November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
News & Views
Assumption Province
During the celebration, the new Toronto District Superior and Council was installed… Page 12
Contents
Page 3 Anglican-Catholic Dialogues Page 4 CROCUS Page 5 New Pastor in Melville
th Page 6 25 Annual Festival of Religious Songs Page 8 A Joyous Celebration Page 9 Provincial Council
Page 10 Bro. Paul Patrick OMI Page 12 Feast of Immaculate Conception
Page 13 Fr. Wojciech Stangel OMI
Page 14 A Gift from the Heart John 1, 4; 1, 14 Page 15 New Pastor at St. Stanislaus “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the Kostka Parish
Page 16 Christmas at the General House darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it… Page 17 Good Shepherd Brothers The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his Page 19 Homilies of Fr. Kozicki glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
"Your destiny is to be apostles, and so tend within your hearts the sacred fire that the Holy Spirit lights there..." - St. Eugene de Mazenod -
November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
Dear Brother Oblates,
This Christmas is taking place during our Triennium preparation and makes focus of our spiritual journey on true life. Our Superior General in his letter written for December 8, 2014, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, puts before us as a Province and Congregation three choices: death, stagnation or rebirth - new life.
May the coming of Jesus during this Christmas season rekindle once again the fire in our hearts for new life. He is the only one who can give us courage to change what we are not able to change ourselves, hope for what we are not even able to imagine, and faith that is able to make miracles.
May Jesus who wants to be born again and again in our hearts help us to experience true freedom and new life, and lead us along a new way, just as the three wise men who return to their home country by a different route.
May His love, peace and joy be born in our hearts so that we are able to speak about the Good News with a new enthusiasm and without fear of political correctness .
May our Blessed Mother Mary who brought Jesus to this world continue to teach us how to be His humble servants and instruments of His love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Fr. Marian Gil OMI Provincial
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Anglican-Catholic Dialogues
Representatives of Canada’s Anglican and Catholic churches recently met for five days of diverse discussions characterized by candour and charity. The joint and separate meetings of the Anglican-
Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada and the Anglican-Roman Catholic Bishops’ Dialogue of Canada took place November 8-12, 2014 at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.
The discussions included the Anglican Church of Canada’s current discernment about expanding its canonical definition of marriage to include same-gender couples. In a spirit of broad consultation, the Anglican Church has invited the input of its ecumenical partners on this question, and the members of both dialogues engaged in a frank and friendly theological exchange. The Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue will continue these discussions on marriage, as well as related ecclesiological questions, and produce a statement for the Anglican Church of Canada’s consideration.
The members of the dialogues also welcomed as a guest Monsignor Jeffrey Steenson, the head of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. The Ordinariate was created by the Roman Catholic Church in 2009 as a means by which Anglicans or former Anglicans who wished to come into full communion with the Bishop of Rome could do so corporately, while still maintaining certain aspects of Anglican patrimony.
Monsignor Steenson outlined the Ordinariate’s development in North America and engaged in a candid and respectful dialogue about how different paths for Anglicans and Roman Catholics to fuller, visible unity may coexist.
In a related discussion, the members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Bishops’ Dialogue of Canada reviewed their pastoral guidelines on clergy moving from one communion to the other. They also explored what the two churches might be able to say in common about physician-assisted suicide, an issue that has resurfaced on the national agenda.
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CROCUS
On November 10-16, 2014, Assumption Province hosted the bi-annual CROCUS meeting for the North American region.
The meeting was held at
the Strathcona Hotel in downtown Toronto.
Province day included a visit to St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the consecration of the church
this year. The visit included a presentation about
the life and growth of the parish, Holy Mass, and a delicious dinner served in the parish hall.
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
Installation of new Pastor at St. Henry’s Parish in Melville!
On November 16th, His Grace Daniel Bohan, Archbishop of Regina, presided over the official installation of Fr. Mieczyslaw Burdzy, OMI as the pastor of St. Henry's Parish in Melville, SK.
