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WE HAVE a POPE!” by Most Rev

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WE HAVE a POPE!” by Most Rev VOLUME 13 NUMBER 4 SPRING 2013 “HABEMUS PAPAM!” “WE HAVE A POPE!” by Most Rev. Daniel J Bohan, Archbishop of Regina It is with gratitude and joy that we have heard today the announcement “Habemus Papam!” ”We have a Pope!” The election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Chair of Peter as Bishop of Rome and universal shepherd of Christ’s Catholic Church is a sign of great promise and hope for the Church. Here in the Archdiocese of Regina we celebrate the new Holy Father with joy and with fervent prayer that the Holy Spirit who has chosen him will now guide and strengthen him in the weighty task that lies before him. In a remarkable gesture of humility and closeness to the people of his new Diocese of Rome and to the people of the whole Church, among his first words, he said: “Let us begin this journey together, this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It’s a journey of friendship and love and faith between us. Let us pray for one another, let us pray for all the world”. He then asked that as he prayed for us, we at the same time pray for him. A Short Biography of Cardinal Bergoglio In another surprising and exciting move, our new Holy Father Jorge Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, one of the five has taken the name Francis. St. Francis is one of the most children of an Italian railway worker and his wife. After revered saints in our Catholic Church. His dedication to studying at the seminary in Villa Devoto, he entered the great simplicity and poverty has been echoed in Jorge Mario Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958. He was ordained to the Bergoglio’s life as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He lived simply priesthood on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón in a modest apartment, travelled by bus and was recognized José Castellano. for his dedication to the poor. It is a witness to holiness. Impressed with his leadership skills, the Society of Jesus However St. Francis is also known for the task that he heard promoted Bergoglio and he served as provincial for Argentina Christ speak to him: “Rebuild my church.” This is a task we from 1973 to 1979. He was transferred in 1980 to become the know challenges our Church today. We pray that Jesus rector of the seminary in San Miguel where he had studied. He Christ, whose vicar Pope Francis is, will guide him with served in that capacity until 1986. He completed his doctoral great wisdom and fortitude in the task of making changes dissertation in Germany and returned to his homeland to serve necessary to enable the Church to become an ever more as spiritual director in Córdoba. effective witness in the world to the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ to all. Cardinal Bergoglio succeeded Cardinal Quarracino on February 28, 1998. He was concurrently named ordinary for We see vividly the wisdom of Pope Benedict XVI, who in his Eastern Catholics in Argentina, who lacked their own prelate. deep intelligence and gentle humility perceived the present Pope John Paul II summoned the newly named archbishop needs of the Church, and who made way for a new pope to the consistory of February 21, 2001 in Vatican City and whom he saw as necessary to meet these needs with vigour. elevated Bergoglio with the papal honors of a cardinal. He Pope Benedict has left us with a legacy of profound teaching was named to the Cardinal-Priest of Saint Robert Bellarmino. and an example of how to follow Christ’s Law of Love in the intimacy of our own personal lives. Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Bergoglio, considered papabile himself, participated in the 2005 papal Now we welcome his successor as Vicar of Christ, who will conclave as a cardinal elector, the conclave that selected lead the Church over the next years. We will look to Pope Pope Benedict XVI. As Cardinal, Bergoglio became known for Francis for this leadership and guidance as we also try to live personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment out our own vocation to be true disciples of Jesus, following to social justice. A simple lifestyle contributed to his reputation Him in our life from day to day and being His witness to the for humility. He lived in a small apartment, rather than in ends of the earth. the palatial bishop’s residence. He gave up his chauffeured Today we, the people of the Archdiocese of Regina, pledge limousine in favor of public transportation, and he reportedly our continued prayers for our new Pope; and we say: “God cooked his own meals. Pope Francis is the first Jesuit priest bless