Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 95 No. 42 April 18, 2018 Winnipeg synod Bossy, macho clerics mistreat women The three greatest chal - lenges facing the church are By Junno Arocho Esteves solely as submissive labourers in America proposed that the church parish, almost like submissive the formation of missionary the parish, said members of a hold a Synod of Bishops “on the clients of worship and manual disciples, the passing on of VATICAN CITY (CNS) — pontifical commission. theme of the woman in the life labour for what is needed. All of the faith, and outreach to The Catholic Church in Latin In addition, at the end of their and mission of the church.” this has to end,” said the final those on the periphery of America must recognize and plenary meeting March 6 - 9 at “There still exist ‘macho,’ document from the meeting. society. These are the con - appreciate the role of women and the Vatican, members of the bossy clerics who try to use L’Osservatore Romano , the clusions of the Synod of the end the practice of using them Pontifical Commission for Latin women as servants within their Vatican newspaper, reported April Archdiocese of Winnipeg at 11 that the theme of the four-day the completion of its Gagnon responds to D&P controversy meeting, “The woman: pillar in General Sessions. building the church and society in — page 3 Latin America,” was chosen by Saint honoured By James Buchok The Canadian Catholic Or - Pope Francis. ganization for Development and In addition to 17 cardinals and Pro-life heroine St. Gianna WINNIPEG — The Arch dio - Peace was established by the seven bishops who are members Beretta cese of Winnipeg has joined other bishops of Canada in 1967 as part of the commission, the pope Molla is dioceses in withholding donations of the missionary outreach of the asked that some leading Latin collected by its churches for the Roman Catholic Church in Can - honoured in American women also be invited; Development and Peace 2018 ada to foster justice and integral eight laywomen and six women bronze in the Share Lent campaign until it is human development in Third religious participated in the four- tiny village assured that D&P partners “com - World Countries. day meeting and in drafting its of Rama, ply with Catholic moral and “For many years the Arch - pastoral recommendations, the Sask., the social teaching.” diocese of Winnipeg has support - newspaper said. site of an In a letter read in churches ed the work of Development and While the assembly expressed annual pilgrimage to the grot - April 15, Archbishop Richard Peace both spiritually and finan - appreciation for and based many to of Our Lady of Lourdes. Gagnon explained the mandate of cially,” writes Gagnon. “The fall of its proposals on the Latin — page 6 Development and Peace is ful - educational initiative and the American bishops’ Aparecida Treaty medal filled through co-operation with Share Lent collection are two document, participants said more more than 100 local partner orga - familiar ways by which our sup - needed to be done to implement École St. Paul School has nizations in developing countries port has been evident.” concrete solutions to the prob - become the first school working among the poor. The archbishop continues: “I Photo supplied lems facing women in Latin among Greater Saskatoon “The Bishops of Canada,” must express my gratitude to the Archbishop Richard Gagnon America. Catholic Schools, and the writes the archbishop, “have been many volunteers and participants As archbishop of Buenos first school in Saskatchewan, made aware of a recent appraisal who are part of Development and oping world. The temporary with - Aires, Argentina, then-Cardinal to install a Treaty 6 medal as of such partners and have become Peace in the Archdiocese of holding of funds underscores the Jorge Mario Bergoglio headed the visible recognition of an concerned that a sizable number Winnipeg. There has always been a seriousness of the bishops’ con - drafting committee for the final ongoing relationship with of them have practices and posi - very generous and whole-hearted cerns and the need for open trans - document of the Fifth General indigenous peoples. tions which conflict with Catholic response to the work of Devel - parency and ac counta bility. If this Conference of the Bishops of — page 7 moral and social teachings, such opment and Peace in Manitoba and is successfully achieved, Devel - Latin America and the Caribbean, as respect for the sanctity of I can assure you that the monies so opment and Peace-Caritas Canada in 2007 in Aparecida, Brazil. Speaking truth human life from conception to far collected, will be completely will be strengthened and blessed in to power natural death.” reserved for projects in the devel - their important work.” — DENOUNCE , page 15 Gagnon stressed that collec - Honduran Jesuit Padre tions for Development and Peace Élisabeth Bruyère declared venerable Melo is considered to be are normally not transferred until the most August. “This space of time By Deborah Gyapong the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, lished a whole network of social influential should give ample opportunity for it is also a day filled with joy for services that were greatly need - Catholic Development and Peace to make OTTAWA (CCN) — Pope the whole church, which has just ed,” Watier said. “Élisabeth leader in the required reforms. It is very important that the concerns sur - Francis declared Mother Élisa- recognized our foundress, Élisa - Bruyère was a woman ahead of Honduras beth Bruyère venerable April 14, beth Bruyère, venerable, a first her time. She initiated social identified rounding the recent review of D&P partners are attended to putting the foundress of Ottawa’s step toward her canonization,” changes that benefitted not only with the promptly.” first hospital and bilingual school said Sister Rachelle Watier, gen - Ottawa but the whole world,” she struggle On April 6, LifeSiteNews re - on the first of three steps to saint - eral superior of the Sisters of said, noting members of the and the interests of the poor. ported that three Catholic bishops hood. Charity of Ottawa, in a statement. Congregation serve in the United He lives with death threats. were holding back funds from “Today is not only a great day “The sanctity of her virtues has States, Brazil, Japan, Lesotho, — page 8 Development and Peace after a filled with emotion and pride for been officially recognized.” South Africa, Malawi, and Struggle for report that 40 of its grantees were “We are very Zambia. found contradicting Catholic happy to share our Born on March 19, 1818, in democracy teaching. Bishops William immense joy with the L’Assomption, Quebec, a village McGrattan of Calgary and Paul public. This is also a not far from Montreal, Bruyère The struggle for more Terrio of St. Paul joined Ed mon - great day for the city joined the Grey Nuns of Montreal and deeper democracy ton Archbishop Richard Smith in of Ottawa, for Can - in 1839, and made her vows in has to contend with announcing that donations to ada, for the 185 loca - 1841. what authors of Daring D&P would be withheld until tions where the In 1845, the Grey Nuns sent Democracy describe “clear assurance” is received that Sisters of Charity of Bruyère and five other sisters to as anti-democracy they are used in accord with Ottawa have been Bytown, then a bustling logging movements and tactics, Cath olic teaching. active in our coun - community experiencing an the goals of which are LifeSiteNews said an internal try,” she said. “Filled influx of Irish refugees fleeing “to overwhelm the views review of D&P was conducted by with the love of God starvation, to found a school for of the majority of staff from the Canadian Confer - and a burning desire French Canadians in the town that Americans,” writes Gerry ence of Catholic Bishops last fall to do God’s work and would eventually become Can - Schmitz. The only way to after an inquiry from the Catholic help the vulnerable ada’s capital city, Ottawa. confront these challenges Women’s League about a wom - and those without a Bruyère, however, saw the is not to give up, but en’s health clinic in Haiti that is voice, Élisabeth need for schooling for the Irish as to work together on partnered with D&P. Bruyère, in 1845, at well, so she created Canada’s first democratic initiatives According to LifeSiteNews, age 27, changed the bilingual school in an era where at all levels. . . . dioceses in Canada contributed face of the village of intercultural mixing was not the — page 9 $8.3 million to D&P’s annual Bytown.” “in thing,” said Watier. Share Lent campaign in 2016 - Courtesy the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa “Within five 2017. Mother Élisabeth Bruyère months, she estab - — FEMINIST , page 4 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS April 18, 2018 Chilean abuse victims welcome pope’s apology

By Jane Chambers reality,” they said. then a priest — had witnessed Juan Carlos Claret, spokesper - restored for sexual abuse victims, Pope Francis’ letter, released their abuse by his mentor, son for the parishioners in who feel that they were ignored SANTIAGO, Chile (CNS) — by the Vatican April 11, asked Karadima. In 2011, Karadima Osorno, said Catholics in the dio - and not taken seriously by the Victims of clergy sexual abuse “forgiveness of all those I have was sentenced to a life of prayer cese “value the pope’s willing - Chilean church. welcomed Pope Francis’ letter in offended” and said he hoped to and penance by the Vatican after ness to restore trust. That is pre - Following the release of Pope which he apologized for underes - “be able to do it personally in the he was found guilty of sexually cisely the task that must unite all Francis’ letter, Bishop Santiago timating the seriousness of the coming weeks.” abusing boys. Karadima denied believers in Chile.” Silva Retamales, president of the crisis in Chile. In an interview with CNN the charges; he was not prosecut - However, he said, “It is not bishops’ conference and head of James Hamilton, Jose Andres Chile, Cruz said he was grateful ed civilly because the statute of possible to restore trust if there are the military ordinariate, said the Murillo and Juan Carlos Cruz, for the pope’s “unprecedented” limitations had expired. no adequate and sufficient mea - bishops of Chile would travel to victims of Rev. Fernando Kara - apology and expression of shame, During his visit to Chile in sures to effectively take care of the the Vatican in the third week of dima, released a statement April and he hoped to have a frank dis - January, the pope sparked contro - problem. In this sense, the depar - May. 11 saying they appreciated the cussion with Pope Francis about versy when he pledged his sup - ture of Bishop Barros is necessary The bishops, he said, shared in pope’s letter and were “evaluating the pain suffered by victims of port for Barros and said: “The but not enough. Now is the oppor - the pope’s pain. the possibilities” for meeting with abuse. day they bring me proof against tunity to assume and overcome the “We have not done enough,” the pope. “We want to talk with him and Bishop Barros, I will speak. crisis of the church in Chile.” he said in a statement. “Our com - “The damage committed by humbly speak to him about for - There is not one piece of evi - Claret added that the abuse of mitment is that this does not hap - the hierarchy of the Chilean giveness and tell him not only dence against him. It is calumny.” power must end for trust to be pen again.” church, to which the pope refers, everything we have experienced, He later apologized to the vic - has affected many people, not just but also to speak with him about tims and admitted that his choice us,” the victims said. the situation that many people of words wounded many. “The purpose of all our actions have suffered, what we have suf - A short time later, the Vatican has always been about recogni - fered. It happened not only in announced Pope Francis was tion, forgiveness and reparation Chile but also in the United sending Archbishop Charles for what has been suffered, and States, in Italy, in the whole Scicluna of Malta and his aide, will continue to be so, until zero world,” he said. Rev. Jordi Bertomeu Farnos, to tolerance against abuse and con - Abuse victims alleged that Chile to listen to people with cealment in the church becomes a Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno — information about Barros. Baptism opens door to Holy Spirit: pope

By Junno Arocho Esteves Xherdan Shaqiri — while Tiento nated by the sin that divides us is also the name of the 1930 from God — in the baptismal font VATICAN CITY (CNS) — World Cup soccer ball. and giving birth to the new man, Parents who prefer not to baptize The pope greeted the pilgrims recreated in Jesus. In him, all the their children in the hopes that and smiled as he saw the llamas, children of Adam are called to they will “understand and ask for which are indigenous to South new life,” the pope said. baptism” as adults lack faith that America. The pope, who often tells peo - the Holy Spirit will act in their In his main talk, Pope Francis ple to look up the date of their child’s life, Pope Francis said. reflected on the sacrament of bap - baptism, called on those who While some believe that there tism as “the foundation of Chris- don’t remember the date to ask CNS/Reuters is no need to “baptize a child that tian life.” their family and to celebrate it like BISHOP ADDRESSES CHILE’S ABUSE CRISIS — Bishop Santiago does not understand” the meaning As the first of seven sacra - a birthday and “give thanks to the Silva Retamales, president of the Chilean bishops’ conference and head of the sacrament, the pope said ments, he said, baptism “is the Lord because it was on that day of the military ordinariate, speaks to the media in Punta De Tralca, doing so would deny the chance door that permits Christ the Lord when Jesus entered” in their lives. Chile, April 11 after receiving Pope Francis’ letter on the country’s for “Christian virtues to grow to make his dwelling in us and “We should all know the date sexual abuse crisis. within that child and blossom.” allows us to immerse ourselves in of our baptism. It is another birth - “Always give this opportunity his mystery.” day, it is the day of our rebirth,” World shouts ‘freedom,’ to all children: to have within While being immersed in water he said. themselves the Holy Spirit that is a common ritual “in various Although baptism occurs only will guide them in life. Do not beliefs” that signifies the passing once in a Christian’s life, Pope but is enslaved to passions forget to baptize your children,” from one condition to another, Francis said, “it illuminates our the pope said during his weekly Pope Francis said Christians must entire life, guiding our steps until By Carol Glatz time — they leave it to God. They general audience in St. Peter’s never forget that just as the body (we reach) the heavenly Jeru - leave room for God to act in time. Square April 11. is immersed in water at baptism, salem.” VATICAN CITY (CNS) — They are patient,” the pope said. Arriving in the square under so is the soul “immersed in Christ “No one deserves baptism, Christian freedom is being free Pontius Pilate, for example, cloudy skies, Pope Francis once to receive forgiveness from sin which is always a gift for every - from worldly ambition, fashion was a man who was intelligent again picked up several children and shine with divine light.” one, adults and newborns. But and passion and being open to and could think reasonably, how - who rode around in his popemo - “By virtue of the Holy Spirit, like what happens to a seed full of God’s will, Pope Francis said. ever, he wasn’t free, the pope said. bile while he circled around to baptism immerses us in the death life, this gift takes root and brings The world today “is a bit “He lacked the courage of free - greet thousands of pilgrims. and resurrection of the Lord, forth fruit in a land nourished by schizoid, schizophrenic, right? It dom because he was a slave to After dropping them off, the drowning the old man — domi - faith,” the pope said. shouts, ‘Freedom, freedom, free - careerism, ambition and success.” pope made his way dom!’ but it is more slave, slave, Even though Peter and John toward the stage slave,” he said in his homily April were innocent and were punished when he was greeted 13 at morning mass in the Domus unjustly after they were freed by some unlikely Sanctae Marthae . from prison, they did not go to a guests at the audi - People need to think about judge to complain or demand ence: three llamas. what kind of freedom they seek in reparation, the pope said. According to the the world, he said. They freely chose to rejoice Italian newspaper Is it Christian, he asked, or “am and suffer in Christ’s name just as Corriere della Sera , I slave to my passions, my ambi - Christ suffered for them, he said. the three llamas — tions, to many things, to wealth, to “Even today there are so many named Buffon, fashion. It seems like a joke, but so Christians, in prison, tortured who Shaquiri and Tiento many people are slaves to fashion!” carry forward this freedom to pro - — along with their Pope Francis’ homily looked at claim Jesus Christ,” he said. owner and his two three examples of Christian free - Finally, Jesus himself gives an travelling compan - dom that were depicted in the example of freedom when he ions, began their pil - day’s first reading from the Acts escapes to the mountain alone grimage to Rome in of the Apostles (5:34-42) and the after he realizes the people were February. The pil - Gospel reading (Jn 6:1-15). going to carry him off to make grims travelled over The first reading told how the him king after the miracle of the 1,050 kilometres on Pharisee, Gamaliel, convinces the multiplication of the loaves. foot from the north - Sanhedrin to free Peter and John “He detached himself from tri - ern Italian province from prison. He made the deci - umphalism. He does not let him - of Bolzano to meet sion, the pope said, based on a self be deceived” by this attitude the pope. trust that God would eventually of superiority, and makes sure he The names of two let the truth be known about the remains free, the pope said. of the llamas seem - CNS/Paul Haring apostles and by using his power True freedom, he said, is mak - ingly reference two POPE AT GENERAL AUDIENCE — Pope Francis passes a group with llamas of reason without letting it be ing room for God in one’s life and soccer greats — during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 11. Ilamas warped by quick ambition. following him with joy, even if it Gianluigi Buffon and are indigenous to South America. “Free people are not afraid of brings hardship and suffering. April 18, 2018 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 3 Medical personnel fight to keep morality in medicine