With cold double digit temperatures below zero outside, parishioners gather inside St. Henry’s church to witness again another Oblate be officially installed as their pastor.
The bulletin insert read: "On this Sunday we welcome very warmly Most Reverend Daniel J. Bohan, the Archbishop of Regina. The Archbishop is presiding over the Eucharist, with the official installation of Fr. Mitch to the office of the pastor of the parish. Installation of the pastor into his office at the parish involves the Bishop walking the new pastor to various points of significance in the church, from the ambo to the altar, to the confessional and the baptism font with a prayer at each place where the Bishop asks the new pastor, if he is going to do what is specifically applied to that site, to which the pastor replies, "With God's help, I will." Each time the Bishop asks the congregation if they would in turn do their part. The congregation is asked if they will bring their children to baptism, come to confession, call the pastor for their sick, listen to the Word of God, receive communion and so on.”
When a priest accepts a pastorate, he becomes the appointed leader of the parish, the bond of communion, the designated head, and the father in the faith to this community of believers. He is also called to be a servant of the people. Moreover, he is to be the animator, motivating his people to work together, and at the same time to be the healer, bringing peace and unity to avert division and anger. Consultation with parishioners, as individuals and as a community, is required for a pastor to carry out his duties responsibly.
After the celebration during the Sunday Eucharist, the Archbishop, the newly installed pastor and the faithful moved to the parish hall for a shared meal. God's blessings to "Fr. Mitch", as he is known in Melville, and prayers for abundance of God's grace for the service at St. Henry's Parish.
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
th 25 Annual Festival of Religious Songs
This year’s 25th Annual Festival of Religious Songs took place on November 22nd and 23rd, 2014. Special guests
included the Master of Ceremonies Krzysztof Ziemiec, journalist and anchor of Wiadomosci of the Polish
National Television Network, and artists Monika Kuszynska and Marcin Styczen who performed at this year’s
festival.
Other performers included laureates from past year’s festivals! Since 1989, the Festival of Religious Songs has
included over 237 soloists, 243 bands, 1600 volunteers and 20,000 audience members! The founder of the
Festival of Religious Songs, Fr. Marian Gil OMI, remembers the last 25 years in the following message:
The goal of the Festival of Religious Songs is to give a voice to artists, young and old, professionals and armatures, who want
to share their faith through singing. To show what an important role this event has played in the lives of young people, I
would like to bring up an episode which took place in the year 2000, right after the concert performed by Tony Melendez, a man who was born without arms. There was a young person who approached me after the concert with tears in her eyes. She said that, “if this person who was born without arms is giving us so much hope, than my problems that I struggle with, comparing to his, are so little”. This festival has become a platform for people who can bring a powerful message, which is inspiring and enriching to our spiritual life and Christian culture.
th This year, this silver jubilee coincides with many other important events like the beatification of St. John Paul II, the 30 anniversary of the martyrdom of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko and the 25th anniversary of regaining freedom from communist oppression by Poland. For this occasion, the chaplain of the solidarity movement in Poland, presented Catholic Family Radio with relics of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko to encourage the radio producers and volunteers to proclaim the Good News with boldness and courage, remembering the words of the patron of the solidarity movement: “in order to remain free we have to live our life in truth.”
Following this year’s Festival, an audience member stated: “We need event such as this, which lift our spirits and give us courage to be a good person and Christian in today’s world. Many times, my heart skipped a beat and I had tears in my eyes because life can get hard, but the witness of others shows that we can get through tough times with God.”
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
Quo Vadis Choir & Camerata Ensemble
Monika Kuszynska
Marcin Styczen
Masters of Ceremony:
Krzysztof Ziemiec & Magda Hofman
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A Joyous Celebration at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
Serving at the altar is a great joy and honour. It is also an opportunity for formation and to grow in faith for everyone involved including parents, but especially for altar servers themselves. It is also a chance to make new friendships which often last a lifetime.
