Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 95 No. 24 November 29, 2017 Missionaries Bishop Hagemoen installed in Saskatoon to Canada

When Canadian missionaries By Kiply lukan Yaworski him as Pope Francis urges, as a fa- ther, as a teacher and as a guardian, first went to Nigeria, they SASKATOON — Bishop Mark and together with him continue to probably didn’t imagine that Hagemoen knocked on the door of build this precious gift, which is the one day Nigeria would be the Cathedral of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Saskatchewan, sending missionaries back to on the evening of Nov. 23, and was in unity, in friendship, with collab - Canada. The Missionary joyfully welcomed by the people oration with everybody.” Society of St. Paul, however, of the diocese and the wider com - Hagemoen was met at the door is currently serving in two munity at his official installation as by representatives of the local and Canadian dioceses and the eighth bishop of Saskatoon. universal church. Elder Irene has plans to minister to “May your bishop’s heart con - Sharp of Our Lady of Guadalupe tinue to be shaped by us, the people Parish presented the incoming Canadian Catholics in of the prairies, as it was first bishop with a pair of moccasins as other areas in the future. shaped by the people of the North,” a symbol of walking together into — pages 3 and 7 said Rev. Kevin McGee, speaking the future. Hagemoen was also Assisted suicide on behalf of clergy, religious and greeted by cathedral pastor Rev. laity during the two-and-a-half- David Tumback, Archbishop hour liturgy. Hagemoen comes to Donald Bolen of Regina, and the The legalization of assisted Saskatoon after four years as bish - apostolic nuncio, Pope Francis’ suicide and euthanasia in op of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. representative in Canada. Canada is a sign of a culture “As I left Mackenzie-Fort Presented with a crucifix, that is dying for lack of Smith, I learned that there is no Hagemoen blessed and kissed it, Tim Yaworski love, according to Jackie Dene word for goodbye,” said and then moved through the build - INsTAllATIoN — Bishop Mark Hagemoen accepts a gift of moc - Saretsky, chaplaincy Hagemoen. “The best translation ing blessing the people, led by two is ‘until we meet again.’ What an First Nations dancers accompa - casins presented by Elder Irene sharp of our lady of Guadalupe co-ordinator for the Parish, as former saskatoon bishop, Archbishop donald Bolen of Diocese of Saskatoon. appropriate expression, as we cel - nied by an honour song. ebrate the end of the church year, As Hagemoen stood before the Regina, looks on. The presentation was part of the ceremony at the door — page 6 and also when bridging and altar, diocesan chancellor Rev. of the Cathedral of the Holy Family that began the installation celebra - Ecumenical acknowledging the link between Clement Amofah opened the tion Nov. 23, welcoming Hagemoen as the eighth bishop of the Roman great faith communities.” Apos tolic Letter from Pope Catholic diocese of saskatoon. workshop Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Francis proclaiming Hagemoen Luigi Bonazzi also addressed the bishop of Sask a toon. Bonazzi and the bishop’s chair as a sign of tak - ward to accept greetings from rep - Representatives from assembly: “My dear friends, wel - Bolen hand ed Hagemoen his ing canonical possession of the resentatives of groups and com - Anglican and Roman come the new pastor and receive crozier and accompanied him to diocese. The bishop then came for - munities in the diocese, including Catholic parishes across Rev. Matthew Ramsay on behalf southern Saskatchewan Campaign 2000 releases poverty report of the Council of Priests, and met Nov. 19 for a workshop Linda Klassen, represent ing the Diocesan Pastoral Council. in Regina, where they By deborah Gyapong “With 1.2 million children and “This is a crisis for the 4.8 mil - Harry Lafond of the Office of shared stories of ecumenical families living in poverty, it’s lion Canadians who live below the the Treaty Commissioner also action in their areas and OTTAWA (CCN) — Campaign clear that the social safety net is learned about Anglican 2000, a coalition of more than 120 not adequately supporting fami - — PoVERTY , page 4 — PRAYERs , page 7 and Roman Catholic anti-poverty groups, on Nov. 21 lies who face no choice but to dialogues at the national called for the federal government piece together precarious work, Pope meets generals after and the international level. to take leadership in addressing struggle to afford quality housing — page 7 child and family poverty. and childcare and scramble to brief welcome by children “With Canada’s first Poverty pack school lunches.” Catholic fashion Reduction Strategy (PRS) on the Campaign 2000’s annual horizon, government must commit Report Card shows 38 per cent of By Cindy Wooden medal commemorating his visit to The theme to reverse the effects of decades of indigenous children on reserves Myanmar and the general gave YANGON, Myanmar (CNS) the pope “a harp in the shape of a for the 2018 austerity budgeting and finally pri - live in poverty, as do 42 per cent oritize the prevention and eradica - of female one-parent families. — Greeted by two dozen children boat and an ornate rice bowl,” Met Gala, a tion of poverty in Canada,” said One in three children of