May 15, 2010 VOL. VIII, NO.15 $1.25+HST
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Nova Scotia’s and Prince Edward Island’s Guide to Catholic Living May 15, 2010 VOL. VIII, NO.15 $1.25+HST (Please turn to Page 6) DIOCESE OF ANTIGONISH BISHOP Brian Dunn celebrated Mass at Our Lady of Grace Monastery May 8 as part of celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Grace. (MacEachern photo) PAGE 2 Diocesan News The Atlantic Catholic — May 15, 2010 Regnum Christi Couple Perseveres Publisher and General Manager: Ken Sims — [email protected] Through Movement’s Difficulties Managing Editor: Brian Lazzuri — [email protected] Editorial Assistant/Halifax: By Nicole Myshak Nicole Myshak — As active members of the Regnum Christi [email protected] Movement for nearly six years, Joe and Contributing Reporters: Charlottetown: Doreen Beagan — Clare Yurchesyn were encouraged by a May [email protected] 1 communiqué published by the Holy See Advertising: Mike Hancox — Press Office concerning the Legionaries of [email protected] Christ. Christine MacGillivray — “It was positive,” summarizes Clare. [email protected] Subscriptions: Tena McGrath The parishioner of Blessed Pope John —[email protected] XXIII Church in Dartmouth explains how the release was “very supportive of the Mission Statement: To report Legionaries” in terms of the empathy and religious news that will inform, educate compassion it expressed for the “pain and and inspire Catholics, guided by the Church’s teaching, in faithfulness to sufferings they’ve experienced” on account the Good News. of the revelation of the grave sins of the congregation’s founder, Father Marcial Submissions: Please submit Maciel Degollado, who also founded the letters, notices, stories and photos Regnum Christi movement. to the editor at: atlanticcatholic@ thecasket.ca; fax (902)863-1943; or It provided hope, adds Joe of the send to 88 College St., Antigonish, communiqué, which relayed information N.S. B2G 2L7. The editor reserves the about the apostolic visitation of the right to edit copy, which should not Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ exceed 300 words for letters or 750 and the reports offered by the five bishops words for stories. The Atlantic Catholic CLARE AND JOE Yurchesyn joined Regnum Christi in 2004 as a way to deepen their faith. reserves the right to refuse letters. in charge of the investigation. Despite controversies assailing the movement, the Dartmouth couple has persevered in this Letters to the editor are the sole The statement also noted Pope Benedict particular vocation, which continues to bring them joy. (Myshak photo) opinion of the author and do not XVI “was present at one of the sessions, at reflect the opinions of The Atlantic which the visitors presented a summary of It also emphasized that “incontrovertible a “need to preserve, through appropriate Catholic. their reports.” evidence has confirmed” these disturbing formation, the enthusiasm of the faith of Poetry, songs and prayers will not be published. deeds of the now deceased priest. young members, their missionary zeal and All submissions, which must be Extensive their apostolic dynamism.” signed by the author and include a Moving Forward telephone number, should arrive one Investigation Comforting Words week prior to the desired publication The communiqué elaborated as to the The five visitators also “testified to having date. nature of the visitation, which consisted in met a great number of exemplary religious The Yurchesyns were heartened by the For information call interviews with more than 1,000 Legionaries who are honest and talented, many of them encouragement of the Pope included in the (902)863-4370. as well as examination of “hundreds of young, who seek Christ with genuine zeal communiqué when it said “the Holy Father written testimonies.” The release also said and are offering their entire lives to spread wishes to assure all Legionaries and members Advertising Deadline: Wednesday the visitors “went to almost all the religious the Kingdom of God.” of the ‘Regnum Christi’ Movement that they prior to publication date Publication Frequency: 24 times a houses and many of the apostolic works run Even so “the apostolic visit was able will not be abandoned.” year, every other week except first by the congregation.” to ascertain that the behaviour of Fr. “The Church is firmly resolved to issue of January and second issue “They heard, orally or in writing, the Marcial Maciel Degollado has had serious accompany them and help them on the path of July opinion of many diocesan bishops of the consequences for the life and structure of the of purification that awaits them,” it read. Subscriptions: $29.01 per year, countries in which the congregation works.” Legion, such as to require a process of in-depth Joe was particularly struck by this pledge including tax Additionally, “although it was not the revision.” Moreover “the Holy Father will of Pope Benedict’s. Send cheques, made payable to The subject of the visitation,” these visitors “met send a visitator to the consecrated members That sentence really jumped out at me, he Casket, to 88 College St. Box 