By Michael Swan have that understanding if there is he said. “I could do home visits their psychological problem,” he As a former professor at some The Catholic Register some kind of internal morality of there, having the support for that.” said. “In the walk-in clinic way, of Canada’s most prestigious medicine.” Over the years, Girard came to you get the pill or the prescription medical schools, Kenny was Hippocrates, the father of med - As the Catholic Health Alli- see patterns of extra-medical prob - in five minutes. The consumeris - always anxious to inform her stu - icine, described a physician’s ance of Canada’s health policy lems that underlay the ailments of tic way, in my mind, is lesser dents, “Actually you heal rarely, career this way: “Life is short, the and ethics adviser since 2009 and patients entrenched in poverty. A quality. It adds more risk and cure rarely, aid often and comfort art long, opportunity fleeting, the founding chair of the bio- surprising number had experi - doesn’t bring more benefit.” always.” experiment dangerous and judg - ethics program at Dalhousie enced childhood abuse, frequently Beginning in 2011 Girard un- But as society gets more and ment difficult.” So, who in their University’s Faculty of Medicine, related to an intersection of sub - dertook the extra training to make more used to the idea that tech - right mind would want to be a Kenny has struggled to claim her stance abuse and mental illness. the shift to psychotherapy and nology will fix every problem, doctor? vocation in medicine. “I’ve been As the profession was being works today in the Clinic for the vocation of healing has to Dr. Louis Girard — psycho- blessed with having three differ - revolutionized by new drugs, Person Centred Psychotherapy. It’s fight for air, lest it be smothered therapist, family physician and ent vocational calls,” Kenny said. Girard’s own practice took a turn the lowest paid and arguably the in an avalanche of new products palliative care doctor — knows “The first and most important as a toward more conversation. most urgently needed specialty in and procedures. the answer. It’s him. baptized Christian.” “Unfortunately, in family prac - Canada’s medical system, but Kenny knows that the core of “My choice of medicine was to But her second vocation almost tice I saw so many people who Girard was never thinking in terms her calling was never summed up go to the people most in need,” eliminated her third. Kenny grew were coming to me asking for a of the better career move. in biochemistry. She signed up Girard told The Catholic Register . up the daughter of Irish immi - pill for this, or a prescription for “Behind all my choices lays the for what Pope Francis calls a cul - “Jesus said, ‘What you do for the grants in New York City. Her that — all of them coming from Gospel,” he said. ture of encounter. least, for the poor, for the margin - father was a welder and they lived alized, it’s to me that you do it.’ in a working-class neighbourhood That was certainly an influence on where she could attend Catholic my choice of medicine as a profes - schools run by the Sisters of sion where you can be in constant Charity of Halifax. When she opportunity to help.” looked to the front of the class - Medicine might be just a job room, young Nuala Kenny knew for some, but healing as a vocation who she wanted to be. goes much deeper. Today, howev - The trouble was that choice er, it is a vocation often at odds was in conflict with what she had with a society in love with quick wanted to be since girlhood — a fixes, from our reliance on drugs doctor. The Halifax brand of to normalizing such procedures as Sisters of Charity didn’t have doc - abortion and assisted suicide. tors. They were teachers. “The human person in his “I was told explicitly when I frailty stands at the centre of all entered that I would not be able to medical and health care work,” be a doctor,” she recalled. “I knew Pope Francis told a conference of I wanted to be a doctor. But I Catholic doctors in 2013. “On the knew that God was calling me to one hand, we note — and thank be a Sister of Charity. So I gave it Archbishop Richard Gagnon God for it — the advances made up,” Kenny said. in medicine. . . . On the other With the Second Vatican Coun - GENERAL SESSION — Delegates attend the final General Session of the Synod of the Archdiocese of hand, however, we also find the cil, the Halifax sisters began to Winnipeg March 17. danger of a doctor losing his own think of themselves in more voca - identity as a servant of life. tional terms. Suddenly they were Cultural disorientation has beset asking young women in formation Winnipeg synod sessions come to an end what seemed to be an unassailable like Sister Agnes Sean (Kenny’s sphere — yours, medicine.” religious name) what they felt By James Buchok January — were focused on pro - children.” called to. Once her superiors final - posals put forth by Focus Com - For the theme of outreach to ly convinced her to stop saying WINNIPEG — The three mission reports on topics that had those on the periphery of the “Whatever you say,” they gave the greatest challenges facing the come to the fore following arch - church and of society, the top initia - whip-smart 22-year-old a year to Catholic Church are: the forma - diocese-wide Listening Sessions in tive is: “We seek to be a church that plough through a raft of science tion of missionary disciples, the the fall of 2016, with more than accompanies others in mercy by courses and write her medical passing on of the faith, and out - 900 participants sharing their being welcoming, listening to, and school admission test. reach to those on the periphery of hopes, concerns and visions for understanding their life stories.” “For me it was a specification society. This is the conclusion of the local church. Gagnon said the work of the of my calling as a baptized and the Synod of the Archdiocese of The Focus Commission re- synod is a direct response to the then as a religious woman and Winnipeg following the comple - ports covered: New Evan geliza - prophecy of Jeremiah. then the calling to the healing and tion of its General Sessions. tion and Missionary Outreach; “Jeremiah spoke of a future reconciling mission of Jesus After two years and the consid - Catechetics and Faith Devel op - time when a new covenant will be Christ, which is what health care is eration of hundreds of prayerful ment; Indigenous People; Youth established within the hearts of all about,” she said. minds on dozens of difficult ques - and Young Adults; Marriage and believers,” the archbishop said. From the start of medical tions, the synod, the first in the Family; Sacramental Preparation, “This is a different covenant than school, she looked up from her history of the archdiocese, enters Prayer and Devotional Life; the former law which was broken anatomy textbooks and saw the its final phase with an Im ple - Vocations and Leadership; Gov - many times over. The law was Gospel. mentation Commission drawn to- ernance; and Social Outreach. like a command that people fre - “There are three dimensions of gether to assist and advise Arch - Each of the reports can be found quently sought to break or to Jesus’ healings that are universal,” bishop Richard Gagnon in the pas - on the Archdiocese of Winnipeg show their own superiority over. she explains. “The first is that he toral directions and initiatives that website with short videos from But the new law is something Catholic Register/Michael Swan paid attention to their physical dis - will address the synod’s findings. the General Sessions and inter - placed within us through the Holy Louis Girard tress. The second is that he in fact The synod formally concludes views with synod delegates. Spirit and the Spirit penetrates our paid attention to their emotional on Pentecost, May 20, with a clos - At the fourth General Session hearts where we learn intimately Disoriented is how Dr. Nuala and psychological distress. And ing liturgy at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Feb. 24 delegates discussed 14 that God is love because he loved Kenny feels when she surveys the third is that he restored them to the “To be a Synodal Church wider initiatives derived from us even by taking our transgres - profession she entered almost 50 community.” means to have an attitude of serv - propositions approved by dele - sions upon himself. Each believer years ago. Restoring people was always ing God for his greater glory and gates in earlier sessions. At the learns through the Holy Spirit that “You don’t know how much of Girard’s passion in medicine. not serving ourselves. Rather, fifth and final session delegates God is love and does not need my time and energy has been “The first employment I had seeking God’s will in all our plan - discerned which of the 14 initia - instruction from another like a devoted to the issue of what just was in palliative care — people ning and pastoral work. And by tives were most central to each of school child: ‘All from the least to happened to medicine in the med - who are dying, who are rejected so doing we become his disciples, three overarching themes. the greatest shall know me.’ ” icalization of assisted death,” the by so many other people around his followers,” said Gagnon as he For the formation of mission - “As we go forth from our Sister of Charity of Halifax said them, including their treating presided at mass following the ary disciples, the top initiative is: General Sessions,” the archbishop by phone from her community in physician,” said the transplanted final General Session, March 17 “We provide ongoing training for concluded, “we ask the grace to Nova Scotia. “Doctors must do Quebecker. at St. John XXIII Church. “Our clergy and lay leaders to equip know who we are as established, what medicine does. What is med - From palliative care in Mon - synod theme has always been: them to provide formation for the anointed and sent in Christ. And to icine about? Medicine is about treal, Girard moved to family ‘Disciples: Established, Anointed people they serve.” appreciate and know the gift that health and healing. It isn’t about medicine in Toronto at a commu - and Sent in Christ.’ ” For the passing on of the faith, we have received. Then, like the death. . . . Respect for autonomy is nity health centre. The archbishop quoted Jesus, the top initiative is: “We support Apostles in the Gospel today, we not translated into ‘Doctors do “I looked for a community saying, “Whoever serves me must the vocation of marriage, and can speak of Christ and in a cer - everything that patients ask of health centre knowing that it’s not follow me, and where I am, there assist families in making their tain sense show Jesus to those who them.’ We’re not Walmart clerks. the best paid or things like that, but will be my servant also.” homes domestic churches by liv - desire to meet him today. Please Medicine doesn’t do whatever you it’s the place where there were pro - The first three General Sessions ing out their faith and communi - God, our synod and its fruits will want it to do. But you can only grams for the most marginalized,” — in November, De cember and cating it to others, especially their help us to do precisely that.”

4 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS April 18, 2018 Catholic groups scramble to find summer job funds

By Michael Swan house in baking and food service. appearance, what-have-you. We gious Canadians misinterprets the fundraising options that could pull The Catholic Register But they also run a summer camp give these guys a chance.” intention, he said. in $60,000 in less than two for poor and at-risk children in But the mission simply couldn’t “We made it clear off the top to months. TORONTO (CCN) — Toronto’s South Riverdale commu - tick the box, Tadros said. these groups — it was about their “Our constituents, the majority Agencies rejected for Canada nity, and employ summer students “It’s important that we stand by core mandate and the job descrip - of them live below the poverty Summer Jobs grants because they in a variety of other programs. the conviction of being for life to tion. It had nothing to do with their line. So we’re not getting our won’t tick the pro-abortion attes - The mission is one of about the very end, even to the point beliefs or values,” he said. “I fundraised dollars from our direct tation box are scrambling to come 1,400 organizations who were where it hurts,” he said. would argue that the core mandate beneficiaries,” Mackenzie said. up with private funds to cover the rejected for summer job grants this Attesting that they see abortion of the Catholic Church is not to She hopes Catholic Charities of summertime services they pro - year after Employment Minister access as an unqualified human prevent women from having abor - the Archdiocese of Toronto can vide to the poor. Patty Hajdu imposed a condition right would be “a slap in the face” tions or to stop LGBTQ youth help make up the difference. “This is going to club us in the that applicants must attest that their to every parishioner, supporter and from participating in summer “We’re going to try to do what knees,” said St. John the Com - organization’s “core mandate” client who knows St. John the camps.” we can do,” said Catholic Charities passionate Mission Prior Paul respects “Charter values,” includ - Compassionate as a refuge for the The attestation came as a result executive director Michael Fullan. Tadros. “That takes money out of ing “reproductive rights” specifi - poor, the defenceless and the vul - of anti-abortion campaigners who Catholic Charities is the fund - the food and the people we serve cally interpreted to mean open nerable, including the unborn, said used the jobs funding to aggres - ing and support organization for 29 for breakfast at five in the morn - access to abortion. Tadros. sively campaign for criminal code agencies that serve the entire com - ing, the homeless men and women The mission needed $20,000 to “We’re definitely liberal and sanctions on abortion. munity, regardless of religion. who come and sleep on our floors. hire four summer students. progressive-minded. It isn’t a polit - The attestation has put Silent They can’t make up the entire dif - It hits the entire organization.” “It’s not just any old summer ical stance. It’s above politics,” Voice, a Catholic agency that ference, but hope to prioritize pro - The Carpatho-Russian Ortho- job,” said Tadros. “We seek out There are no plans to rethink or serves deaf families in Toronto, up grams that serve the disabled and dox mission under the Patriarch of candidates that would benefit from reword the attestation before the to $60,000 in the hole. children, Fullan said. Constantinople is most famous for that. Very often these are young - 2019 Canada Summer Jobs pro - “We’re not cancelling our “We’re hoping that in the future its French artisanal bread, a social sters who could easily be over - gram rolls out, said Matt Pascuzzo, camp. It’s been running for 44 some of these constraints may enterprise that trains recovering looked by other organizations press secretary to Hajdu. years,” said Silent Voice executive change so that we can get access to addicts, refugees and the hard-to- because of their demeanour, their The idea that attesting to a core director Kelly Mackenzie. some of the public resources that mandate in contravention of basic But a small agency like Silent belong to all of us as Canadian citi - Bruyère was a feminist moral teaching might upset reli - Voice doesn’t have a lot of zens,” Fullan said. ‘just by being’: Watier

Continued from page 1 “Mother Bruyère and the Sisters of Charity initiated and Typhoid and other communica - founded several of the charitable ble diseases were rife among the institutions that continue to be Irish immigrants, and “no one very present and active in our wanted to go” to help them, community, especially in health Watier said, but Mother Bruyère and education,” he said. sent some sisters to help. The Congregation now hopes Bruyère was a visionary and Mother Bruyère’s cause for saint - showed great willpower, adminis - hood will advance through a recog - trative skills and the ability to han - nized miracle credited to her inter - dle money, Watier said. “You could cession. At the Congregation’s not say she was promoting femi - mother house, a board on the wall of www.cnewa.ca U 1-866-322-4441 nism, but she was a feminist by just the oratory where Mother Bruyere’s being,” said Watier, noting “she felt remains are kept posts prayer good about who she was,” and requests received by phone so the knew “she was equal to everyone.” sisters can lift them up in prayer. CNEWA Canada “She does not accept the pater - Watier estimates there are about nalist opinions or ways of her 475 Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, time,” she said. “She was polite but with about 235 in Can ada. While was not afraid to assert her equality the missions in Africa are still with men, who were at the time, receiving vocations, the Canadian very powerful and influential.” sisters are growing older. “When you see within five “Because we are growing older, T YYes, es, I wantI towant help tto help months here in Ottawa, the social we are passing on this charism to Syrian Christians! Name safety net was all put into place our employees, families, and asso - and after three years, she built the ciates in different places,” she said. beginning of the General Hos - In Ottawa, the Congregation T$35 T $50 T$100 T$______Address pital,” Watier said. With money passed on the ownership of the raised from the boarding school three buildings of the original Mail oury hequec to: Bruyère founded, she was able to General Hospital to Bruyère Catholic Near WWelfarelfarEast e AssociationW Telephonee Email take care of the poor and the sick. Continuing Care, a palliative care 1247 Kilborn Place Ottawa Archbishop Terrence and rehabilitation hospital. Ottawa, ON ONK1H 6K9K1H 6K9 Charitaabble Registration #86775 7502 RR0001 11834 Prendergast noted the great con - The Congregation also funded tribution Bruyère made not only the new Élisabeth Bruyère School to Ottawa but also to the diocese, of Social Innovation at Saint Paul which was founded in 1847. University. PRAIRIE MESSENGER PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