recent wearing traditional attire and by Burke said. high-profile Anita Khanna, national co-ordina - immigrants lives in poverty; and the nation’s bishops, Pope Francis Pope Francis had been sched - fundraising tor of Campaign 2000 at a news income inequality is growing, the arrived in Myanmar Nov. 27 for a uled to meet the general Nov. 30, event hosted conference in Ottawa. report says. four-day visit. his last morning in Myanmar. annually by The arrival ceremony at the Although the country is transition - the Metro - Yangon airport was brief and led ing from military rule to democra - politan Museum of Art, by an envoy of the president, be - cy, the general has the power to will see gala-goers take cause the formal welcome was name a portion of the legislators inspiration for their scheduled for the next day in and to nominate some government Naypyitaw, which has been the ministers. Although described by wardrobes from Catholic capital since 2005. Burke as a “courtesy visit” and not vestments, robes, clerical However, Pope Francis had a an official welcome, the visit clothing, artifacts and “courtesy visit” with the leaders of seemed to go against the usual artwork spanning the nation’s powerful military. The protocol, which would dictate that nearly 2,000 years. pope and Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the pope’s first meetings with — page 9 who was accompanied by three authorities would be with the head other generals and a lieutenant of state and head of government. Worlds of wonders colonel, met that first evening in Burke did not say whether Pope the Yangon archbishop’s resi - Francis had mentioned in any way Worlds of wonders are com - dence, where the pope is staying. the plight of the Rohingya, a Mus- ing to the big screen, writes Greg Burke, director of the Vati - lim minority from Myanmar’s Gerald Schmitz. Among can press office, told reporters the Rakhine state, who are treated as them is the first fully oil- meeting lasted 15 minutes. After foreigners in the country. Gen. Min CCN/D. Gyapong painted film, a visual won - discussions about “the great respon - Aung Hlaing has been criticized by der about Vincent van Gogh. CAMPAIGN 2000— Joe Gunn, executive director of Citizens for Public sibility authorities in the country human rights groups for what has Justice, speaking at Campaign 2000’s release of the 2017 Child Poverty — page 11 have at this moment of transition,” been described as disproportionate- Report Card on Parliament Hill, along with other anti-poverty group the two exchanged gifts. representatives. The pope gave the general a — BIllBoARds , page 19 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS November 29, 2017 Residents of Philippines mining town make protest

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) pended in 2002 after complaints Departmental officials have — Residents of a central Philip- filed by local people, including said that coal mining is a major pine mining town have set up camp Bishop Crispin Vasquez of Bo- employer and accounts for most outside the Department of En- rongan and other members of the of the country’s power generation viron ment and Natural Re sources clergy. at 27 per cent. It also noted that office in Manila to dramatize their The faith-based group Philip- coal exports bring the country in opposition to the reopening of a pine-Misereor Partnership has much needed revenue. The coun - mine in their community. been calling on the government to try has more than 504 million tons At least 30 people from Mani- declare the island a “no-go zone” of coal reserves. cani Island in Eastern Samar for mining operations. The church leaders, however, province want assurances from the Meanwhile, members of the said coal mining should not be government that an open pit mine clergy from Marbel diocese in the allowed in the province because will remain closed, ucanews.com southern Philippines issued a of a standing open-pit mining ban reported. statement Nov. 17 warning against under the province’s environment Religious leaders expressed a plan to open a coal mine in the law. support for the protesters by cele - province of South Cotabato. In a separate statement, Bishop brating a mass outside the main “Whatever damage to be caused Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel said gate of the ministry Nov. 17. by coal mining will prejudice the if the project is allowed to pro - Rev. Lenox Nino Garcia of spirit of the watershed reservation ceed, it would displace up to 1,300 Borongan diocese said the mass proclamation,” read the priests’ tribal people. was intended for the “enlighten - statement. “It will be environmental plun - ment of government officials” The statement was aimed at the der if coal mining will be allowed about the effects of destructive province’s legislators who are cur - in that locality,” he said. extraction of natural resources. rently discussing a proposal to There is a growing number of The residents oppose a mining extract coal deposits in the town proposals for coal plants and coal company’s bid for a permit to of Lake Sebu. mines in the country, with 59 coal operate the mine for another 25 The Department of Energy has plants and 118 mine permits at var - years. issued coal-operating contracts to ious stages of approval, activists Mining on the island was sus - at least two companies. said.

