Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 93 No. 18 October 21, 2015 Apostolic nuncio Nuncio in Prince Albert communities The Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Luigi By Paula Fournier Columbus Hall for lunch, prepared “In a new way . . . you open dynamics that challenged them as Bonazzi, visited three by the North Battleford Cath olic your eyes and you realize the life they strove to en gage families in Saskatchewan dioceses this PRINCE ALBERT — “Only Women’s League. Bonazzi, happi - of God (is) surrounding you, their communities. Agreeing that month, and made a deep when we love do we have the ly surprised at the large gathering, entering and fulfilling you.” problems arising today are not impression in each. capacity to see the abundance of life recalled Pope Francis’ commonly After the mass, Bonazzi had those of 10 years ago, the nuncio surrounding us. The beautiful land used intention, asking those gath - lunch with the sisters, welcoming encouraged each of the divisions to — pages 1, 3 and 6 here in Saskatchewan is an expres - ered to pray for him, promising he each one specially, giving a bless - turn to Jesus to help them with the Women and the sion of love for me: the trees, the would pray for them in return. ing and a smile. He spoke to them problems of today, assuring them of sky, it’s a sign of love for me,” said The following day, the Sisters of in French about how much impor - his continued support. church the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, the Presentation of Mary in Prince tance he places on religious life. He affirmed that he supported Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, during Albert held a mass in their chapel. He spoke on humility, telling them them in their mission. He then When Archbishop Paul- his homily at the first mass shared in Those in attendance in cluded stu - how he thanked God, even for the blessed the school’s Bible and a André Durocher raised the the Diocese of Prince Albert at John dents, board members, trustees, times he made mistakes, and how it rosary for each guest. Later that question of ordaining female Paul II Collegiate School in North principals, and representatives from helped him to be more humble and evening, a mass at Sacred Heart Ca - deacons during the first full Battleford Oct. 4. This mass marked four Catholic school divisions. attentive to others. the dral in Prince Albert was packed day of the synod on the the beginning of the nuncio’s three- In his homily, the nuncio spoke The nuncio’s next stop was full. The large choir included many family, he stepped into one day journey across the diocese. of a cloudy day in Lithuania a few École St. Anne School, where a youth from St. Mary High School. Approximately 600 religious, years earlier. Feeling under the group of children were waiting to During his homily, Bonazzi of the most contentious and priests, parishioners, parents and weather, he headed to the chapel welcome him. A meeting among spoke about Jesus, the Good Sa- complex struggles in the teachers from the local deanery to pray. He spoke aloud and asked four Catholic school divisions in mar itan. “When we turn to Jesus, church — full participation gathered in the school gymnasium Jesus what he could do for him Sas katchewan — including Lloyd - he frees us with his charity. My life of women in all aspects of for mass where Bonazzi spoke on that day. He heard a voice in his minster, Saskatoon, North Battle - is like the Good Samaritan. Who their faith life, their church, love, faith and family life. He head, asking, “Luigi, what are you ford and Prince Albert — took place has shown more mercy? Mercy is writes Michael Swan. called love “an unending journey saying? You are asking what you in the newly built school’s gym. the very foundation the church lies — page 5 which starts every day,” and have to do for me? Please try to Representatives from each di vi - on. Nothing in our mission and wit - underlined the joys of family life. see what I am doing for you.” He sion made a presentation de scribing ness can be lacking in mercy; it 100 years Following the mass, the congre - said he wished for each person their demographics, as well as the must show the mercy of the Good gation gathered at the Knights of present to feel the same thing. changing family structures and Samaritan.” Regina marked 100 years as He also spoke of the jubilee an archdiocese Oct. 7 with a year, the Year of Mercy, which special mass concelebrated begins on this year’s feast of the by three archbishops as well Immaculate Conception Dec. 8. “ ‘Mercy is the very foundation as archdiocesan priests. of the church’s life,’ ” he quoted — page 6 from Pope Francis’ encyclical. Restorative justice “All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tender - ness she makes present to believ - Rather than asking what law ers; nothing in her preaching and was broken, who broke it, in her witness to the world can be and what punishment is lacking in mercy. Everything the suitable for the state to church does should be to show the mete out, restorative justice mercy of the Good Samaritan.” focuses on the persons A wine and cheese social fol - and relationships that are lowed, catered by staff at the Prince harmed when a Albert Diocesan Centre. St. Mary crime is committed. High School principal Mark Phaneuf acted as emcee for the — page 7 evening, introducing Prince Albert Mountaintops mayor Greg Dion and other digni - taries. Parishes from several dioce - to Mars Art Babych san deaneries presented donations CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION — The Canadian flag is projected onto the Centre Block of for the Office of Papal Charities, the If summer is for super - Parliament Hill during the summer Northern Lights show, produced by Canadian Heritage. The Oct. 19 department of the Holy See that is heroes, federal election resulted in a historic return to power for Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party. Trudeau, responsible for acts of charity to the sequels, and whose father was Canada’s 15th prime minister, will become Canada’s 23rd prime minister. Trudeau poor in the name of the Holy Father. easygoing argued that his party’s triumph stands for the proposition that it’s possible to succeed in politics by On the last day, Oct. 6, the nun - appealing to the “better angels of our nature.” He said, “A positive, optimistic, hopeful vision of public comedies, cio visited Our Lady of Lourdes, life is not a naive dream: it can be a powerful force for change.” See story, page 9. St. Laurent Shrine, northwest of fall is when Duck Lake, where the congrega - Hollywood tion recited the Hail Mary and producers Vatican opens homeless shelter for men sang a song of praise for Mary. start bringing out weightier The nuncio said a special thank fare in anticipation of By Nicole Pellicano ing mass for the first guests. The guests are offered breakfast and you for letting him see more fully awards season, writes shelter offers 34 beds in an open- have until 8 a.m. to tidy up their re - the culture in Canada. He ex plained Gerald Schmitz. He reviews VATICAN CITY (CNS) — floor, partitioned dormitory, ac - spective areas and use the wash - that Jesus left us the eucharist so four deserving of notice. The Vatican opened the Gift of cording to a statement from the rooms. After the shelter closes for that we may be nourished by his Mercy, a shelter for homeless Almoner’s Office Oct. 12. — page 11 the day, guests can shower and visit real presence. Bonazzi asked the men, just a few hundred yards The shelter is run by the the barber at a facility set up under congregation why, before returning Stigma of suicide away from St. Peter’s Square. Missionaries of Charity, who the colonnade in St. Peter’s Square. to heaven, Jesus did not leave us a Housed in a Jesuit-owned briefly interview the guests before The facility also was established by real presence of his mother. building, the shelter was created they are checked in. Because of “Jesus did leave us himself in Ron Rolheiser, OMI, the papal almoner. discusses three books on by and is run with funds from the limited space, the guests may stay the eucharist, but Jesus wishes to papal almoner, who has taken a for a maximum of 30 days. Various locations around the suicide and reaffirms the see his mother in people. For me variety of initiatives to assist the The guests agree to abide by a Va ti can offer lunch and dinner, this is important: I always see fact that the stigmas that homeless people in the area sur - structured schedule with check-in including the Vatican soup kitchen Mary as not just someone I must persist must be challenged. rounding the Vatican. each evening between 6 p.m. and at the nearby Gift of Mary shelter imitate, but in a special way, I must — page 13 Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, 7 p.m., followed by lights out at a for wom en. The shelter for women be another Mary. Thank you for Pope Francis’ almoner, inaugurat - set time. also is staffed by the Missionaries keeping alive the presence of Mary ed the shelter Oct. 7 by celebrat - After the 6:15 a.m. wake-up call, of Charity. in this place. Let Mary live in you.” 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS October 21, 2015 Challenges families face very different worldwide

By Carol Glatz care of families facing difficulties. The synod proceedings are said she was struck by the unani - and priest in her small working But much of what they encoun - closed to the press, but synod par - mous expressions of compassion group spoke about their concern, VATICAN CITY (CNS) — tered in the Americas was very ticipants are allowed to be inter - and sympathy from all those their love for the family, “espe - Two couples attending the Synod different from some of the prob - viewed and to release their written attending the synod. Of the more cially for the families who are in of Bishops on the family said what lems needing attention in Asia and speeches to the public. than 360 people attending the distress.” surprised them most about their Africa, she said. Pedro De Rezende said that synod, 270 are voting cardinals, Her husband, Ishwar Bajaj, first synod in Rome was reading Ketty and Pedro De Rezende, instead of objective reporting on bishops and men religious. The re - said he was very impressed that inaccurate media coverage of the professors in mathematics and what was being said by synod par - maining are religious and laypeo - the synod was focusing on for - closed-door proceedings, the di - computer science, respectively, at ticipants, what he was seeing ple attending as observers, experts giveness and mercy, even toward versity of problems families face the University of Campinas, Brazil, seemed to be suggestions about and representatives of other Chris - those who have separated from around the world and the synod spoke to the press Oct. 12 during a “what synod fathers should talk tian communities. their spouse or have sinned fathers’ great concern and compas - Vatican news conference. about.” “All the synod fathers, the against their family or the church. sion for the family. The many difficulties facing However, he said, the synod bishops expressed their great love “I found that this was a very, Even though Ketty De Rezende families, discussed during the first discussions are being guided by and concern for the family,” said very compassionate and loving of Brazil studied and lived in the week of the synod, “did surprise the 23,000-word working docu - Bajaj, who worked for the Cath - atmosphere and attitude that the United States and Canada, she said us. I think we weren’t quite aware ment that came out in June. olic Church in India in a variety of synod was aiming at: to bring the hearing about the diversity of chal - of all these challenges,” she said. “So I was pretty surprised to capacities for 45 years. families back into the . . . church lenges families face in other parts Pedro told reporters what sur - see what is coming out is not “It was very beautiful to see and tell them that there was of the world came as a surprise to prised him most was “what the being quite faithful” to the themes the great love, the hope, the un - mercy” and that sins would be for - her. press has been publishing.” in the document and participants’ derstanding: How should the fam - given “as long as they repented Ketty, with her husband Pedro, “Many, many times it doesn’t re - input, he said. ily be in today’s day and time and changed.” are active in Brazil in the pastoral flect what we see in there,” he said. Penny Bajaj of Mumbai, India, knowing that, in all parts of the Ishwar Bajaj, who was raised a world, the family is really running Hindu but was baptized into the into a lot of problems? How do we Catholic Church 13 years ago on contain this? How do we change his 25th wedding anniversary, this? How do we make this better? said he felt the synod’s focus on How do we make this in God’s mercy “has been a very important light something beautiful?” and dynamic stand that the church She said every cardinal, bishop is taking in this current century.” Pope asks forgiveness for scandals in Rome, Vatican

By Junno Arocho Esteves make to children born into the world. “Welcome and care, close - VATICAN CITY (CNS) — ness and attention, trust and hope, With 30,000 people gathered in St. are among the basic promises Peter’s Square, Pope Francis which can be summarized in one asked forgiveness for scandals that word: love,” he said. have occurred within the church Betraying a child’s trust through recently. scandal causes a terrible wound in “Before beginning my catech - their lives, one that “they do not esis, I would like — in the name of have the means to comprehend,” he the church — to ask your forgive - said. ness for the scandals which have “Woe to those who betray their occurred recently both in Rome trust, woe!” he said. “Their com - and at the Vatican,” the pope said. plete trust in our promise, which “I ask your forgiveness.” obliges us from the first moment, CNS/Paul Haring The pope’s off-the-cuff re- will judge us.” POPE FRANCIS PRESIDES AT SESSION OF SYNOD — Pope Francis presides at a session of the synod marks Oct. 14 followed a reading “I would like to add another of bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 15. from St. Matthew’s Gospel in thing, with respect, but also frank - which Jesus warns of scandalizing ness, for everyone,” Pope Francis the “little ones.” said. “Their spontaneous trust in Women’s views respected at synod “Jesus’ words are strong, aren’t God must never be wounded, they?” the pope said. “ ‘Woe to the especially when it occurs because By Junno Arocho Esteves men’s Union of Superior Generals “I’m from Germany and the world for scandals.’ Jesus is a real - of a certain presumption — more to give half of their 10 places to issue of divorced and remarried ist. He says it’s inevitable that or less unconsciously — to substi - VATICAN CITY (CNS) — representatives of the women’s people or (people who are) di vorced there will be scandals, but ‘Woe to tute ourselves for God. The tender Several women participating in religious orders. After a meeting and living in a stable union with the one who causes the scandal,’ ’’ and mysterious relationship be - the synod of bishops on the fami - with the secretariat of the synod, children is felt very strongly and the pope told people attending his tween God and the soul of chil - ly said they are encouraged that the women were given three very broadly in the German Catho - weekly general audience. dren should never be violated. their views are not only respected places, although they do not have a lic public,” he said. “It seems to be Pope Francis did but included in the discussions vote like their male peers do. much less of a concern elsewhere.” not explain what taking place. “There is a small recognition Local pastoral solutions also scandal or scandals “It’s not just a feeling,” said that women religious must be may be the answer to addressing he was referring to, Moira McQueen, director of the present,” he said. “I had hoped issues that different cultures view but his comments Canadian Catholic Bioethics that those nuns, who are involved differently, such as the acceptance came during a week Institute. “Many of the things that in so many apostolates of the fam - of homosexuality, he said. that saw the leak of we have said are included in the ily, would be a much greater pres - “The social acceptance of a private letter sent reports. I am very happy that more ence than it is currently.” homosexuality is culturally very to him by several women are being included, but The three synod participants diverse, and that also seems to me cardinals express - once inside the actual meeting, I also were asked about the synod to be an area where bishops’ con - ing concern with don’t feel any distinct separation.” discussions on diversity in unity ferences should be allowed to for - aspects of the synod Several synod participants and about sensitive issues such as mulate pastoral responses that are of bishops on the spoke to the press Oct. 13 during a allowing divorced and civilly in tune with what can be preached family. Vatican briefing. Speaking along - remarried couples to receive com - and announced and lived in a Jesuit Father side McQueen were Therese munion or pastoral ministry to prayerful context,” he said. Federico Lombardi, Nyirabukeye, a Rwandan who homosexual men and women. While agreeing that certain is- Vatican spokesper - works for the African Federation Schroder said he counted about sues may be better or more easily son, told reporters of Family Action, and Benedictine 20 speeches in favour of dealing dealt with locally, both McQueen later, “if the pope Abbot Jeremias Schroder, presi - with those issues at a regional and Nyirabukeye said the church uses a broad and dent of the Benedictine Congre - level and only about two or three also must look at the risks of general formula, that gation of St. Ottilien. bishops who spoke against it, allowing pastoral solutions at a is what he in tended” Although both McQueen and maintaining that the unity of the regional level. and it is not up to the CNS/Paul Haring Nyirabukeye said they felt includ - universal church must remain “Personally speaking, I believe spokesperson to CANADIAN BISHOPS AT SYNOD — ed in the various discussions taking intact. However, he also said that that on one hand, it is better and offer specifics. Archbishops Richard Smith of Edmonton and place at the synod, Schroder said there have been no votes on con - positive to have this diversity, but In his main talk Paul-André Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec, leave he had hoped for a greater presence crete propositions, thus “it’s a bit on the other hand, I think there are on the family, the a session of the synod of bishops on the family at of women religious. He confirmed difficult to ascertain with preci - some doctrinal aspects that should pope reflected on the Vatican Oct. 14. They are two of four bishop that a request was made by the sion the mind of the assembly.” be maintained,” Nyirabukeye said. the promises adults delegates from Canada. October 21, 2015 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 3 Nuncio visits Saskatoon