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By Chris Berthelot decades. Donovan Alexis, Ray - Grandin Media mond’s brother and a councillor in the First Nation’s government, ALEXIS NAKOTA SIOUX says opioid and other drug addic - FIRST NATION (CCN) — A tions have affected more than 100 recovering opioid addict, of his people. Many self-medicate Raymond Alexis, remembers the to deal with years of traumatic dangerous path he took. experiences, including colonial - It started with tobacco at age ism and abuse in residential 13, and then progressed to mor - schools. phine, crystal meth, and later opi - Donovan Alexis said it’s im - oids such as OxyContin, a med - portant to recognize those trau - ication prescribed for pain. His mas in helping addicts recover. descent into addiction eventually “You’ve got to be careful and robbed him of his job, his rela - mindful and compassionate for tionship, and ultimately the them, which is encompassing of parental rights to his four chil - your spirituality and humility.” dren, who were placed in the cus - While it’s difficult to identify tody of Alberta Child and Family one particular cause, Raymond Services. He even began to con - Alexis explains that time crawls sider suicide. by for young people on the four But Alexis turned his life reserves that form the Alexis First around. He has been drug-free for Nation. more than two years. He has his “There’s nothing to do around children back in his life. And his here. There’s absolutely nothing. Grandin Media/Andrew Ehrkamp struggle has been recognized with It just takes one person to have HEALING — Healing from addictions comes from spirit and community, including First Nations spiritual awards by the province and his drugs to get all of his friends practices, Alexis First Nation members said at a Community Conference on Trauma and Opioid Crisis on home community, the Alexis hooked; that’s how it is around March 22. Nakota Sioux Nation, northwest here.” of Edmonton. He credits his hard- First Nations people in Alberta 185 non-First Nations people. and council are considering pro - In his practice, he also provides fought sobriety to a drug treat - are disproportionately affected by Raymond Alexis’ story of opi - viding Naloxone — a temporary medications such as Suboxone to ment program, combined with opioid addiction, according to a oid addiction is similar to others overdose reversal drug — to ease withdrawal symptoms. spiritual healing through his com - joint study by Alberta Health and in Alexis. But community mem - those who need it in the commu - “I believe providing medica - mitment to Waka, the Nakota the Alberta First Nations In for - bers are taking action, by attend - nity. tion as a treatment is something Sioux name for the Creator. mation Governance Centre. ing this year’s conference on trau - Alberta Health Services pro - that’s needed.” “I asked him for guidance, and According to AHS, apparent ma and opioids, and talking about vides Naloxone kits for free and Raymond Alexis knows first- I promised him, ‘I’ll stay away opioid-related overdoses were ways to respond. without a prescription, and more hand that opioid withdrawal from this stuff. Get me through three times higher among First One idea is a return to First than 49,000 have been distributed symptoms — which can include this day.’ It’s the first time I ever Nations people compared with Nations spiritual practices such as across the province since the pro - chills, sweats, muscle aches or prayed like that and asked for non-First Nations people between sweat lodges and sun dances. gram began in 2016. More than anxiety — are often brutal. In his something like that from the Jan. 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017. That worked for Bernice Alexis, a 3,300 people have reported using addiction he kept using drugs to Creator,” said Alexis, now 33. Seventy-one First Nations people recovering alcoholic who has the kit to reverse an overdose. avoid those symptoms, and con - He shared his experiences of died from overdoses in 2016. been sober for decades now. Trevor Berard is an addictions tinued to struggle for three years. addiction and recovery at a First Nations people were also “I’m really grateful to the specialist who works specifically Now Alexis has his life back March 22 Community Confer- six times more likely than others Creator that I realized that it’s not with First Nations, including and parental rights to his two old - ence on Trauma and Opioid to visit an emergency department the answer, and that I had found a Alexis. He says that while absti - est children. The nightmare of Crisis, sponsored by the Alexis for abuse of opioids and other positive, healthy means to help nence was the goal when he first never seeing his children again Community Wellness Centre. substances. In 2017, a total of myself heal, which was through started counselling more than 20 was his ultimate inspiration to The Alexis Nakota Sioux Na- 1,193 First Nations people went to my culture,” she said. years ago, harm reduction strate - stop using. tion, home to about 2,000 people, Alberta emergency departments At the government level, gies are much more effective. “The only thing that brought has struggled with addictions for for that reason, compared with Donovan Alexis said the chief “Naloxone kits are good. They me out of that state was thinking have reversed quite a number of about my children,” he said. overdoses. However, that’s one “What would they do without piece of the puzzle,” said Berard. their dad?” CCCB silent on MP Angus’ proposed motion

By Deborah Gyapong unprecedented for Parliament to call upon the bishops to step up, OTTAWA (CCN) — Canada’s but to me, that’s more of an indi - Parliament will ask Pope Francis cation that the church is not doing to reconsider his refusal to apolo - their part of being seen as part of gize to the indigenous people who the process of reconciliation,” attended Catholic-run residential said Angus, who wrote an open Janice Weber schools, and for the Catholic letter to Prime Minister Justin Church to make good on its fi nan - Trudeau asking government sup - Psalm 23 cial obligations under the In dian port for a motion his party would This quiet river Then grey clouds Residential Schools Settle ment be bringing before the House of was the one place crossed the verdant valley Agreement. Commons. where my heart shed their tears The Canadian bishops remain The motion would have the slowe d; upon this earth, silent about a proposed NDP mo - House “call on the Canadian where memory reached back upon my thinning skin. tion drafted by MP Charlie Angus. Conference of Catholic Bishops till my breath However, religious freedom to invite Pope Francis to Canada stille d, Later, the wind anointed experts are raising concerns about to apologize on behalf of the whispered my greying temple hairs the impact of such a motion in the Catholic Church to indigenous in with the scent of pine present climate where many people living in Canada for the and and then churches feel religious freedom is church’s role in the residential ou t. the slow flutter of monarchs increasingly under threat. school system as outlined in Call in the deepening sun and “No religious community to Action 58 of the Truth and After the inner bell bees blessing should face this kind of political Reconciliation Commission’s silence rose the nodding blossoms. pressure and I am concerned about (TRC) report.” wafting the precedent it sets,” said Barry “I go to mass, I see dream catch - back I am here, Bussey, director of legal affairs for ers on the altar, I get invited to and home now, the Canadian Council of Christian church events to talk about recon - forth with You— Charities. “If the goal of the ciliation. For me, if the Catholic like incense breath of goodness, motion is to further reconciliation, Church is to play a part, then they across the hard years. breath of mercy. then that ought to be done outside have to respond and so, what we By Michael Dallaire of the political arena.” “I certainly recognize that it is — ANGUS , page 6 6 Prairie Messenger LOCAL NEWS April 18, 2018 Pregnancy Options Centre faces challenges

By Anne-Marie Hughes “But many days we are bursting says client services co-ordinator at the seams.” Tracy Unger. SASKATOON — Growing Clients find educational support “We have many new immigrant numbers and lack of space have through an Earn While You Learn clients from Nigeria, Afghanistan been daily challenges at the Program, a one-to-one peer coun - and Ukraine. We started a Syrian Saskatoon Pregnancy Options selling session where participants Mothers Drop In with an inter - Centre (SPOC) for the past couple watch videos, with printed teach - preter. They meet every three of years and that doesn’t appear to ing materials and homework, to months,” explains Unger. be changing in 2018. earn Baby Bucks that can be spent The centre has also expanded SPOC provides support for all in the centre’s Baby Boutique, a its outreach to new groups of sup - aspects of pregnancy. Crisis coun - new clothing and supply room. porters, recently organizing a selling happens in a variety of Fatherhood and male mentor - fundraising curling event. ways: in person, over the phone, ship have become part of the pro - “We wanted to have a fun or texting. Counsellors offer gram in the past year. Boyfriends, activity to build community with options for unplanned pregnan - husbands, mothers, sisters and supporters who don’t usually cies, a person to talk to for post- friends are encouraged to accom - come to galas and want to show abortive women, and information pany the client if they are part of their support for the centre with and education to parents who need her support system, and more cou - their families,” said Joan Hoerdt help during an ongoing pregnan - ples have been attending together. Lukan, committee chair. cy. Brad Banman has been volun - The centre is dependent on “In 2017 there were 1,149 teering at the centre for almost a donations from individuals and client visits, up from 825 visits in year. “In many situations there is a churches. There is no government 2016,” reports executive director lack in male mentorship about how support. “We have great monthly Anne-Marie Hughes Cathy LaFleche. “By this time last to be a father. I remember starting and yearly donors, and over 400 FUNDRAISER — A number of family-and-friend rinks participated in year we had 50 new clients and 11 out as a father; it was all new and attended our Fall Gala, which is a St. Patrick’s Day Curling Funspiel in support of the Saskatoon new babies; in 2018 we have seen unfamiliar. Even (with) being mar - our major fundraiser. To move Pregnancy Options Centre. From left: Jessica Carruthers, David 67 new clients and 17 new babies. ried and having extended family, it and expand will require more Anaka, Rebecca Carruthers, Bernie Charpentier, Meagan Renneberg, We definitely need more space.” was tough. These men take a huge fundraising and asking the com - Brandon Carruthers, Blair Carruthers, Jennifer Carruthers; in front: While having the counselling first step coming in here. Wherever munity for help,” she notes. Amanda Carruthers. rooms busy with pregnant women possible, we need to support that “We have mothers who come and new parents taking education - and help build a family.” in two weeks before their due date Saskatchewan budget al programs is great, it can be dif - There have been increases in and clients who come for post- ficult to find space for the preg - referrals from other agencies. abortion support decades after holds no real surprises nancy tests and options for clients “Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby their experience; women who call who need immediate care and are refers clients to us for maternity to talk and decide to have an abor - often highly emotional. clothes and baby supplies. They tion and then come in soon after By Frank Flegel shortfall from the $54 million cut “If a client walks in off the also send mothers over who may to deal with regret and emotional last year. street, we still have a quiet place not fit into the timeline for group pain they didn’t anticipate. There REGINA — The Saskatche wan The only tax change is that the in my office,” says LaFleche. classes and are beyond 36 weeks,” is no timeline for helping.” budget released April 10 held no PST will be applied to all used real surprises and didn’t generate light vehicles, but only on the dif - anywhere near the heat generated ference between the trade-in value Pro-life saints honoured in prairie village by the 2017 - 2018 budget. Health, and the purchased vehicle. Used education and social services con - vehicles gifted between qualifying By Frank Flegel tinue as the big three, eating up family members will be PST-free, close to $10.4 billion of the as well as used vehicles with a RAMA, Sask. — This tiny vil - $14.24 billion of the governments’ value of less than $5,000. lage of 75 souls could become spending plans. There is more The indexing of income tax known as the Village of the Three money for mental health, and has been “paused,” the PST Saints. Thanks to the generosity of starting this year each child under exemption for buying Energy Star two local families and the efforts of six with the autism spectrum dis - appliances has been eliminated, St. Anthony’s Parish Council, stat - order will receive $4,000. and there is no change to the so- ues of Saints Gianna Beretta Molla, School divisions will be called sin taxes. Pope John Paul II, and Mother pleased that Premier Scott Moe is Notably, there is no mention of Teresa stand in a group beside the living up to his promise to add revenue from cannabis, which is church. With the grotto of our Lady $30 million to the education bud - to be made legal some time this of Lourdes on the west side and the get, but there is still a $24-million summer. saints on the east, the church is bracketed by symbols of the faith commitment of the citizens. Angus has faith in pope Settled by Polish immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Continued from page 5 president Bishop Lionel Gendron Rama is located in east central wrote that the bishops remain Saskatchewan, about an hour’s bring to bear from Parliament, I committed to the work of recon - drive northwest of Yorkton. Soon think this is the moral question of ciliation, and said the pope did after the first settlers arrived, they the time, and the Catholic Church not rule out a visit at some time in began building a church, then they needs to be seen, and the Catholic the future. Enroute Photography erected a grotto fashioned from bishops need to be seen to be doing The NDP motion also calls on stones gathered from the sur - PRO-LIFE SAINTS — With Mother Teresa on the left and Pope John their part,” Angus said. the church to resume its efforts to Paul II on the right, the pro-life heroine St. Gianna Beretta Molla is rounding fields. The grotto was “I have had enormous hope and raise $25 million for indigenous honoured in bronze in the village of Rama in east-central completed in 1941 and since then Saskatchewan, the site of an annual pilgrimage to the grotto of Our faith in this pope because his mis - healing, as required in the resi - an annual pilgrimage has been Lady of Lourdes. sion of reconciliation around the dential schools settlement agree - held on Aug. 15 — the feast of the world has inspired so many,” said ment that came into effect in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin ordinated the project. “They but, because of the circumstances, Angus. “The reason why we’re 2007. That fundraising campaign Mary — and has over the years arranged for a sculptor and agreed the company agreed to the same writing the letter is . . . to invite the was abandoned in 2015 with $2.1 attracted thousands of people. to a delivery date in time for the price as the marble. The statue pope and that apparently hasn’t million in donations being given Casmir and Maria Broda want - annual pilgrimage in 2012.” arrived in time for its unveiling and happened, so we’re asking the to indigenous causes. ed to erect a pro-life roadside sign. White Carrara marble, which is blessing by the late Archbishop prime minister to say on behalf of The CCCB is not only experi - St. Anthony’s Parish Coun cil was quarried only in Italy, was chosen Daniel Bohan, Aug. 15, 2012. Parliament this issue of reconcilia - encing pressure from politicians, approached, and after a brain - as the medium. Unfor tu nately, the The parish council was again tion is the fundamental issue of but also indigenous leaders and storming session they came up sculptor died before the work had approached by Casmir Broda, Canada at this time and the church academics. In early April, 40 aca - with the idea of a statue of pro-life begun and another was not readily who wanted a statue of Pope John needs to be part of that and to ask demics, theologians mostly from saint, Gianna Beretta Molla. The available. Re search turned up Paul II alongside St. Gianna. the Catholic bishops to initiate this Quebec, signed a joint letter to the Brodas, including their son Gordie other sculptors, including one who Council agreed and suggested process to invite the pope.” CCCB urging the bishops to and daughter-in-law Barb, donated may have been running a scam. that a statue of Mother Teresa be “As far as Call to Action #58 is invite Pope Francis, and pointing the funds to have the statue built. “He wanted all the money up erected on the other side of St. concerned, after carefully consid - out the pope did not give an ex - “We did extensive research into front,” said Kowalyshyn, “and the Gianna. It would make the site ering the request and extensive planation for not coming, but it materials, artists, sculptors and references he provided were dubi - symmetrical, with three pro-life dialogue with the Bishops of came through the CCCB. suppliers, and eventually settled on ous, at best.” supporters canonized in the 20th Canada, (Pope Francis) felt that The motion is expected to be Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875, an Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875 sug - century. It all came together with he could not personally respond,” debated in the House of Com - Italian company with an excellent gested a bronze alternative with a an official unveiling and blessing wrote the CCCB. mons this week and to pass with reputation,” said Mary Kowaly - white patina finish. It would nor - by Archbishop Donald Bolen at In a March 27 letter to Can - the support of the majority Lib- shyn, a member of council who co- mally have been more expensive the 2017 pilgrimage. ada’s indigenous peoples, CCCB eral government. April 18, 2018 LOCAL NEWS Prairie Messenger 7 Spiritual direction program planning next session

