2021 1 jesuits.ca Everything is sacred: seeing the wonders that play below page 16 New seeds of hope for an old forest page 8 Justice and Indigenous Wisdom page 32 Cultivating the land and the soul: the work of the Ferme Berthe-Rousseau page 5 From the Director Let us place our first step in the ascent at the bottom, presenting to ourselves the whole material world as a mirror through which we may pass over to God, the supreme [Artisan] “ — Saint Bonaventure (1221–1274) “his edition of Canadian Jesuits ensure that the younger generation is focuses on one of the most urgent informed, aware, and able to incorporate Tcalls facing humanity and creation: this issue with their faith. caring for our Common Home. And, perhaps most fundamentally, It is no secret that our planet is facing spiritual and pastoral centres, parishes, a climate emergency. The most reputable and chaplaincies seek to work together Photo: Stijn Dijkstra de Pexels scientific organizations agree that human to emphasise awareness of God’s call to activity is causing profound and systemic love all that is sacred. environmental damage that threatens But, of course, we cannot do this alone. our existence. The climate emergency is global and And this environmental crisis is systemic and therefore requires us to join particularly affecting the poorest and forces with those who influence change most vulnerable. Christians and all in these structures. people of good will are called to act In this issue we not only highlight the urgently. We’re in need of an ecological efforts we lead as the Society of Jesus, conversion if we are to be honest but we also highlight the ways in which custodians of this wonderful planet and we collaborate with other drivers of avoid its destruction. We can still change change. the course of history. We provide concrete examples of We Jesuits and colleagues do not how Jesuits in Canada are working and ignore this cry of suffering from creation. cooperating with others in this regard. In fact, it is part of our four Universal Apostolic Preferences, which orient our Our hope is that the stories shared efforts for the next ten years. in these pages will inspire those who feel inclined to participate, to join, Our social centres, such as the Centre with Gospel depth, in this mission of Justice et Foi, study the structural reconciliation and resurrection in our causes of the emergency, collaborating common home. with schools, universities, and others who share our concerns to promote José Antonio Sánchez fundamental solutions. Director Jesus saw God Our educational institutions, such as the in all that he saw.” University of Sudbury and Regis College, and those who work in them, seek to — James Finley 2 CANADIAN JESUITS “ In this Issue 2 From the Director 2021 Nº 1 4 From the Provincial Our works Canadian Jesuits is the magazine of the Jesuits of 5 Cultivating the land and the soul: Canada. It is published twice a the work of the Ferme Berthe-Rousseau year in French and English. 8 New seeds of hope for an old forest Director of the Magazine José Sánchez 11 The ministry of fresh mangoes, meaty coconuts and the shade of trees Associate Editor Fannie Dionne 8 News Proofreading and Editing Kathy Baroody 13 Canadian News Editorial Committee 14 Taking care of our common home: Gilles Mongeau, SJ Other works and projects John O’Brien, SJ Michel Corbeil, SJ Spirituality Barry Leidl 16 Everything is sacred: seeing the wonders that play below Other Contributors André Brouillette, SJ Portrait of a Canadian Jesuit Pierre Belanger, SJ John McCarthy, SJ 18 Mother Nature and Brother Hudon Becky Sindelar Ignatian Wisdom in Daily Life Layout 31 Camille Legaspi 22 The Ignatian Magis: Spirituality and Growth Printing PubCité Events, Publications, Resources Year 2021 - Issue 1 24 Events, Publications, Resources Date of publication: January 1, 2021 Formation Legal Deposit: 25 From rockets to canoes National Library of Canada Quebec International 25, rue Jarry Ouest 28 Brother Paul Desmarais: Sowing the Seeds of Knowledge Montreal, Quebec 32 Canada H2P 1S6 31 International News For more information 32 Justice and Indigenous Wisdom: (subscriptions, etc.), The Work of the Pan-Amazonian Network contact José Sánchez, director of communications, at [email protected] Witnesses of a Life 514-387-2541 35 Cigarettes, coffee and justice: jesuits.ca the unusual holiness of Martin Royackers, SJ Cover Photo : Alexander Mcferon of Unsplash JESUITS.CA 3 From the Provincial I grew up in rural New Brunswick, with its abundance of to develop a deeper sensitivity to the common good forests and rivers, as well as the ocean within easy reach. associated with the deeply Christian truism of the Thus, from an early