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski the Catholic community, as none the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, could recall a similar pastoral visit the Roman Catholic Diocese and SASKATOON — During a by an Apostolic Nuncio in the the Chaldean Catholic parish in recent pastoral visit, Pope Francis’ past, said Bishop Donald Bolen of Saskatoon. representative in Canada wit - the Diocese of Saskatoon. On his arrival, the nuncio was nessed the diversity and outreach “The Nuncio embodies Pope welcomed with bread, salt and of the Catholic community in Francis’ own warmth and down- flowers at Bishop Filevich Ukrain - Saskatoon and shared words of to-earth style of leadership,” said ian Bilingual School by two Grade encouragement, love and support. Bolen. “He wanted to be close to 8 students. Children in traditional Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, the the people, and succeeded in dress lined the sidewalk singing, as Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, was bringing Pope Francis’ own the archbishop and other special in the province for the Oct. 1 ded - warmth and pastoral concern very guests entered the building for an ication of the Called to Serve close to us.” assembly with students that includ - monument honouring the contri - The nuncio’s full itinerary in - ed the singing of the Lord’s Prayer butions of Catholic sisters to Sas- cluded visits to local schools, sen - in Ukrainian, as well as a trivia con - katchewan. After the dedication iors’ residences and the prison, a test of questions about the apostolic Yaworski celebration in Regina, the Nuncio media event at a restorative justice nuncio and the school, moderated NUNCIO VISIT — Saskatoon Tribal Chief Felix Thomas welcomes visited Saskatoon Oct. 2 - 3, conference, and opportunities to by principal Shelly Lord. apostolic nuncio Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi to St. Mary’s Wellness and before travelling on to the Roman meet leaders in Catholic health A visit to St. Mary’s Wellness Education Centre in Saskatoon. Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert. and education, as well as to pray and Education Centre followed, It was an historic moment for — and eat — with the faithful of where the nuncio met with Greater history of the school and the open - The nuncio expressed appreci - Saskatoon Catholic Schools ing of the new building in 2012. ation for the collaboration under - Communities misdiagnose (GSCS) board and administration The school includes an early learn - way at the school. “When we join members, Saskatoon Tribal Chief ing centre, an optometry clinic, our efforts, in reality, the result is Felix Thomas, elders and commu - and a pediatric clinic. not one plus one is two, but three causes of violence nity representatives, as well as Thomas welcomed the nuncio — the result is something new,” teachers and doctors who work at to Treaty 6 territory and spoke Bonazzi said. “Your common By James Buchok those experiences to Boyle Heights the elementary school in the city’s about the importance of partner - effort summons and produces in East Los Angeles, where he was core neighbourhood. ships in meeting the needs of chil - something greater.” WINNIPEG — No child joins pastor at Dolores Mission Church St. Mary’s serves a primarily dren. “We also realize, that as much Bonazzi also met with repre - a gang to gain friends, wealth or from 1986 through 1992. First Nations and Métis student as we are doing, we need to do sentatives of Our Lady of Guada - power, says a Jesuit priest who has Boyle started what would be- population, explained GSCS board more, not just for the kids here, but lived and worked among the gangs come Homeboy Industries, a non- chair Diane Boyko, describing the for the surrounding community.” — HEALTH CARE , page 4 of East Los Angeles for more than profit organization employing and 20 years. Even if a gang member training more than 300 former gang tells you that, it’s still not true, members every year in enterprises Living with Dignity group hires director such as Homeboy Silkscreen, Home boy Bakery and Homegirl By Deborah Gyapong will help people facing these “I remembered, when I was Café. Homeboy also provides issues when the law will be enact - young, like a lot of people, I had essential services to 12,000 people OTTAWA (CCN) — The grass - ed,” he said. “For now, it’s all the - big dreams to go to Africa, but I a year. It provides on-the-job train - roots Quebec anti-euthanasia group ory. When it comes to practice, a had forgotten about it,” he said. ing and programs including mental Living with Dignity has hired a lot of people will realize what’s When he returned to his apartment, health therapy and tattoo removal. new executive director with a going on in terms of pressure and within five minutes, he received a “The task at Homeboy is to dis - unique background that combines counselling to receive ‘medical phone call from his older brother. mantle the messages of shame and overseas development and theatre. aid in dying’ and everything.” His brother said, “I know this is disgrace,” Boyle said. “Each of us Aubert Martin, a Montreal “We will be seen a companion, going to sound weird but how do is a whole lot more than the worst native, replaces Nic Steenhout a great help for people who would you feel about going to Africa?” thing we’ve ever done. who has moved on to new em- like information knowing we “Yes, I’ll do it,” he said. And “We are called to create a com - ployment. won’t push them to kill them - they ended up in Burkina Faso, a munity of kinship but how do we Martin spent much of the past selves,” he said. “We won’t stop. small country north of Ghana and create a community where no one 10 years in Burkino Faso, first We are here to protect vulnerable Ivory Coast. is standing outside of it? Margins teaching high school for three people.” are erased when you choose to years, then returning to work an - Martin said it is ironic that the stand there. You stand with the other three years as a communica - side pushing euthanasia is seen as powerless, you stand with the easi - tions officer for an international the compassionate side, as opposite Rev. Gregory Boyle, SJ ly despised and the easily left out, development agency. But upon to us. “We’re talking about com - with the desperate, so the day will returning to Canada about three passion, about helping humans says Rev. Gregory Boyle, SJ. come when we stop throwing peo - years ago, he returned to an earli - throughout their entire lives, not Boyle told an audience of 300 at ple away. Peace and justice is a by- er passion — acting, singing and telling them they should end their the University of Manitoba Oct. 6 product of our kinship. It can only songwriting and puppeteering. days earlier because they are a bur - that if you dig deeper that gang happen if you stand for kinship and “It’s all about information,” he den.” member will tell you “ ‘my mom communities.” said in an interview from Mon - “We are there to the end,” he would put her cigarettes out on my Boyle said the ex-gangers — treal. Any law allowing euthana - said. “We will always be there skin. My dad would hold my head he calls them “homeys” — “taught sia and assisted suicide “will liter - with you; that’s the message we down in the toilet.’ No kid is ever me everything of value, including ally affect all Canadians some - want to send.” seeking something; they are always texting. People who were rival how; it’s a matter of life or death.” A graduate of the University of fleeing. If a kid can’t conjure a vision gang members used to shoot bul - Quebec’s euthanasia law comes Montreal with an honours degree of tomorrow, if his present isn’t com - lets at each other, now they shoot into effect in December and the next in history, Martin sees both his pelling, he won’t care what he does texts.” federal government will face draft - academic and acting background or what happens to him. Ninety-five He said the tattoo removal serv - ing a law to come in line with the as providing him with communi - per cent of gang members want what ice began with an ex-convict who Supreme Court of Canada’s Carter cations skills to reach audiences others have, and that’s purpose.” had an obscene tattoo on his fore - decision last February striking and transmit that message. Boyle said communities con - head. “He said to me, ‘I’m having a down provisions in the Criminal “The art of speaking in public Aubert Martin tinually misdiagnose the causes of hard time finding a job.’ I found a Code against assisted suicide. is exactly the point of being an urban violence. doctor with a laser machine who “I think our main focus will actor,” he said. “How to reach On this first trip there he taught Boyle is the founder of Home boy gave me one hour a month.” stay on protecting vulnerable peo - people through emotions and geography, English and history, Industries, the largest gang interven - “Serving is a hallway to the ple, mainly through information,” words, to analyze the text and the three classes of 67 girls for each tion, rehabilitation and re-entry pro - ballroom of community. The hope Martin said. “There is still a lot of play in the point of view of ‘What year,” he said. gram in the United States, now it’s in is that there is no longer a distance confusion in the public.” is the message and how can we He met his wife there. “She was 25th year. He was in Winnipeg to between us. We are all in need of People do not know what get it through?’ — this back - studying English at the university give this year’s St. Paul’s College healing, that is what it means to be euthanasia really is, nor what “med - ground really helped me, even as a and one of her sisters was in my Sol Kanee lecture and paid the city a human.” ical aid in dying” really is, he said. student in university.” class, that’s how we met,” he said. high compliment saying it is “so Boyle said the measure of the Living with Dignity will “inform After university, Martin left “She thought at first, Canadians good” because of accomplishments health of a community “is its ability people of their rights” and of the Montreal to study theatre at the speak English a lot, so she wanted such as the Arthur V. Mauro Centre to stand in awe of what the poor dangers of medical aid in dying. conservatory in Quebec City. to chat with a Canadian to practise for Peace and Justice at the college have to carry, rather than in judg - “Many are talking about free After living in Quebec for a while, her English. For a French guy it’s a and the Canadian Museum for ment of how they carry it. Find your and informed consent, but if peo - on a ride to Montreal with Allo funny story to be approached as an Human Rights. way to the margins, look under your ple do not know what is going on, Stop, a ride-sharing service, he English person.” Boyle, a native Angelino, was feet, the margins are being erased how can they have a free choice?” met a young woman who had just Their first child, now seven, ordained in 1984. He worked in a because you stood there. But be - he asked. returned from Africa. She had was born in Burkina Faso. They penal colony in Mexico and Cali- ware, because you will be told you Living with Dignity is “cur - spent three months there and said have three girls, and a boy, nine fornia’s Folsom Prison and brought are wasting your time.” rently working on a service that it had changed her life. months old. 4 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS October 21, 2015 Conference honours newly canonized married couple

By Deborah Gyapong help us to sanctify our own fami - “Although I am sincerely lies,” Cheryl Thompson, one of grateful for the holiness and OTTAWA (CCN) — On the the conference organizers, told the example of many great saints, if eve of Zélie and Louis Martin’s approximately 200 people, mostly the church canonized only popes, canonization Oct. 18, Ottawa par - young families, present. or Mother Teresas, who among us ents, some already devoted to the “I love that Pope Francis is could relate, in our day-to-day new saints, took part in a confer - canonizing a married couple,” lives?” Thompson asked. ence on sanctifying families Oct. Thompson said in a talk describ - “Louis and Zélie were normal 16 - 17. ing the lives of the Martins, the people, as normal as you or me, and “There are innumerable attacks parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, they were by no means perfect,” on the family as God designed it, the “Little Flower,” and Doctor of she said. “Yet in the normalcy of and our times and marriages cry the Church and the first married daily life, they found ways to attain out for examples of holiness, to couple to be canonized together. personal holiness, to overcome tri - als and suffering, and to lead their children to holiness as well.” Thompson outlined how Louis and Zélie both worked in addition to raising their family, he as a watch - maker and she as a producer of fine lace. They also experienced much CCN/D. Gyapong suffering, especially through the loss FAMILY CONFERENCE — Rita and Gerard McCarthy of the of four children, three in infancy, Marriages for Mary apostolate based in St. John’s, Nfld., were keynote one daughter at age five. Zélie died speakers at the Sanctifying Families conference in Ottawa Oct. 16 - 17, of breast cancer at the young age of that focused on the example of the new saints Zélie and Louis Martin. 45, leaving Louis alone to raise their remaining five daughters, all of “Flowers from the Martin Family.” have helped them experience the whom entered cloistered life, a huge Married for 10 years, the parents of support of other Catholic families. sacrifice for their father. five, their “world was turned “We are not alone in this journey The Martins “lived out the upside down” when their eldest of holiness,” he said. church’s teaching heroically,” child, Naomi Therese, died an Keynote speakers Rita and Thompson said, noting with their accidental death at age five. “It was Gerard McCarthy, founders of the canonization, “they will become the worst and most grace-filled St. John’s, Nfld.-based Marriages universal examples of how to be a moment of my life,” said Theresa. for Mary apostolate, spoke on CCN/D. Gyapong Christian husband and wife, father A week or two before Naomi’s God’s divine plan for marriage SHARING THEIR STORY — Theresa and David McPike were helped and mother.” death, Thompson had given her a and on families’ mission to love. through the loss of their eldest child by the example of the Martins, a David and Theresa McPike book, A Call to a Deeper Love, fea - So many confuse love with a recently canonized Catholic couple. shared their personal witness of turing the correspondence of the feeling, on “what you are getting, Martin family. The Martins had not what we’re giving,” said Rita. suffered the loss the McPike’s Jesus calls us to love one another Health care a mission of the church were experiencing four times, “as I have loved you.” Theresa said. Like the Martins, The McCarthys said they have Continued from page 3 An early morning Moleben at Bonazzi also met with partici - though sorrowing, they abandoned tried to intentionally live out the Ukrainian Catholic Shrine of pants in the diocesan, eparchial themselves “to God’s holy will.” unconditional, merciful and sacri - lupe Parish, which serves First the Blessed Nun Martyrs Olympia and Aboriginal Catholic Lay “Our loss and pain didn’t hurt ficial love in their marriage. Nations, Métis, Aboriginal and and Laurentia was held Oct. 3, Formation program, immediately our family; it made it even “Mercy is critical in marriage, non-Aboriginal Catholics in Saska - with the nuncio and the two Saska- before a diocesan celebration of stronger,” she said. day in and day out,” she said. toon. toon bishops in attendance. Sister the eucharist Oct. 3 at the Cathe - “This soul-wracking experi - “Family life offers so many Parish life director Debbie Sophia of the Ukrainian Sisters of dral of the Holy Family. ence” deepened their understand - opportunities for mercy.” Ledoux, elder Gayle Weenie, and St. Joseph presented the nuncio The diocesan mass reflected ing of themselves as children of “We must never give up on one Deacon Paul Labelle greeted the with an icon of the two 20th-centu - the diversity of the community, God and of the Catholic Church, another,” said Gerard. nuncio, and Weenie explained ry martyrs, whose relics are housed and included prayers in nine lan - David McPike said. The message of, “No matter First Nations traditions that are at the Saskatoon shrine. guages, as well as an honour song “The church is the place to fos - what, we are together,” sends a incorporated into parish life. The At the Musée Ukrainian Mu- during the procession of gifts, ter the birth and growth of saints,” message of the indissolubility of nuncio took part in a smudging seum, the Apostolic Nuncio was with the gift family accompanied he said, “To prepare them to be marriage, he said. ceremony, and was presented with greeted by Bishop Bryan Bayda by a First Nations dancer. filled with God, loving mercy, jus - As for sacrificial love, to follow a star blanket. and leaders of the Ukrain ian “How significant it is that the tice and love.” Jesus’ example, “we literally have Bonazzi also met with Catholic Catholic Eparchy of Saska toon. cathedral of your diocese is dedi - Nazareth Family Apostolate to love each other to the point of health leaders at Trinity Manor, a Bonazzi viewed museum exhibits, cated to the Holy Family, because leaders Cheryl and David death, letting go of our own agen - faith-based facility offering both describing the building as “a sanc - the vocation of the church is to be Darwent shared how their offering das to love sacrificially,” Rita said. independent and assisted living tuary of culture.” a family, a family of people from of three or four one-week retreats “Letting go of our own agendas to accommodations. The nuncio ex - Following a reception with the every nation, every tribe, every a summer over the past 15 years love sacrificially, being intentional pressed appreciation to all those eparchial leaders, Bonazzi joined culture, recognizing ourselves as had helped their 35-year marriage. on this is really hard.” continuing to advance the legacy Bayda on a visit to St. Joseph’s brothers and sisters, children of “We brought a lot of baggage Gerard recalled a weekend of Catholic health care. Health Nursing Home, before returning the one Father,” said Bonazzi, into our marriage,” said Cheryl. where he had promised Rita a care “is part of the mission, of the to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathe - conveying the request of Pope “No one knew the hidden suffer - walk around the lake and lunch nature of the church,” he said. dral of St. George for a meeting Francis for prayers for the Synod ing.” out. Then, however, he got a call Conveying the gratitude and with clergy and religious from on the Family beginning in Rome David said the baggage was from his brother-in-law, asking if the blessing of Pope Francis, the both the eparchy and the Diocese Oct. 4. mostly his, since he had been sex - he would like to join him in nuncio urged leaders in Catholic of Saskatoon. After mass, the community ually abused by an older brother, moose hunting that weekend. health care to take the upcoming The Nuncio spoke about prin - gathered for a multicultural meal now deceased, from infancy until “You’re joking, right?” when Year of Mercy as an opportunity cipals of priestly life, which he with food prepared by Vietna mese, he was 10 years old. Scripture Gerard told his brother-in-law why for reflection and to seize new said apply to the journey of every East Indian, Filipino, Ukrainian verses 2 Corinthians 12:9 about he could not go. “I did not go. I was opportunities to expand outreach, Christian. There is no such thing and First Nations communities. how God’s grace is made perfect present with my wife on that day.” since “what must be done is as a part-time priest, he noted. The The visit concluded later that in weakness and John 3:20 about Rita said she was elated that greater than what has already been call of the priest, and of all evening with a candlelight rosary how everyone who participates in day. “I am more important than a done.” Christians, is to listen to the word procession around St. Paul’s Co- evil hates the light became touch - moose!” The Sacred Heart Chaldean of God. “What Christ does in me Cathedral in downtown Saskatoon stones for his spiritual growth and Gerard added, “The byes (boys) community in Saskatoon celebrat - is more important than what I do with the Filipino Catholic com - deliverance, he said. did not get a moose that day.” ed the eucharist with the nuncio myself,” he said, stressing the munity, held in spite of a steady Through “exposing darkness to Oct. 2, followed by a community importance of service, and seizing rain. light,” David said he found free - dinner. During the mass, Bonazzi the most important value, the The nuncio expressed his joy at dom “to live in the light.” Are you Moving? spoke to children participating in value of the cross. the faithfulness of the Filipino He found the stigma of the Please let us know a month the catechism program, encourag - After a lunch with clergy and people, and spoke about the power abuse, that had been “kept in in advance. ing them to have “a friendship religious at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, of prayer and the gift of the rosary. darkness,” no longer had power Write to: with Jesus Christ.” the nuncio joined Bolen and Closing with words of thanks - over him as he shared it how it Circulation Dept. He expressed love and concern Bishop Gary Gordon of Victoria giving at St. Paul’s, Bonazzi had contributed to lust, anger and Prairie Messenger for the Christian community under - on a visit to the Saska toon Cor - prayed a blessing over the people selfishness in his family life. Box 190 going persecution and suffering in rectional Centre for a sharing cir - as the representative of Pope The retreats provided a place Muenster, Sask. S0K 2Y0 Iraq and throughout the world. He cle with inmates led by Dianne Francis. The people in turn sang a where God could heal their mar - [email protected] also encouraged the parish to work Anderson of the diocesan office of blessing over the Apostolic riage and family life in ways they Undeliverable papers cost twice together to follow Jesus and serve Restorative Ministry, and volun - Nuncio, concluding the last event never thought possible, he said. as much to return. those most in need. teer Russ Powell. of his Saskatoon visit. The Darwents said the retreats October 21, 2015 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 5 Women’s roles in the church: an ongoing debate

By Michael Swan “A church without women is really doesn’t make sense that a The Catholic Register like the college of the Apostles group of women in New York without Mary,” Pope Francis told City would browbeat other wom - When Archbishop Paul-André journalists in 2013. “The role of en into thinking that they were ill- Durocher raised the question of women in the church is not sim - served in the Catholic Church.” ordaining female deacons during ply that of maternity. We can’t Lynda Robitaille is an inde - the first full day of the synod on imagine a church without women, pendent canon lawyer and dean of family, he stepped into one of the but women active in the church, theology at St. Mark’s College in most contentious and complex with the distinctive role that they the University of British Co - struggles in the church — full par - play . . . I believe that we have not lumbia. She doesn’t think the ticipation of women in all aspects yet come up with a profound the - problem of women and their voice of their faith life, their church. ology of womanhood in the in the church is a trumped-up, It’s an issue that not even church.” fake problem or a hobby horse of women can agree on. The idea of ordaining women a few privileged intellectuals. Addressing synod fathers in as deacons is not new. Twenty “Certainly women’s voices are the Vatican on Oct. 8, the years ago the Canon Law Society not well represented in leadership Gatineau, Que., archbishop pro - of America struck a commission in the church,” she said. “A lot of posed that qualified women be and produced a thorough report leadership in the church is given higher positions and greater that investigated the history, dependent on ordination.” decision-making authority and canonical precedents, theology The issue isn’t the diaconate, a additional opportunities in the and spirituality of deaconnesses. rank of orders in the hierarchy church, possibly to include ordi - It recommended the church could dedicated exclusively to service nation to the diaconate. and should ordain women as per - and ministry and specifically “I think we should really start manent deacons. excluded from governance, she looking seriously at the possibility The commission included said. The issue is leadership — the of ordaining women deacons some of the most respected schol - ability to make decisions, spend because the diaconate in the ars of canon law and theology in money, make appointments and church’s tradition has been de - the United States, but Dr. Marie set policy. fined as not being ordered toward Jeanne Ferrari, a member of both “Even Pope Francis has said priesthood but toward ministry,” the American and Canadian canon we need women in leadership,” he said to Catholic News Service. law societies, was not impressed Robitaille said. “I think for Archbishop with its report. Rather than focusing on ordi - Durocher it took an extraordinary “Their document was so flawed nation, Robitaille believes the amount of courage, which is a sad that I don’t know where to start church needs to deepen its under - thing to say,” said Doris Kieser, a with that,” she told The Catholic standing of baptism and translate theologian at the University of Register. that understanding into action. A Alberta, St. Joseph’s College. Ferrari wrote her own 15-page few women chancellors of dioce - “That for a bishop to say ‘Gosh, counter-argument in response to ses or presidents of Catholic hos - we need to think about women’ the 1995 CLSA paper. pitals and universities doesn’t takes courage in the year 2015. “The priesthood cannot be really make women’s voices heard Catholic Register/Michael Swan That makes me sad that I’m actu - demanded as a right, nor can the and felt throughout the church, WOMEN AND THE CHURCH — Full participation of women in all ally saying it.” diaconate,” Ferrari wrote in she said. aspects of their faith life, and their church, is an issue that not even It’s no surprise that Durocher 1996. “What I think we are really women can agree on, writes Michael Swan. is calling for a discussion about Ferrari questions her fellow looking for is true decision-mak - a bigger role for women in the canonists’ scholarship. “Many of ing, not just figureheads,” For Kieser, the problem is that “I think it created more prob - church, said Leah Perrault, their key references . . . are either Robitaille said. “women don’t have any substan - lems . . . I’ve engaged it in the Diocese of Saskatoon director of misleading, incomplete, quoted As director of pastoral servic - tive voice in the church.” hope I would find something in pastoral services. He is hearing out of context, unrelated to the es, managing a staff of 20 and “By substantive, I mean any - there for me and what I find in that message “from the People subject or even inaccurate,” she with a significant voice in a recent thing that holds water,” said there is an idealized sense of of God,” she said. “And I wrote. But her fundamental accu - Saskatoon decision to ordain per - Kieser, who teaches courses in the human persons in relationships.” believe that is his job, to say sation is that the drive to ordain manent deacons, Perrault is one of sexual body, theological anthro - When Pope John Paul appeals what he is hearing from the women even to the diaconate is those rare women involved in pol - pology and women’s spirituality to Mary, his vision of a self-abne - People of God in his part of the the misguided result of modern icy in the church. She knows at St. Joseph’s in Edmonton. “We gating humble servant just doesn’t world. I think it takes great feminism. what’s possible, but she also can speak. We might consult. But square with the Mary who Kieser courage in a church that’s as “Women are pushing. They knows Catholics have shied away we are never ultimately decision- knows and loves. polarized as we are.” want everything. And if they don’t from our possibilities. makers.” “Mary is my girl. I have a very When Durocher makes the get it, there’s lots of little groups “Under the right circum - It’s not enough to have bishops strong Marian sense about myself, case that church culture and prac - that raise a riot,” she said in a stances, the church has the capac - or even popes raise the issue, she but it doesn’t look like that,” she tice must do justice to women, recent interview. “The church has ity to allow a full flourishing of said. said. the archbishop has a powerful always honoured female saints. women and women’s vocations in “I do love Francis,” she said. Not all women, however, share ally also speaking out on the You can’t blame the church for its current state,” said Perrault. “But I think there is a bit of a Kieser’s view. Maria Reilander, issue. not honouring women. It has. It “Does that mean we don’t have blind spot for him in terms of the senior development officer room to grow? This isn’t about women.” and occasional lecturer at Our me or about women or about men. The problem isn’t that there Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in It’s about the kingdom of God isn’t an adequate theology of Barry’s Bay, Ont., is implacably and the kind of kingdom that God womanhood, she believes. opposed to the idea of ordaining wants.” “Women have been doing the - women as deacons or anything Perrault is hopeful that the ology for 50 years about what it else, and she dismisses most of church is moving on the question means to be a woman of faith,” the debate about women’s roles in of women. she said. The problem is that very the church as a power grab. “Pope Francis and others have little of that theology is taken seri - “Why do we think women identified as a problem how do we ously by the men in the offices have to take on a man’s role as include women more, use women’s around St. Peter’s Square. priest or deacon in order to have gifts more, call on women more When popes have waded in on status?” she wrote in an email to effectively,” she said. “It’s really how women are or should be part The Catholic Register. “I won’t be exciting to me that our bishops of the church, women have not any more fulfilled as a woman by have heard this from their people seen themselves in that teaching, trying to be a man.” and that they’re willing to raise this said Kieser. St. Pope John Paul Reilander has a different vision in the appropriate place (the II’s 1988 encyclical Dignitatis of how women claim their dignity synod).” Mulieris is one example. in the church. “There is more room for peo - ple in the church to appreciate and encourage the uniquely feminine gifts. These gifts can be summed up in one word — motherhood,” Small packages she said. “Not just in raising fam - Small Packages welcomes prepaid ads re parish events. ilies, but also in their professions and in their religious vocations, Rates: $16.75 for the first 60 words, $4 for an additional 25 their life-giving care and personal words. Second and subsequent insertions half-price. Please attention to all they meet and include cheque with ad and mail to: Small Packages, Prairie relate to. There’s nothing like the Messenger, Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 motherly touch.” 6 Prairie Messenger LOCAL NEWS October 21, 2015 Regina celebrates 100 years as an archdiocese