CNS/Francis R. Malasig, EPA Mass not same as going to a show: pope PRoTEsT MINING IN PHIlIPPINEs — A Filipino indigenous Igorot tribe member holds a placard as she joins a protest in Manila in early By Carol Glatz in mourning and also in joy for into the victory of the resurrection, February against large scale mining. being saved,” he said. being illuminated by his light, VATICAN CITY (CNS) — If The pope continued his series warmed by his heat,” he said. Vatican Museums launch people really understood that par - of audience talks on the mass, Mass is “the triumph of Jesus.” ticipating at mass is witnessing reflecting on what mass really is As Jesus goes from death to Christ’s suffering, death and res - and why it is so important. eternal life during the mass cele - joint art shows with China urrection, then maybe they would The mass, as a “memorial,” is bration, he is seeking also to stop taking pictures, talking, mak - more than just remembering an “carry us with him” toward eter - By Carol Glatz world, Jatta said the initiative was ing comments and acting as if it event from the past, the pope said. nal life, Pope Francis said. a further show of the church’s long were some kind of show, Pope It is making that event present and By spilling his blood, the pope VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As tradition of “what we at the Vati - Francis said. alive in a way that transforms continued, “he frees us from death a gesture of openness, co-opera - can Museums like to call the “This is mass: to enter into those who participate. and the fear of death. He frees us tion and “cultural diplomacy,” the ‘diplomacy of art.’ ’’ Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection The eucharist is the focal not only from the domination of Vatican Museums have organized The initiative, which will begin and ascension. When we go to point of God’s saving act, he physical death but also spiritual two joint art exhibitions with in March 2018, reflects an open - mass, it is as if we were going to said; it is Jesus making himself death — evil and sin,” which pol - China. ness to and recognition of “that Calvary, it’s the same,” the pope present in the bread, “broken for lute one’s life, making it lose its “It is the first time ever the common identity and friend ship” said Nov. 22 during his weekly us, pouring out all of his mercy beauty, vitality and meaning. pope’s museums have organized that the museums have begun general audience. and love on us like he did on the “In the eucharist, (Jesus) wants an exhibit in the People’s Republic with cultural institutes in If people realize that Jesus is cross, in that way, renewing our to transmit his paschal, victorious of China,” Barbara Jatta, director China. truly present in the eucharist and hearts, our lives and the way we love,” the pope said. “If we re - of the Vatican Museums, told The Vatican Museums will be is letting himself be broken and relate to him and our brothers ceive it with faith, we too can reporters at a Vatican news confer - loaning 40 pieces from its ethno - pouring out his love and mercy and sisters.” truly love God and our neighbour, ence Nov. 21. logical collections for display first for everyone, “would we allow “Every celebration of the eu - we can love like he loved us, giv - Art, with its “beauty, is an ex- in Beijing’s Forbidden City and ourselves to chit-chat, take pic - cha rist is a beam of that sun that ing life.” ceptional vehicle for dialogue” in then in three other cities, including tures, to be on show? No,” the never sets, which is the risen Jesus When people experience the every corner of the world because Shanghai. Likewise, China will be pope said. Christ. To take part in mass, espe - power of Christ’s love within them, it is “without fear, without barri - loaning 40 pieces from its collec - “For sure we would be silent, cially on Sundays, means entering then they can give themselves ers,” she said. tions for display in the Vatican freely and fully to others, even Following through on Pope Mu seums as part of the joint their enemies, without fear, he said. Francis’ call to be open to the exchange. Vatican office co-ordinates work of nuncios

By Cindy Wooden hoc meetings to prepare the nomi - the head of the new section “will be nations of pontifical representa - responsible, along with the presi - VATICAN CITY (CNS) — tives,” who formally are nominat - dent of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Pope Francis has established a ed by the pope and usually are Academy, for the selection and for - new section in the Vatican Secre - made archbishops with their first mation of candidates.” tariat of State to oversee the train - posting as a nuncio or apostolic The role of nuncios and their ing, assigning and ministry of delegate. responsibility in the process for Vatican nuncios and diplomats The diplomatic staff at the nominating bishops for dioceses around the world. Vatican embassies around the in the countries they serve has The Section for Diplomatic globe and most of the archbish - been a frequent topic of discus - Per sonnel will be concerned “ex- ops who serve as nuncios are sion at Pope Francis’ meetings clusively with questions pertain - alumni of the Pontifical Eccle - with his international Council of ing to the people who work in the siastical Academy. There, in a Cardinals, which