age, I developed a deep appreciation brotherly and sisterly love among all human beings. Good for unspoiled nature. I reminisce fondly about the times Pope Francis reminds us that this is God’s deepest desire when, with siblings and friends, I could take off for days for the world. Shouldn’t we all want what God wants? at a time to the beautiful island in the middle of the The Jesuits of Canada and our partners are doing our river, a half hour’s sail from where we lived. I’m amazed utmost to live out the sacred and human values that are to recollect that 10- and 12-year-olds were permitted to at the root of the founding desires of the first Jesuits do such things in those days. Being from the country, I almost five hundred years ago and that resonate so was doubly appreciative that we were far enough away forcefully with the prophetic leadership of our brother from the city of Saint John not to pick up the sulfur smell Jesuit, Pope Francis. No less does the contemporary that emanated from the local pulp mill. I ask myself the articulation of Jesuit values as espoused by the Universal question today: Did it really sink in during those salad Apostolic Preferences and our own recent Canadian days that many others were less fortunate than I, knowing Jesuit document Pilgrims Together express our hope for a as I did even then the stories about vulnerable residents in world where alle Menschen werden bruder (Beethoven’s the city whose health was affected by those toxic fumes? setting of Schiller’s poem in the Ode to Joy of his Ninth Youthful memories run deep, yet I am grateful to have Symphony); a world where all people will recognize their learned that to appreciate the beauty of nature unspoiled common origins that connect them with each other and is not enough in an age fraught with the preoccupations of with the Earth. The Jesuits came to this country in the ecological crisis and climate change, and the unavoidable seventeenth century, naively displacing the healthy and and difficult question: What kind of world do we want established cultures of our Indigenous brothers and sisters to leave for those who come after us? The imperative who, we are only beginning to understand, have so much to better care for our common home needs to be heard to teach us in terms of respect for nature and the best and acted upon, especially by those of us who live in qualities of human collaboration. I encourage Jesuits, our the so-called First World. We need to acknowledge the coworkers, and you, our friends, to make every effort to fact that at the root of the current crisis is the truth that listen, to dialogue, to learn, and to emulate God’s great Western industrialization and the exploitation of natural desire for healing and peace among peoples. We need resources have aided the prosperity and privilege of you. God needs you. AMDG our beautiful country. Equally crucial is the fact that our comfort and flourishing has been too often at the expense of fellow human beings in other parts of the world who struggle to find food and clean water, often as the result of the abusive practices of multinational companies. Pope Francis wrote his celebrated encyclical Laudato Erik Oland, SJ Si’ five years ago and most recentlyFratelli Tutti. Both of Provincial of the these inspired writings challenge Catholics, and indeed Jesuits of Canada the whole world, to wake up to the reality of our suffering biosphere, to gain a greater sense of engagement and responsibility for the care of our common home, and Photo: Tim Foster of Unsplash Photo: Tim 4 CANADIAN JESUITS Nos œuvres Cultivating the land and the soul: the work of the Ferme Berthe-Rousseau by Fannie Dionne | photos : Ferme Berthe-Rousseau Photo : José Sánchez fter months of confinement in Montreal, I was happy to visit the 40 acres of the Ferme Berthe-Rousseau in Durham South. AThe organization’s mission: to welcome and house people living in difficult circumstances.. Marie-Ève Barbeau, one of the farm’s team members, received me with the joy and passion that were already apparent when we spoke on the phone. Although the farm is nondenominational, it is in fact part of the network of Jesuit works in Canada. Firmly rooted in the Ignatian value of contemplation in action, it offers residents an opportunity to step back from their day-to-day routine and gain a new perspective on reality, a perspective that is perhaps more focused on the positive aspects of their lives. “We are women and men who value life above all,” says Michel Corbeil, SJ, one of the founders. “This includes all of us and implies an awareness of what is happening within and around us.” The Ignatian dimension of justice and ecology is also being lived on the farm.