By Frank Flegel ings sitting alone. “That is why from ancient times neighbouring REGINA — Holy Rosary dioceses were gathered together Cathedral was standing room only in ecclesiastical provinces to fos - the evening of Oct. 7 as the faith - ter common pastoral action and ful came from all over the archdio - to strengthen the relationship be - cese to celebrate 100 years as an tween the bishops and their dio - archdiocese. The sanctuary was ceses.” He expanded on that to almost overflowing with priests include neighbouring countries and there were three archbishops working closely together, “and in attendance: Daniel Bohan of all of this receives beautiful Regina, Winnipeg Archbishop expression in the moments of Emeritus James Weisgerber and communion between the bishops Canada’s Apostolic Nuncio Luigi of the world and the successor to Bonazzi. Bohan concelebrated Peter.” mass with the archbishops and Bonazzi also referred to the several priests and Bonazzi deliv - dedication of the monument to the ered the homily. sisters of various congregations The nuncio reminded the con - that he unveiled and blessed in gregation how far and how quickly Wascana Park Oct. 1. He called it the Regina metropolitan see was Flegel a fitting tribute and an appropriate created after only a few years as a CENTENNIAL MASS — Priests crowd the sanctuary of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina to celebrate 100 way to mark the Year of diocese. “The prelude to these years as an archdiocese Oct. 7. There were three archbishops in attendance: Daniel Bohan of Regina, Consecrated Life. “They trusted developments was long and ardu - Winnipeg Archbishop Emeritus James Weisgerber and Canada’s Apostolic Nuncio Luigi Bonazzi. Bohan in God and set about building up ous, to be sure, considering the fact concelebrated mass with the archbishops and several priests and Bonazzi delivered the homily. the Body of Christ in their midst,” that the first mass celebrated in he said later in his homily. “They Regina by Rev. Hugonard, an Ob - December 1915, it was “raised to Frequently departing from his dioceses in the ecclesiastical dared to believe the message of late Missioner in 1882, was offered the dignity of a metropolitan see text, Bonazzi described the re - province of Saskatchewan. He Gabriel” delivered to Mary when in a tent.” It became a diocese in under the remarkable leadership of sponsibility of an archdiocese said the church can’t effectively informed she was to be the moth - 1910 and just five years later, Arch bishop Olivier Mathieu.” and its relationship to the other follow Christ’s Gospel and teach - er of God: “With God, nothing is impossible.” He noted that the celebration Archivists gather in Saskatoon for convention was taking place on the feast day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, By Margaret Sanche olic eparchy and one religious con - ments into works of art for the nities, which came to form our the cathedral’s patron. gregation archivist from Wis consin. enhancement of liturgical worship New Testament scriptures. Most of the congregation gath - SASKATOON — Fifty-four The many beautiful bridges of spaces. Bolen stressed the many ways ered in the cathedral hall for a archivists travelled from across the host city gave the conference Another session dealt with the God has been revealed to us reception following the mass and Canada to spend three days at its theme: Catholic Archivists: practical aspects of the care of through faith and tradition. “That many took advantage of the Queen’s House in Saskatoon for Building Bridges of Faith and artifacts of various kinds and one is all of our story, repeated in opportunity to talk with and have the annual conference of their pro - Understanding. presentation offered suggestions time: God reaches out to us in their photo taken with the nuncio, fessional organization, the Catho - There was much sharing of in - and ideas for outreach projects. mercy. And a part of what who was happy to oblige. lic Archivist Group (CAG), in formation, concerns, ideas and sto - Some of the challenges dis - archivists do — working in the The mass was live-streamed on Sep tember. ries. In addition to the formal pre - cussed were the need for records church, or for Christian communi - the archdiocesan website courtesy Participants included the archiv - sentations, there were many oppor - management in religious congre - ties — is to remember those acts of Rev. Barry Anwender and his ists of Roman Catholic dioceses tunities for conversations and net - gations, dioceses and parishes, of God’s mercy, to be keepers of volunteers, who manned four across Canada and archivists for working over meals and ref - planning for selective digitization the memory of mercy.” cameras as Anwender directed. religious congregations, as well as reshment breaks, as well as prayer of records and photographs, and one archivist of a Ukrainian Cath - and communal worship in eu - the developing of policies for the Papal nuncio visits charistic liturgies. collection, care and research use Among the con - of the historical records of dioce - ference’s formal ses - ses or religious congregations. Regina schools Oct. 7 sions was a presenta - An ongoing concern for many tion by Sister Teresita of the religious congregation By Frank Flegel St. Luke’s Alternative School Kambeitz, OSU, archivists is the need to provide was next, where a thanksgiving cel - about the history of for the future care of their records. REGINA — Apostolic Nuncio ebration was scheduled. Bonazzi the 61 congregations Two examples of collaborative to Canada Archbishop Luigi addressed the students and staff and of women religious bridge-building were presented — Bonazzi and Archbishop Daniel delivered a blessing. that have served in that of a congregation of women Bohan had a busy Oct. 7. The day The final visit was to Miller Saskatchewan since religious in Ontario, Our Lady’s began with an early morning Catholic High School where they 1860. Missionaries, which is in the pro- breakfast at the Hotel Saskatche- were ushered into a room where In another ses - cess of placing its historical wan, greeting recipients of papal some 20 students from various sion, Rev. David records and artifacts in the care of honours. A tour of three Catholic grades were seated. Lunch was Tumback and Rosa a local historical museum and elementary schools and one high offered followed by a question Gebhardt of the archives, and that of the Diocese of school followed breakfast. An period. It was here that Bonazzi Cathedral of the Saska toon, in which the records of afternoon rest period and an eve - told of his journey to the priest - Holy Family in several congregations of women ning centennial celebration mass hood and his current vocation as Saskatoon spoke religious, as well as those of the at the cathedral ended their day. nuncio. about dealing with Oblates of the former St. Mary’s Bonazzi said he was well aware His first stirrings to become a the many sacred Province, are now housed and of how proud Bohan is of the peo - priest occurred when he was 14. He items — liturgical cared for in the new diocesan ple who help in the archdiocese. eventually entered the seminary but vessels, vestments, archives facility at the Catholic He also expressed the “deep and in his fifth or sixth year had doubts. liturgical books — Pastoral Centre. profound gratitude of Pope “I eventually overcame them and which are given to During their time together, the Francis” for their work. was ordained,” he told the group. archives in con - archivists toured the Western De - The school visits followed a He attended a diplomatic school junction with the vel opment Museum and visited pattern where the nuncio was and began his diplomatic career Flegel closure of churches the new Cathedral of the Holy introduced to staff and students in with a posting to Cameroon in LIFE CHAIN — About 200 pro-life supporters and convents. Family, where they heard a talk on classrooms, except for St. Luke Africa. He spent several years in showed up Oct. 4 for the annual life chain in sup - Tumback spoke the stained glass windows, toured Alternative School and Miller various postings in Africa then port of the unborn. It was cold, windy and wet but about what to keep the diocesan archives, and gath - Catholic High School. The nuncio Europe, came to Canada briefly in it didn’t stop the supporters from lining up on and what not to ered in the Queen of Peace chapel was introduced, usually said a few 1999 and returned as nuncio about both sides of Albert Street, one of Regina’s major keep for historical for the eucharist, with Bishop words, conferred a blessing, was a year and a half ago. arteries, carrying signs supporting life from con - purposes, and re - Donald Bolen presiding. given a brief tour then left for the After lunch the students gath - ception to natural death. The abortion issue and viewed canonical Bolen thanked the archivists other schools. St. Michael’s and ered with Bonazzi and Bohan in the support for life is rarely raised among politicians guidelines, while for their work in caring for the Mother Teresa Middle School school lobby where they were pho - but in the latter stages of this year’s federal elec - Gebhardt presented records of the history of the were the other two schools visited. tographed and in a special scene tion campaign it has garnered some coverage in ideas for the re - church, following in the footsteps The school tour was joined by the students gathered around the local and national media. Terri Bergen, president spectful “repurpos - of those unnamed early Christians Director of Education Rob Currie, nuncio who blessed them, first as a of Regina Pro Life, said she was pleased at the ing” or “transform - who gathered and cared for the Co-ordinator of Religious Educa - group then individually by marking turnout and pleased that the issue is getting more ing” of beautiful letters of Paul and others, and the tion Miles Meyers and archdioce - a cross on their forehead and recit - play in mainstream media. One young supporter fabrics from no- Gospel writings of the early evan - san Director of Pastoral Care Bob ing a short prayer while placing his was Georgia Schuck, shown above. longer-useful-vest - gelists and their Christian commu - Kowalchuk. hand on their head. October 21, 2015 LOCAL NEWS Prairie Messenger 7 Restorative justice seeks a culture of hope

By Gertrude Rompré tions than those posed by our cur - giving people the possibility of Point, who spoke about restora - ence occurred when Carole Wolfe rent retributive criminal justice sys - coming home to themselves and tive justice from an indigenous made her presentation, telling her SASKATOON — What does it tem. Rather than asking “What law to their communities. perspective. own story of her search for her mean to call someone home? This is broken? Who broke it? How Gordon addressed a diverse Workshops on the foundations missing daughter. was the key question posed by shall the state punish that person?” crowd at two public lectures. The and practise of restorative justice Similarly, Adam Gervais gave Bishop Gary Gordon of the Dio - restorative justice focuses on the first lecture focused on the theme of were also led by the members of a presentation about his own cese of Victoria at the Restorative persons and relationships that are the conference and explored what STR8 UP (on leaving gangs and experience of being harmed in an Justice: Building a Culture of harmed when a crime is committed. is needed to build a culture of hope. joining the community), Moira unprovoked assault in 2006. Hope Conference held at Queen’s Restorative justice holds the The second lecture went fur - Brownlee (on the media’s role in Giving voice to those directly House and St. Thomas More person responsible for that harm ther to suggest that there is some - promoting or preventing restorative harmed by crime is a key element College Oct. 1 - 3. to account and, ultimately, seeks thing beyond justice: mercy. justice), Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz of restorative justice, bringing Restorative justice, Gordon to bring healing to the broken fab - Mercy is only made possible (on putting the victims of crime into people, rather than simply the law, said, is about asking different ques - ric of our communities. It is about through divine grace that allows the equation), David Feick (on into the centre of the equation. us to break the cycle of violence prison visitation) and Chris The restorative justice confer - that a retributive model of justice Hrynkow (on finding a socially just ence was a joint initiative of the only serves to fuel, said Gordon. alternative to a broken system). Micah Mission, St. Thomas More Other speakers at the event A panel discussion explored College, the Office of the Treaty included Rev. Brian Rude who the topic, When those we Love Go Commissioner, the Mennonite serves as a Lutheran minister and Missing, Are Harmed, and Are Central Committee, the Lutheran practises restorative justice in El Found Murdered. The most Synod and the Roman Catholic Salvador, and Justice Steven poignant moments of the confer - Diocese of Saskatoon. Tough on crime policy simplistic

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski response to broken social, econom - tions of safety, freedom and cul - ic and cultural conditions,” Lafond tural security.” SASKATOON — Church and said. “Perhaps no other group in Gordon, who was one of the indigenous leaders speaking dur - our country has experienced this keynote speakers at the confer - ing a restorative justice confer - sad reality more than our Abo- ence, noted that when prisoners ence held recently in Saskatoon riginal brothers and sisters.” are simply pushed “out of sight called for a vision of justice that is The rate of incarceration of and out of mind,” no one asks the genuinely transformative. Aboriginal Canadians is seven questions that will bring about Harry Lafond of the Treaty times the national average, point - real change for individuals and for Adele Craswell Commissioners’ Office and Victoria ed out Saskatoon Bishop Donald suffering communities. YOUTH RETREAT — Sept. 26 - 27 St. Therese Parish in Leoville, Bishop Gary Gordon, Correctional Bolen, the chair of the CCCB “Our cultural landscape and Sask., hosted a Face to Face Ministries Youth Retreat. Approximately 50 Ministry Liaison for the Canadian national justice and peace com - economic direction continue to be youth and 25 adults from communities throughout the Prince Albert Conference of Catholic Bishops mission, who attended the public dominated by a ‘throw-away’ men - Diocese attended the weekend retreat of talks, testimonies, music, prayer (CCCB) gave a joint statement Oct. event in Saskatoon along with vis - tality, which is sometimes justified ministry, small-group sharing and adoration. Leader Adele Craswell 2 at Queen’s House, urging a more iting Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, by arguments of personal freedom said, “We were blessed to have the team spend the weekend with our effective solution than a simplistic Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi. and security, rather than inclusion, youth. We truly value their gifts, commitment and dedication. Their “tough on crime” response. “When it comes to restorative protection, and the inherent value work is changing lives.” She is thankful for the support of Bishop Albert “True restorative justice means justice, when it comes to our pris - of every person, family and com - Thévenot, M. Afr., their pastor and the diocese for their support and effective intervention, restitution, ons, in this country we have a prob - munity,” said Gordon. hopes the youth who attended the retreat continue to pursue their “Yes” and rehabilitation that heals indi - lem — and within this prov ince we “Many church and Aboriginal to Christ and continue the challenge that Face to Face Ministries viduals, families and communities have a problem,” asserted Bolen. leaders are demonstrating the way brought to them — to encounter Christ and embrace the call to be saints. and must include both those who Bonazzi said society must work the wisdom of the elders and tra - have been harmed and those who to bring healing rather than punish - ditional cultural interventions can have inflicted the harm,” said ment. “Society must be prepared to be used to create restorative jus - Lafond, one of the panelists at a take care of a person who suffers, tice processes to heal the effects of ‘Everyone loves the pope’ media event held in conjunction who is in difficulty,” he said. “We crime,” Gordon added. with a Building a Culture of Hope always consider that redemption, “As leaders, we endorse dia - By Frank Flegel to be at the papal event and hear Conference on restorative justice restoration is possible.” logue with out governments and him talking live.” Oct. 1 - 3 at Queen’s House and Among the many tools that bring the courts so that these processes REGINA — Security was tight The downtown area was shut to St. Thomas More College. about rehabilitation is love, said the can be more widely adopted, and and obvious when James and Holly vehicular traffic so walking was “We invite the people of our nuncio. “We grow and we become our communities can be made Gustafson and Brett and Flannery the only way to get around. communities to place hope at the more mature as humans . . . not safer through the transformative Salkeld attended the World Meeting Six different families were pre - centre of our conversations about because we do not have moments work of restorative justice.” of Families and the papal visit to sented to the pope, who heard their justice and promote a vision of of failure, but because we learn to The Building a Culture of Hope Philadelphia, but it didn’t take away testimonial. “They came onstage justice that is genuinely transfor - transform our defeat into occa - Conference continued with a panel from the experience. Everyone was and told their stories in front of the mative,” added Lafond. sions to build up a more human discussion on missing and mur - issued a transparent plastic back - pope and every story was heart - He also disputed the belief that society.” dered indigenous women and girls. pack and you had to carry every - breaking and wonderful at the putting people in jail and keeping “Creating a vision of restora - In addition to Gordon, conference thing in it. You could carry some - same time. Their struggle and how them there longer, “out of sight and tive justice is challenging work,” speakers included Rev. Brian Rude thing else, said Gustafson, but it they used their faith to get through out of mind,” will create safer said Lafond. “It invites dialogue and Justice Steven Point, and a would be a real hassle. it,” James described. communities. “This is a simplistic that pursues fundamental ques - number of workshop sessions. James said the atmosphere was There was one family that par - the most unreal thing he had ever ticularly moved him. “They were experienced. “Everyone loves the married 60-some years and they pope, as we love the pope. They had had hard times. They moved love their faith. It was stunning to to Canada and spoke only Spanish see that in action and everyone and they struggled. They talked was happy.” The pope just brought about the joy of their grandkids that attitude, said James. and their own kids and how fami - “It was a life-giving experi - ly was important.” ence,” said Brett Salkeld. “Seeing The pope gave each a blessing the pope was the highlight, but with their foreheads touching, hanging out with the Gustafsons “and that was the most beautiful and getting to know other people thing I’ve ever seen.” from the diocese was great.” Holly said the testimonies of Holly said she, too, experienced the families were the most moving that joy. “I loved walking through for her as well, but there was also the streets and seeing the cardinals a concert with one great act after getting a sandwich in the conven - another. “We were having so much ience stores, groups of nuns walk - fun singing with Catholic artists ing by that made our Catholic faith together. There was amazing joy.” feel really normal. It was nice “I came home with some practi - being surrounded by people who cal ideas about family,” said were having as nice and as joyful Flannery. “Family prayer times and FALL SUPPER — On Sept. 27, St. Mark Parish in Prince Albert hosted over 500 guests during their annu - an experience as we were.” reinforcing the importance of being al fall supper. Co-ordinators Lorraine Tremblay and Marlene Park helped the 24 volunteers with prepara - “Inspiring and encouraging,” together, playing, working, praying tions. Newly appointed pastor Rev. Jim Kaptein walked around the hall, socializing with visitors and mak - said Flannery. “It was very special and serving together as a family.” ing balloon animals for children. Members of the parish donated almost all food items. 8 Prairie Messenger October 21, 2015

Called to Serve

Called to Serve monument in WasWascana Park WWitith Gratitude... ankank you to everyoneone who made the October 1st ““CalledCalled to Serve” celebrationsbrations in RReginaeginae so special:

• e Apostolic Nunciouncio to Canada, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi • Regina Archbishop Daanielniel Bohan and all the Biishopsshops of Saskatchewan • Our Diocesesioceses and key provvincialincial Catholic organizations who support Catholic education and health • e generous donors who reecognizcognized the importance of this lasting tribute • All the suppliers, especially sculptor Jack Jensenensen of Prince Albert • e nine members of the Catholic Sisters Legacy Recognition planning committee who investedested their time and talents over 3 ½ years to mark this legacy in an enduring way

AAndnd thank yoouu to our dear Sistersisters – those who were presentesent on October 1st, those who could nnotot be, and those who have gone before us – more than 5,500 Sisters fromom 61 dierent orders inin total. ank yoouu for the gift of yoourur service in laying the foundations of education, health care,e, and social servicesvices in our province. WWee are indebted to you,ou, and we honour yourour legacy in answeringering the call of Jesus to fulll his mission. ank ank you for saying YYeses when you were called to serve.