advises him on diplomatic service of the Holy See community of priests from church governance and is continu - or who are preparing to do so,” around the world, the future di - ing work on proposals for reor - said a statement Nov. 21 from the plomats receive specialized train - ganizing the Roman Curia. Secretariat of State. ing even as they complete ad - The new section of the Secre - The section will oversee “the vanced degrees — usually in tariat of State joins two long-exist - CNS/Vatican television selection, initial and ongoing for - canon law — at one of the pontif - ing sections: the first section, or PoPE sENds MEssAGE To BANGlAdEsH — Pope Francis delivers mation, the living and serving ical universities in Rome. They section for “ordinary affairs,” co- a video message to the people of Bangladesh from the Vatican Nov. 21. conditions, promotions” and other also must study languages. ordinates the daily work of the Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Myanmar Nov. 27 - 30 and Bangladesh matters, the statement said. Five popes were graduates of pope and Roman Curia; the second Nov. 30 - dec. 2. What the Vatican described as an “inter-religious and The head of the section, Polish the academy; the last was Blessed section, or section for relations ecumenical meeting for peace” is scheduled for dec. 1 in the garden of Archbishop Jan Pawlowski, also Paul VI. with states, is the Vatican’s foreign the archbishop’s residence in dhaka’s Ramna neighbourhood. will “convoke and preside over ad The Vatican communiqué said ministry. November 29, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 3 Nigerians now Christ’s ambassadors in Canada

By Idara otu, MsP of the Nigerian bishops, the Mis- created the MSP Canada Mission. Missionary Society of St. Paul is The MSP Canada Mission is sionary Society of St. Paul was MSP priests serving in North being true to the vision of its thankful to God for its fruitful pas - TORONTO — Canadian mis - erected as a Pious Union. In 1994 America no longer share a com - founder and following in the foot - toral ministries in Canada, and sionary institutes have long served the Vatican approved the canonical mon leadership structure based in steps of its patron, St. Paul, as looks forward to collaborating with the evangelizing mission of the status of the MSP as a Society of the United States. MSP Canada has “Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor other dioceses in the future, minis - church both at home and abroad. In Apostolic Life. its own leadership and mission 5:20). tering to Canadian Catholics. Nigeria, the church has been The fundamental characteristics office. blessed by the presence and gen - of the apostolate include evangel - Bishop Albert Thévenot, M. erosity of the Spiritans, the Chris- izing and re-evangelizing commu - Afr., of Prince Albert formally tian Brothers, Our Lady’s Mission- nities of faith. Missionaries of St. inaugurated MSP Canada at a aries, and others for many years. Paul strive “to be all things to all eucharistic celebration in North When these Canadians embarked people” (1 Cor 9:22) in order to Battleford, Sask., on Jan. 25, 2017. on their mission to Nigeria, one proclaim the Gospel and witness to The Missionary Society of St. Paul wonders if they ever imagined that God’s love in every context and is grateful to the bishop for presid - Nigerians would one day be mis - locale. ing at this memorable event and for sionaries to Canada. Four decades later, the cardi - providing an initial base for the When he founded the Missionary nal’s vision continues to bear fruit, MSP Canada Mission office in his Society of St. Paul (MSP), Cardinal with some 300 Missionaries of St. diocese. Special thanks are due to Dominic Ekandem (1917 - 1995) Paul serving in pastoral ministries the faithful of St. Joseph Cala- believed that the Catholic Church in in the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, sanctius Parish for hosting the Nigeria, by virtue of its blossoming the United States, and Canada. event. The Canada Mission is also vocations, had an evangelizing man - Today, the missionaries are serv - indebted to its board of directors, date — not only on the African conti - ing in two Canadian dioceses: its legal team, and to MSP friends nent, but further afield. In 1976, Prince Albert, Sask., and Peter - across the country for their service Ekandem shared this conviction with borough, Ont. Revs. Anthony and support. the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Afangide, Frederick Akah, Peter The Christian faith is a gift to be Nigeria, and so began several years of Paase, and Peter Nnanga serve in shared with all peoples. The prayerful reflection and conversation. the Prince Albert diocese, while Missionary Society of St. Paul has In 1978, with the endorsement Rev. Dominic Mbah serves the come to Canada bearing this pre - Diocese of Peterborough. These cious gift once received from early five priests bring to their ministries missionaries. The presence of MSP Otu, a member of the both their homegrown faith and priests in Canada testifies to this Missionary Society of St. Paul, their experiences from previous witness of faith and reciprocates Tim Yaworski currently residing at the Scarboro work in nations such as Liberia, the generosity of Canadian mis - APosTolIC GRATITUdE — during the