1300, many members of the ‘Regnum Christi’ of the ‘Regnum Christi’ Movement, who have attests. “I had an image in my mind of the Antigonish, NS B2G 2L7. Telephone Movement,” especially those men and insistently requested this” and he will appoint Good Shepherd.” (902)863-4370. women who are consecrated. “a delegate of his own and a commission to “This will also mean dealing sincerely Published by The Casket Printing and Publishing Company (2006) While the document highlighted various study the Legion’s constitutions.” with all of those who, within and outside the Ltd. areas of concern, it affirmed “the sincere “Though each visitator acted Legion, were victims of sexual abuse and of We acknowledge the financial sup- zeal of most Legionaries” and asserted that independently, they came to substantial the power system devised by the founder,” port of the Government of Canada a “great majority … were unaware” of the agreement and a shared viewpoint in their continued the communiqué. “They are in the through the Publications Assistance troubling life of Father Maciel. assessments,” said the communiqué. These Holy Father’s thoughts and prayers at this Program toward our mailing costs. PAP Registration No. 10929 The release stated that the founder’s included the need to “review the exercise of time, along with his gratitude to those of them behaviour – which was “very serious and authority” and “redefine the charism of the who, even in the midst of great difficulties, objectively immoral” — “sometimes resulted Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, had the courage and constancy to demand the in actual crimes, and manifests a life devoid of preserving its true core.” truth.” scruple and of genuine religious sentiment.” Furthermore the document specified (Please turn to Page 11) The Atlantic Catholic — May 15, 2010 Diocesan News PAGE 3 Catholic Honoured as an Associate of AST By Nicole Myshak is. “It’s a sense that we take with us wherever Marilyn Sweet’s association with the we go,” she perceives. Atlantic School of Theology (AST) helped “The school embodies ecumenism in influence both the trajectory of her life and really practical ways,” Sweet adds. “People her ministry within the Church. are together and they learn to talk with each “For me it’s been an extraordinary grace,” other” and “to see each other as colleagues and she asserts of the school and God’s providence companions on this journey of faith.” at work in her life. “All of it is.” “That creates a wonderful net of Having the opportunity to first study at, and relationships throughout the whole Christian then serve the school, has been just one of the tradition” which “plays out in so many great blessings of my life, she continues. “I different ways,” she states. consider it an extraordinary privilege.” Sweet provides the examples of the These contributions of Sweet to the AST support shown during recent Church sexual community were acknowledged during a abuse scandals including Bishop Raymond May 1 convocation ceremony when she Lahey’s arrest last fall for possession of child was presented with the Associate Award, an pornography. honour bestowed on a person who is “valued “It has been very comforting to know that and appreciated by the school in a particular people of other faith traditions, when they way.” gather for Sunday worship, have actively From what Sweet shares about the Atlantic prayed for the Catholic Church by name to School of Theology, it’s clear such sentiments support us in these hard times,” she says. are mutual. THE REVEREND CANON Eric Beresford, President of the Atlantic School of Theology, recognizes “That’s huge.” The wife and mother of three adult children Marilyn Sweet as an Associate of AST during the May 1 convocation at the Cathedral Church While Sweet acknowledges the small recounts beginning her studies at AST in 1988 of All Saints in Halifax. Grateful for a life “full of blessings,” Sweet says one of these “major size of the school and its student body, she when her “children were in high school.” “It blessings has been the opportunity to learn” as much as she has “and to develop good recognizes the great impact it’s had on the strong understandings” which she has, in turn, been able to share with others throughout was a very important time in my life,” she her ministry. (Myshak photo) broader community and individuals such as affirms of her years at the Halifax school. herself. “Everything fell into place for me to go.” millennium and beyond that.” of having people from “different faith “The works that the school does and the Although Sweet recalls not really Additionally, as part of her schooling, traditions” studying together. learning experience that people have while understanding “anything about ecumenism” at Sweet grew in appreciation of history She insists this enhances communion they’re there is really profound and continues the outset of her education, she soon learned to including that of the Church worldwide as among people and “the common sense of what to have a strong effect for a person’s continued “recognize and then appreciate the differences well as within Canada and in Nova Scotia.