Bert YakichukYakichuk, Chair Saskatcheaskatchewan Catholic Connections

Saskatchewan Catholic Connections Representatives Donors Sisters Legacy Recognition Planning Committee Archdioceseiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas Gold level: Paula Scott - Committee Chair, VVice-Presidentice-President Saskatchewan Archdiocese of Regina Davidvid and Karen Holst Family Foundation, Warman Catholic School Boards AAssociassociation, Lloydminster Cattholicholic Health Association of Saskatchewan Bruce Acton - CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, Saskatoon Silver level: DDioceseiocese of Prince Albert Leona Burkhart - Board Director, Emmanuel Care, Regina Kerny and Patriciatricia Korchinski, Saskatoon DDioceseiocese of Saskatoon Scott Irwin - President & CEO, Emmanuel Care, Saskatoon MinersMiners Construction and the Stensrud Family, Saskatoon Emmanuel Care Tim Jelinski - Member at Large, Saskatoon St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation,t Saskatoon EEparchyparchy of Saskatoon Therese Jelinski - Chair, Catholictholic Health Association of Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards AssociaAssociation Bronze level: Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan Catholic University Colleges Henry and Cheryl Kloppenburg, Saskatoon Sandra Kary - Project Lead, Executive Director, Catholic Saskatchewan Catholic Women’s League Mont St. Joseph Home, Prince Albert Health Association of Saskattchewan,chewan, Saskatoon Saskattchewan Knights of Columbus OOMIMI Lacombe Canada, Ottawa Sister Teresita Kambeitz - Committee Historian, Ursulines of Prelate, Saskatoon (all of whom are bronze donors) Providence Place Fooundaundation, Moose Jaw RREMCOEMCO Memorials Ltd., Regina KKenen Loehndorf - Executive Director, Saskatchewan Catholic St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Estevan School Boards Association, Northorth Battleford St. Peter’s Abbey, Muenster Many other individual, and anonymous donors.

LOOKING FOR MORE? Event photos and commemorative videovideo can be found at www..calledtosercalledtoserve.ca October 21, 2015 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 9 Election sees massive victory for Trudeau’s Liberals

By Deborah Gyapong stronger dialogue with civil socie - from their culture or religion, for sive euthanasia and assisted-sui - Schadenberg said. These people ty with definite international example.” cide law that will surely put the are “very vulnerable” and may OTTAWA (CCN) — The mas - development goals and strategies “CPJ works on three issues lives of many vulnerable end up euthanized when they are sive Liberal victory Oct. 19 has and that we will also get back to a where we need to see content Canadians at risk,” said CLC really asking for help with their given hope for those who want level of funding that will allow changes from our federal govern - president Jim Hughes, “I also call suffering. action on climate change, poverty Canada to meet expectations. We ment as well: on refugees: the on Trudeau to represent all Schadenberg also expressed and help for refugees that the new hope the needs of the poorest in immediate facilitation of 25,000 Canadians and allow his MPs to deep concern for physicians and Trudeau government will deliver the Global South will be at the Syrians as promised during the vote their conscience on moral other health care workers who on its promises in these areas. centre of the new government’s campaign; on poverty, the imple - issues, issues that many of their want nothing to do with killing “Watching the election results concerns.” mentation of the child benefit that constituents feel very strongly their patients. “Under this gov - felt like Trudeaumania II: The Worms noted the Liberal party should lift thousands of kids from about.” ernment, will they be forced to Sequel,” said Citizens for Public seemed more “open to dialogue” poverty, and on climate change, a Euthanasia Prevention refer or in some way partici - Justice (CPJ) executive director and willing “to find real strong specific target for greenhouse gas Coalition (EPC) executive direc - pate?” Joe Gunn. “The Liberals hit more solutions to fight climate change” reductions that is far more ambi - tor Alex Schadenberg said he is Institute of Marriage and home runs than the Blue Jays!” and “to commit” to a binding tious than Canada’s current, “incredibly worried” Canada will Family (IMFC) executive director “It was gratifying to see a agreement in upcoming talks. extremely weak, limit — and a see a Belgium-style euthanasia Andrea Mrozek sees a positive resurgence of democracy, as it “We will continue our cam - workable plan to achieve that tar - regime imposed on Canada, message in the repudiation of the seemed certain that more paign mobilization in the coming get — all before the UN climate because the wording of the NDP’s $15 a day national daycare Canadians went to the polls,” he weeks and we hope that the summit begins on the First Supreme Court of Canada’s Carter program. said. The Liberals won a solid Catholic mobilization around the Sunday in Advent in Paris,” Gunn decision is so broad and impre - “Nobody voted for national majority with 184 seats, to the issues of protecting our common said. “Canadians massively decid - cise. daycare,” she said. “That is a clear Conservative’s 99, the NDP’s 44, home will be taken into account ed that Justin is ready. Now we “It’s possible the Liberals may statement that this is not the type the Bloc Québécois’ 10, and the by the new government and in need to see if a Liberal govern - decide not to legislate at all and let of childcare program that families Green party’s one. their position in Paris in ment is.” the provinces take over euthanasia want.” Canadian Catholic Organi - December.” Campaign Life Coalition and assisted suicide,” While the IMFC supported zation for Development and Peace Gunn said Canadians “are (CLC), the political arm of the Schadenberg said. “Then they the Tories plan for income-split - (CCODP) deputy communications looking for some pretty immedi - pro-life movement, expressed would be officially defined as ting for families, Mrozek said director Ryan Worms said his ate tone changes from their new concern the newly elected govern - health care.” the “Liberal plan on help for par - organization had been pushing for majority government: the re- ment “will push for more abortion Doing so would negatively ents is actually more complicat - the high level of participation wit - establishment of a functioning access in Canada and around the affect the health care system and ed than the Conservative plan, nessed at the polls. census, evidence-based decision- world,” and will “refuse to invoke put vulnerable people at risk, he but it does involve financial sup - “Canadians want to have a making with civil servants’ views the notwithstanding clause to warned. port that goes directly to parents. change and also to get involved in able to be publicly expressed, no allow the democratic process to Many people become “emo - So I hope the idea of national policies for the next four years.” more demonization of refugees decide euthanasia and assisted- tionally drained” and go through a daycare is laid to rest. When you On international development, and those who work to help reset - suicide legislation in Canada.” “dark time in their soul” when ask parents what they want to do, Worms said he hopes the new tle them, and respect for women “CLC urges the Liberal caucus they become sick, and might think they don’t prefer this form of Liberal government will “restore a who wear traditional clothing to refrain from passing a permis - “their life has lost value,” care.” Parishioners gather to sew handmade winter coats for the homeless

By Agnieszka Krawczynski Star of the Sea Parish. Wharton designed The B.C. Catholic The Helpers of St. Anne and them without buttons, St. Joachim are in their 16th sea - zippers, or other SURREY (CCN) — Dozens son of making thick, waterproof breakable parts; the more homeless people will stay coats that convert into sleeping coats have loops, ties, warm and dry this winter thanks bags for people on the streets. and knots. to a dedicated group of sewers at “We pray for the re ceivers of “It’s a passion of these coats mine. I just love help - every day,” ing people and reach - said organiz - ing out to people,” er Carolyn said volunteer Brenda Wharton on D’Souza. She has this year’s joined the group just first day of this year. sewing, D’Souza used to Sept. 29. help out at Luke 15 About 30 House, a transition volunteers home for former pris - will work to oners with addictions. the whirring When she moved to sound of Star of the Sea Parish B.C. Catholic/A. Krawczynski sewing two years ago, she machines in started looking for COMFORT COATS — Members of Star of the Sea Parish in Surrey, B.C., sew Star of the other ways to help out Santa Anna Comfort Coats — thick, waterproof coats for the homeless — in the Sea School in the community. school gymnasium. gymnasium “More than any - every thing, I’m really grateful for what pockets so people understand year, and the volunteers aren’t Monday until I have in my life and what God these are gifts from Al mighty God, getting any younger, Wharton the end of has given me. It’s the smallest and he doesn’t forget about his said. Novem ber. way I can pay back.” children,” Wharton explained. In an effort to find ways to They intend She is also involved in the “It is thanks to his inspiration produce more coats to fill the to make 25 King’s Banquet Soup Kitchen, an that we’re doing this project.” need, she hopes to get a manufac - coats. initiative by the Helpers of St. Since its in ception, the group turer to make a batch that she The hand - Anne and St. Joachim that’s been has handcrafted 460 Santa Anna could sell as gifts or emergency made Santa running for 11 years. Comfort Coats. Wharton also had preparedness items to average Anna Member Geraldine Meagher 100 manufactured to hand out dur - Canadians. Comfort said she joined the group four ing the Olym pics in 2010. The funds would then go Coats are years ago because she loves to Finished coats are typically toward another batch for the B.C. Catholic/A. Krawczynski thick and sew and enjoys the company. delivered to organizations that serve homeless, for free. Though manu - HANDMADE COATS — The Helpers of St. Anne and made with “When you see the results the homeless, such as Covenant facturing is more expensive, it St. Joachim are in their 16th season of making thick, fleece, insu - and you think about people actu - House, the Missionaries of Charity, would get more coats out, faster. waterproof coats that convert into sleeping bags for lated, with ally being able to use this, it’s or St. Mary’s Street Ministry. “I have found no other way people on the streets. Volunteer Donna Sali sports a fin - waterproof really a great project. It’s “There’s no shortage of min - thus far to ensure that these spe - ished coat. layers. unique,” she said. “It’s where I istries that need them.” Wharton cially designed garments will con - can use my talents.” has had requests from Victoria, tinue to be gifted to homeless peo - Before giving the coats away, Calgary, and Edmonton. ple,” Wharton said. Website: the ladies stuff the pockets with She said homeless recipients She urges those interested in handmade toques, scarves, and are “weeping” and “tongue-tied” purchasing a coat, sponsoring a http://www.prairiemessenger.ca mittens, as well as toiletries and a when they are given these coats coat for a homeless person, or get - St. Anne prayer card. for free. It’s a time-consuming ting involved another way to “We put prayer cards in the effort that yields only 25 coats a email [email protected] 10 Prairie Messenger ARTS & CULTURE October 21, 2015 Just ‘imagine’: John Lennon would be 75 years old

By Jeffrey Salkin Imagine is so subdued — almost guages, and national dreams (as what that means to them. them up for a blessing. I would ©2015 Religion News Service like sleepwalking. long as they are not lethal nation - Ask the loved ones of the Jews ask God for two things. Imagine is a dream, and not a al dreams, and make room for oth - who have been killed in Israel in First, that God should return Just imagine: John Lennon very good one. ers). past weeks — killed because they them to their families safely. would have turned 75 on Oct. 9. Imagine no nations, no sepa - As for “Nothing to kill or die are Jews. Second, that God would put I use the word “imagine” for a rate peoples, no distinctive lan - for,” ask the loved ones of the stu - When I was the rabbi in them out of work. reason. guages, lifestyles, or cultures. dents who were killed in Oregon Columbus, Ga., every year during That was my way of saying: According to Rolling Stone A world of radical sameness. recently — simply because they the High Holy Days we would May there be no more war. magazine, his song with that name A world that erases difference. answered “Christian” to the ques - welcome soldiers from nearby But since there is still war, and was the third most important pop - I actually like cultures, and lan - tion “What religion are you?” — Fort Benning. I always called because some of those wars are ular song in history (the first being regrettable but necessary, I am Like A Rolling Stone by Bob glad that there are soldiers. Dylan, and the second being (I As for “And no religion too,” Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by The Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot imagined Rolling Stones). a world without religion. The I never liked Imagine. I am not results were demonic. the only Jewish teacher who feels I don’t even think that it is pos - this way. sible to imagine no religion. “Imagine there’s no countries/ Consider the words of the late It isn’t hard to do/Nothing to kill writer David Foster Wallace: or die for/And no religion too.” “In the day-to-day trenches of Lennon was saying: Let’s get adult life, there is actually no such rid of nations; let’s get rid of reli - thing as atheism. There is no such gion; let’s get rid of the idea that thing as not worshipping. Every - there is something above me that body worships. The only choice is worth dying for, and that might we get is what to worship. And an even be worth killing for. outstanding reason for choosing Let’s get rid of the passions some sort of God or spiritual-type that help us transcend ourselves. thing to worship — be it J.C. or Maybe that’s why the melody of Allah, be it Yahweh or the Wiccan mother-goddess or the Four Noble Truths or some infrangible set of Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin is the ethical principles — is that pretty spiritual leader of Temple Solel in much anything else you worship Hollywood, Fla., and the author of will eat you alive. numerous books on Jewish spiritu - RNS/Reuters/Eduardo Munoz “If you worship money and ality and ethics, published by LENNON MEMORIAL — Mementos and flowers left by fans lay around the Imagine mosaic in the things, then you will never have Jewish Lights Publishing and Strawberry Fields section of Central Park on the 33th anniversary of the death of former Beatle John Jewish Publication Society. Lennon, in New York on Dec. 8, 2013. — SONGS , page 12 Sometimes listeners are better off not being able to understand the lyrics

By Caitlin Ward ngh ngh ngh nnnnnngh.” That’s son I’m talking about them is not The trouble is that if you stop mit horrible acts, and then retreat neither here nor there. After look - because the band is more than listening to bands because of back to their swamps. The thing about some singers ing it up, I realized that the song’s uncommonly prone to misogyny their misogynistic songs (or It’s more convoluted than that, is that it’s basically impossible to about corruption in the govern - in their lyrics. It’s also not that it’s misogynistic behaviour), you cut though. We have songs that understand what they’re saying. ment, and the line is, “why must startling that a band could be so down the list of bands you like devalue women because our soci - The most notorious example of you record my phone calls?” sensitive about racism and clas - very quickly. And even if we take ety devalues women, and songs that must be Louie Louie, which It occurred to me at that point sism and so blind to sexism. That’s into account the social norms of that only portray women as Little was made famous by The that I had not understood the vast unfortunately common, as well. I the times the bands were popular, Bitches or sex objects reinforce Kingsmen in 1963. The words majority of Specials lyrics during think, perhaps, it’s just that I hap - we’d be hard-pressed to justify those ideas. And if we live in a were so garbled that they became my life — or at least, not the pened to notice it about this partic - some of it. It may have been the society that devalues women, it the subject of a bona fide FBI songs sung by Terry Hall, who ular band. And it added another 1970s, for example, but Jimmy doesn’t take a monster to trespass investigation shortly after. If the seems to have had a chronic fear thing that I’m ambivalent about to Page still kidnapped and raped an against a woman; it takes a per - words aren’t understandable, par - of enunciating. the ever-growing list in my head. underage girl, and then basically son who wasn’t raised to respect ents of the nation thought, it must The band’s been lauded as You see, I’m not sure if listen - held her captive for years. women. And when I say respect, I be because there are swears in it. being deeply political, both in their ing to such songs despite such You might think I’m splitting don’t mean, “respect as a mother” Or worse, it might have been music and the very makeup of the lyrics and such behaviour is tacit hairs. Jimmy Page was a predator, or “respect as a sister” or “respect about sex! And so, concerned par - band (they had both black and approval of it. I suppose things that but The Specials just said some as a daughter.” I mean respect as ents of the nation wrote letters to white members, a phenomenon are historical are a bit different, as mean things about girls. Here’s a person in her own right. that’s still pretty unusual). Though you can set them in their context. the thing, though: they’re kind of So maybe it’s OK that I could - Little Bitch ska is often a point of fun among With contemporary artists, though, connected. There’s this idea in our n’t really understand the words to The Specials music fans here in North America, it becomes harder, as you are quite culture that bad things happen to Little Bitch very easily. Maybe in 1970s and 1980s U.K. it was literally supporting them if you women because monsters emerge it’s better that when I was 14, I part of a movement. Like their choose to buy their art. from some black lagoon and com - didn’t know. then-Attorney General, Robert F. punk counterparts, The Specials Kennedy, and thus began perhaps were anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti- one of the silliest FBI investiga - oppression, and often pretty con - One two! Although it stinks and when it rains you wear tions in the history of the Bureau. troversial for all of those reasons. your hat Because there’s nothing worse What seems not to have been If you ever hear a noise in the night And your plum coloured pvc wet-look maxi mac than a song with swears in it. particularly controversial was Your body starts to sweat, You tie your ginger hair back in a bun Palpable nonsense, of course, how incredibly misogynistic their It shakes and shivers in fright You’re the ugliest creature, under the sun! but it is easy to misinterpret a lyrics could be. After listening to You go and sleep with your mother song when a singer doesn’t speak the band on and off for years, it She hates your guts One Two! clearly. I had Gangsters by the seems strange for me to have only She knows that you love her Go! Specials stuck in my head recent - just realized this. It makes sense, I So she holds you tight One Two! ly. It’s a disconcerting but incred - suppose, given that I primarily lis - All through the night in to the broad daylight ibly catchy song, which perhaps tened to the band in high school, And when she doesn’t come home And you think it’s about time that you died, and accounts for its success in 1979 before lyrics sheets were so ubiq - You’ll have to sleep alone I agree despite the fact that when it goes uitous on the Internet. Then you wet your bed and I think that’s sad So you decide on suicide through your head, it sounds like, I’m not sure how I feel listen - For a girl of 19 it’s more than sad, it’s obscene! You tried but you never quite carried it out “Nnngh . . .ngh ngh nnngh . . . ngh ing to the band, now. I mean, You only wanted to die in order to show off sure, there are politically subver - One Two! And if you think you’re gonna bleed all over me sive songs like Gangsters, Racist You’re even wronger than you’d normally be And your girlfriend sweet little 17 And the only things you want to see are kitsch Ward is a Saskatoon-based free - Friend, or Ghost Town. But then She’s got her layered hair and her flared jeans And the only thing you want to be is rich lance writer who spends her days there’s Little Bitch and Hey You know what that means, she’s just a little Your little pink up-pointed nose begins twitch (and most nights) working at a Little Rich Girl, which honestly, queen I know you know you’re just a little bitch! small Catholic college. Her less are pretty hateful. She shares your London flat eloquent thoughts can be found at It’s not an issue that’s unique to She thinks that London’s where it’s at One Two! www.twitter.com/newsetofstrings The Specials, of course. The rea - October 21, 2015 ARTS & CULTURE Prairie Messenger 11 From mountains to mean streets, Manhattan to Mars