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski panioning of leaders and laity in God. Presentations, articles, and parishes and congregations, min - concrete spiritual direction experi - SASKATOON — A course istries and vocations.” ences enabled me to grow in trust that prepares and forms spiritual Beginning with an extended and rest in the darkness where God directors is offered periodically at weekend orientation retreat in transformed my heart.” Queen’s House of Retreat and January 2019, the live-in program Alyson Lauber says the pro - Renewal in Saskatoon, with the runs from Friday evening to Sat - gram held many gifts, including next opportunity to take the pro - urday evening monthly, conclud - “the opportunity to increase my gram beginning in January 2019. ing in July 2020. understanding and compassion “The experiential nature of the Topics include prayer and dis - for others, to make deep connec - Spiritual Direction Formation cernment, contemplative prayer, tions with people I would not Program (SDFP) distinguishes it faith stages, eco-spirituality, the have otherwise met, and to expe - from strictly academic pro - mystics as guides, biblical spiritu - rience God in new and life-giving grams,” says Gisele Bauche, who ality, the spirituality of the Psalms, ways. Most importantly, the co-directs the program with art as spiritual expression, dreams, E. Klaassen SDFP increased my capacity to Dianne Mantyka and Bishop grief and loss, intimacy/sexuality, SPIRITUAL DIRECTION — Recent graduates of the Spiritual listen in a culture where people Emeritus Gerald Wiesner, OMI. bio-spiritual focusing, 12-step Direction Formation Program pose together at Queen’s House in are longing to be heard.” Participants gain knowledge spirituality, co-dependency, Igna- Saskatoon. Planning ahead is required, as and skills for ministry, while also tian spirituality, ecumenism, First prerequisites for taking the SDFP integrating all learning into their Nations spirituality, and social jus - learning experience regarding my of kindred participants to share, include regularly seeing a spiritu - own self-awareness and spiritual tice, as well as a six-day silent relationship with self and others, explore, and learn more about al director, taking the Intro- journeys, Bauche describes. Ignatian retreat practicum. and a deepening of my relation - faith in an ecumenical group. We duction to the Enneagram pro - The goal of the program is “to Past participants describe the ship with God,” says Eileen were transformed through the gram (offered at Queen’s House), prepare mature, adult Christians impact and benefits of the pro - Klaassen. “Through the caring of months to become more of who and the completion of an inten - in the ministry of spiritual direc - gram enthusiastically. those in our group and new in - we are called to be. Ultimately, sive spiritual retreat. tion, mentoring, and prayer com - “The SDFP was an intense sights gained, the grace of God we were healed, transformed, and The deadline to apply is Aug. abounded, and I am most grateful energized by going deeper into the 31. The cost is $5,800, which École St. Paul School to have had this rich opportunity heart of the mystery of an ever- includes tuition, as well as room for learning and growth.” loving, compassionate God.” and board (there is a schedule for The 19-month program was Graduate Mona Goodman says spreading payments over the installs Treaty 6 medal enriching both personally and pro - the program expanded her under - duration of the program). fessionally, says Rebecca Gilbert, standing of God. It was “graced For more information, contact By Derrick Kunz of the curriculum in Saskatche - providing “skills, re source materi - time to listen and be with others as Dianne Mantyka at dimantyka@ wan since 2008, but View consid - al, prayer forms and a rich circle we deepened our relationship with sasktel.net, or (306) 514-2193. SASKATOON — The École ers the installation as something St. Paul School community has more significant than a supple - become the first school among ment to classroom instruction. NES empowers Catholics to evangelize Greater Saskatoon Catholic “We have spent a lot of time Schools, and the first school in learning and preparing as a whole By Kiply Lukan Yaworski urged parish leaders to promote ministers, and the faithful — will Saskatchewan, to install a Treaty school community. Not all parents NES in their local communities, as hopefully find inspiration and and guardians have SASKATOON — Baptized to a way “to inspire, to form, and to practical suggestions in the presen - the same knowl - be missionary disciples, Chris tians connect.” tations by world-class speakers, edge, so we started are called to evangelize, to spread Sharon Powell, faith formation said Pettipas. There will also be educating families the Good News of Jesus Christ. co-ordinator at Holy Spirit Parish opportunities for discussion and about treaties in our But often Catholics are not sure in Saskatoon, expressed a hope networking at the local gathering. newsletters, and we how to take up that role. that the NES might help more NES speakers this year include had an education Dubbed North America’s pre - parishioners to “become on fire Sister Ann Shields, SGL, author of evening leading up mier conference on evangeliza - about their faith and about their Deeper Conversion and To Be Like to the event.” tion, the New Evangelization relationship with God.” Jesus ; Curtis Martin, founder and “The treaty Summit (NES) is an international Holy Spirit Youth Ministry co- CEO of FOCUS (the Fellow ship medal being pre - event designed to inspire and ordinator Celena Komarnicki said, of Catholic University Stu dents); sent in schools is empower Catholics in answering “My hope is that we will get pushed George Weigel, Catholic theolo - part of the educa - this call. out of our comfort zone and are gian and author who serves as a tion about treaties, Beginning the evening of April excited to speak about our faith.” fellow of the Ethics and Pub lic the relationship and 27 and continuing all day April 28, Don Pion, a co-ordinator of Policy Centre in Washington, the obligations. the main event in Ottawa is live- worship music at Our Lady of D.C.; Patrick Madrid, author of This medal coveys streamed to host sites across North Lourdes Parish in Saskatoon Surprised by Truth and Why Be the spirit and intent America. The local host site in the attended NES last year at the host Catholic ; Ottawa Archbishop of the treaty rela - Roman Catholic Dio cese of site at St. Therese Institute of Faith Terrence Prendergast; and Christy tionship,” said Saskatoon this year will be St. and Mission in Bruno, Sask. Dupuis of Martensville, Sask., Treaty Com mis - Anne Parish. “I felt that God was calling me who served as a lay missionary David Stobbe sioner Mary Cul - “The New Evangelization there,” he said. Since that first ex - with Catholic Christian Outreach BLESSING — Bishop Mark Hagemoen blesses bertson. “It is Sum mit’s goal is to provide Cath- perience, a group has been getting and is now part of the pastoral the Treaty 6 Medal installed March 28 at École through this visual olics with new ideas, programs, together to see what next steps team at her parish. St. Paul School in Saskatoon. It is the first school reminder of the and ways of looking at evangeliza - they might take, he said. “I think Tickets for NES in Saskatoon among Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools to relationship and its tion within your everyday life and we just need some direction. I are $40 (which includes lunch on install a treaty medal as visible recognition of an significance that inviting others into a life-trans - hope more people can come to the Saturday), and can be obtained at ongoing relationship with indigenous peoples. this message will forming relationship with Jesus summit this year.” www.newevangelization.ca or by be conveyed for as Christ,” say organizers. All Catholics — pastors, lay calling (306) 931-4700. 6 medal as visible recognition of long as students, their parents, In addition to the live-streamed an ongoing relationship with visitors and educators walk speakers, the event at St. Anne indigenous peoples. through these doors.” Parish will include opportunities Working with staff at the View mentioned that families to meet with others who are inter - Office of the Treaty Commis - have been receptive: “There’s a ested in proclaiming the Gospel sioner and the Roman Catholic real interest in learning more, in and creating parishes filled with Diocese of Saskatoon, principal having a more rounded perspec - missionary disciples, says organiz - Ted View and the school commu - tive of history, indigenous culture er Daniel Pettipas, co-ordinator of nity spent months consulting with and treaty relationships. There’s a Evangelization and Adult Faith the division’s First Nations, Métis recognition that this is an impor - Formation at St. Anne Parish. and Inuit education team, laying tant step toward reconciliation.” Presenting information to a the groundwork to make the in - Bishop Mark Hagemoen and group of parish leaders, Pettipas stallation possible. First Nations elders blessed the recently spoke about his hope that “After Bishop Donald Bolen medal in a ceremony before the the NES will inspire more Catholics (now archbishop in Regina) public event March 28. to reach out and invite others into a installed a medal at the Cathedral First Nations chiefs, Culbert - relationship with Christ — perhaps of the Holy Family, and our son, a representative from the simply by inviting someone to Kiply Yaworski school parish, St. Anne, installed Min istry of Education and Saska - accompany them to mass. NEW EVANGELIZATION SUMMIT — Daniel Pettipas, co-ordinator a medal last year, I started asking toon Mayor Charlie Clark each Pettipas expressed a vision for of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at St. Anne Parish in questions about how we could spoke at the event. NES to be “at the heart of an evan - Saskatoon, presents information about the New Evangelization recognize treaties in our build - Students shared some of their gelization movement in our dio - Summit at a recent meeting of parish leaders. St. Anne Parish is the ing,” said View. learning, and the school held a cese,” transforming parish com - Saskatoon host site for the April 27 - 28 live-streamed conference Treaty education has been part round dance to celebrate. munities “from the inside out.” He designed to inspire Catholics to evangelize. 8 Prairie Messenger FEATURE April 18, 2018 Life in Honduras: ‘Be a patriot and kill a priest’

“Corruption can no longer be understood as merely the iniquitous doings of individuals. Rather, it is the operating system of sophisticated networks that cross sectoral and national boundaries in their drive to maximize returns for their members. Honduras is a prime example of such intertwined, or ‘integrated,’ transnational kleptocratic networks” (When Corruption is the Operating System , Sarah Chayes, 2017).

By Phil Little the civil government (precisely the old oligarchy). In return the church Padre Melo is a Honduran received certain benefits and protec - Jesuit priest, not quite 60 years tions. Thus in the 20th and 21st cen - old, who lives with death threats turies, the church in Honduras still and is surrounded by death. Born has a dominance of foreign clergy, Ismael Moreno into a poor peas - including among the bishops. ant family, his encounter with While the church was present death came early when he discov - among the poor, with its clergy ered the body of his father, the and the men and women reli - president of a farmer’s co-opera - gious, its loyalty was to the upper tive, who was assassinated be- classes and service to the poor cause he opposed a takeover of was “from above” and not in soli - farmer’s land by wealthy foreign - darity with the poor. Of course, ers. Such an experience in Hon - there have been clergy and reli - duras is the daily bread of life for gious who identified with the the poor, in the second poorest poor and were in solidarity with Phil Little country of the Americas. their pain and struggle. After PASSION FOR JUSTICE — Padre Melo leads a Way of the Cross in April 2017. Padre Melo is considered More correctly, Honduras Vatican II and the CELAM con - to be the most influential Catholic leader in Honduras identified with the struggle and the interests of the ought to be described not as poor, ference of Medellin, many who poor. In a country like Honduras, where “corruption is the operating system,” a priest like Padre Melo is a but impoverished, that is, made served the rich and privileged threat to the traditional order, and lives under the constant threat of assassination. poor by others. It too was “discov - began an exodus to the land of ered” by the Spanish, who subju - insecurity, lost prestige and some - witness of the martyrs. Among financial affairs of the Honduran tone, the third phase would lead gated the residents with the sword times death that came with the these are the more well-known Cardinal Rodriguez. to accusations and criminaliza - and the cross. From the earliest “preferential option for the poor.” bishops such as Angelelli of A priest does not end up on a tion. The final fourth step in this days of the conquest, accompanied In 1975 Fathers Ivan Betan - Argentina, Gerardi of Guatemala, military hit list because he has process is to kill or “disappear” by the missionaries of the church, court and Jerome Cypher were tor - and Romero of El Salvador. had too many first communions the troublesome clergyman. And the military forces were legit - tured and then executed along There are the many priests, like in the parish. Particularly since thus are born the martyrs who imized by the infamous papal with 12 other leaders from poor Ivan and Jerome, Vicente Hon - Vatican II, and especially in Latin really don’t go away, because “Doctrine of Discovery.” The farmer communities who called darza of Peru, Rutilo Grande of America after the Conferences of they become the seeds of a new indigenous peoples subjected to for land reform. Penny Lernoux in El Salvador, Carlos Mugica of Medellin and Puebla, the generation of disciples. As genocidal brutality were replaced “Cry of the People,” her study of Argentina, Camilo Torres of Co - “church” has been more con - Bishop Romero said, “If they kill by African slaves to work the the persecution of the church in lumbia, and so many more from scious of its social function in me I will rise again in the Sal - plantations of the European colo - the late 20th century, said that the most countries. society. The church recognizes vadoran people.” nizers. The original purpose of the brutality of the Olancho Massacre There are the sisters who have the divine in the life of the peo - Radio Progreso and the human colonies was to enrich the coffers was the worst she documented. In been murdered — Ita Ford and ple, not just in religious liturgies. rights Institute called E.R.I.C. of the European royalty, but, with 1983 the American Jesuit priest, companions in El Salvador, and John XXIII called for an atten - (Teams for Research, Investigation independence, the shift only Dorothy Stang in Brazil. And lay tiveness to “the signs of the and Communication), which are benefited the white descen - people, not hundreds but thou - times” while the poor became Jesuit apostolates and directed by dants of the new landed oli - sands: catechists, teachers, nurs - evangelizing agents more than the Padre Melo, have been a constant garchy. es, community leaders, activists objects of pity and charity. irritation to the dictatorship and In the late 19th century and human rights defenders and Church people were called to “a the oligarchy and have even Honduras came under the today especially environmental preferential option for the poor” attracted the attention of the dominion of the new Amer- defenders who add to a martyrol - ican empire through the inter - ogy that rivals the Age of Martyrs “A church that is not persecuted in an unjust society must itself be ests of two businesses: the of the early church. What these an unjust church.” — Rev. Harvey Steele, SFM (writing about the United and Standard Fruit modern-day martyrs all have in murder of Rev. Arthur MacKinnon, SFM, in Why Kill A Priest! , companies. Honduras be - common that is different than the Crown Publications, 1982) came the original, quintes - early church is that they have sential “Banana Republic.” been murdered by persons and The United States defended groups who call themselves which, surprisingly, seemed to American State department. In the economic interests of its Christians or “muy Catolicos” parallel the way Jesus reached out November in the run-up to the business interests by control - (very Catholic) defending the old to the poor. “Go sell what you fraudulent national elections, one ling the judiciary, the military order of privilege and power. have and give it to the poor,” he tower of the radio station was top - and the government of These very “Christian” assassins said. But still many in the church pled by the military so the people Honduras. have had the support of some continue to go away sad. of the capital city could not Honduras has a long histo - official leaders in the church and Many of the clergy, foreign and receive messages contrary to the ry of dictatorships, some more the new evangelical organiza - national born, have experienced a official government propaganda brutal than others. Sham elec - tions. profound conversion when they broadcast by state and private sta - tions were permitted to satisfy According to Honduran gov - listened to the “cry of the people.” tions. the needs of national pride Joksan Flores, general manager Radio ernment documents, the Cardinal Until the mid-20th century most Two hit lists were published and U.S., laws, but in a few Progreso/ERIC Archbishop of Tegucigalpa in religious orders and congregations and distributed accusing Padre instances, when the election Padre Melo Honduras and the head of the preferentially served the rich and Melo of connections to organized brought in the wrong candi - Evangelical Union each receive a the powerful. When they entered crime and embarrassing the date, Americans sent in their James Carney, known as “Padre generous annual stipend worth into this conversion experience to nation with his criticisms. Other troops to set things right. Guada lupe,” was captured by a more than US$4 million from the work among the poor from the members of his team have also The church in Honduras has for Hon duran death squad working office of the president. It is not a perspective of the needs and suf - received death threats, most the most part been a colonial with American troops. Padre surprise that both religious lead - fering of the poor, the privileged recently in February 2018. One of church, focused on the requirements Guada lupe became radically com - ers supported the coup d’état of classes felt betrayed and aban - his radio managers was killed in of European Catholicism and bound mitted to working for the very 2009 and continue to support the doned. 2014. Since 2001 a total of 66 to agreements between the Vatican poor and was considered to be an dictatorship. Padre Melo recently has spo - journalists have been assassinated and national governments. Bishops, enemy by the U.S. banana corpo - On Feb. 2 of each year the ken about the process used by the in Honduras, with only six of to be appointed, needed approval of rations. After torture, according to military leadership gathers at the power elites to bring the clergy these cases being investigated by testimony by a member of the elite Basilica of Suyapa, the Honduran back into their sphere of influ - the police. In one year between death squad, Padre Guadalupe was Marian shrine, to pay their ence. First they offer gifts and November 2015 and October Little is a retired teacher living thrown alive from a helicopter, respect and receive their recogni - financial support. If, however, 2016 a total of 27 human rights on Vancouver Island. Born in along with others, over the jungle tion as defenders of the nation. they cannot buy you, they then and environmental defenders Alberta, he went to university in of the Patuca River. The families of the oligarchy, look for ways to discredit or were assassinated. Since 2010 Ottawa. As a member of the Padre Melo is considered to be many of them deeply embedded smear your reputation. You might more than 120 lawyers have been Oblate congregation he went to the most influential Catholic with the drug cartels, also show even be called a communist, assassinated in Honduras. Peru as a missionary from 1972 leader in Honduras identified their gratitude for the support of which is more than name calling, Padre Melo has survived previ - to 1980. Returning to Canada he with the struggle and the interests the traditional religious leader - for it recalls the campaigns to “Be ous assassination attempts by pro - married and taught in the Toronto of the poor. He is in the minority ship. As reported by The Tablet a patriot and kill a priest.” If that fessional killers. His own personal Catholic school system for 26 but is not the only one inspired by on Jan 2, 2018, the Vatican has does not at least persuade the years until retirement. the changes in the church and the ordered an investigation into the clergy to pull back or soften their — MELO, page 9 April 18, 2018 ARTS & CULTURE Prairie Messenger 9 Why democracy should never be taken for granted