you, Pope Francis.” “God bless you, Holy Father.” chosen to be pope. PAGE 2 - THE ARCH, WINTER 2013 FAREWELL SISTER JEAN REV. DAVID COTTINGHAM HAS DIED SUTHERLAND Rev. David Cottingham, C.Ss.R. Sister Jean Sutherland passed to his eternal reward (Sister Mary St. Constantine) March 23, 2013. Born on February RNDM, 96, died January 8 14, 1940 in Moose Jaw, son of after a brief illness. Albert and Marie Cottingham Born in New Castle, New (nee Diemert) and survived Brunswick but raised in by two sisters; Mary Louise Saskatchewan where she Severson and Carol Ann White. moved with her family she The family moved to Caron, attended Sacred Heart where David attended Caron Academy and was taught Public School (1946-1952). by the Sisters of Our Lady Since there was not a church in of the Missions (RNDM) Caron, the Redemptorists, who which she joined shortly served the area, celebrated Mass in the Cottingham home. after completing high school. When the family returned to Moose Jaw in 1952, they attended She went on to a teaching the Redemptorist parish of St. Joseph’s, where David was an vocation and for 31 years taught in locations in Ontario, altar server. He attended St. Louis College (1952-1954) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba. travelled to St. Mary’s College, the Redemptorist juvenate just She returned to Saskatchewan in 1997 to be near family and outside Brockville, ON in September 1954, graduating in June became chaplain at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and 1959. A month later, he entered the Redemptorist Novitiate then to Brandon as Chaplain at the Fairview Seniors Home. in Keswick, ON, professing first vows on August 22, 1960. “She had a gift for seeing who needed comfort, for finding the Fr. David studied at Holy Redeemer College, Windsor (1960- right words, for knowing when to just be present,” said Sister 1964) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Winnifred Brown, RNDM. Her family was also important to University of Windsor in 1963. On June 18, 1966, he was her, said Sister Winnifred, and she frequently visited and was ordained by Archbishop Michael O’Neill in the home parish of visited with and by family members. Sister Winnifred said she St. Joseph’s, Moose Jaw. He continued seminary studies at realized just how much of a social animal she was when a Mont St. Joseph at Aylmer, Quebec (1964-1967). After earning few years ago after a period of doing nothing, she said, “I’m a bachelor of education from the University of Alberta in 1968, going stir crazy.” She had a great concern for others and he taught at Holy Redeemer College, Edmonton, (1968-1969) upon her return to Regina from Brandon she became active and was a chaplain and teacher at Canadian Forces Base, in Friends on the Outside, an ecumenical group that supports Edmonton (1970-1972). He was appointed vocation director former prison inmates and their families adjust to a new life. (1973-1975) for the Edmonton Province. She was predeceased by her parents and two brothers and In 1975, he was asked to join a new mission preaching is survived by her sister Carmel Fletcher, one niece, nine team, on which he served for almost 25 years (1975-1984, nephews, their children and grandchildren. Funeral Mass 1991-1998 and 2002-2010), travelling to parishes across was held January 14 at Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home Western Canada. Fr. David was a true son of the prairies presided by Reverend Ken Koep, followed by internment at and felt most at home with the flat earth and open skies. He Riverside Memorial Cemetery. observed that, “There’s an unhurried, patient quality about a prairie spirituality.” Between appointments to the mission team, Fr. David obtained a Masters of Arts degree in spirituality (1985) at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and served as director of formation and the novitiate in Edmonton (1985-1991). His warm smile and his gentle heart made him a compassionate channel of the Good News of Jesus, in his preaching and in a very powerful way as a confessor and counsellor. In 1999, he returned to his home parish of St. Joseph’s as the last Redemptorist pastor. The order left the parish in 2002. Based in St. Mary’s Parish, Saskatoon, he returned to preaching missions until retirement. Among the Redemptorists, there are only a few who were seen as "giants" in their preaching of Parish Missions. Fr. David can be counted among those who were gifted to move people to a conversion of heart by his preaching. Close to his death, he shared with his old mission partner, Bob Williston, that there is only one thing more he'd like to do before going to heaven: to go and preach some missions once again.
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