Screenings & Meanings

Gerald Schmitz

If summer is for superheroes, groups see a window to reach the sequels, and easygoing comedies, top on the same day. But things fall is when Hollywood producers quickly go awry. Time has run out start bringing out weightier fare in when Rob makes a fateful deci - anticipation of awards season. sion to help a labouring Doug Here are four deserving of notice. attain his dream. The notoriously Icelandic director Baltasar changeable weather turns against Kormakur’s Everest , which opened them. In the end, eight bodies will CNS/Sony the Venice film festival, assembles a be left on the mountain. THE WALK — Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in The Walk, a work of “awe-inspiring screen magic,” writes top-notch cast to relive the events of Both visually (especially Gerald Schmitz. May 1996 that resulted in one of the viewed in IMAX 3D) and in dra - deadliest days on the world’s high - matic intensity, the unfolding of the skin of its characters and in its friend Annie (Quebec’s Charlotte by NASA’s recent discovery of est mountaintop — the supreme the disaster is brilliantly realized. impressive attention to period Le Bon) and several others as part flowing water on the red planet climbing challenge that tempts Everest is a chillingly effective details. Depp especially is thor - of his plan. suggesting the possibility of life. some adventurers to take fatal risks. cautionary tale. oughly believable as Bulger and Fascinated by circus wire- Billionaire inventor-entrepreneur The movie draws on Into Thin Air, deserving of early Oscar buzz. walkers since boyhood, Petit was Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, the acclaimed account by Jon * * * an eager student of Papa Rudy has said he wants to die on Mars. Krakauer (played by Michael * * * Omankowski (Ben Kingsley), the Ridley Scott’s futurist sci-fi epic Kelly), a reporter for Outside maga - Scott Cooper’s Black Mass patriarch of a Czech family of per - The Martian, based on the Andy zine who joined a diverse group offers Johnny Depp’s best role in Director Robert Zemeckis formers. Still, the WTC attempt, Weir novel, is all about keeping making the ascent. From their years, physically transformed into brings an awe-inspiring screen demanding many hours of illegal one man alive on Mars, which the menacing character of James magic to The Walk , also based on access to the buildings and humans have been visiting for Everest “Whitey” Bulger, a real-life crime the exploits of a real person, eschewing any safety harness, some time, notwithstanding the boss from the mean streets of intrepid French highwire artist must have seemed like suicidal four years it takes to traverse at (U.K./U.S./Iceland) south Boston whose Winter Hill Philippe Petit, who stunned the madness. One of Petit’s assistants least 34 million miles of space. Black Mass Gang rose to underworld domi - world on the morning of Aug. 7, was even afraid of heights. NASA’s Ares III mission, led nance during the 1970s and ’80s 1974, when he walked back and Once in New York Petit found by commander Melissa Lewis (U.S.) while being protected from prose - forth on a cable illegally stretched additional accomplices (one of (Jessica Chastain), is going about The Walk cution by the FBI. The incredible between the 110-storey north and whom conveniently worked on an its work when a severe Martian story was the subject of a 2014 south tower roofs of Manhattan’s 82nd floor). Lengthy detailed storm forces the crew to evacuate. (U.S.) documentary Whitey: United barely finished World Trade preparations for his coup included Botanist Mark Watney (Matt The Martian States of America vs. James J. Center (WTC). The movie, for using disguises to enter the towers Damon) is hit by debris and, pre - Bulger. which Petit was a “coach and con - multiple times in order to scout sumed dead, left behind. Amaz - (U.S.) The key to this unusual arrange - sultant,” draws on his memoir To the terrain. For all that, the critical ingly he survives and gets back to ment was Bulger’s childhood Reach the Clouds and is an effec - night leading up to the walk was a the base where he has to use all of friendship with fellow “Southey” tive dramatization of his story that very near-run thing. The movie, his scientific wiles to figure out arrival in the crowded squalor of John Connolly (Joel Edgerton, was the subject of James Marsh’s much of which was actually how to make water and grow food Katmandu up to the untidy base equally superb), a brash ambitious Oscar-winning 2008 documentary filmed in Montreal, expertly so as to last the many hundreds of camp, it’s led by charismatic FBI agent who convinced his Man on Wire. recreates the incidents and atmos - “sols” (Martian days) before any Australian tour leader Rob Hall Bureau colleagues, including a Key to that is the quite excep - phere of high anxiety. rescue would be possible. Pota - (Jason Clarke) of Adventure skeptical supervisor played by tional performance of American It’s the defiant walk itself, toes and human waste play a role Consultants, supported by assistant Kevin Bacon, that Bulger could actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt as requiring a remarkable digital until zapped by another destruc - guide Guy (fellow Aussie Sam provide valuable information on a Petit who speaks directly to the reconstruction of those iconic tive storm. Worthington) and logistics co-ordi - rival Italian mafia. Bulger played audience as the narrator of his towers destroyed on 9/11, which At first Watney has no commu - nator Helen (Emily Watson). the FBI, refusing to see himself as incredibly daring “coup.” stands out for breathtaking verti - nication with NASA, headed by a As they acclimatize to the alti - an “informant” (though keeping the Gordon-Levitt carries off the go-inducing images worth the calculating bureaucrat Teddy tude and prepare to ascend in relationship secret from his associ - physical demands and the lan - extra to watch in Imax 3D. Petit Sanders (Jeff Daniels), but still stages before a final assault on the ates including a devoted young guage — switching between spent 45 minutes going back and gamely records his efforts. He’s summit, the characters and moti - driver). The benefit was he and his French and French-accented forth between the towers, stealing never going to give up. The dis - vations of the members emerge. henchman getting away with multi - English — with surprising the headlines the day before a dis - covery he’s alive presents NASA Beck (Josh Brolin) is an assertive ple murders and lucrative criminal aplomb, perhaps enough to have graced President Nixon with troubling dilemmas of middle-aged Texan who has paid operations. While Bulger could be a legitimate shot at an Oscar announced his resignation over whether, then how, to try to bring a lot of money for this achieve - a ruthless killer, he also doted on nomination. Watergate. There are photographs him home. Two years pass before ment while having to reassure a his mother and kept in touch with Petit was an itinerant street but no moving pictures of this feat the returning Ares III crew are nervous family back home. Doug notably successful brother Billy performer in Paris who had gained of crazy genius that can never be even told, at which point they (John Hawkes) is a quiet postal (Benedict Cumberbatch), a lawyer attention for walking between the repeated. This is the closest we defy orders and reverse course worker for whom this is a last and educator who became presi - spires of Notre Dame Cathedral. will come to imagining what it back toward Mars to retrieve their chance after a previous failed dent of the state senate as well as Transfixed by a 1973 magazine was like. stranded mate. Every step attempt. Yasuko (Naoko Mori) is a the University of Massachusetts. image of the twin towers under involves huge improbabilities too Japanese woman who has scaled Eventually both Bulger and construction, he became obsessed * * * numerous to mention, as well as a six of the seven highest continen - Connolly overplayed their hands. with the ultimate challenge of crucial assist from a Chinese tal peaks and needs this to com - The arrangement came crashing walking between the world’s We are in another period of space agency rocket. plete that accomplishment. down when a determined federal tallest structures, roping in girl - popular interest in Mars, spurred There’s little doubt Watney Rob is the type to inspire con - prosecutor (Corey Stoll) will make a triumphant return to fidence that they will be in safe started digging into why the earth against all odds, which hands. He has every reason not to gang’s notorious activities lessens the suspense. Still The take risks with a pregnant wife had been shielded for so Martian is consistently entertain - (Keira Knightley) waiting for long. Key members were ing, with the pseudo-scientific him, with whom he keeps in touch arrested and gave evidence mumbo-jumbo leavened by often by satellite phone. He also con - against the mastermind in humorous exchanges. Kudos as trasts with several other tour lead - exchange for lesser sen - well to the cinematography by ers making the ascent — the long- tences. Connolly was Dariusz Wolski (who also worked haired hippie-like American Scott trapped too and re ceived a on The Walk) and spectacular Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) and lengthy prison term. Bulger special effects. Jordan’s Wadi macho Russian Anatoli Boukreev escaped into hiding in 1994 Rum landscape doubled for (Ingvar Sigurosson) who eschews and was not apprehended Martian exteriors and most of the the use of supplementary oxygen. till 2011, subsequently sen - rest was shot on sound stages in The role of the Nepalese sherpas tenced to several life terms. Hungary. remains peripheral but this isn’t Black Mass is a cut The potential to put astronauts their story. above the usual gangster CNS/Twentieth Century Fox on Mars may still be a long way After crossing treacherous ice - movie or action thriller in THE MARTIAN — Matt Damon stars in Ridley Scott’s futuristic sci-fi epic off but it doesn’t hurt to dream at falls and crevasses, all three the way that it gets under The Martian. the movies.

12 Prairie Messenger DEEPENING OUR FAITH October 21, 2015 God is with families in all their blessed diversity

Breaking Open the Ordinary

Sandy Prather

“And a sword shall pierce your joys and celebrations as well as heart.” Simeon’s prediction to their struggles, tensions and cruci - Mary that her son would be for fixions, they are always open to a her a cause of piercing sorrow was God who is present and active, probably not at all what the new working to bring about good. The mother expected to hear. On that family is holy primarily because glorious day when she and Joseph God is present in and with them. brought their precious child to the We have been watching and lis - temple for the appropriate rituals, tening to the Catholic bishops gath - undoubtedly their hearts were full ered this month to consider family of joy and they were expecting to life in today’s context. Pope Francis hear words of congratulations not has asked the bishops to take a pas - warnings of impending grief. toral point of view and not a dog - Yet Mary was a parent, and as matic nor a legalistic one. A pas - she would come to learn first-hand, toral point of view will take seri - along with the joy of parenting ously the opening lines of Gaudium Design Pics comes the heartache of parenting. et Spes , the Second Vatican Coun - DIVERSITY OF FAMILIES — “Families come in all shapes and sizes: nuclear, extended, or blended; single- Both are inevitable because family cil’s Pastoral Constitution on the parented, cohabiting, divorced, divorced and remarried, same-sex, widowed, childless or empty-nest,” writes life is not a happy-ever-after idyll Church: “The joys and the hopes, Sandy Prather. What might happen, she asks, if the church looked with a merciful and loving eye at today’s but a lifetime process of engaging the griefs and the anxieties of the families, in all their diversity, and tried to walk with them, rather than decrying what is missing in their lives? in real relationships where laugh - (people) of this age, especially ter, celebration and joy intermingle those who are poor or in any way families are pluriform, yet what What might happen then, if the them? What if we helped people with blood, sweat and tears. afflicted, these are the joys and they have in common is that they church looked with a merciful and see that even and perhaps espe - Mary’s own life reflects this. hopes, the griefs and anxieties of constitute the primary relationships loving eye at today’s families, in cially in the places of brokenness Alongside such celebratory events the followers of Christ.” where life is nurtured and where all their diversity, and tried to and crucifixion, God is present as the wedding banquet at Cana, To consider families from the one belongs. Recognizing the walk with them? What if, rather working to bring new life? What we hear of harsh realities: a preg - vantage point of their joys and their diversity of families is necessary if than decrying what is missing in if we helped people to say, “It may nancy before marriage; a birth in hopes, their griefs and anxieties, we are to accompany them on their families, we helped people see not be THE Holy Family, Lord, impoverished circumstances; a with a special heart for families who unique journeys. what is blessed and good about but it’s MY holy family”? flight from home because of politi - afflicted in any way, is to be willing Pastorally, it means we recog - cal violence; the reality of being to look at real families with an eye nize that our families are, often at Other songs more optimistic refugees and immigrants, strangers to seeing how the church might help the same time, gift and wound, in a strange land. them. It is not about defining what a blessing and curse. Sometimes we There are the hidden child-rear - “perfect family,” or even a “holy” can’t live without our families, and Continued from page 10 hopefulness — not to mention that ing years where, somewhere along family, might look like. Nor can it sometimes we can’t live with them. it is the only rock song in which the way, Mary loses her life partner be about judging how well families Our families are celebration and enough, never feel you have the word “rabbis” appears. It was and becomes a widow. Her con - “measure up” and fit into precon - delight, our haven and refuge, but enough. Worship your body and recorded during John and Yoko’s cern and worry for her adult son ceived patterns. A pastoral approach they also might be grief and sorrow, beauty and sexual allure and you famous “bed-in” in Montreal, and grows as he follows his chosen wants to walk with families as they agony and anger. Family can be a will always feel ugly. Worship the late Rabbi Abraham Feinberg, path which, increasingly, arouses are, the notion of accompaniment battleground or even a war zone. power, and you will need ever the retired rabbi of Toronto’s ven - political and religious opposition. that Pope Francis writes about in It is here, pastorally, that we more power over others to numb erable Holy Blossom Temple, vis - Her fidelity finds her standing, Evangelii Gaudium . It would want need to give witness that families you to your own fear. Worship ited them and sang along. poignantly, heart-broken but to help families see how, indeed, are holy not because they are per - your intellect, you will end up My runner-up? Starting Over, strong, beneath a cross as mother they are already holy, and where, in fect. They are holy because they feeling stupid, a fraud, always on from John’s final album, Double of the condemned, mother of the the daily circumstances of their are places where God is present, the verge of being found out.” Fantasy. unjustly executed. Truly, Mary’s lives, God and grace are already even and perhaps especially in the I loved John Lennon. I loved I love its optimism, which, con - familial journey was hardly idyllic. present and active. places where they are broken. his sardonic sense of humour. I sidering the album was re leased Yet, with all of this, we still A pastoral approach would They are, after all, primary places loved his literary flair. I loved his the month before his death, turned name them as the Holy Family. acknowledge the complexity of where we live the Christian com - musicianship. He was my out to be tragic and poignant. Perhaps it is time to point out that, family life. Families come in all mandment to love one another. favourite Beatle. At this time of the year, I like while Mary, Joseph and Jesus shapes and sizes: nuclear, extend - They are the places where life is But, I am not a “Lennonist.” I the idea of “starting over.” rightly together constitute the ed, or blended; single-parented, created, cherished and nurtured. don’t imagine that “there’s no Happy 75th birthday, John. “holy family,” it is not because cohabiting, divorced, divorced and In our families we see love in heaven,” and that above us is And since I cannot “imagine their lives are picture-perfect and remarried, same-sex, widowed, action, and where love is, God is. “only sky.” I don’t long for a there’s no heaven,” let me imagine without strife. Rather, it is be - childless or empty-nest. They can However imperfectly we may live world in which people “live for you in it — jamming with fellow cause the presence of God is be peaceful or torn apart by vio - that love, it is in our commitment today,” and only today. Beatle George Harrison, B.B. always with them and they live in lence, stably rooted or on the move to it and our struggles to be faith - My favourite Lennon song? King, and all the others in God’s and out of God’s grace. In their because of war or poverty. Today’s ful that God is present. Give Peace A Chance. I love its rock ’n’ roll band. PRAIRIE MESSENGER PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

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activity. It is not a passive endeavour, but rather a continu - will. It is to surrender our intellect, will, senses, imagina - ous choice to deepen one’s relationship with God and to tion and human sexuality into an intimate relationship with allow this relationship to guide all of one’s actions in the God and joyfully serving God. We will be able to see God Liturgy world. Holiness requires a radical change in mindset and working in our life as well as the lives of others. Step 3 of attitude. The acceptance of the call to holiness places God the A.A. program puts it succinctly: “Surrendered our lives and Life as our final goal in every aspect of our lives. and our wills over to the care of God.” Rosica goes on to quote Pope John Paul II on the occa - The second reading simply affirms the beatitude to be sion of the World Youth Day in Rome in the year 2000: pure in heart. Those who hope to see God “as God is” must Sylvain Lavoie, OMI “Young people of every continent, do not be afraid to be the purify themselves, for God is pure. The first reading honour - saints of the new millennium! Be contemplative, love ing the martyrs bears out the words of Pope Benedict, that prayer; be coherent with your faith and generous in the this feast was first of all one that celebrated the lives of all Help people be fully human, then help them become service of your brothers and sisters, be active members of those who gave their lives for Christ, who accepted persecu - Christian, and finally help them to become saints. the church and builders of peace.” tion , the last beatitude. These words are from St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder The gospel today offers us a blueprint for holiness, for In a sense, we are all called to live martyrdom in slow of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. That advice given to wholeness. The Beatitudes are a succinct presentation of motion, for that is what living a life given over to loving God, his missionaries still holds true today, especially on this the highest values that followers of Jesus are called to live. and loving others as we love ourselves, will entail. That selfless feast of All Saints’ Day. To live them is to live a holy life, one that will challenge love will manifest itself in our lives in countless different ways. Our task as followers of Jesus is to live fully human, the values of the world we live in. Rev. John Corapi, a popular speaker on Christian life, saintly lives and help others to do the same. To be poor in spirit is to be humble, to live out of the shares an example of James, a fellow seminarian, who Unfortunately, an all too common misconception is that truth, to be free from pretense, to actually live within the became terminally ill. All who knew him questioned why this saints are rare, extraordinary and eccentric. These words of reign of God here and now. To be meek and gentle is to be should happen to someone so gifted, athletic and planning to St Eugene remind us that we are all called to be saints, to at peace with all of God’s creation, in a sense to be at home be a priest. That question intensified as they journeyed with be holy, to live life to the full. anywhere and everywhere. him and watched him waste away with the disease. According to Pope Benedict, the solemnity of All Saints One day, Father John came into James’ room to witness “was gradually affirmed over the course of the first Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 what to him was another Pieta. James’ mother was holding All Saints Christian millennium as a collective celebration of the mar - Psalm 24 him in her arms and wiping away the sweat that poured from tyrs. Already in 609, in Rome, Pope Boniface IV had con - 1 John 3:1-3 his brow in his suffering. When he saw John enter, he November 1, 2015 secrated the Pantheon, dedicating it to the Virgin Mary and Matthew 5:1-12a motioned him to come closer. Putting his ear close to James’ all the martyrs. This martyrdom, on the other hand, can be mouth, John heard him whisper the words, “You can never understood in a broad sense, that is, as love for Christ with - To be able to mourn and be compassionate is to experience imagine such joy.” James slipped into a coma some days out reserve, love that is expressed in the total gift of oneself the comforting presence of God’s Spirit in one’s life. To seek later. A priest came in with communion and decided to bless to God and to neighbour.” justice and fairness is to strive for a right relationship with God him with the host, saying loudly, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Rev. Thomas Rosica, of Salt + Light Television, states and with others, building up the reign of God here on earth. At those words, James abruptly sat up, was able to swallow that holiness is a way of life that involves commitment and To be merciful is to be able to forgive, to live free of a portion of the host, and said, “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia” anger and resentment, and to seek to be reconciled with all before expiring — truly a saint who lived the beatitudes. others. It is to be Godlike, for God is forgiveness. The eucharist that we celebrate today is food for saints and Sylvain Lavoie, OMI, Archbishop Emeritus of the To be a peacemaker is to strive to overcome conflict sinners. We are forgiven, healed and sent out to make the Archdiocese of Keewatin-The Pas, is chaplain at the Star of with communication and understanding and to truly be a world a better place, to make it the reign of God here on earth. the North Retreat House in St. Albert, Alta. He continues to child of God. So today, as we celebrate the feast of All Saints, let us live out his motto, Regnum Dei Intra Vos (the kingdom of God To be pure of heart is to be single-minded in one’s daily pray for the faith to be fully human, to be Christians, to is among you), which is his overriding focus and passion. life, focused only on the goodness of God and doing God’s become saints and to help others do the same. Stigma of suicide still exists, and needs to be challenged

