform Malta operates,” Festing said. otrophic lateral sclerosis; a young it is not witness and it is useless.” taken, they all ran away.” the pope. Von Boeselager, a German “It is nothing other than being “Peter — the first pope — According to one of the legal nobleman, was removed due to a parrot-Christian — words, denied Jesus,” he said. But they notes prepared for the commis - “severe problems” during his words, words,” he said. Christian were witnesses to Jesus because sion, the pope’s right to be in - tenure as grand hospitaller of the witness requires action. they recognized their sinfulness formed of the circumstances sur - Order of Malta and “his subse - Celebrating mass with a stand - and that their salvation came not rounding the removal of Albrecht quent concealment of these prob - ing-room-only congregation and from anything they did, but from Freiherr von Boeselager relates lems from the Grand Magistry,” hundreds of people watching on Jesus’ love and sacrifice. “They “to the authority he exercises the order said. Numerous media jumbo screens outside, Pope allowed themselves to be saved.” directly and immediately over all reports have said the problems Francis focused on the witness of “Being a witness does not baptized faithful, whether lay or specifically regarded the distribu - St. John the Baptist, who pointed mean being a saint, but being a clerical.” tion of condoms by aid agencies to Jesus as the Messiah. poor man or poor woman who “This is not about interfering working with the order’s Malteser Many of the first people to fol - says, ‘Yes, I am a sinner, but in the internal affairs of the order International. low Jesus, including some of the Jesus is lord and I will try to wit - because the purpose of the com - Festing, in the presence of U.S. first apostles, had been followers ness to him every day and to cor - mission, as is evident, is to give Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, of St. John the Baptist. “How did rect my life and follow the correct an account to the Holy Father on patron of the order, requested that they meet Jesus?” the pope asked. path,’ ’’ he said. the procedures (used to remove von Boeselager resign. His refusal “Because there was a witness,” One sin the Gospels did not von Boeselager) and nothing to resign resulted in his removal who told them Jesus was the one. accuse the apostles of, the pope else,” said the note, which was in early December. John E. “It is the same in our lives.” said, is gossip. “They didn’t dated Jan. 11 and shown to Cath - Critien was elected grand chan - Faith is not like being “the fan speak ill of each other.” olic News Service. cellor ad interim Dec. 14. of a team” or “having a philoso - “Do you want a perfect par - The Grand Magistry of the Pope Francis established the phy” or just following a set of ish?” Pope Francis asked the peo - order had released a statement commission Dec. 22 to gather the rules, he said. “Being a Christian is ple. “Then no gossip. None. If Jan. 10 stating its refusal to co- facts and “completely inform” the first of all giving witness to Jesus.” you have something against operate with the Vatican commis - Holy See about the situation and CNS/Kevin R. Cooke, Franciscan University Christianity has spread another, tell him or her directly.” sion, citing what it termed the circumstances leading to von through out the world because The pope returned to the SCANLAN DIES — Franciscan “legal irrelevance” of the com - Boeselager’s removal as well as people have given witness in theme at the end of mass. After Father Michael Scanlan, retired mission and claiming that the to foster dialogue and a peaceful word and deed to Jesus as sav - final blessing, he told them, members were “appointed by the resolution, according to a Vatican president of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, died Jan. 7 iour. Sometimes, he said, the wit - “Don’t forget to pray for me and Secretary of State of the Vatican.” statement. after a long illness. He is pictured ness was given in small ways and no gossip.” The grand master of the order, The order’s sovereignty is at in a 2009 photo. The priest trans - Fra Matthew Festing, also insisted the heart of its argument against formed the struggling College of that the former chancellor’s the legality of the commission, Steubenville — now known as the Happiness is to appreciate what you have; unhap - removal was an act of internal which is led by Archbishop Franciscan University of Steu ben - governance that falls exclusively Silvano M. Tomasi, former ville — in the 1970s. He was its piness is to dwell on what you don’t have. within the order’s power. Vatican representative to UN longtime president — from 1974 — Rabbi Shimon Ben Zoma (2nd century) Meeting with members of the agencies in Geneva. to 2000.