cable news network, available in Screenings, over 100 countries, kowtow to the Putin regime. (RT is a source for Readings some 60 per cent of Breibart’s content.) The Russian public, fed & Meanings a steady barrage of falsehood and manipulation, cheered Trump’s 2016 triumph as if he were “our Gerald Schmitz president.” The filmmakers also take a revealing peek inside a St. Today, our political order faces new threats, not unlike the totalitari - Petersburg Internet “troll” opera - anism of the twentieth century. We are no wiser than the Europeans tion, the mission of which is to who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one sow disinformation and discord advantage is that we might learn from their experience. through social media. — Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the In the clips shown of a confident Twentieth Century (2017) Putin, he looks like the cat who swallowed the canary. Whether or Democracy is a work in progress. So is democracy’s undoing. not Americans actively colluded, or — David Frum, first sentence of Trumpocracy: The Corruption of were just “useful idiots,” to use the American Republic (2018) Stalin’s phrase, what’s undeniable Gerald Schmitz is the organized scale of Russian DOCUMENTARY AWARD WINNER — Our New President director In Trumpland climate change The degree of Russian hostility propaganda activities, with those Maxim Pozdorovkin and editor Matvey Kulakov accept the special is a “Chinese hoax,” notwith - to Hillary and devotion to The externally directed clearly aimed at jury award at the Sundance Film Festival Jan. 27. standing overwhelming incontro - Donald is strikingly apparent in disrupting democracies. (It’s worth vertible scientific evidence, and Our New President . The Sundance noting that as Our New President imperative in facing global crises. through gerrymandering. another “hoax” is the Russian programmer introducing its pre - was playing Sundance, the Russian Concentrated power is dangerous, The only way to confront these attempt to influence American miere called it “a film that uses government banned the terrific and all power must be subject to challenges is not to give in or elections, notwithstanding the propaganda to get at the truth satirical film The Death of Stalin. transparency and respect for give up, but to work together on overwhelming incontrovertible about propaganda.” Russian direc - History repeating as farce?) equal rights. Democracy is also a democratic initiatives at all lev - evidence gathered by U.S. nation - tor Maxim Pozdorovkin ex - Of course, democracy is facing continuous work in progress. els, which the authors explore in al security agencies. plained: “We wanted to make a much bigger challenges globally They quote from pioneering considerable detail. These in - In the words of conservative movie about factual TV without a than Russian mischief, the deeper African American judge William clude: ballot initiatives; more author David Frum: “The Russian single true statement in it.” diverse candidate recruitment; attack in 2016 worked, yielding Mission accomplished! The extent Our New President pushing for campaign finance dividends beyond Vladimir of the outrageous fabrications con - laws that include limits on contri - Putin’s wildest dreams. The jured up by Russian mainstream (Russia/U.S. 2018) butions and public disclosure Russians hoped to cast a shadow media to libel Clinton and cast a Daring Democracy requirements; automatic voter over the Clinton presidency. halo over Trump is quite astonish - By Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen registration and repeal of restric - Instead they outright elected their ing. If anything it’s even worse tive voter ID rules; independent preferred candidate” (“America is than what one finds on notorious (Boston, Beacon Press 2017) fair redistricting processes; other Under Attack and the President “alt-right” and conspiracy sites electoral reforms (e.g. abolition Doesn’t Care,” The Atlantic , Feb. like Breitbart and Infowars. of the anachronistic Electoral 18, 2018). A detailed report in The documentary, which won roots of which are explored in a Hastie that democracy is “becom - College through a national popu - The Economist edition of Feb. 24 a jury editing prize for its assem - new book by Timothy Snyder, The ing rather than being. It can easily lar vote campaign). At the federal describes that subversive scheme bling of these television clips, Road to Unfreedom: Russia, be lost, but never fully won. Its level, to limit the influence of pri - as “of a piece with the covert pro - describes how independent chan - Europe, America . What lies be- essence is eternal struggle.” vate-sector lobbyists, the authors paganda and influence operations nels have virtually disappeared as hind the wider rise of angry right- There are reasons why propose increased funding for Mr. Putin now wages against broadcasters, including the RT wing “populism” is probed in American democracy is suffering. non-partisan research support democracies around the world.” (Russia Today) international Yascha Mounk’s The People vs. The undue and malign influence through the Government Ac- Democracy (https://www. yascha of big money is one agreed on by countability Office and Con - mounk.com/). the great majority of Americans. gressional Research Service. Melo a threat to the corrupt On the left, another new book The framing of issues in negative There is hope in the potential by American Robert Kuttner asks: “us versus them” terms (e.g. fan - for the coming together of democ - Continued from page 8 munities, and women activists. Can Democracy Survive Global ning fears of minorities or immi - racy movements and coalitions. His influence as a religious leader Capitalism? Even more blunt is grants) creates damaging divisions Citizens, young and old, can be history did not require a conver - is also resented by the temple the cover of the January/February that militate against collective mobilized when the stakes are sion, but rather a commitment to priests and Pharisees. issue of The New Republic — action for the common good. Free- brought home to them and they be true to his roots and his people. In a country like Honduras, “Can Democracy Survive?” — in market fundamentalism makes can see “people power” emerging. He stands with the poor farming where “corruption is the operating which Harvard scholars of govern - government the problem and casts The authors point to movement communities threatened with system,” a priest like Padre Melo ment Steven Levitsky and Daniel doubt on its positive role in safe - initiatives such as “Democracy expropriation by agribusiness that is a threat to the traditional order. Ziblatt summarize the findings in guarding the public interest and Spring,” “Democracy Matters,” want more land to produce palm When once asked if he has much their new book How Democracies providing public goods. The ero - “Moral Mondays,” “Demos,” the oil. He goes into the prisons to hope, he said no. Asked then to Die. The 10th edition of The sion of trust in institutions that are “Inclusive Democracy Project.” defend political prisoners, and define his ministry, he said it was Economist Democracy Index 2017 called democratic is corrosive. They and the Democracy Initiative sometimes just prisoners too poor “to accompany the victims.” released at the end of January Americans score poorly on per - have created an online Field Guide to defend themselves. These are the victims of colonial - showed mostly declines including ceptions of electoral integrity. to the Democracy Movement: He has stood in front of military ism, the 65 per cent living in in media freedom. (Canada is one Many feel powerless and have lost https://fieldguideto lines threatening to kill peasant poverty and half of these in of the few bright spots among only faith in the process. But, as the democracy.org/. Examples of citi - communities who resist the loss of “extreme” poverty, the First 19 “full democracies” among 167 authors observe, “it is not democ - zen-led efforts include the Forward their lands and rivers to foreign Nation Topupan and Lenca peo - countries surveyed. These 19 racy that is failing, it is the lack of Together Movement in North and national financial interests. He ples facing massive destruction of account for only 4.5 per cent of democracy that is taking us Carolina, the state that analysis by has testified in Washington about their traditional lands, the young the global population.) In 2016, down.” the Electoral Integrity Project human rights abuses and has spo - workers mostly women working the U.S. composite ranking The struggle for more and ranks the worst in the U.S. ken in different international in the foreign-owned sweatshops, dropped into the “flawed democra - deeper democracy has to contend Coming together with others forums about the dismal human the peasant communities threat - cies” category and that score has with what they describe as anti- to do democracy can be infec - rights situation in Honduras. He ened by agribusiness, feminist regressed further, with worsening democracy movements and tac - tious, transformative and liberat - has gone into hiding to accompany and LGBT activists, human rights polarization, declining public trust, tics, the goals of which are “to ing. It’s how ordinary citizens can communities in Guatemala that and environmental defenders, and and governmental dysfunction overwhelm the views of the find courage and collective confi - were hunted by the military during lay church workers such as the among the drivers of deterioration. majority of Americans.” The dence, how they can take owner - the genocide period. “delegates of the word.” What can be done? During U.S. has seen huge increases in ship of their democracy. From cit - He is not fearless, nor does he Father Ismael Moreno, SJ, Sundance in Park City I picked lobbying by corporate interests izens’ lobbies to public marches seek to be provocative. He is clear known as Padre Melo, understands up a copy Moore Lappé’s and (vastly outweighing all other to movements resisting anti- about from where he comes. His his situation very well. He is a Eichen’s Daring Democracy with kinds of lobbying) and in flows democratic agendas (including deep almost mystical faith calls Jesuit doing the work of the Jesuits its promising subtitle, “Igniting of “dark money,” which I the false populism of Trumpism), him to be present to those who of Central America who have made Power, Meaning, and Connection explored in a previous column. the authors suggest myriad ways suffer and are oppressed. Like the a commitment to working with the for the America We Want.” It’s a Strategies have been employed to to get involved. preacher from Galilee, he is poor. His work is reflective of that bracing read to counter disillusion control the dominant narrative, to We can be depressed about the known to associate with the poor of Jesus: “to tell the good news to and despair. rig the rules in favour of the state of democracy and let it and those feared by the State: the poor, to announce release to the The authors see creating de - powerful, and to delegitimize slide, which will make powerful human rights defenders, environ - prisoners and recovery of sight to mocracies that are accountable to democratic norms. Efforts have interests happy. Or we can dare to mentalists, lawyers (well some of the blind, to set oppressed people citizens as a moral, economic, been made to suppress the vote imagine a better democracy and them anyway!), indigenous com - free” (Lk 4:18). socio-political, indeed existential, and to skew the electoral system strive to achieve it. 10 Prairie Messenger DEEPENING OUR FAITH April 18, 2018 Answer to ‘why Greek?’ is rooted in history

Volodymyr was sold and the peo - encyclical Slavorum Apostoli — gratitude to those who brought ple of Ukraine were baptized into Apostles to the Slavs. It was a Christianity to the Slavs. “From Byzantine Christianity, under the theme dear to his heart as he among the Christian cultures fos - Patriarchate of Constantinople. poignantly stated he was not only a tered by the Slavs, there also arose The work of Saints Cyril and pope of Polish origin, but the first the Christian culture of Rus- Both Lungs Methodius can hardly be underes - Slavic pope. “By incarnating the Ukraine, where the one ecclesial timated. For their efforts to bring Gospel in the native culture of the Tradition developed into a particu - Byzantine Christianity to the peoples which they were evange - lar ecclesial tradition. In this way, Brent Kostyniuk Slavic peoples, they have been lizing, Saints Cyril and Methodius the one Gospel of Jesus Christ given the title of Apostles to the were especially meritorious for the took flesh in the multitude of cul - Slavs and are venerated as being formation and development of that tures of Christian peoples; the one When I was young and first accomplishments, Cyril discovered “equal-to-apostles.” In 1880, same culture, or rather of many Tradition of the Word of God was becoming aware of these things, I the relics of Pope Clement I near Pope Leo XIII introduced their cultures.” The Cyrillic alphabet, expressed in a diversity of tradi - noticed a sign outside our church Kherson. Today, that city retains its feast into the calendar of the along with the spiritual tradition tions. Through its own tradition, that read “St. Basil’s Ukrainian strategic significance as a Black Catholic Church. Then in 1980, they fostered, remain legacies of every particular church makes its Greek Catholic Parish.” It con - Sea port, at the mouth of the Saint John Paul II declared them Cyril and Methodius’ missionary own contribution to the under - fused me. I knew we were Dnieper River. co-patron saints of Europe, work to this day. standing of the one Tradition.” Catholic and certainly Ukrainian. During 862 to 863, Cyril com - together with Benedict of Nursia. Christ our Pascha , the cate - Today, the religious beliefs and But why Greek? posed a new Glagolitic language The pontiff gave further praise chism of the Ukrainian Greek traditions adopted in Ukraine over I don’t recall getting a satisfac - of 32 letters, which became the to the saintly bothers in his Catholic Church, expresses our a millennium ago remain very tory explanation of what seemed basis for Slavic literature. With much intact. Having survived in to me to be any obvious error on Methodius’ help, Cyril translated the Diaspora and underground dur - someone’s part. However, I do much of the New Testament, as ing the Soviet era, the Ukrainian recall getting teased about it, at a well as texts of divine services, Greek Catholic Church now time when it was not particularly into Cyrillic, the alphabet which includes some 10 million faithful fashionable to be Ukrainian, and bears his name. Later, when the worldwide, with perhaps five mil - even less fashionable to be Greek. brothers travelled to Rome with lion in Ukraine itself. This makes As is so often the case, the Clement’s relics, they were the UGCC the second largest par - answer to this conundrum lies warmly received by Pope Hadrian ticular Catholic Church, after the deep in history. II who later authorized the use of majority Latin-rite church. While Slavic Ukrainians are not Slavic tongues in liturgy. Finally, an odd note from Greek, they have inherited much The Greek, or more correctly, recent history. When the Soviet from Greek Christianity. In the Byzantine influence on Ukraine Union fell, churches were allowed mid-800s two brothers from was solidified in 988, when the to legally register in the newly Thessaloniki, Cyril and Methodius, ruler of Kyivan-Rus, Prince independent countries. It would were sent as missionaries to the Volodymyr, decided to proclaim seem logical that the church I am region north of the Black Sea, the an official state religion. Before a member of would have become land of the Khazars, between the making a choice, he sent emis - the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Don River and the Caucasus saries to investigate various reli - However, by the time church offi - mountains; today the eastern edge gions, including Islam, Judaism, cials got around to registering it, of Ukraine. There, amongst other and Christianity in both eastern the name had already been taken and western forms. Arriving by the Roman Catholic Church as back, the emissaries reported, “. . . it exists in Ukraine. Kostyniuk, who lives in the Greeks led us to the edifices So, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Edmonton, has a bachelor of the - where they worship their God, Church it is. Ukrainian, definite - ology from Newman and is a free - and we knew not whether we Brent Kostyniuk ly, Catholic yes, and Greek, with lance writer. He and his wife Bev were in heaven or on earth. For WHY GREEK? — St. Basil’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in pride in the Tradition which was have been married for 39 years on earth there is no such splen - Edmonton. Although of modern design, it incorporates the traditional brought to the Slavs over 11 cen - and have eight grandchildren. dour or such beauty.” Prince dome reminiscent of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople). turies ago. D&P lenten donations withheld; people demand answers from bishops

Mexican overseas partner organi - Astoundingly, D&P and the cried the federal government’s zations of being pro-abortion. CCCB cannot seem to agree on very silly over-reaching attestation to The CCCB went to the trouble much — even on the name of the the Canada Summer Grants pro - Journey and expense of sending a delega - organization. All recent pronounce - gram. Approval of funding tion of bishops to that country to ments of the bishops’ conference would be granted only if appli - to Justice investigate the claims. Their refer to “The Canadian Catholic cants agreed to the government’s report refuted the allegations, Organization for Development and definition of reproductive rights much to the chagrin of the ac - Peace” — a moniker that was used — something many church Joe Gunn cusers. Today, LifeSiteNews is when the bishops founded the orga - groups cannot sign. As a result, salivating over diocesan decisions nization in 1967, but which was kids’ camps are left without to withhold donations. changed years ago. funding. In the spat over D&P, On Sunday morning I received respect for the sanctity of human How did the most recent con - To resolve the current crisis, no specific projects are being a startling message. A family life.” In the next days, several troversy arise? change is urgently needed. Much questioned, but rather partner member who lives in Alberta other dioceses followed suit, in- Sometime in 2017, the Catho - better processes and working groups are under web-based heard at mass that their money, cluding Toronto. lic Women’s League asked for relationships of trust need to be scrutiny from afar. As a result, donated during Lent to the work But many other dioceses re - clarification about a D&P partner employed by leadership in both some necessary overseas projects of international development, frained from taking such action, group in Haiti. In October 2017, a organizations. have been left without funding. through the Catholic Church’s and several bishops, including “review committee” was estab - A healthy dose of transparency Our bishops should dialogue official agency, Development and the president of the Quebec lished and tasked with looking at would also be appreciated by with D&P concerning its partner - Peace — Caritas Canada (D&P), Assembly of Catholic Bishops all D&P’s partners and partner - Catholic donors. At this time of ship policies. Firm ethics codes was being withheld by Arch - and Quebec City’s cardinal, the ship policies. (I can understand writing, the D&P website offers are not optional. As well, over - bishop Richard Smith. Primate of the Canadian Church, why this work has been confiden - nothing. An April 9 letter to seas partners must be recognized “I’m so mad! What is going expressed public support for tial, since some partners working members from D&P executive as the architects of their own on?” I was asked. D&P. in dangerous situations overseas director Serge Langlois states the development, not us, and includ - Many lay people are asking What, indeed, is going on? require discretion concerning their obvious: that D&P “fully respects ed so their local expertise guides the same question. Yet few expla - For over 20 years socially con - financing and operations to ensure the sanctity of life and the dignity effective solidarity efforts. D&P’s nations have been given for those servative groups like LifeSite - security of their staff.) of the human person from con - best projects, for 50 years, have of us in the pew. News have focused their venom It appears CCCB staff under - ception to natural death.” taken all this into account. What is known is that three on Development and Peace. In took a web-based scan and pre - The Canadian public looks at In a Présence interview, Jean- Alberta dioceses announced their 2000, virulent verbal protesta - pared some kind of preliminary all this askance. Every major Denis Lampron, chair of D&P’s decision to withhold monies col - tions were received by the Cana- report, which was presented to church in Canada has an agency National Council, who is both a lected for D&P projects. Collec - dian Conference of Catholic regional meetings of bishops in charged with international devel - business person and a deacon, tions taken on “Solidarity Sunday” Bishops (CCCB), the Catholic both Ontario and the West. opment based on their religious wondered why some bishops (the Fifth Sunday of Lent) are Women’s League, the Canadian Strangely, spokespersons for the values, but have you ever heard made declarations before the being held back because “an esti - Religious Conference, and D&P, CCCB, when questioned by of similar internal wrenching work of the joint review commit - mated 40 partners appear to show when these four groups stated Montreal’s Présence magazine, controversies involving any of tee was even completed. Ac - evidence of conflict with Catholic their public support for the World would not say if their preliminary them? cording to Lampron, “It will be moral and social teaching and, in March of Women. report was written or verbal, or Ironically, only weeks ago, the poorest of the poor who will particular, do not demonstrate full In 2009, LifeSite accused divulge who the author(s) were. Catholic bishops publicly de - suffer from this situation.” April 18, 2018 DEEPENING OUR FAITH Prairie Messenger 11 Abiding in God gives us strength to bear fruit