suicide. Patty and David were in doing. Their family, their circle of blessed, peaceful farewell to their mid-20s, Mary was still a teen. grace, their love, and their heaven someone who has died by suicide. In You cannot read these biogra - includes their lost child. My heav - The stigma still remains. Someone phies and not have your heart ache en too includes these three young who dies in this manner is still for these three young people who people, as should any true under - seen as somehow accursed, as Exile died in this unfortunate manner. standing of God, of grace, of love, dying outside the family of life What these books describe in each and of the family of life. and the circle of grace. There is, Ron Rolheiser, OMI case is a person who is very love - That’s a deep consolation, but it for most people, nothing consoling able, oversensitive, has a history of doesn’t take away the pain. For a in their deaths. emotional struggles, and is in all parent, the loss of a child to any I have suggested elsewhere in likelihood suffering from a chemi - kind of death leaves a wound that, my writings that the majority of Recently I read, in succession, Translated into Words) lost her cal imbalance. Hearing their sto - this side of eternity, will find no suicides should be understood as three books on suicide, each written daughter, Patty, to suicide; Gloria ries should leave you more con - healing. The death of one’s child death by a mortal illness: a deadly by a mother who lost one of her Hutchinson (Damage Done, vinced than ever that no God worth goes against nature: parents aren’t chemical imbalance, an emotional children to suicide. All three books Suicide of an Only Son) lost her worshipping could ever condemn supposed to bury their children. stroke, an emotional cancer, or an are powerful, mature, not given to son, David, to suicide; and any of these persons to exclusion The death of any child is hard, but oversensitivity that strips someone false sentiment, and worth reading: Marjorie Antus (My Daughter, Her from the family of life simply be- if that death comes by suicide, that of the resiliency needed to live. Lois Severson (Healing the Wound Suicide, and God, A Memoir of cause of the manner of their deaths. pain is compounded. There’s the Here, however, I want to address from My Daughter’s Suicide, Grief Hope) lost her daughter, Mary, to Gabriel Marcel had an axiom: To frustration and anger that, unlike a more specifically the issue of the love someone is to say of that per - death from a physical disease, this stigma attached to suicide. son, you at least will not die. That’s is unwarranted, unnecessary, and It’s clear that there is still a solid Christian doctrine. an act of betrayal in some way. stigma attached to suicide. With NOW AVAILABLE As Christians we believe that, And there’s the endless second- that in mind, it can be helpful to e-Edition subscriptions as a community of believers, we guessing: How responsible am I reflect upon the manner in which visit: www.pmonline.ca make up the Body of Christ along for this? How should have I been Jesus died. His death was clearly for more information with all of those who have died in more alert? Where was I negli - not a suicide, but it was similarly Receive 45 issues per year faith before us. Part of that belief gent? Why wasn’t I around at the stigmatized. Crucifixion carried a is that Christ has given us the crucial moment? Guilt and anger stigma from every point of view: Mail coupon to: Prairie Messenger, Circulation Dept. power to bind and loose which, comingle with the grief. religious, moral, and social. A per - Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 among other things, means that But that isn’t all. Beyond all of son dying in this way was under - Phone: (306) 682-1772 Fax: (306) 682-5285 our love for someone can hold that this, which is itself more than suf - stood to be dying outside the email: [email protected] person inside our family, inside the ficient to break a person, lies the mercy of God and outside the J One Year $37.00 J Two Years $67.00 community of grace, and inside of stigma attached to suicide. In the blessing and acceptance of the J U.S. $126.00 J Foreign $152.00 heaven itself. In all three of these end, despite a better understanding community. The families of those Applicable tax included books, these mothers make it clear of suicide and a more enlightened crucified carried a certain shame J New J Renewal that this is exactly what they are attitude toward it, there is still a and those who died by crucifixion social, moral, and religious stigma were also buried apart, in grounds Name: ______attached to it, equally true in both that then took on their own stig - Rolheiser, theologian, teacher secular and religious circles. In the ma. And it was understood that Address: ______and award-winning author, is not too distant past, churches used they were outside the mercy of president of the Oblate School of to refuse to bury someone who God and of the community. City/Town: ______Prov: ______Theology in San Antonio, Texas. died by suicide on blessed ground. Jesus’ death was clearly not a Postal Code: ______Tel: ______He can be contacted through his The churches have changed their suicide, but it evoked a similar website: www.ronrolheiser.com. attitudes and their practice on this, perception. The same stigma as we Visa/MC: ______Expiry: ______Follow Father Ron on Facebook: but, truth be told, many people still attach to suicide was also attached www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser struggle in their gut to accord a to the manner in which he died. 14 Prairie Messenger FEATURE October 21, 2015 Deliberations, intrigue continue at high-stakes synod

By David Gibson the pope, count me in.’ And, sure enough, I signed it.” VATICAN CITY (RNS) — But, Dolan added, the letter Ever since a Vatican summit last was in Italian, and he said he “had year raised the possibility of mak - forgotten about it” and was ing the church more open to those stunned when it emerged. whose family lives may not mirror With all these twists and turns the Catholic ideal, conservative the saga was quickly becoming foes have been in uproar, waging as absurd as it was convoluted, an intense campaign to block any and it might have been seen as reforms from being adopted. just another chapter in the lega - Yet as a followup meeting this cy of Vatican intrigue that month has progressed, the enthu - stretches from the era of the siasm of the traditionalists could Borgia popes to the novels of be overwhelming their tactical Dan Brown — except that the judgment — annoying and even plot seemed so backhanded it angering enough of their fellow made the synod look faithless as bishops they may have weakened well as foolish. what was once considered a “The general opinion I detect - strong position. ed among the bishops was a sense Still, the conservatives may of disgust,” Bishop Marcello also have created enough disarray Semeraro, an Italian who is on the and disagreement to ice any sig - final drafting committee along nificant moves toward change, or with Wuerl, told Vatican Insider. taint any proposals they may offer Another synod delegate, to Pope Francis when the synod Archbishop Mark Coleridge of concludes on Oct. 25 after three Art Babych Australia, called the leaked letter intense weeks. SYNOD DRAWING TO A CLOSE — Worshippers gather at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine affair a “typically Roman melo - The most public, and, for the in Ottawa. The synod on the family, which comes to a conclusion this weekend, has been in deliberations drama” that was “not untinged conservatives, embarrassing episode about making the church more open to those whose family lives may not mirror the Catholic ideal. with psychodrama.” came early last week with the leak The problem, Coleridge wrote of a private letter to the pope from Several cardinals quickly Moreover, one of those newly initially declining to comment, on his blog, is that episodes like 13 cardinals opposed to reforms. denied signing the letter, and oth - revealed to have signed was Dolan gave a radio interview that this tend to “aggravate the sense In the letter, the senior church - ers said the letter they signed was Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, offers a circuitous rationale for the that the synod is not much more men complained that Francis had a bit different from the leaked ver - a top official of the U.S. Confer- letter. At the same time, Dolan than a political caucus, with ideo - set up this meeting of 270 bishops sion, though they did not say how. ence of Catholic Bishops. pegs conservative Australian logical riptides swirling around us from around the world in a way That sent synod delegates and DiNardo’s participation in the Cardinal George Pell — a top and the odd stinger drifting by.” that would favour reformers who Vatican-watching media into a secret campaign was seen as a Vatican official and outspoken Already, he said, the delibera - want, for example, to adopt a new frenzy of speculation, until it was knock at Washington Cardinal opponent of reforms — as the ring - tions are struggling to battle approach to gays and lesbians or reported that there were in fact 13 Donald Wuerl. That’s because leader of the effort: against “a fear that can become a find a way that divorced and signers, only some of them were Wuerl is a member of the commit - “Cardinal Pell in his good kind of paranoia.” remarried Catholics could receive different from those originally tee named by Francis to draft the shrewd way said, ‘Am I correct in “My reading of all this is that communion. claimed. synod’s final report — a group summing up some of the con - the ploy has backfired,” wrote whose composition had irked the cerns?’ ” Dolan says in the inter - veteran Vaticanista John Thavis. Bishops admit: we don’t conservatives. view. “And some of us, myself “I suspect most synod participants New York Cardinal Timothy included, said, ‘Boy, that sounds know much about sex Dolan was also a signer, and after good to me. If you have a letter to — CONSENSUS , page 16

By Rosie Scammell present the good news of human Human values handed on through family sexuality as a pathway of love, not VATICAN CITY (RNS) — sin,” he said. The following editorial from the May 26, 1999, issue of the Prairie wherewithal to lead the world in a Bishops participating in the Vati - Quoting an unnamed synod Messenger, titled Strengthening marriage, was written by Andrew Britz, celebration of its secularity, of its can’s synod on the family have bishop, Rosica noted the sacra - OSB, and is featured in Chapter 8 The Ethic of Life in his book Truth To core meaning. Catholics speak of admitted that they don’t know mental nature of both the eucharist Power: The Journalism of a Benedictine Monk. The Vatican synod on the family as the primary social much about sex — and that they and marriage. “ ‘This is my body, the family had some bishops noting the fact that they “don’t know much unit of civilization by calling it a need the help of laypeople to fully given for you.’ We need to root about sex” (see related article, this page). Rev. Thomas Rosica quoted sacrament, the mystery of the very understand marital intimacy. that in human sexuality and in an unnamed bishop who spoke of the sacramental nature of both the presence of Jesus Christ with all Laypeople play an important love. It helps to appreciate even eucharist and marriage, something Britz wrote about frequently over his pathos and splendour that was his part in the discussions at their better the sacrament of the eu- years as editor of the Prairie Messenger. death and resurrection. synod on the family, Rev. Thomas charist,” he said. Not without reason do the Rosica, English-language assistant The bishops have some way to Civilization is as healthy as its presence. In the sacrament of mar - Easter Vigil readings always be- to the Vatican press office, said go if they are to convince Catho - families. When the family as the riage a home is formed, filled with gin with the story of creation, with Oct. 16. lics they understand their lives, primary social unit loses its moor - the Holy Spirit, creating a new the proclamation of the absolute “At the heart of the synod is according to Sharron Cole, presi - ings, the whole of human life is space in which children know not goodness God has planted in human sexuality. And oftentimes dent of Parents Centres New endangered. the power of sin as the world’s everything created. it’s muted and we don’t know how Zealand, who has been participat - Human values, even the central strongest force, but rather come to We are not prone to find in the to talk about it, because most of us ing in the discussions. value of life itself, is handed on in trust in the victory of Jesus, the eucharist the key to understanding in the room are male celibates,” he Until now the Catholic Church a family setting. It is here that victory of love. and appreciating sexuality in the said, citing comments of unnamed has responded to married couples’ mysteriously most of us find the And, in the celebration of that Christian home — and this appre - bishops. use of artificial contraception, for strength, the courage to ultimately victory, the children gradually ciation should form the basis for Fourteen married couples and example, by either ignoring it or believe enough in ourselves to find experience the victory of their our evaluation of the world. other laypeople have been brought calling for greater religious in - meaning in our very existence. own personhood, as it emerges as No one will deny that human in to fill in the gaps in the church - struction, Cole told bishops. “This This cannot be taught; it can their own supreme good, as the sexuality has often been misused. men’s knowledge, advising the ‘paralyzed status quo’ cannot con - only be experienced — experi - best gift which the God of all Pornography, for generation after 270 bishops as they discuss family tinue. The matter must be dis - enced in the unconditional love power and majesty could with generation, has been big business. issues. cussed afresh, but laypeople will given by parents. And, ideally, wisdom divine create for them. But it doesn’t take a church to tell Rev. Federico Lombardi, the not be content to leave it to clergy parents find the grace to image — Much of this comes to fruition people this is wrong. It does, how - Vatican’s chief spokesperson, cited alone.” albeit imperfectly — the uncondi - around the kitchen table where ever, take a church community to bishops who said it is essential to Cole said clergy’s response to tional love of the God revealed in families so often gather to eat, to insist on human sexuality’s unbe - grasp “the importance of sexuality the sexual abuse scandal demon - Jesus Christ in their own experi - play and to pray — and, at times, lievable greatness and true glory. in spouses’ lives.” strated a lack of “expertise in sex - ence of marital love, in the mar - to fight and to cry, since these too For the church to have a credi - But Rev. Manuel Dorantes, uality and psychology to make riage bed and in their daily shar - are part and parcel of becoming an ble voice in this critical dimension assisting the Vatican press office good decisions,” leading to further ing in the myriad of little activities independent person. of human existence, it must move in Spanish, said bishops also dis - harm and a loss of credibility. known as family life. Saying this in theological beyond a listing of sins. Once the cussed the need for families to “The time is now for this synod Pope John Paul II loves to see terms, the banquet table of the church spontaneously views the change the way they talk about to propose that the church re- the Christian home as a domestic kingdom in heaven, the liturgical marriage bed and its eucharistic sex. examine its teaching on marriage church. As we become in the table in our churches and the sec - expression as parallel sacramental “Many fathers don’t talk about and sexuality, and its understand - eucharist the one Body of Christ ular table in our homes take on expressions of the kingdom, no the beauty of sexuality with their ing of responsible parenthood, in a filled with the Holy Spirit, so in one and the same meaning. one will be tempted to question children. The church itself is not dialogue of laity and bishops marriage the two become one Only with such an identifica - that it has something vital to say entering into this role; they should together,” she said. flesh, one sacrament of Christ’s tion can the Christian find the about life in this world. October 21, 2015 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 15 What dialogue looks like: Jewish-Christian relations

Leading up to the October anniversary of the historic document Nostra since the Second World War, but bined parish pastoral work and ment on the Holocaust (We Aetate , the Prairie Messenger is featuring “capsule biographies,” which she also warned of the temptation university teaching. In July 1958, Remember) — acknowledged as are also posted on the “Catholic-Jewish Relations” section of the today to what she called “superfi - he was named auxiliary bishop of an important step forward Scarboro Interfaith website (http://www.scarboromissions.ca/interfaith- cial reconciliation,” in which Kraków and, in 1964, became its (although not without its own con - dialogue/jewish-christian-relations). There has been featured material on Christians say, “I know that I’m archbishop. In June of 1967, Pope troversies at the time). numerous individuals — Jews and Christians, men and women — who not supposed to say nasty things Paul VI named him a cardinal. The jubilee year 2000 was also a have played key roles in drafting the conciliar declaration, or who have about Jews,” but don’t real - led local, national or international efforts to put Nostra Aetate’s vision ly understand anything of into practice, through various forms of dialogue, action and scholarship. the bitter history of Jewish This is the 10th in the series. suffering at the hands of Rabbi Dr. Ruth Langer Christians in many places. Mawr College, and then pursued Today it is possible to have (1960 - ) graduate work at Hebrew Union positive relations with Jews, College — Jewish Institute of but without any awareness One of the important insights Religion in Cincinnati, receiving a of some of the negative that has emerged from more than a master of arts in Hebrew Litera - aspects of the Christian tra - half-century of Jewish-Christian ture in 1985, and being ordained dition, which can remain dialogue has been how deeply to the rabbinate there the follow - problematic if they aren’t rooted significant elements of tra - ing year for the Reform move - addressed honestly and sen - ditional Christian liturgy are in ment. In 1994, she received her sitively. In order to build a their Jewish origins. Whereas PhD, for her thesis The Impact of solid and lasting foundation Christianity has often tended to try Custom, History, and Mysticism for the relationship, respect and distance itself from its Jewish on the Shaping of Jewish and friendship need to go pedigree, and stress its newness Liturgical Law. Today, she is pro - hand-in-hand with historical and distinctiveness, the less tri - fessor of Jewish Studies in the awareness, and a commit - Theology Department at Boston ment to thinking and acting College, associate director of the differently. college’s centre for Christian- Both on a scholarly level, Jewish Learning, and chair of the and in a more popular vein, Council of Centers on Jewish- Dr. Ruth Langer combines Christian Relations (CCJR), brilliant intellectual analysis CNS/Reuters which unites several dozen cen - with a sensitivity to the real - MEMORABLE IMAGE — In one of the most memorable images of his papa - tres of scholarly study across ities of Jewish-Christian cy, the 80-year-old Pope John Paul II prayed at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, North America and around the relations as they are being inserting a copy of his earlier prayer from the Rome liturgy between its world. lived out today. She helps us stones, a gesture that many Jews and Christians have performed throughout Langer’s scholarly work often to better understand aspects the centuries. weaves together her two areas of of our shared history, while specialty — the history of Jewish looking to the future with hope In October 1978, following the landmark year for Catholic-Jewish liturgy, and Jewish-Christian rela - and creativity — drawing upon death of Pope Paul VI, and the relations under John Paul II: in tions — such as in her 2012 book our respective traditions of liturgy sudden, unexpected death of Pope March, he led a “liturgy of repen - Cursing the Christians? A History and prayer in ways which can fos - John Paul I, the world was sur - tance” in St. Peter’s Basilica, in of the Birkat HaMinim, in which ter dialogue and co-operation, and prised when Cardinal Wojtyla which he asked forgiveness of God she explored in depth the origins, honour the God we pray to. (whose name was unknown to for sins committed by Christians historical context and meaning of Pope John Paul II (1920 - many) was elected, taking the against the Jewish people, and a longstanding prayer in the syna - 2005) name John Paul II. From the committed the church to a pathway gogue liturgy that has been at the beginning of his papacy, the new of respect and co-operation. A few Rabbi Dr. Ruth Langer heart of considerable controversy, The man who was arguably the pope signalled that Jewish- weeks later, he made history by in terms of its implications for greatest champion of modern Catholic relations would be a pri - becoming only the second modern umphalistic tone of Christianity Jewish perceptions of Christ - Jewish-Christian dialogue was ority for him: his first private pope to visit Israel, meeting with its since the Second World War has ianity. Her many published arti - known to the world as John Paul audience was with a Jewish child - religious and political leaders, and allowed for a new appreciation of cles and lectures examine a broad II (or “JP2” to many), but when he hood friend, Jerzy Kluger, and solemnly recalling the Holocaust at how much Christian prayer-forms range of related topics, including was born, on May 18, 1920, in Kluger’s family. In 1979, during Yad Vashem, where he laid a owe to their Jewish ancestry — how Jewish liturgy incorporates Wadowice, Poland, his birth name his first official visit to his home - wreath to honour its victims, and and how both Judaism and the Bible; the place of memory in was Karol Wojtyla. Wojtyla’s land, John Paul II became the first met with a number of Polish sur - Christianity have developed from liturgy; the relationship of dia - mother died when he was only pontiff to visit the Auschwitz con - vivors. In one of the most memo - that ancestry since then, although logue to theology; and how eight, and he was raised by his centration camp, where he prayed rable images of his papacy, the 80- in differing ways. In 1985, a set of Jewish liturgy speaks of God’s devoutly Catholic father. During and called for remembrance of all year-old pope prayed at Jerus - official Vatican guidelines on presence (a more comprehensive his youth in Wadowice, the athlet - those murdered by the Nazis. alem’s Western Wall, inserting a Jewish-Christian relations noted list of her publications can be ic Wojtyla had many friends In 1980, during a speech to copy of his earlier prayer from the (speaking primarily about Catholic found at: https://www2.bc.edu/ among the town’s Jewish chil - West Germany’s Jewish commu - Rome liturgy between its stones, a liturgy): ~langerr/langer_vita.html). She dren, and often played soccer nity, he spoke of Jews as “the gesture that many Jews and Chris - The liturgy of the Word in its has just recently published a new against (or with) them; some of People of God of the ancient tians have performed throughout own structure originates in book, an annotated bibliography those friendships would be life - covenant, never revoked by God” the centuries. Judaism. The prayer of the Hours written to provide an entry point, long, and would play an important — a dramatic statement which Under the pontificate of John and other liturgical texts and for - role in the man he would become. continues to inspire theological Paul II, a number of major Vatican mularies have their parallels in By the time the Second World reflection today. documents were issued which Judaism, as do the very formulas War broke out in 1939, Wojtyla During his dozens of interna - expanded and built upon Vatican of our most venerable prayers, and his father had moved to tional journeys, John Paul II regu - II’s 1965 declaration Nostra among them the Our Father. The Kraków, where the younger larly sought to meet with local Aetate, and Pope John Paul him - eucharistic prayers also draw Wojtyla was enrolled in the Jewish communities, and he wel - self modelled for many Christians inspiration from models in the Jagiellonian University, studying comed numerous Jewish groups an attitude of respect, love and Jewish tradition. As John Paul II philosophy and languages. The and leaders to the Vatican. In the esteem for Jewish people, who said (Allocution of March 6, Nazi invasion of Poland closed spring of 1986, he became the had always been an important part 1982): “The faith and religious the university and, from 1940 to first pope since St. Peter to visit a of his life, his priesthood and his life of the Jewish people as they 1944, Wojtyla worked as a labour - synagogue, when he was wel - papacy. are professed and practised still er; he also began clandestine stud - comed to Rome’s Tempio After several years of declining today, can greatly help us to ies for the Catholic priesthood in Maggiore by its Chief Rabbi and health, he died in April 2005, understand better certain aspects an underground seminary. community, and he spoke there of widely mourned by Jews, both in of the life of the church. Such is A number of eyewitnesses the unique and unshakeable bonds Israel and around the world, and the case of liturgy” (Notes on the have spoken of the ways in which which unite Jews and Christians, remembered fondly for his many Correct Way to Present the Jews especially for Christians, into the Wojtyla actively supported and affectionately calling Jews the revolutionary actions to improve and Judaism in Preaching and field of Jewish liturgy (Jewish cared for persecuted Jews during specially beloved “elder brothers” Jewish-Christian relations. In Catechesis in the Roman Catholic Liturgy: A Guide to Research, and after the war, including a 14- of Christianity. It was with Pope 2014, Pope Francis declared him a Church, V.1). 2015). This volume describes year-old Jewish girl named Edith John Paul’s active encouragement saint of the Catholic Church. Ten One of the most prominent more than 1,000 published Zierer who escaped from a Nazi that diplomatic relations were years after his death, his legacy leaders in the field of Jewish- sources for those who wish to concentration camp, weakened established between the State of continues to inspire and guide Christian relations today, Rabbi delve into this fascinating and and unable to walk, who later Israel and the Holy See in 1993, modern Jewish-Christian rela - Dr. Ruth Langer is also an expert important area for themselves. credited the young Wojtyla with after years of delicate negotiations tions, and his considerable writ - in the many intersections between In a 2009 interview, Langer saving her life. On Nov. 1, 1946, — a major breakthrough, both ings on this topic provide a rich Jewish and Christian liturgy. A reflected on the tremendous Wojtyla was ordained a priest and, politically and religiously. In source for study, and a spring - native of Pittsburgh, Langer did progress that has been made in after graduate studies in Rome, he 1997, he oversaw the publication board for further progress in this her undergraduate studies at Bryn many Christian communities returned to Poland, where he com - of the first official Vatican docu - 21st century. 16 Prairie Messenger FEATURE October 21, 2015 Finding the ‘one thing’: embracing, celebrating growth