It is a great joy for the pastoral team when 140 boys and girls experience their faith in a group of altar servers. For the past few years, the number of altar servers at our parish has been on the rise! It has been no different this year when 22 boys and girls began their altar server formation as candidates. On Sunday, November 23, 2014 we welcomed these new candidates. For the next year, they will learn how to be a good altar server and person,
Christian and saint!
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
Provincial Council Meeting
On November 25 – 28, 2014 the Provincial Council Meeting was hosted in our Provincial House in Toronto. Participating in the meeting were Father Provincial Marian Gil and Councillors: Fr. Chris Pulchny, Fr. Wojciech Kowal, Fr. Jacek Nosowicz and Fr. Wojciech Kurzydlo, and the Provincial Treasurer Fr. Peter Gioppato.
The meeting began with the first day dedicated entirely to prayers, team building and leadership development. Fr John Malazdrewich lead the Council through this process.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, we invited the Councillors to participate in the blessing of the new kitchen at the Provincial House. Following a few weeks of renovations, the kitchen has been beautifully renovated and is ready for many future Oblate gatherings and events!
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
Bro. Paul Patrick is Ordained to the Diaconate
th On November 30 , 2014, the first Sunday of Advent, Bro. Paul Patrick OMI was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Radoslaw Zmitrowicz OMI at St. Nicolas Church in Kiev, Ukraine. Oblates from the Ukrainian Delegation as well as parishioners of this church joined us for this solemn celebration.
We thank Bp. Radoslaw for ordaining Paul, and the Oblate community at St. Nicolas Parish for organizing this event.
On behalf of our Province, we send heartfelt congratulations to Paul, wishing him many of God’s graces in his new ministry and religious life.
Congratulations Paul!
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother
On December 8th, 2013, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, about 4,000 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate around the world celebrated their Feast Day!
This year in the Toronto District, over 140 priests and lay associates gathered at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga to celebrate. The event began with the Holy Eucharist and was followed by a festive lunch. During the celebration, the new Toronto District Superior and Council was installed. The new Toronto District Superior is Fr. Janusz Blazejak and his Councilors include: Fr. Adam Filas and Fr. Mariusz Wilk. Guests in attendance included MP Wladyslaw Lizon,
Honourary Oblates, parents and families of
Oblates, employees of Assumption Province and people of good will who support and promote the
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
An Update from Fr. Wojciech Stangel OMI
Thank you to Fr. Gilbert Bertrand
OMI for sending us a few pictures of Fr. Wojciech Stangel OMI
celebrating the third Sunday of Advent.
Merry Christmas to Fr. Wojciech and Fr. Gilbert!
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
A Gift from the Heart
We call the weeks leading up to Christmas Advent, but this is also a time when we are willing to open our hearts and wallets wide to those whom life has not treated very kindly. We could see this clearly at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish where, at the request of the Pastor Fr. Janusz Blazejak to help orphanages in Poland, parishioners raised over $10,000!
Often times, we feel helpless among all these requests for assistance around us. We cannot help everyone, this is obvious. The best way out of this dilemma is to choose a method of charity which will actually arrive at the doorstep of those who we are trying to help, without the often times exaggerated “administration fees”. It is also important to help on a regular and consistent level, even if just once a year.
In the case of St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, this help is directed towards an orphanage in Broniszowicz run by the Dominican Sisters, an orphanage in Wielka Wies run by the Sisters of Divine Providence and a home for disabled women in Czestochowa run by the Albertine Sisters.
A portion of the funds raised was allocated to the purchase of Christmas packages. These homes and orphanages are mostly run by Sisters and were found thanks to the help of Caritas in Poland, which was asked to provide us with the names of the poorest orphanages in Poland. More than 400 orphans, disabled children and women were gifted with presents this Christmas!
Wojciech Porowski
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Installation of new Pastor at St. Stanislaus Parish in Toronto
On Sunday, December 21, 2014 Fr.
Wojciech Kurzydlo OMI was officially
installed as the new pastor of St. Stanislaus
Kostka Parish in Toronto. The solemn Mass
was followed by a dinner for invited guests. Warm congratulations to Fr. Wojciech on his new, and first, obedience as a pastor! We wish him all the blessings and graces that he will need in this ministry.