spoke boldly in the name of Jesus. Barnabas gave testimo - leaves had fallen and I knew the plant was withering. I ny to the apostles, letting them know Saul could be trust - would call on my husband’s gardening skills and slowly ed. I think of the people who were initiated into our the ivy would begin to produce new shoots. It is a visual Liturgy parishes during the Easter Vigil. Are we ready to listen to reminder of my need to hear the Word of God and sched - how they encountered Christ in our midst? Do we offer a ule time for personal prayer. and Life genuine welcome to the newest members of our communi - I need to respond to Jesus’ words, “Abide in me as I ty? Do we recognize that their witness to Christ can help abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself us to see with new eyes? unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you Catherine Ecker In the short passage from the first letter of John we are abide in me.” While listening to me read this Gospel reminded to believe in the name of Jesus and to love one aloud, my granddaughter asked what the word “abide” another as he commanded us. John assures us that living in means. My initial response was to say it means to live in, Christ is Risen! Alleluia! union with God must be reflected in our lives. When we to be united with, to be joined to. Each explanation We are more than halfway through the great 50 days of believe in Christ and love one another, the Spirit of God is seemed inadequate. Easter. By the Fifth Sunday of Easter has your Alleluia present and active. We are attempting to define the mystery of God when been weakened? Does your home still reflect the joy of Lent provided us with the invitation to engage in acts of we want to explain how we abide in Christ. We know our Easter even if the signs of winter have been slow to leave? charity. This pattern of loving is not limited to Lent, but is participation in the sacraments of initiation (baptism, con - Throughout Easter the church invites us to deepen our the pattern for each season. As People of God, what are firmation, eucharist) means we abide in Jesus. We know grasp of the Paschal Mystery by joining the neophytes and when we are rooted in Christ we are able to bear fruit. newly received in reflecting on the Gospel, sharing in the Acts 9:26-31 Abiding in Christ, who is the vine, means we, the branch - Fifth Sunday of Easter eucharist, and doing works of charity (RCIA, par. 234). Psalm 22 es, are part of something much larger. The readings for this Sunday have a message about how 1 John 3:18-24 Jesus reminds us that his Father, our Father, is the one April 29, 2018 we can better understand how to live the baptismal John 15:1-8 who prunes us so more fruit can be produced. Perhaps promises we just renewed. being rooted in Christ prepares us to embrace the pruning The passage from the Acts of the Apostles recounts we doing to put our love into action? How are we welcom - because we recognize we are being led deeper into shared Saul’s early days as a disciple of our risen Lord. He was ing the strangers in our midst, feeding the hungry, caring life with our Triune God. mistrusted because of his previous behaviour, and yet he for those who are sick, and comforting those who mourn? Abiding in Christ gives us strength to bear fruit and it Today’s passage from the Gospel of John is familiar. sustains us during times of strife, illness and senseless Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches. In 1975, tragedy, for we are keenly aware that our God holds us. Catherine Ecker, a parish catechist and freelance while in hospital recovering from an accident, I received God grants us mercy and compassion as we take suste - writer, speaker and facilitator lives in Barrie, Ont. For an ivy plant. I do not have a green thumb, so for a few nance from our shared life with the one Body of Christ. over 35 years she has presented and led times of forma - years the plant was in my parents’ home. It flourished and The Easter season reminds us that the darkness of death tion on catechetical and liturgical topics throughout was transplanted many times to accommodate growth. has been destroyed, that love always trumps sin. We can Canada. She is married, a parent and grandparent. Reach The ivy has been in my home for the last 31 years and live with Easter joy when we abide in Christ. May the joy her at [email protected] is still flourishing. There were times when too many of the Easter season always shape our life in Christ. God’s existence becomes real when we live an honest, sincere life

that’s measured back to you. billions of fluke chances colliding a joy which Jesus assures us is That’s Jesus’ version of it, and within a brute, mindless process? deeper, less ephemeral, and more In can be translated this way: The I believe in God because, if our lasting that any other joy. air you breathe out is the air you hearts are real, then so is God. I believe in God because the will re-inhale. Simply put: if we Next, I believe in God because Gospel works! As does prayer! Exile cut down too many trees we will the Gospel works — if we work Finally, though certainly not soon be breathing in carbon it. What Jesus incarnated and least, I believe in God because of monoxide. If we breathe out love, taught ultimately resonates with the community of faith that Ron Rolheiser, OMI we will meet love. If we breathe what’s most precious, most noble, stretches back to the beginning of out hate and anger, we will soon and most meaningful inside of life time, that stretches back to the enough find ourselves surrounded and inside each of us. Moreover, life and resurrection of Jesus, and Today belief in God is often needs at a point to be personal. So by hated and anger. Reality is so this checks out in life. Whenever I that baptized me into the faith. seen as a naiveté. For many, here are my own reasons why I structured that goodness brings have the faith and courage to actu - Throughout all of history virtual - believing in God is like believing continue to believe in God in the goodness and sin brings sin. ally live out the Gospel, to roll the ly all human communities have in Santa and the Easter Bunny, face of the agnosticism of our I believe in God because blind dice on its truth, it always proves been also communities of faith, of nice, something for the kids, a overly adult world and despite the chaos could not have designed to be true, the loaves multiply and belief in God, of worship, and of warm nostalgia or a bitter memory, dark nights that sometimes beset things this way, to be innately feed the thousands and David sacred ritual and sacrament. but not something real, that stands me. moral. Only an intelligent Good- defeats Goliath. But it doesn’t I believe in God because of the up to hard scrutiny and indeed First, I believe in God because ness could have built reality this work unless I risk it. The Gospel existence of families of faith and stands up to the dark doubts that I sense, at the deepest level of my way. works, if we work it. the existence of church and sacra - sometimes linger below the surface being, there’s an inalienable My next reason for believing The objection could be raised ment. of our faith. Where’s there evi - moral structure to things. Life, in God is the existence of soul, here, of course, that many sincere, I wrote my doctoral thesis on the dence that God exists? love, and meaning are morally intelligence, love, altruism, and faith-filled people risk their lives classical proofs for the existence of A true apologetics, I believe, contoured. There’s an inalienable art. These could not have emerged and truth on the Gospel and, from God, arguments for God’s existence “law of karma” that’s experienced simply from blind chaos, from bil - all appearances in this world, it taken from some of the great intel - everywhere and in everything: lions and billions of cosmic bingo doesn’t work for them. They end lectuals in history: An selm, Thomas Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, good behaviour is its own happi - chips coming out of nothing, with up poor, as victims, on the losing Aquinas, Des car tes, Leibnitz, theologian, teacher, and award- ness, just as bad behaviour is its no intelligent loving force behind side of things. But again, that’s a Spinoza, and Alfred North White - winning author, is president of the own sorrow. Different religions them, endlessly churning through judgment we make from the stan - head. I rambled through nearly 500 Oblate School of Theology in San word it differently, but the con - billions of years. Random chaos, dards of this world, from the pages of articulating and evaluat - Antonio, TX. He can be contacted cept is at the heart of all religion empty of all intelligence and love Gospel of Prosperity where who - ing these proofs and then ended through his website www.ronrol - and is in essence the very defini - from its origins, could not have ever has the most worldly success with this conclusion. heiser.com. Now on Facebook tion of morality: The measure you eventually produced soul and all wins. The Gospel of Jesus under - We don’t come to believe in www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser measure out will be the measure that’s highest inside it: intelli - cuts this. Anyone who lives it out God because of the compelling gence, love, altruism, spirituality, as faithfully as he or she is able power of some mathematical equa - and art. Can our own hearts and will be blessed with something tion or logical syllogism. God’s Farewell to all that’s noble and precious with - beyond worldly success, namely, existence becomes real to us when in them really be just the result of the deeper joy of a life well lived, we live an honest, sincere life. Prairie Messenger and St. Peter’s Press

The monks of St. Peter’s Abbey, and the staff of Prairie Messenger and St. Peter’s Press, will be hosting an open house at St. Peter’s Press on Saturday, April 28, from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. We invite readers and friends to join us in a tribute and farewell to our beloved paper, which has held a special place in the hearts of Prairie readers for the past 114 years. 12 Prairie Messenger FEATURE April 18, 2018 Grief and gratitude: farewell to the Prairie Messenger

By Dennis Gruending for 23 days to poor, the oppressed, the defence - oppose the Douglas less, and all of those who are mar - My relationship with the Prairie government’s plan ginalized. Father Andrew was also Messenger began when I was six or to introduce pub - critical of having authority usurped seven years old, and I am sorry licly financed and from local bishops and centralized that, after more than a century of universal access to in Rome. As well, he frequently being published, the paper will medical care. pointed to the “dysfunction” of the soon cease to exist. When I was a Former Saskatch- hierarchy in its approach toward child in rural Sas katchewan, the ewan premier Allan women, although he did not advo - PM was one of the few publica - Blake ney used to cate for women’s ordination. tions in our household. I would say that only two Father Andrew had his detrac - faithfully read a section called the newspapers in the tors, particularly among those Junior Messen ger. It contained the province gave edi - who believed that in challenging letters children would write to torial support to the church and the hierarchy he someone named Brother Ben along medicare, and that was being disloyal; but he persist - with his replies, which I awaited one of them was ed with courage and conviction. eagerly each week. the Prairie Messen - He would not have been able to In my teens I attended St. ger. accomplish what he did had it not Peter’s College for three years. I Father James’ been for the excellence and com - was consumed with playing hock - ap pointment as edi - mitment of his staff, in particular ey and other sports, and I don’t tor in 1962 oc - Sister Marian Noll, 0SU, and remember much about the content curred as Pope Maureen Weber, who both served of the paper at that time. But I do John XXIII con - as assistant editors. recall something else. We stu - St. Peter’s Abbey Archives vened the Second The Prairie Messenger will be dents slept in large dormitories EDITOR AND MENTOR — Father James Gray, OSB, was Dennis Gruending’s Vatican Council, missed, not only, or even mainly, with about 50 or 60 boys in each. English professor and Gray was also the Prairie Messenger’s editor, having been which was to con - for nostalgic reasons, but because Some nights after the lights went appointed in 1962. Father James encouraged Gruending to begin writing for the tinue until 1965. it spoke to the hearts and minds out various hijinks occurred, and paper when he was a student at the University of Saskatchewan in the late 1960s. The council set out of Catholics, and non-Catholic then the lights would go back on. to update the readers as well. In recent years, a The priest or brother in charge the report of a Senate committee, racy espoused by leaders of the church, to prepare it for greater number of other Catholic papers would march us off to the study led by Senator James Croll, study - CCF, including Tommy Douglas, service to the world, to empower have ceased to publish. They hall and our punishment was to ing poverty in Canada. who was also a Baptist minister. lay Catho lics, and to promote include Toronto’s Catholic New copy, in long hand, the entire first It was during long conversa - Father Wilfrid was open to a Christian unity. De spite initial Times in 2006 and in more recent page of the PM . That was hardly tions with Father James on visits dialogue, which included ideas put widespread optimism, there was years the Catholic Times in a way to build a base of loyal back to St. Peter’s that I learned forward by the CCF and others also much subsequent division and Montreal, and the Western future subscribers. I’m convinced more about the history of the searching for ways to meet the opposition to change. It was a Catholic Reporter in Edmonton. the PM’s later problems with sub - paper. In earlier years, the editors needs of people. He argued in the momentous time in the church and Following these closures, there scriptions began right there. were mainly interested in church PM’s pages that society needed the debate over the council’s mean - have been some attempts to pub - When I took my first year of and clerical matters, although the “radical change, not palliatives,” ing and implementation was to lish information in online formats, university classes in residence at same editors lived in the midst of and that Catholic social teaching become a preoccupation for Father but they cannot succeed if there St. Peter’s, Father James Gray, farm communities and were sensi - provided the norms with which to James and subsequent editors. are not reporters, freelancers and OSB, was my English professor tive to their economic plight, espe - evaluate the programs of all politi - It was my good fortune to editors in place to collect and pre - and he was also the PM’s editor, cially during the Great Depression. cal parties. He wrote that Catholics write for a number of those sent the news in a professional and having been appointed in 1962. It It was an era of ferment and should be free to support the party skilled editors, including Michael balanced way. A Quebec journalist was he who encouraged me to political realignment. In Sas - of their choice. That was a contro - Pomedli, Bede Hubbard, and Art argued recently that those who say begin writing for the paper when I katchewan, the creation of farm versial position and he was severe - Babych. But my closest liaison we don’t need newspapers because was a student at the University of and co-operative movements, and ly criticized by bishops, lay was with the late Father Andrew we have the Internet might as well Saskatchewan in the late 1960s. later the CCF, were responses to Catholics and even some members Britz, who was the editor from say that we don’t need farmers One of my first pieces was about the economic crisis. These were of his own religious community. 1983 to 2004. He continued in the because we have supermarkets. trying times for Father Wilfrid Another former editor was prophetic tradition of Fathers But that is a discussion for Hergott, who was the PM’s editor Father Augustine Nenzel, who had Wilfrid, Augustine and James. another day. For the moment, we Gruending is an Ottawa-based from 1931 to 1955. The church taught my father when he attended Father Andrew was driven by grieve the loss of the Prairie writer and a former member of hierarchy was staunchly opposed St. Peter’s College in the 1930s. the idea that the post-council Messenger , but we also thank the Parliament. His blog can be to revolutionary socialism, but Father Augustine took a prophetic church must serve and inform the monks of St. Peter’s for creating found at http://www.dennisgru - failed to make the distinction stance in 1962 when Saskat - world, particularly those whom he the paper and sustaining it for ending.ca between that and the social democ - chewan’s doctors went on strike called the “little people” — the more than a century. Stepping into the courage it takes to breathe goodbye

the dying, with willing to live we anticipate and expect do not lion against death itself. God is through the death, to whisper necessarily take less courage than with us even as death divides us. goodbye in the heart ache, to the ones that are forced on us From a God who breathed his Barefoot walk through the darkness, and to with an unexpected violence. final, tortured breath, and then will living in spite of death. In the throes of April, labouring rolled away the stone, sunrise fol - and Preaching The ice melts slowly, the liquid feebly toward spring, prairie peo - lows the darkness. When the frost gently and slowly, moving what ple have forced breath onto frosted obscures my vision, the sun gently was once solid and rigid. Tears blur windows our whole lives. We have melts the ice and gently cleanses my vision, as if it was not already written our names on window me. In time, the glass is clear Leah Perrault impossible to see how we could go panes with frozen fingers since we again and I can see the steps into on living without you. The sun were children. It takes tremendous life and beauty on the other side The last several days frosted an Where do we get the courage to comes up on days without you in courage to trace our shapes on a of the loss. Being changes the intricate pattern of heartbreak breathe goodbye, again? them and everything feels wrong. canvas that we know is melting. world, even if not permanently. over my eyes. Sixteen people I want a world where the peo - There might be beauty left on the It is a curious word, goodbye . And so I am holding space for from the Humboldt Broncos hock - ple I love will always be with me. other side of the glass but it will not The word, like all language, is the grieving, myself among them. ey franchise died in a tragic bus This weekend, I held my 10-year- ever look the same. Nothing feels inherited. In the 16th century, the For the courage for countless fami - collision just hours from my front old as she tried to absorb another good about this goodbye. longer, “God be with you,” was lies to whisper goodbye this week. door. More than 100 people killed round of overwhelming loss. Her It is a strange irony that this contracted into the more contem - For light and warmth to be wrapped Saturday in Syria, between air tears fell wet across my chest and piece will also be my last in the porary, “goodbye.” The older around the grieving by the coming strikes and a chemical attack. And her body shook in my arms. The Prairie Messenger, published for form works cracks into the ice. To spring and the care of surrounding Monday, 23 children lost when a death of strangers exposes the over 100 years in Muenster, just say goodbye is to courageously communities. For the tension of school bus drove off a road. wounds of our recent losses, and outside of Humboldt. The paper trust God’s people to God as we held breath to give way to deep Senseless death surrounds. The draws the new mourners into our is closing and with it go the pages let them go. drawing in of air and its release. For sun rises and the light and warmth minds and hearts. that first published my work. I am I want to hold my breath, to tears of pain and healing. melts the ice, blurring my vision. “The world and its desire are barely breathing goodbye to the freeze time somewhere before the May we draw on the God who passing away,” wrote John, in his staff that have encouraged and moment of senseless death, to defy is grieving with us, the God who second letter. It is so hard to live sharpened my voice. I am griev - the constant passing away of this is with us on both sides of the This column will continue to be in a world that is dying constant - ing the loss of a part of the beautiful, changing world. But losses. May we be filled with the published online at www.leahper - ly. The verse goes on to say that prophetic vision and voice of the holding my breath will not restore courage to breathe goodbye to rault.com. You can sign up there “those who do the will of God Benedictine brothers have faith - life. It will only deprive me of the what has been. And may the tears to have it delivered to you by live forever.” The living, now and fully offered from this prairie cor - air I need to go on living. So I can slowly clear our vision to see and email. forever, seem to be tied up with ner of the world. The goodbyes breathe goodbye as an act of rebel - receive the life that follows loss. April 18, 2018 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 13 A catholic welcome to one who was reluctant to dance