sen, but with Martha’s expecta - when we tions — for Mary and for him. watch it hap - Martha has the same freedom as pen in a baby, Barefoot her sister and, like Jesus, she also and less ad - has a relationship with Mary. orable when Instead of choosing to wipe her we come face and Preaching hands and go do what she wants to to face with do — maybe even feels called to the habits, atti - do — she asks Jesus to correct tudes and Leah Perrault Mary by trying to orchestrate all behaviours of their lives according to which are no One day this summer, some 13 show me how she could do it, one Martha’s plan. And Martha’s plan longer work - months into full-time stay-at- leg at a time, with a huge grin after is not even making Martha happy. ing for us. home-parenting, my oldest daugh - each of the stairs. She was radiating Jesus reminds her that Mary has As a way of ter, Robyn, turned around, looked joy. When she got to the top, she chosen the “one thing” and that it embracing the me in the eye and said with an reached out her arms for me to take will not be taken from her. Jesus imperfection exasperated sigh, “Mom, you her back to the bottom so she could will not take it, and he will not of gradual always want me to be perfect! do it again, so I did, two more times. allow Martha to take it either. How growth these Nobody’s perfect, you know!” And then I stopped marvelling often I have neglected the one days, I am The worst part about this was at her. I turned her over on her thing that I need to do, that God doing the one that this beautiful child who has tummy to show her how to scoot offers to me. Then, I have gone on thing that lies been entrusted to me is right, on down. to use my resentment and frustra - before me, and both counts. She is a prophet and I Why is it that I cannot let her tion to rob others of their one thing, trying to do it would do well to hear God speak (or her brother or sister, or anyone by seeking comfort in my misery with gentle - through her. I do frequently expect else) live in the satisfaction of and control of all the others’ things. ness. If I need Design Pics an impossible perfection, from her their own growth? Why do I Each moment of my day has to sit with a GREAT EXPECTATIONS — Children have much and from myself and from every - always look to what remains room for only one thing. The beautiful little to teach their mothers about learning and growing one else. If I do not stay aware of instead of the stairs that have been things I choose will fill the mo- redhead and at their own pace rather than performing under such a ridiculous expectation, I hurt successfully climbed? My expec - ments, and the moments will fill practice expectations of perfection. the people I love most, especially a tation for perfection destroys my the days. When I am seduced by spelling, I can beautiful, bold and passionate ability to recognize, appreciate the idea that the moments are only do that without wishing it were Charlize screamed at being turned daughter who is so much like me and celebrate growth; it blinds me worth having if they are perfectly faster, more efficient. I can do it around that she did not need me to that it is hard to separate her suc - to God’s joy in the small steps I performed, I am frequently disap - without expectation. And when show her how to climb the stairs. cesses and failings from my own. make in choosing to follow God. pointed and the moments bleed the expectation creeps in, I can She learned to do it with the In the last few days I was Reflecting on my unrealistic together in a raging rejection of welcome my old friend perfec - curiosity and natural ability for reminded of this tendency again, expectations led me back to Mary whatever God might hold for me in tionism and invite her to the one growth and discovery that God when I returned home from four and Martha. I hate that story and folding towels, meeting someone thing too. gave her. She needs me to keep days away. While I was gone, our the way it is (ab)used to glorify at my office door, or just sitting in There are so many places that her safe, for now, while she does (just barely) one-year-old, Charlize, prayer while demonizing house - the leaves to play. God has for me to grow into, to dis - not know how to go down. And mastered climbing up the stairs. She work! But Jesus is not concerned Perfection is only and ever real cover, when I am ready for the next she needs me to meet her grin woke me from a jet-lagged nap to with what each woman has cho - in growth, in the ways we discov - step. All of these places are growth with mine at the top of the stairs, er our own capacity and embrace into the one thing: a trusting will - and pick her up and walk back Little consensus evident the courage to try something new. ingness to be in the one place I am. down to the bottom for another This is the wisdom of the life God God is delighting in that, and when one more time. If I will open gives us, that we learn in time I remember, I am too. myself up to the one thing, we can Continued from page 14 ferences to denounce their oppo - when we are ready. It is adorable I realized in the moment grow together, she and I. nents or their arguments in the are not amused at this rather obvi - strongest terms, or are delivering ous attempt to pre-emptively dis - hardline speeches in the synod hall credit the synod’s outcome.” that seem to provide little space The synod participant who for compromise. counts most, of course, is Pope And those moves follow a year Francis, and he, too, was apparent - of public lobbying against changes ORDER ly not happy. and regular charges that the re - Pell had delivered the protest formers are manipulating or “rig - letter to Francis on Oct. 5, the first ging” the synod to achieve a NOW! day of the synod meetings, and desired outcome. apparently made reference to it in In lectures and interviews, in comments on the synod floor. columns and blog posts, tradition - 2016 The next morning, Francis made alist churchmen and conservative a brief, unscheduled speech in Catholic pundits have also warned which he warned the bishops darkly of schisms and heresies if Calendar against buying into “the hermeneu - any changes are made, and leading tic of conspiracy” — basically, cardinals, some from within conspiracy theories. Such fears, the Francis’ own Roman Curia, have The Prairie Messenger 2016 calendar features local photography accompanied pope said, are “sociologically weak written books blasting the reform - and spiritually unhelpful.” ers or rejecting proposals to light - by a meditation. The calendar measures 8 1/2 x 11” and includes the Sundays The pope’s rebuke, as well as en the off-putting language the of the liturgical year, holy days, saints’ days and the phases of the moon. details of the letter, only emerged church often uses to refer to gay days later. people or cohabiting couples. ORDER TODAY FOR A LOW PRICE OF $15.95 plus S&H But those aren’t the only exam - Ultimately, it’s unclear whether ples of potential overreach by the the irritation over the pressure tac - Mail coupon to: St. Peter’s Press right. tics will lead enough delegates to Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 Shortly after the synod began, for try to move ahead without the Phone: (306) 682-1770 Fax: (306) 682-5285 email: [email protected] example, the Polish bishops at the hardliners on-board. meeting — a solidly conservative They probably don’t have Name ______bloc that has vocally opposed any enough support, or the desire, to Address ______suggestion of changes to church go it alone. And as the synod practices — began publishing on enters its final and decisive week, Town/City ______Prov. ______P. Code ______their website summaries of the there appears to be little consensus Phone # ______speeches of individual participants on reforms and no clear path to a along with each bishop’s name. resolution. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery K K That was a clear violation of In the end, if the bishops cannot Cheque/Money Order enclosed VISA/MasterCard synod rules on privacy that agree on opening pathways to VISA/MasterCard #______CVV #______Francis expressly wanted to allow change, as may well happen, then Expiry Date ______Name of cardholder ______the bishops to speak freely. The the status quo camp can claim vic - K Polish bishops took down the tory. And if the reformers do man - Please send me ______calendars @ $15.95 for a total of $______postings after Vatican officials age to win some victories, then the Postage and Handling (Add $4 for 1st calendar and .50¢ for each additional) $______complained. prebuttal complaints by the right 5% PST (Sask. residents only, on calendars only) $______At the same time, nearly every may serve to discredit any compro - 5% GST (on calendar and postage) $______day conservative churchmen or mise — or leave a mess for Francis Total $______their allies are holding press con - to sort out. October 21, 2015 CHURCH AT HOME Prairie Messenger 17 For fall diversion, jump onto the baseball bandwagon

Fall is baseball. The Boys of October. In high school in the Around the 1970s each of my notebooks had listed on the inside cover Kitchen Table the batting lineup of the Cincinnati Reds. Maureen Weber It was the era of the Big Red Machine, probably the most I hate fall. Or is it, I love fall? out of a Kraft pizza kit that came outstanding field of The sight of yellow birch leaves in a yellow box. A slim silver tin players to ever play outside my bedroom window of sauce, packet of dough (just the game. makes me weep, so I can’t actual - add water and good luck trying to It was then I ly tell if it’s beauty or death that is stretch it over the pan), meagre learned to love the getting to me. Ruby cotoneaster parmesan sprinkles and flavour quiet rhythm of the leaves tighten my heart in exqui - from green things in a waxed game, the way it site bliss and despair for the loss paper envelope. unfolds in its own of them. I never knew what the big deal time, not clock time, The one thing I like about fall was about pizza until I got to uni - pitch by pitch, some - is the way the sky is often an over - versity. College Inn was down the times in silence while cast grey/blue wash — like some - street from our apartment and the commentators one threw an unstirred pot of paint their pizza was an inch thick. hold their tongues as — and makes the trees pop neon Spicy, red, cheesy, steaming. Oh, the batter swings. gold against it. now I get it. Pizza will always Silence just before the That sky reminds me of remind me of the deep fall days of thunk of the ball in Saturday afternoons when I was a my student years. the catcher’s thick BASEBALL FEVER — Maureen Weber grew up with an appreciation for baseball teen. I’d sometimes make pizza At this time of year you have to leather mitt. Silence because of the passion her father and brothers had for the game. Tony Saretsky, her find distractions from the sadness. after the pop of a father, is seen here, in his teens in the 1940s, playing the sport he so loved (he is front This fall, after a few years of dor - well-hit ball as it row, second from left). mancy, I have developed a relapse soars high over the To advertise in the of baseball fever, but before you outfield wall. And then the deaf - that Reds team prompted me to else: they seemed relaxed, not accuse me of jumping onto the ening roar of the crowd. look them up online. For one tense. I believe it is one of the Prairie Blue Jays bandwagon, or even the The players were in the prime thing, I couldn’t remember the benefits of getting older. baseball wagon (and if you’re a of their lives, and my young heart name of the player who pumped This fall we have been treated Messenger newcomer and finding joy, who was captivated as much by their his arm when he batted (Joe to the fresh intensity of the call cares?), I should mention that I beauty as by their athletic prowess. Morgan). Toronto Blue Jays in their exciting come from a family of brothers, When the Reds won the World I discovered video footage of a playoff run — and they are beau - 306-682-1772 and a father, who were passionate Series in 1975, my Grade 12 year, 2013 reunion of that team. The tiful to behold. But life is beauti - or fax about baseball. The feel of the I was grateful for teachers who “Great Eight” were introduced ful, no matter what one’s season. stitching on a cowhide ball is would sneak a transistor radio into and they took to the field during a Like those old Boys of October, 306-682-5285 familiar to my hands and I the classroom and allow us to lis - home game. These 60-something some things even improve with email: enjoyed playing catch when I was ten. The teachers might have got - men looked like most of that age: age. Pizza, for example. Home- [email protected] a kid. Sports days and watching ten into trouble had it been widely sort of unremarkable, grey-haired, made tomato sauce, fresh mush - baseball were part of my youth. known, but attuning one’s ear to a few pounds heavier and moving rooms, some hot peppers, maybe the poetry of baseball fired the a bit more slowly. But there was even artichokes, the smell of imagination even more than that something beautiful about them dough rising in the bowl, moun - of Shakespeare. too, a bright twinkle of enthusi - tains of cheese. And a little poetry. Thinking about baseball and asm on their faces and something Let’s play ball!

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Creating a ‘synodal church’ said. “A synodal church is a listening church, aware his anniversary address. that listening is more than hearing. It is a reciprocal A synodal spirit must be at work in dioceses as Pope Francis has changed the way the synod of listening in which each one has something to learn.” well as in the universal church, he said. This applies bishops operates. He’s making it more open, encour - The pope must have disturbed some synodal del - to priests’ councils, pastoral councils and other con - aging the delegates to express their opinions freely egates when he said: “The sensus fidei (sense of faith) sultative bodies in a diocese. and he has ended some of the long speeches in favour makes it impossible to rigidly separate the ecclesia Not all priests and bishops are “synodally mind - of small group discussions. docens (teaching church) and the ecclesia discens ed,” as is Pope Francis. It will take time for this to He has repeatedly referred to wanting a more (learning church) because even the flock has a ‘nose’ become standard practice. And not all the faithful are “synodal church,” a church which encourages dia - for discerning the new paths that the Lord is opening synodally minded. Some parishes have difficulty get - logue and listening. up to the church.” This certainly expands the teaching ting parishioners to serve on parish councils or join And when the bishops in Rome marked the 50th of the First Vatican Council on infallibility. parish groups where their voices could be heard. anniversary of the establishment of the synod of bish - The Second Vatican Council was a watershed Pope Francis is strongly pushing a new vision of ops by Pope Paul VI on Oct. 17, Pope Francis kept moment in encouraging more participation from the how a community of faith should interact and operate. pushing his vision of a synodal church “at every level.” laity in the mission of the church. It taught that He is strongly pushing us to promote an adult faith. His view of a synodal church is one in which through baptism and confirmation all members of the He is strongly pushing us to become servants as Jesus everyone listens to one another, learns from one anoth - church have been anointed by the Holy Spirit and that taught by word and deed. He is strongly pushing us to er and takes responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel. the entire Christian community is infallible when its have a heart as generous as God’s. “The journey of synodality is the journey that God members discern together and speak with one voice If we take the next step with him, what a legacy wants from his church in the third millennium,” he on matters of faith and morals, Pope Francis said in he will leave with us. — PWN Diocesan synods involving all people a new development in church

the declarations and decrees by stead of applying the various er participation of the faithful. which the governance of the dio - canonical rules relating to synods, Although such gatherings are not cese is inspired for the future. have preferred to hold a diocesan When the church was first estab - assembly, which allows for great - — FAITHFUL , page 19 Canon Law lished in Canada, the synods were held religiously every three years. Sex-ed is challenging for For Today In the beginning, the participants, who were all clerics at the time, many faith communities Rev. Frank Morrisey focused primarily on the content of the faith and clerical discipline; but, as time went on, they began to Among the various institutions be discussed, and presides at the address moral issues more directly. found in the church to provide for synodal sessions. Moreover, it is he Thus we find not only numer - better governance, the diocesan who, as sole legislator, signs the ous decrees relating to the life and Building a synod should have pride of place. synodal declarations and decrees ministry of the clergy, but also fre - A synod is a council of the church, and orders their publication. quent references to the abuse of sometimes called to clarify points Similarly, art. 2 of the new alcohol, the running of taverns, Culture of Life of doctrine or discipline. A gener - norms tells us that those who par - sharing liquor with the local al synod for the entire church is ticipate in the synod assist the inhabitants, and the like. This was Mary Deutscher now known as an ecumenical diocesan bishop by freely and sin - becoming a significant social council. Many of the Eastern cerely expressing their opinion problem at the time. Catholic churches have an elabo - with regard to the questions which However, after new dioceses Following the rollout of its new about whether or not children rate system of synods, with meet - have been proposed by him. This were established, the bishops sex-ed curriculum, the Ontario gov - should be taught about human sex - ings held even every year. In the opinion is defined as “consulta - decided that it would be prefer - ernment finds itself in a bit of a sit - uality, but rather about who should Latin church, synods are presently tive,” to indicate that the bishop able for them to meet together in uation. Parents from across the be teaching them, and when, what identified with the diocese. remains free to accept or not the provincial councils, rather than in province are unhappy with the cur - and how they should be taught. One of the principal advan - recommendations made to him by synods, so as to promote a unified riculum and have launched protests, Catholic teaching on these ques - tages of a diocesan synod is that it the members of the Synod. vision and approach. These coun - with many of them removing their tions is pretty clear and is articulat - groups not only representatives of However, this does not imply cils thus addressed issues relating children from school. ed in the aptly titled Pontifical the clergy with the bishop, but that such an opinion is of little to Catholic education, relations Unfortunately for these On tario Council for the Families document, also selected religious and lay importance or merely an external with the governments, the stabili - parents, they haven’t had the best The Truth and Meaning of Human members of the Christian faithful. consultation involving persons ty of the clergy, and so forth. We of luck with PR. Many people Sexuality: Guidelines for Educa- In this way, a more complete gath - with no responsibility for the final have to keep in mind the immense think that parents are protesting tion within the Family. Parents ering of insights is possible. outcome. Indeed, in virtue of their distances involved and the rela - the mere idea of educating their have a “duty and a right” to educate Canon 460 tells us that its pur - experience and their counsel, those tively small number of Catholics children about the birds and the their children about human sexual - pose is to foster the good of the who participate in the synod also living in such a vast territory. bees. However, the situation in ity, and the best thing for children is entire diocesan community. While, collaborate actively in drawing up Some diocesan bishops, in- Ontario runs much deeper. It is not to be educated on these matters in former times, it was prescribed within their own family, where to hold a synod every three years, chastity can be modelled for them the time frame was moved in 1917 in real relationships. to every 10 years. Since 1983, how - I am willing to admit that my ever, the frequency of the synod has readiness to embrace this teaching been left to the judgment of the stems from its success in my own diocesan bishop. Unfortunately, in life. My sex-ed was predominantly a number of instances, synods have handled at home, where I felt very rarely, if ever, been held. This is a comfortable talking with my moth - missed opportunity. er about pretty much everything. I The canonical rules governing believe my mother’s one-on-one the holding of a synod were approach was successful for me revised significantly on March 19, because my education was carried 1997, providing more clarity as to out within the context of our rela - the working of the institution and tionship. Sex-ed wasn’t a two-hour its sphere of competence. timeslot at the end of the day; it These new Vatican norms tell us was ongoing throughout my ado - that, in the process of the synod, lescence and into my adulthood. the bishop exercises the office of We addressed the topics I needed to governing the church entrusted to discuss when I needed to discuss his care. He determines its convo - them, and it has taken me a long cation, proposes the questions to time to realize what a tremendous gift that was. (Thanks, Mom!) As I was researching this col - Morrisey is a professor emeri - CNS/Gleb Garanich, Reuters umn, I thought it would be prudent tus of canon law at Saint Paul RALLY ON DEFENDERS DAY IN UKRAINE — People take part in a rally near a church in Kiev, Ukraine, to look into whether or not my sit - University, Ottawa, and has been to mark Defenders Day Oct. 14. In a pastoral message read in all churches Oct. 18, the bishops said uation was unique, so I asked a very active over the years in the Ukrainians had shown a readiness to work for justice and the common good during the 2004 Orange number of people about their field of canon law, especially as it Revolution, and again during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, which led to the flight of pro-Russian President experiences with sex-ed. As it applies to dioceses and religious Viktor Yanukovich. They said the Oct. 25 local elections would mark a key stage toward “positive and irre - turns out, not everyone’s mom institutes. This is his 36th article versible social change,” which depended “on the personal transformation of every citizen, a change of think - in a series. ing and a decisive, radical choice for goodness.” — SEX TALK , page 19 October 21, 2015 Prairie Messenger 19 Pope calls for ‘synodal church’