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Christmas and New Year’s at the General House
Christmas at our Oblate general house in Rome is a low-key affair. Many student fathers and other members of the community leave for pastoral work in parishes, and their yearly vacations. The community that remains in Rome is small, but the spirit is good. Those who had applied early in December to the Vatican receive tickets to
concelebrate Christmas Eve Mass with the Pope.
There are also Masses scheduled in the
community chapel, for those who remain in the house. We traditionally have a festive mid-day meal on Christmas Day. St. Nicholas brings gifts that appear under the Christmas tree in the community room: these are traditional Italian "pandoro", or baked goods, in colorful cardboard boxes. In Italy St. Stephen's Day, December 26th, is a public holiday - so the festive spirit continues also on the second day of Christmas.
Many scholastics from the International
Scholasticate remain in Rome for the Christmas
holidays, and have their meals in the main dining room. This is a good opportunity for members of the general house communities to build links with our young men in first-formation.
In the evening of New Year's Eve there is a traditional raffle for the members of the general house communities and the scholastics. Members of the community donate prizes for the raffle, and as I was told last year, "sweets and chocolate are very welcome". Close to midnight everyone gathers on the roof of the general house. In case you've never been, the view from the top floor of our house is certainly the best in the neighborhood, and probably one of the best in Rome. The fireworks display begins at midnight, to herald the arrival of the New Year. The words "f ireworks display" do not do justice to what happens, because it seems that the entire city erupts in fire. In addition to the official fireworks display, many people fire off firecrackers from their balconies, roofs of buildings, and the like. Last year, the fireworks lasted for almost an hour. So many firecrackers are used that after the display clouds of fog envelop Rome, clouds made up of gunpowder smoke.
In closing, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. May we all draw strength from the newborn Jesus, and the two figures, "masters of hope", that accompany Him in the crib: Mary, the Mother of God, and St. Joseph.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Fr. Paweł Ratajczak OMI
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Good Shepherd Brothers
Just before Christmas I had the chance to visit Bro. Tadeusz Orzechowski at Good Shepherd Brothers Ministry in Hamilton. Bro. Tadeusz and Bro. Richard MacPhee, Executive Director of the Good Shepherd Ministries, gave me a tour of a few facilities run by the Brothers, who provide the following services in the Hamilton area:
- Job skills training - Emergency shelter services for men, women, youth and families - A food bank - Affordable housing - A clothing centre - Mental health support - A hot meal program - Counseling & outreach - Trusteeship program - A high school for street-involved youth - Health & wellness programs - New parent training - Palliative care hospice - Life skills coaching
I was pleasantly surprised that the Good Shepherd Brothers have about 4,000 volunteers, 500 employees and about 20 locations in the Hamilton area, which provide help to youth, single women, women experiencing violence in their families, seniors, the mentally challenged of different ages, as well as hospices where they care for the dying. It was a shock when they told me that so close to us we have so many poor and needy people who are begging for help. I learned that about 25% of the Hamilton population lives below the poverty line.
Bro. Tadeusz, although he is very busy and tired because of his many duties while helping out the Brothers, is also very happy to have such an experience. The pictures portray just a small margin of the ministry provided by the Good Shepherd Brothers.
We thank Bro. Richard and the other Brothers for opening their doors and hearts to Bro. Tadeusz and giving him a chance to experience a new ministry. We wish Bro. Tadeusz a Merry Christmas and joy in helping the poor and needy.
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Homilies of Fr. Kazimierz Kozicki OMI
Congratulations to Fr. Kazimierz Kozicki OMI who has published three books of his homilies for Years A, B and C.
If anyone is interested in purchasing copies of these books, they are asked to contact Fr. Kazimierz directly.
Congratulations Fr. Kazimierz!
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November - December 2014 Volume 13 No. 6
A display of nativity scenes organized by Fr. Richard Kosian OMI at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Toronto
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at the Provincial House!
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