lations, agreed to become my catholic means “comprehensive, stand as always in need of every partner. She has been the greatest universal, broad in sympathies, grace the round world can con - of the many gifts I’ve received tastes, or interests.” If — as I vey. Around the from Catholicism, and she and I hope — I’ve become a bit more So here’s an aging Mennonite have been together for the past 30 catholic, it’s due to those who at the table again, confessing that Kitchen Table years. have been catholic toward me. it remains as hard as ever to I ponder Ferdinand Magellan’s They were not “catha-holics,” as dance with any comfort, let alone comment: “The church says the one friend characterizes her for - abandon. I won’t do an Irish jig Lloyd Ratzlaff earth is flat, but I know that it is mer “faith,” and they didn’t mere - like Old Joe Tobin did in the round, for I have seen the shadow ly belong to “the religion with the Laird Hotel in 1955, when my on the moon, and I have more green roof,” as one high school eight-year-old self fled from the Continued from March 14. not just colleagues, but gifts in faith in a shadow than in the student dubbed his creed, refer - sight in terror — though God For those of you who read my my evolving personal and profes - church.” Or Benjamin Franklin’s ring to the colour of Bishop knows that in the dancing sense, I last column about the eight-year- sional life. Often people asked equally cynical remark: James Mahoney High School. I wish I were more truly catholic old Mennonite village kid terri - how a former Mennonite minister “Lighthouses are more helpful seem by now to have resolved too. fied at the sight of an Irish got to be a counsellor in a than churches.” So, Gregory of theological conundrums to my For my spiritual mentors, Catholic man dancing a jig, I ask Catholic school system, and I Nazianzen cautions, “Not to own satisfaction, though I would inspirations, and down-to-earth you now to take a long leap — replied that I didn’t know, but I everyone does it belong to philos - not wish my way on anyone else; catholic friends, you have been a about a quarter of a century — to certainly had been given an ophize about God; not to every - for impeccable as my theories godsend. May blessings return to that same boy grown into a mid - unsparing welcome. Amid the one — the subject is not so cheap may be, alas, their practice crown your heads in the full mea - dle-aged man, hired to work as a emotional storms in which I tried and low — and, I will add, not remains all too “peccable,” and I sures you’ve given to me. counsellor for St. Paul’s Roman to come to terms with my own before every audience, not at all Catholic School Division in heritage, and along rocky paths times, nor on all points; but on Saskatoon. where I stumbled through fail - certain occasions and before cer - I had left a Mennonite pas - ures, including a divorce, I took tain persons and within certain torate in a town near Winnipeg to great solace in Catholicism’s gen - limits.” complete graduate studies in edu - erosity toward me, even if it In late 1999, when the Y2K cational psychology at the seemed that some of my col - fever was gripping the world and University of Saskatchewan. leagues were chafing under its I had just embarked on a writing Shortly afterward, I was granted imperiousnesss toward them. life, from out of the blue came a an interview with Saskatoon I can’t begin to name all my phone call inviting me to write a Catholic Schools, and though I benefactors for fear of leaving column about my “faith journey” didn’t think I had done very well, many out, but here are a few for the Prairie Messenger. The suddenly — against all the odds examples. One chaplain who’d tone would be informal, I was — I found myself in the hospitali - been a sister and a mother superi - told, like conversations that might ty of administrators, teachers, stu - or deemed me to be “more occur around a kitchen table. It’s dents, priests and religious alike, Catholic than most Catholics.” been another of my great fortunes not merely as a token non- One priest became a confessor to to have been re-invited to the Catholic, but apparently a gen - me in the most profound, sacra - table for the past 18 years, and uine part of the community. mental way I can imagine; anoth - these table-talks have spawned I fell in love immediately with er invited me to give a guest three books and many individual my new role and these new homily in his parish during a articles. I’m grateful beyond mea - friends, and for the next 15 years Christian Unity Week service. sure to the editors: the late Father — with one brief interruption — I Many of my longtime friends Andrew Britz, Abbot Peter worked for the Catholic school who are also Catholic became a Novecosky, Donald Ward, and division. Administrators eased wider and more protective reli - especially Maureen Weber, who my load in working with troubled gious umbrella to me than I had made the original phone call and students, many teachers became ever known before. with whom I’ve worked most During the early days of this closely, who I feel privileged to PM file new chapter in my life I began call a friend. And I’m grateful to EDITORS IN CELEBRATION — Former editor Andrew Britz, OSB, Ratzlaff is a former minister, reading Catholic authors, some of all the readers who have joined presents Marian Noll, OSU, with a gift on her retirement as associate counsellor, and university lectur - whom remain touchstones to this the discussions. editor of the Prairie Messenger. Noll left the PM in 1998 when she was er. He has authored three books of day: J. P. de Caussade, Henri In my dictionary, the word elected General Superior of the Ursulines of Bruno. literary non-fiction published by Nouwen, William Johnston, Thistledown Press, and edited an Thomas Merton, St. John of the anthology of seniors’ writings Cross; and although he consid - A note of thanks to the PM family published by READ Saskatoon. ered himself an ex-Catholic, the He has been short-listed for three renowned mythologist Joseph never received criticism from the Saskatchewan Books Awards, won Campbell as well. community for my very ordinary two Saskatchewan Writers Guild And during one of my itinerant efforts at putting these columns literary non-fiction awards, and years with the school division, I together. On the contrary, I have served on local, provincial, and had the great good fortune of Figure of been blessed with kind words and national writing organization meeting a teacher named Larraine support. So too has St. Mary’s boards. who, despite my fears and vacil - Speech University, the subject of so many of my columns. For this I thank Dr. Gerry Turcotte all of you. A message to our subscribers . . . It does seem fitting to be writ - ing this at the approach of Easter. As most readers of the Prairie Messenger are aware, we “Finally, brothers and sisters, itself to me. There is a sense of reckoning that will cease publication in May 2018. farewell.” — 2 Corinthians 13:11 As a layperson I have made a comes with the end of the lenten sincere effort to capture the joy of period, and also a sense of stock - For those subscribers who would normally receive a This is the last of my columns faith in the every day, from church taking. It is a time when we gath - renewal notice during the months of February, March as the Prairie Messenger closes bulletin boards, to charity events, er in thanks for the gifts the Lord and April, we wish to assure you that you will continue down. While I never expected to misremembered prayers to the has given us, most importantly to receive your copy of the Prairie Messenger. Renewal have the privilege of writing this imperfect study of our saints. the miracle of his son’s resurrec - notices will not be sent out. Your previous support on column on an ongoing basis, I Through it all I have been blessed tion. It is a time when families our subscription list guarantees your copy until we have certainly become used to with a generous audience, and gather to celebrate, to pray and to cease publication. the regularity of the project, have been surprised not just at the give thanks. preparing reflections month after wide reach of the Prairie I want to use this opportunity For any readers who are interested in a new subscription month, on both the story of St. Messenger itself, but also the to thank Maureen Weber, who has until May 9, 2018 (our closure), we will charge a fee of Mary’s University, Calgary, but many opportunities, both in and been a true kindred spirit. I have also on the story of my faith in out of church, for me to meet with greatly enjoyed the dialogue I $15 to help offset administration and mailing costs. our times as the subject revealed readers of this humble column. developed with her in the prepara - [email protected] Recently someone thanked me tion of these monthly reflections, for writing Small Things: Essays even though we have never met in We are humbled by the outpouring of support for the Turcotte is president of St. in Faith and Hope, the collection person. To Maureen, and to the Prairie Messenger. Although this support cannot change Mary’s University in Calgary. If published by Novalis that brought readers of the Prairie Messenger, the decision made by the Benedictine community to you would like to continue receiv - together the first three years of I offer my most profound thanks. cease publication, it encourages our efforts to continue ing his monthly columns, either the columns. In truth, I’m the one It has been an honour and a privi - in our mission to deliver the Good News. electronically or in hard-copy, who owes a note of thanks to the lege to write for you. please send us a note at communi - readers for their support, ideas, God bless, from all of us at St. [email protected] and generosity of spirit. I have Mary’s University. 14 Prairie Messenger EDITORIALS April 18, 2018

Non-believer was a good man ‘A little while ago my father passed away. He was a Pope Francis encouraged Emanuele to “talk to non-believer, but he had all four of his children bap - your dad; pray to your dad.” A video is making the rounds on the Internet — a tized. He was a good man. Is dad in heaven?’ ’’ Earlier, a young girl named Carlotta had asked the young lad wants to ask Pope Francis a question, but “How beautiful to hear a son say of his father, pope a delicate question: “When we are baptized, we is too shy and breaks down before he can get his ‘He was good,’ ’’ the pope told the children. “And become children of God. People who aren’t baptized, question out. what a beautiful witness of a son who inherited the are they not children of God?” It happened on Sunday, April 15, when the pope strength of his father, who had the courage to cry in “What does your heart tell you?” the pope asked was making a visit to St. Paul of the Cross Parish on front of all of us. If that man was able to make his Carlotta. She said, they are, too. the outskirts of Rome. children like that, then it’s true, he was a good “Right, and I’ll explain,” the pope told her. “We The pope had a question-and-answer session with man. are all children of God. Everyone.” youngsters — a standard part of his parish visits. “That man did not have the gift of faith, he wasn’t The non-baptized, members of other religions, According to a Catholic News Service report, the a believer, but he had his children baptized. He had a those who worship idols, “even the Mafiosi,” who first child asked: “How did you feel when you were good heart,” Pope Francis said. terrorize the neighbourhood around the parish, are elected pope?” “God is the one who says who goes to heaven,” children of God, though “they prefer to behave like Then it was Emanuele’s turn. When he got to the the pope explained. children of the devil,” he said. microphone, he froze. “I can’t do it,” he said. Even a The next step in answering Emanuele’s question, “God created everyone, loves everyone and put in papal aide couldn’t get him to loosen his tongue. he said, would be to think about what God is like everyone’s heart a conscience so they would recog - “Come to me, Emanuele,” the pope urged. “Come and, especially, what kind of heart God has. “What and whisper it in my ear.” do you think? A father’s heart. God has a dad’s heart. nize what is good and distinguish it from what is The aide helped the boy up the platform. And with a dad who was not a believer, but who bap - bad,” the pope said. Emanuele was sobbing, and Pope Francis enveloped tized his children and gave them that bravura, do you The difference, he said, is that “when you were him in an embrace. think God would be able to leave him far from him - baptized, the Holy Spirit entered into that conscience With their heads touching, the pope and the boy self?” and reinforced your belonging to God and, in that spoke privately to each other before Emanuele “Does God abandon his children?” the pope sense, you became more of a daughter of God returned to his seat. asked. “Does God abandon his children when they because you’re a child of God like everyone, but “If only we could all cry like Emanuele when we are good?” with the strength of the Holy Spirit.” have an ache in our hearts like he has,” Pope Francis The children shouted, “No.” Not that long ago, non-baptized persons were not told the children. “He was crying for his father and “There, Emanuele, that is the answer,” the pope allowed to be buried in a Catholic cemetery. They had the courage to do it in front of us because in his told the boy. “God surely was proud of your father, were buried outside, or on the edge. heart there is love for his father.” because it is easier as a believer to baptize your chil - Emanuele asked the right question, and Pope Pope Francis said he had asked Emanuele if he dren than to baptize them when you are not a believ - Francis was able to give him a delicate, yet honest, could share the boy’s question and the boy agreed. “ er. Surely this pleased God very much.” answer. — PWN Pro-life culture needs to shine a spotlight on positive topics

haps a little time spent on other if we want to build a culture of scribe our culture. But as good as topics such as euthanasia (assum - life, we need to understand what we have become at identifying ing it ever became relevant). It the blueprint for a healthy and cultural pathologies, we remain didn’t take me long to realize that whole culture looks like. incapable of breaking free Building a focusing exclusively on such nar - This minor epiphany came to because we do not know what a row and negative topics would not me a few weeks ago when I was healthy culture looks like. Culture of Life only be soul crushing for me, it attending the University of Sas - We know that abortion is not would also do nothing to foster the katchewan’s “Gathering for miyo desirable, but we do not know theme of this column. mahcihowin ,” a conference on how to ensure that women are Mary Deutscher Now, as I am writing my last indigenous health. During one of never in a situation where taking article, I am finally a little closer the sessions, Dr. James Makokis the life of their child seems like Eight years ago, I was At the beginning, I assumed that I to understanding why shining a pointed out that although many the only alternative. We know approached to begin writing this would mostly be writing about spotlight on positive topics, such gatherings say that they are about that we value diversity, but we do column for the Prairie Messenger . abortion-related issues, with per - as palliative care, was so critical: indigenous health, all too often not know how to maintain civil the focus becomes indigenous ill - dialogue. We know that euthana - ness. sia is an act of desperation, but Pope Francis turns the corner on abuse He asked the crowd to consid - we do not know how to journey er that perhaps so many people with those who are dying. So By Mark Silk His apparent dismissal of credible truth of that last phrase. In resign - are ill not because we cannot what can we do? ©2017 Religion News Service evidence stunned even his staunch- ing from the Pontifical Com mis - understand their illness, but rather In his reflection on indigenous est supporters. sion for the Protection of Minors because we no longer know how health, Makokis shared that what On Wednesday, April 11, Pope Fortunately, Francis was suffi - a year ago, Marie Collins wrote, to guide them toward health. is needed is a return to the source. Francis issued a letter of apology ciently concerned about the situa - We can find a similar focus on to the bishops of Chile for his tion that he appointed Malta — NO HISTORICAL , page 15 illness in most writings that de - — HEALING , page 15 handling of the their country’s sex Archbishop Charles Scicluna to abuse crisis. It is an extraordinary look into it. Scicluna, whose in - document whose significance can vestigations have brought down hardly be exaggerated. sexual predators Cardinal Keith When Francis visited Chile in O’Brien of Scotland and Marcial January, he was widely expected Maciel Degollado of the Legion - to calm the ongoing furour over aries of Christ, has now delivered Juan Barros Madrid. Instead, he an apparently devastating report intensified it. on the Barros affair. Barros was a follower of In responding to it, Francis Francisco Karadima, a charismat - confesses that reading the testi - ic priest whom the Vatican de - mony of the victims “causes me frocked in 2011 for abusing teen - pain and shame.” The letter is by agers during the 1980s and 1990s. way of an invitation to the bish - Despite accusations by several of ops of Chile to come to Rome to Karadima’s victims that Barros help him devise measures “to re- had been present for some of the establish ecclesial communion in abuse and failed to report it — Chile, with the goal of repairing and over the objections of Chile’s as much as possible the scandal bishops — Francis went ahead and re-establishing justice.” “As and appointed him bishop of the for my own responsibility,” he southern Chilean city of Osorno in writes, I acknowledge, and I want 2015. As the case festered, Barros you to faithfully convey it that twice offered, and Francis twice way, that I have made serious refused to accept, his resignation. mistakes in the assessment and In January, he rubbed salt into perception of the situation, espe - the wound by celebrating mass cially because of the lack of truth - with Barros and calling the charges ful and balanced information.” against him “calumny.” Although Anyone who has followed the CNS/Goran Tomasevic, Reuters he retracted the comment after it stuttering progress of the Vatican CAMP FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE IN CONGO — Displaced people sit outside their makeshift shelters provoked outrage, he insisted that in dealing with the worldwide sex April 9 at a camp in Bunia, Congo. Civilians in eastern Congo have been brutalized by militias, rebels and he believed in Barros’ innocence. abuse crisis will not doubt the military units. April 18, 2018 Prairie Messenger 15 Denounce every discrimination that women suffer