By Cindy Wooden are voting members of the assem - But ensuring the synodality of bly to speak to real needs and con - the whole church will be impossi - VATICAN CITY (CNS) — cerns without listening to and try - ble, he said, if people misunder - Marking the 50th anniversary of ing to learn from Catholic families. stand the church’s hierarchy and the synod of bishops, Pope Francis “It was that conviction that led see it as a structure in which some outlined his vision for a church that me when I asked that the people of people are placed above others. is “synodal” at every level, with God be consulted” before the synod, The church’s structure, the pope everyone listening to one another, the pope said. “How would it have said, “is like an upside down pyra - learning from one another and tak - been possible to speak of the family mid” with the top on the bottom, ing responsibility for proclaiming without calling upon families, listen - which is why the ordained are called the Gospel. ing to their joys and their hopes, “ministers” — they serve the others. “The journey of synodality is the their pains and their suffering?” In a diocese, he said, the bishop journey that God wants from his The need for everyone in the is the “vicar of that Jesus who, at church in the third millennium,” the church — from the pope on down the Last Supper, knelt to wash the pope said Oct. 17. “A synodal — to listen and to learn from oth - feet of the apostles,” and the pope J. Weber church is a listening church, aware ers is based on the conviction, is called to truly be “the servant of that listening is more than hearing. clearly explained by the Second the servants of God.” Eventide It is a reciprocal listening in which Vatican Council, that through bap - “We must never forget: for the each one has something to learn.” disciples of Jesus — yes - The afternoon throbs with casual words, Pope Francis, members of the terday, today and forever Clear and honest summons, and records synod of bishops on the family, — the only aut hority is The presence of isolated clouds. theologians and other guests dedi - the au thority of service; cated a morning to marking the the only power is the Awed, or better still enticed, by soft, anniversary of Blessed Paul VI’s pow er of the cross,” he Mysterious language that stays aloft, institution in 1965 of the synod as said. The opposite of arbitrary shrouds, a forum for sharing the faith and The world needs the The heart delights with old, abandoned boats concerns of the world’s Catholics, Catholic Church to wit - reflecting together and offering ness to that Christ ian vi - And concedes with burst of flames and colours counsel to the pope. sion of community, par - Referring to the Greek roots of ticipation, solidarity and The sure inclusion of sheep and goats the word “synod,” Pope Francis joint re sponsibility, he To the ritual of the evening hours. said, “walking together — laity, said. In too many coun - By Conrado B. Beloso pastors, the bishop of Rome — is tries power is in the hands an easy concept to express in of just a few people, the words, but is not so easy to put into dignity of many is denied practice.” CNS/Paul Haring and authority is abused. Sex talk is uncomfortable In fact, before Pope Francis 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SYNOD OF Pope Francis told the spoke, five cardinals, an archbish - BISHOPS — Pope Francis speaks at an event gathering that “the pope Continued from page 18 ships when so much of the world op and the patriarch of the marking the 50th anniversary of the synod of does not stand alone is intent on clouding this message? Chaldean Catholic Church spoke bishops in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Oct. 17. above the church,” but he used puberty to evangelize the If there is one thing we can be about the blessings and challenges is “within it as a baptized wonders of natural family plan - certain of, it is that when it comes to of the synod process over the past tism and confirmation all members person among the baptized and in ning. There also seems to be a lot human sexuality, there are a wide 50 years. They agreed that while of the church have been anointed the episcopal collage as a bishop of people out there who do not feel variety of opinions about what is the synod’s methodology has by the Holy Spirit and that the among bishops, called at the same comfortable talking about sex with good and healthy. So whose opinion improved over the past five entire Christian community is time — as the suc cessor of the their parents. Who knew? will take precedence? The protests decades, there still is work to do. infallible when its members dis - Apostle Peter — to guide the “We must continue on this cern together and speak with one church of Rome, which presides in While I support the duty and the in Ontario have been widespread path,” Pope Francis told them. voice on matters of faith and love over all the churches.” right of parents to teach their chil - not because parents are in denial “The world in which we live and morals, Pope Francis said. A synodal spirit must be at work dren, I also see that there are many about the realities of sex in the mod - which we are called to love and “The sensus fidei (sense of in dioceses as well as in the univer - children whose parents are not ris - ern world. Rather it is because the serve, even with its contradictions, faith) makes it impossible to rigid - sal church, Pope Francis said. ing to the challenge. This creates a Ontario government has oversimpli - requires from the church the ly separate the ecclesia docens Priests’ councils, pastoral councils conundrum: We know the best fied these realities, neglected the strengthening of synergies in all (teaching church) and the ecclesia and other consultative bodies in a thing for a child is to receive their role of parents, and overstepped its areas of its mission.” discens (learning church) because diocese must “remain connected to sex education from someone with bounds in trying to answer ques - Using the synod on the family even the flock has a ‘nose’ for dis - the base,” to the grassroots, if they whom they have an ongoing rela - tions that the government has no as an example, the pope said it cerning the new paths that the Lord are to help a bishop respond to the tionship (ideally a parent). How - business trying to answer. would have been impossible for is opening up to the church,” the real needs and concerns of the ever, we also know that for whatev - I have avoided going into the 270 bishops and priests who pope said. Catholic people. er reason a good number of children specifics about the parts of the do not have access to this type of Ontario curriculum that I like and relationship in their lives. So what the parts I would change because I do we do for these children? think the real challenges are much Faithful need to express their views This is extremely challenging bigger than these specifics would for many faith communities. How suggest. Sex-ed cannot be taught in Continued from page 18 or assembly, we could mention the compasses the establishment of do we offer children something an unbiased way. More importantly, following, based on the threefold various pastoral and finance coun - that is second best in the best way even if it could be taught without a formal legal institutions, they also function of the diocesan bishop to cils, the administration of tempo - possible? Can we do more to moral lens, it shouldn’t be. Human serve the purposes of providing a teach, sanctify, and govern. ral goods, and provisions for the engage parents and encourage sexuality has a moral dimension, mechanism for the faithful to In regard to teaching, the synod support of the clergy and other them to be involved in guiding and children deserve to have sup - express their mind and to become could address questions relating to pastoral workers. their children, particularly in our port from someone they trust as better informed of issues facing preaching, catechetics, ecu - Of course, a diocesan bishop technological age? Can adults out - they navigate the increasing num - the diocesan church. menism, missionary activity, and would be free to legislate on his side a child’s home take on more ber of challenges awaiting them in In other dioceses, bishops have social communications. own, without the intervention of a of a mentorship role? Can our adolescence and adulthood. relied on advice from the pres - As for the mission of sanctify - synod or diocesan assembly, but schools develop programs that This is a call for parents and byteral council and the diocesan ing, issues being considered could such an approach would not be present Catholic sexual teachings communities to step up to the pastoral council. When these insti - touch on Sunday assemblies in the consistent with the spirit of the positively, stressing the personal challenge of being positive role tutions are functioning well, they absence of a priest, the reservation current legislation, since the gov - responsibility that each of us has models for children not only in can, in many instances, provide and exposition of the Blessed ernance and direction of the dio - to cherish our own sexuality and matters regarding human sexuali - the information that is needed for Sacrament, the admission of other cese calls for the active involve - that of others? How can we show ty, but also in all aspects of human informed decisions. Christians to some of the sacra - ment of the entire People of God our children that human sexually relationships. Human sexuality is Among the matters that might ments. living in the territory, and is not is beautiful and meant to be shared more than a physical act; it is a be considered by a diocesan synod The office of governing en- just the prerogative of the clergy. in healthy, committed relation - calling to deeper relationships.

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By Judith Sudilovsky the entrances to the compound. “In a perfect world it would be Neither Christian nor Jewish prayer wonderful if Jews, Christians and JERUSALEM (CNS) — It has is allowed on the site, though mem - Muslims were to pray alongside been painful to watch as violence bers of both faiths are permitted to one another,” said McDougall, has taken over Jerusalem once visit during visiting hours reserved quoting the book of Isaiah, in again, especially along the Via for non-Muslims. Jewish worship - which God says his house will Dolorosa, where Jesus suffered in pers pray below at the Western become a house of prayer for all order to dissuade the use of vio - Wall, which was a retaining wall people. “Un for tunately, we are not lence, said Auxiliary Bishop for Herod’s Second Temple on the quite ready for that. It is a very William Shomali, Latin Patriarchate platform above. fraught issue, while the vision is chancellor. The new wave of violence is beautiful.” This violence goes against taking place in the wake of ru - Mustafa Abu Sway, associate Jerusalem’s vocation as a holy mours that Israel plans to change professor of philosophy and city, which should be open to all the established status quo and take Islamic studies at Al-Quds Uni - people of faith, he said. over the compound — a charge the versity and a lecturer on Islam at “We are shocked at what is Israeli government denies. The the Tantur institute, said Israel happening,” Shomali told Catho- tensions have been fuelled by con - began changing the status quo lic News Service in mid-October, tinuing visits of ultra-religious after the second intifada by allow - after two weeks of unrest. “Vio - Jews who attempt to pray at the ing large groups of Israeli settlers lence does not help. We do not CNS/Atef Safadi, EPA site. A group of Palestinian wom en into the compound. He said that, accept violence by any side.” DOME OF THE ROCK SEEN IN OVERVIEW OF JERUSALEM — have been harassing Jews visiting before that time, there were no “We need the Lord’s help, He is The gold-covered Dome of the Rock at the Temple Mount complex is the compound and were banned problems with visitors to the site. the strong one in this situation,” seen in this overview of Jerusalem. For Muslims, the entire 36-acre from entering it in Sep tember. “There are no prayers there — added Shomali. “Our human efforts compound is considered to be the Al-Aqsa mosque. In a mosque, no Holy Cross Father Russ whether Christian or Jewish,” he are not enough. We are for prayer.” Christian or Jewish prayers are allowed. This has sparked the current McDougall, rector of Tantur Ecu - said. For Muslims, the entire com - The fighting began following round of violence in Jerusalem. menical Institute, noted that, unlike pound is considered to be the Al- the late-September visit of Israeli Christian theology, both Judaism Aqsa mosque, he said. “It is a Agricultural Minister Uri Ariel to However, this site is also re - ous times to teach and preach. and Islam share the concept of hav - mosque there for 1,400 years. one of the smallest contested spots vered as the holiest site in Judaism, A tenuous status quo agreement ing sovereignty over a holy place. When you go visit any place you on earth — a 36-acre compound as the place where the two Jewish has been in place since 1967, when Still, he added, though the spark are expected to behave according known by Muslims as the Haram biblical temples stood. Here Jews Israel gained control of the site that ignited this round of violence to the rules. I have the utmost al-Sharif and by Jews as the believe Abraham was called upon from Jordan. The Islamic Waqf was the conflict over the holy site, it respect for anyone as long as they Temple Mount. The Israeli minis - by God to sacrifice his son Isaac; Authority, under the Jor dan ian is also the result of pent-up recognize it is a mosque and will ter’s visit stirred controversy after Muslims believe it was his son with king, controls the area, while Israeli Palestinian frustration at both Israeli continue to be a mosque. There is he used the opportunity to say a Hagar, Ishmael, whom Ibrahim — security forces have control over policies and Pales tinian corruption. no partnership, no sharing. blessing for the Jewish new year. as Abraham is known by Muslims Today, the Al-Aqsa mosque — was asked to sacrifice. and the Dome of the Rock stand Christians also believe the site Synod urged to support struggling families on the spot, which is the third- to be holy as the place where Mary holiest site for Muslims, who and Joseph took the infant Jesus By Junno Arocho Esteves which might lead them for a period Canadian Catholic Bioethics In - believe their Prophet Muhammad for the traditional Jewish ceremo - of time to use artificial contracep - stitute, noted that elderly people ascended to heaven on a white nial redemption of the firstborn VATICAN CITY (CNS) — tion in the interests of responsible are seldom mentioned in the stallion from this spot. and where Jesus returned numer - Couples attending the synod of parenting. Marriage naturally leads synod’s working document. bishops called for empathy and to a desire for children, which is a “This perhaps reflects what the Archbishop Cupich urges support from the church to families biological impera - suffering difficult circumstances. tive and a great nation to back gun control Several lay couples and a mis - grace of the sacra - sionary sister addressed the synod ment. In my experi - Oct. 15 - 16, highlighting various ence, very few cou - CHICAGO (CNS) — Arch - recently commented, have profited issues facing families in their coun - ples suppress this bish op Blase J. Cupich of Chi- mightily. Surely there is a middle tries and abroad. desire, with its con - cago, saying it is time to “take ground between the original intent Anthony and Catherine Witczak, straints tending to meaningful and swift action to of the amendment and the carnage the international ecclesial team of be the couple’s re- address violence in our society,” we see today,” he added, noting the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, sources to cope, not called for stricter gun control laws that during the pope’s address stressed the need for better pro - selfishness.” in Illinois. Sept. 24 to Congress, many “stood grams for engaged and married cou - “Many laypeople “Recently, the city of Chicago . . . to applaud Pope Francis’ call ples in the church. They also said believe the church adopted a tough ordinance to tight - for an end to the weapons industry couples should not be separated does not understand ly regulate gun stores here. I that is motivated by ‘money that is when taking part in parish ministry, the realities of their applaud Chicago’s leadership for drenched in blood.’ ’’ “but rather let their sacrament shine lives. Laypeople are taking this important step to protect Cupich called the combination by allowing them to work as a not trusted to make our children and families,” Cupich of a ready supply of fire arms, the team.” good decisions in said in a commentary published glamorization of crime, “a socie - Anthony Witczak also called for conscience, and they Oct. 9 in the Chicago Tribune. ty where life is cheap” and a priestly formation that is geared often feel subjected “For this measure to truly be untreated mental illness “a recipe to living a closer relationship with to exacting rules effective, however, the General for tragedy.” families in their parishes. which take no ac - Assembly must pass a similar law, He cited the Oct. 1 massacre at “If a church is meant to be a count of context or especially considering how many Umpqua Community College in family of families, then we should of stages of spiritual guns are sold in gun shops located Oregon, where nine people were encourage our seminarians to be development,” she outside of Chicago,” he added. murdered and another nine priests in love with their people, said. She also said CNS/Paul Haring “Let’s be honest. The Second wounded because the victims had not merely priests in charge of a that “too many in Amendment was passed in an era “the misfortune of simply being at WORKERS PREPARE BANNER OF MAR - parish,” he said. “Our faith is based authority re sponded RIED COUPLE — Workers prepare a banner of when organized police forces were school,” as well as “nearly a on relationship with God, but it is to clergy sexual few and citizen militias were useful dozen” who had died from gun Louis and Marie Zélie Guerin Martin, the par - learned and lived out in relation - abuse in a way ents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, on the facade of St. in maintaining the peace. Its origi - violence in the Archdiocese of ship with others.” which demonstrated nal authors could not have antici - Chicago in a recent two-week Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 16, in advance The president of Parents Centres that they lacked the of a canonization. On Oct. 18 Pope Francis can - pated a time when the weapons we stretch, as well as “those injured, New Zealand, Sharron Cole, said expertise in sexuali - have a right to bear now include maimed and traumatized . . . sim - onized the Martins, Italian Father Vincenzo that while the church’s teaching on ty and psychology to Grossi, founder of the Institute of the Daughters military-grade assault weapons that ply too many to count.” conjugal love and responsible par - make good deci - have turned our streets into battle - The U.S. Conference of Cath - of the Oratory, and Spanish Sister Maria of the enthood in Humanae Vitae has sions, with the result Immaculate Conception, a member of the fields,” Cupich said. olic Bishops has called for “rea - “great beauty and depth,” couples they be came com - “The Second Amendment’s sonable regulation and controls for Congregation of the Sisters of the Company of who struggle with either low- plicit in perpetuating the Cross. original intent has been perverted guns, especially handguns,” as income, mental health problems or enormous harm, by those who, as Pope Francis well as a ban on assault weapons. other difficulties find it hard to harm done to laypeople.” elderly report: They are not seen as abide by those tenets. Cole called on the church to lis - important; society tends to ignore “As an ex-board member of ten “with deep empathy” to laypeo - them; they do not seem to matter,” Many persons have a wrong idea about what con - Natural Family Planning, I know ple and to “re-examine its teaching she said. stitutes real happiness. It is not attained through that this method of contraception on marriage and sexuality, and its McQueen said that while the permitted by Humanae Vitae is an understanding of responsible par - elderly not only deserve proper self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy effective method for motivated enthood, in a dialogue of laity and medical care, they also deserve purpose. — Helen Keller couples,” she said. bishops together.” spiritual programs that help them “Every family has difficulties Moira McQueen, director of the in the final states of life.