Continued from page 1 communities in charity, the com - The commission also warned eign organizations. were and still are accomplices in mission document said women of the negative influence “ telenov - “Feminist lobbies that are attacking their dignity.” The Aparecida document’s call can and should play a greater role elas ” (soap operas) have on Latin well-funded and orchestrated by Participants at the meeting to renew the church’s commit - in church life, including in the American women because the pro - international agencies” play a role called for improved relations ment to mission and discipleship formation of future priests. grams undermine marriages and in diminishing the dignity of between local bishops and the in Latin America must be fol - In order for priests to benefit families that are labelled “tradi - women, the document added. religious orders of women who lowed through by local churches, from the “feminine genius,” it tional” while advocating a variety The figure of Mary as “a free minister in their dioceses, saying especially “in denouncing every said, it is important for married of other forms of cohabitation. and strong woman, obedient to women religious “must be recog - form of discrimination and op - women and consecrated women In addition, the document said, the will of God,” can be crucial in nized and valued as jointly pression, violence and exploita - “to participate in the formation “they attempt to undermine moth - “recovering the identity of the responsible for the communion tion that women suffer in various process.” erhood, which is depicted as a woman and her value in the and mission of the church.” situations,” the Pontifical Com - Women should be a part “of prison that reduces the possibili - church,” the document said. Women should be more in - mission for Latin America’s final the formation teams, giving them ties of a woman’s well-being and Like Mary proclaiming the volved in decision-making on a document stated. authority to teach and accompany progress.” “Magnificat,” women can have a parish, diocesan, national and Expressing appreciation for seminarians, as well as the oppor - In Latin America, meeting par - prophetic voice and demonstrate global church level, participants the Christian witness given by tunity to intervene in the voca - ticipants warned, poor women are “the feminine and maternal di - said. Such openness is not “a con - women in consecrated life, moth - tional discernment and balanced subjected to “undignified and mension of the church,” the docu - cession to pressure,” but the result ers who are “authentic ‘martyrs’ development of candidates to the horrible forms” of exploitation by ment stated. of an awareness that “the absence giving their lives for their fami - priestly ministry,” the document “renting out their wombs” for “The Catholic Church, follow - of women in decision-making is a lies” and widows who serve their said. surrogacy and influenced by for - ing the example of Jesus, must be defect, an ecclesiological lacuna, very free of prejudices, stereotypes the negative effect of a clerical and discrimination against wom - and chauvinistic mentality.” Healing involves returning to ‘the source’ en,” the final document said. Greater efforts, they said, must “Christian communities must be made to educate men to over - Continued from page 14 need to return to our source. For “most Christians are unaware that undertake a serious review of their come chauvinism, counteract the Christians, this source is a God of they will need spiritual buoys and life and a ‘pastoral conversion’ abandonment of their children For indigenous peoples, he sug - relationship, who is not deterred lifelines to assist in the difficult capable of asking forgiveness for and “irresponsibility in sexual gested that this source is their tra - by the illness and brokenness of swim (against euthanasia).” all those situations in which they behaviour.” ditional beliefs of humankind this world. He turns our culture’s I believe that in all aspects of being created from the Earth, in weaknesses into an opportunity to building the culture of life, these natural harmony with the envi - produce greater things, and calls buoys and lifelines have already ronment around them. To under - us to do the same. been handed to us, but we need stand what “healthy” means, But it won’t be easy. In her to take the time to receive them indigenous people need to redis - book, “Rediscovering the Art of and put them to good use. The cover who they were before so Dying,” Sister Nuala Kenny refers tide may be against us, but our many of their people were over - specifically to euthanasia and experience over the past several whelmed by illness. assisted suicide as a “powerful dec ades has given us the tools This advice holds true for non- tide” that is pushing to become we need to create an environ - indigenous peoples as well. For us “the only understanding of a good ment in which people feel to be able to heal our culture, we death.” She goes on to advise that empowered to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families. There is a poem on a mural at St. Paul’s Hospital that summa - rizes these ideas perfectly. The poem, titled “An Aboriginal Perspective,” was received from the First Nations Nechi Centre, and reads as follows: “Our God uses broken things./It takes bro - CNS/Paul Haring ken soil to produce a crop./It VATICAN COMMISSION SUGGESTS SYNOD ON WOMEN — takes broken clouds to produce Pope Francis greets a woman in 2017 at the blessing of the cornerstone rain./It takes broken grain to pro - of Talitha Qum homeless shelter in Cartagena, Colombia. At the end of duce bread./It takes broken bread their plenary meeting March 6 - 9 at the Vatican, members of the to produce strength.” Pontifical Commission for Latin America proposed that the church We are marked by periods of hold a synod of bishops “on the theme of women in the life and mission brokenness and healing as surely of the church.” as the seasons are marked by death and rebirth. But we can take No historical precedence confidence in knowing where we come from and where we are Anne Wicks for pope’s letter of apology returning to. To build the culture Adduction of life, we need to stay focused on God as our Source, trusting Continued from page 14 as can be expected, the pope re- in the deep evening that God will use us to bring heal - moves him from office for cause, when the blue comes off the river ing and rebirth to hearts, homes, “The most significant problem it will be the first time a Catholic and the velvet comes out of the ground and humanity. has been reluctance of some prelate has been explicitly cash - night gathers me On a personal note, it has been members of the Vatican Curia to iered because he covered up abuse and all things familiar a privilege to write for the implement the recommendations by others. The letter to the dissolve Prairie Messenger , and I regret of the commission despite their Chilean bishops, a public confes - and I covenant like the Israelites that the ups and downs of life approval by the pope.” sion of error that so far as I know recant my heart-ache stories prevented me from publishing I would not want to be in the is without precedent in the entire of everyday life regularly over the past year. I shoes of the curial officials who history of the papacy, indicates and lift them up would like to express my deep provided that false and unbal - that Francis has finally recognized like the cup appreciation to everyone who anced information. the nature and gravity of abuse I do not flinch took the time to comment on my Over the years, there have crisis, and his personal responsi - for His presence writing, my parents for their been not a few cases of Catholic bility for resolving it. is clearly visible in a trail of broken bread loyal proofreading, and Abbot prelates disciplined for sexual Three decades after the crisis By Jan Wood Peter Novecosky for making this misbehaviour. What makes the began, he is now in a position to column possible. Barros case so important is that if, bring it to an end.

Editor: Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB 306-682-1772 GST#10780 2928 RT0001 Copy and advertising should arrive 12 days before publication date. Associate editors: Maureen Weber , Change of address: Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing and send Don Ward both old and new addresses. Layout artist: Lucille Stewart Advertising: Gail Kleefeld 306-682-1772 Website: http://www.prairiemessenger.ca Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Circulation: Gail Kleefeld 306-682-1772 Circulation Department Regina diocesan editor: Frank Flegel 306-586-7316, 306-352-1651 100 College Drive, Box 190, Muenster, Sask., S0K 2Y0 Saskatoon diocesan editor: Kiply Lukan Yaworski 306-242-1500, 306-651-3935 Prince Albert: Chancery Office 306-922-4747 Fax: (306) 682-5285 [email protected] Member of Winnipeg diocesan editor: James Buchok 204-452-2227 Published by the Benedictine monks of St. Peter’s Abbey. Canadian Church Press Saint-Boniface Chancery Office 204-237-9851 and the CCNA CN ISSN 0032-664X Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 Printed by St. Peter’s Press, Muenster, Sask. 16 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS April 18, 2018 Women religious honoured for putting lives at risk

By Cindy Wooden the women they live and work with South Sudan, an internation - lines, living out their faith in these said, “There is that mentality, cul - with, including rape and murder, al project of women’s and men’s places” and “giving enormous wit - turally and socially, that women ROME (CNS) — Today’s said Sister Yudith Pereira-Rico, a religious orders. ness to the church and to us.” are second-class, that women are women religious belong to “a long member of the Religious of Jesus Callista Gingrich, the U.S. The Rome conference focused of less value or no value at all.” line of courageous women” whose and Mary and executive director ambassador, opened the conference especially on the work of women faith in God and love for humanity of Solidarity with South Sudan. saying women religious are “often religious in combatting human led them to put their lives at risk, The two sisters and several the unsung heroes of the Catholic trafficking and assisting survivors said Sister Patricia Murray, an others spoke April 11 at a sympo - Church” and that their service to and on their steadfast commit - Irish member of the Institute of the sium, “Women Religious on the people and their contributions to ment to communities, like in Blessed Virgin Mary. Frontlines,” sponsored by the peace and justice “should be emu - South Sudan and Syria, that are In situations of war and con - U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, lated and celebrated.” experiencing conflict and war. flict around the globe, women the International Union of Su - The ambassador used the occa - In panel discussions on both religious face the same dangers as periors General and Solidarity sion to introduce Sister Maria issues, the sisters emphasized the Elena Berini, a 73-year-old Italian need for education: to warn people member of the Sisters of Charity of about the false promises traffick - St. Jeanne Antide Thouret. On the ers make; to help women and girls recommendation of the embassy, gain the knowledge and skills they Berini, a missionary in the Central need to survive and thrive, and to African Re public, was honoured in participate actively in peace and March as one of the U.S. State De- reconciliation processes; and to part ment’s International Women of educate men and boys to respect Courage. women and girls. Murray, executive director of Speaking particularly about the International Union of trafficking victims forced into Superiors General, told the gath - prostitution, panelists said a key ering that for centuries women part of prevention is eliminating religious have been “leaving demand by educating men about home and crossing seas, deserts, the slave conditions under which CNS/Stefano Spaziani mountains and vast plains to reach most prostitutes work and the fact BIRTHDAY — Retired Pope those most in need and, particular - that using a woman like that is a Benedict XVI had a “peaceful ly, those most abandoned.” violation of her dignity. and familial” 91st birthday April Throughout the conference, Dominican Sister Cecilia 16, celebrating with his 94-year- people mentioned women reli - Espenilla, who co-ordinates the old brother, Msgr. Georg gious who, living among the poor Philippine branch of the anti-traf - Ratzinger. Pope Benedict retired and displaced, were victims of ficking organization Talitha Kum, Feb. 28, 2013. war and murder, particularly in Latin America and in Africa. Don’t wait to be perfect Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, set aside his prepared text to speak of to answer vocational call the women religious he met or heard stories about in his work as By Junno Arocho Esteves minds and hearts.” a Vatican diplomat, paying partic - “We will never discover the spe - ular homage to three elderly VATICAN CITY (CNS) — cial, personal calling that God has in Xaverian Missionary sisters bru - Men and women contemplating a mind for us if we remain enclosed CNS/Gregory A. Shemitz tally murdered in Burundi in vocation to the priesthood, conse - in ourselves, in our usual way of September 2014. MARYKNOLL CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL MASS — Flags repre - crated life or marriage should not doing things, in the apathy of those But from Libya where “the senting the countries where Maryknoll missioners currently serve in be afraid because God wants only who fritter away their lives in their mission are seen during mass April 2 at the Maryknoll Society Center in church was built around sisters” to for them to experience the joy that own little world,” the pope said. Maryknoll, N.Y. The liturgy marked the opening of a yearlong celebra - the aboriginal communities of comes from serving others, Pope Listening is increasingly diffi - tion by the Maryknoll Society marking the centennial of its first mission Australia where the sisters work on Francis said. cult in today’s society, which is sending. Four Maryknoll priests — Revs. Thomas F. Price (Maryknoll “the front lines of people’s de - “Our slowness and our sloth” “overstimulated and bombarded co-founder), James E. Walsh, Francis X. Ford and Bernard F. Meyer — spair,” he said, there are “examples should not delay a response and by information” and “prevents us departed for China Sept. 8, 1918, five months after the Vatican approved of religious women living on the Christians need not be “fearful of from pausing and enjoying the the society’s request to open a mission in the Asian country. front lines, working on the front our limitations and sins, but in - taste of contemplation” and dis - stead open our hearts to the voice cerning God’s plan, he said. of the Lord,” the pope said in his Often stifled by “the tempta - U.S. immigrants pray to Blessed Romero message for the 2018 World Day tions of ideology and negativity,” of Prayer for Vocations. he said, Christians need spiritual By Rhina Guidos programs that grant for a time programs would have on individ - “It will not fill our hearts if we discernment which allows them to work permits and other protec - uals but also on the Central keep standing by the window with “discover the places, the means WASHINGTON (CNS) — tions to immigrants who meet Amer ican country. It’s a country the excuse of waiting for the right and situations through which” Invoking a Salvadoran who’s certain criteria. The end of the that struggles with poverty and time, without accepting this very God’s calls them. about to become the country’s first programs would affect more than rampant crime, earning it a spot day the risk of making a decision,” “Every Christian ought to grow Catholic saint, the man who now 215,000 Salvadorans facing a as one of the most dangerous the pope wrote. “Vocation is today! in the ability to ‘read within’ his or occupies his old post asked immi - return to a country in turmoil, the places in the world not at war. The Christian mission is now!” her life and to understand where grants and their children during an archbishop said. The archbishop said the group, The papal message for the day and to what he or she is being April 11 mass in Wash ington to “We would like you to invoke which included Bishop William of prayer, which will be observed called by the Lord, in order to carry pray for Blessed Oscar Romero’s (Blessed) Romero for his interces - Iraheta of Santiago de Maria and April 22, was released Dec. 4 at on his mission,” Pope Francis said. intercession, a “miracle,” that sion in this miracle, a solution to Bishop Elias Samuel Bolanos the Vatican. The 2018 theme is He also urged men and women would allow U.S. lawmakers to this problem,” Escobar said. “He Avelar, who is vice-president of “Listening, discerning and living to live out their calling once it is grant immigration re lief to thou - is with us and intercedes for us.” Caritas El Salvador , wanted to the Lord’s call.” discovered and “become a witness sands of Salvadorans and other El Salvador’s Cardinal Rosa speak to U.S. lawmakers to share In his message, Pope Francis of the Lord here and now,” wheth - immigrants to the United States. Chavez said that when the bishops their accounts of what would hap - said God’s call “is not as clearcut er in marriage or priesthood or Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar in El Salvador heard that the pro - pen at home and abroad. as any of those things we can consecrated life. Alas of San Salvador, El Salva - grams would end and that those When U.S. officials asked hear, see or touch in our daily “If (God) lets us realize that he dor, flanked by the country’s affected by the decisions were whether El Salvador could take in experiences” because God “comes is calling us to consecrate our - Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez going through a difficult time try - 195,000 Salvadorans forced to silently and discreetly, without selves totally to his kingdom, then and two other Salvadoran bish - ing to figure out what to do, “we return with the end of TPS, sched - imposing on our freedom.” we should have no fear!” Pope ops, addressed worried immi - wanted to express solidarity.” uled for 2019, “we told them what Christians, he said, must learn Francis said. grants gathered at the Shrine of They also wanted to take steps to they already know,” that as a to listen carefully and “view “It is beautiful — and a great the Sacred Heart, telling them try to help them. That’s how the country El Salvador cannot offer things with the eyes of faith” in grace,” he said, “to be completely that neither the Catholic Church, April 9 - 14 trip to Wash ington — protection at this moment given order to listen to his voice which and forever consecrated to God nor God, would abandon them as which includes pastoral visits with the violence and lack of jobs, said is “drowned out by the many wor - and the service of our brothers they face being stripped of docu - migrants, as well as meeting with Escobar during an April 11 meet - ries and concerns that fill our and sisters.” ments to stay and work in the U.S. lawmakers — began. ing with Spanish-language media. country legally. There have been masses and Just days before the bishops In the last few months, the dialogue with immigrants. There left, they were still reeling from the Truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Trump administration announced have been official meetings with killing of a priest from Iraheta’s Let it loose. It will defend itself. it was ending the Temporary decision-makers, with the bishops diocese, believed to have been Protected Status and the Deferred trying to let them know the dev - fatally shot by gang members, dur - — St. Augustine Action for Childhood Arrivals astating effects that ending both ing Holy Week.