installation mass for Bishop Missions central house in Malawi, and the United States. sionaries to the Catholic Church in Mark Hagemoen as saskatoon’s new bishop at the Cathedral of the Scarborough, Ont., while studying They are enriched, in turn, by the Nigeria. Holy Family Nov. 23, the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop luigi at Regis College, the Jesuit School faith of the people they serve. By responding to the invitation Bonazzi (left) publicly thanked Rev. Kevin McGee for serving as dioce - of Theology at the University of In 2015, the General Council of to serve in the dioceses of Prince san administrator since the departure of Archbishop donald Bolen in Toronto. the Missionary Society of St. Paul Albert and Peterborough, the october 2016. Program helps international priests to learn Canadian ways

By Andrew Ehrkamp Canada. It’s roughly four weeks of Catholic Social Services. always observed, but I see I can whole, they come here motivated. Grandin Media classroom and practical instruction Since then, 17 dioceses in West - learn more from Canadian people. They see the purpose. It’s very on topics ranging from Canadian ern Canada have sent priests to Many questions were coming into concrete.” EDMONTON (CCN) — This and First Nations culture and Edmonton for enculturation. More my mind about what was going to Gauthier describes it as a learn - winter, Rev. Moses Savarimuthu is church history to how to enunciate than 235 priests from 22 countries happen there. It was very, very ing process that works both ways. ready. when preaching in English. have taken the program. helpful for me, because I realized “The adaptation is not only in one It’s been just over a year since Each year, 20 to 25 priests par - “Catholic churches give birth to that I needed to know more about direction. The adaptation is for the Savarimuthu experienced an Al- ticipate in the program, which vocations, but not enough,” says Canadian people, especially their priest, but the community also has berta winter for the first time. He Rev. Robert Gauthier, culture.” to adapt.” traded life in the tropical city of co-director of the pro - Gauthier said each individual To that end, a large part of the Trichy, India — his hometown — gram. “So they need needs to adapt to the Canadian Enculturation Program is focused for his first assignment in Canada, to rely on foreign church, just as Gauthier himself on enunciation. Priests spend more as co-pastor of Our Lady of Angels priests, who come did when he was a young mission - than seven three-hour sessions on Parish. here for three, four, ary navigating the ethnic tensions accent clarity. Gauthier said it’s “When I was in Fort Sas katch - five years. in Rwanda. much more important than people ewan I was driving out to Lamont, “The program is “The program doesn’t prevent think, especially when preaching a Redwater, and the surrounding to facilitate the tran - you from making errors, but at homily. communities, sometimes in heavy sition before being least you have an awareness,” he “This is one of the major public snow. At first I thought I would launched into their said. “There is a red light that will challenges in their communica - drive into the ditch,” recalls parishes. You have to come on in your mind, (asking) ‘Is tion,” Gauthier explained. “We tell Savarimuthu, who has since been have an awareness of this exactly how we do things?’ them, ‘Your communication has to reassigned to Blessed Sacrament the society that you “We don’t want them to become be clear.’ You could do a very sub - Parish in Wainwright. “Sometimes are working in.” Canadian. Enculturation is not a stantial homily, very spiritual, but ice had formed on the road, so Even though all process of denying yourself. But if we don’t understand you, that’s a when I was driving I was really priests share a simi - you understand there’s part of your major issue.” frightened.” lar theological back - culture that needs adaptation to the Ndanga agrees. “The biggest Savarimuthu noted some big ground, there is a new culture you’re serving in.” challenge for me is to make myself differences in church life too. In steep learning curve. In addition to classroom work understood and welcomed by peo - India there’s a 10-day celebration The Enculturation at the Basilian House of Studies, ple. I know I’m not a born English at each parish on its patron saint’s Pro gram teaches priests visit Our Lady of Mercy man. French is my mother lan - feast day; preparation for first about Canadian cul - Parish in Enoch to experience guage.” communion and confirmation ture, church history, worship in an Aboriginal setting, A year after graduating from the takes weeks, not days; and the and liturgical prac - and the Youville Seniors Home in Enculturation Program, Savarimu- church is teeming with kids. tices as well as social St. Albert. thu laughs, saying he’s learned to In Kinshasa, Democratic Re - topics such as appro - Speakers also address sensitive keep his sermons short and to the public of Congo, Rev. Jean-Claude priate personal space topics such as gender roles in point. Ndanga was accustomed to parish - and behaviour in a Canada — which may be different “Be brief. Be clear. Be seated! ioners dancing in church during Alan Schietzsch pastor that might turn in a priest’s home country — as They want some jokes. It makes mass — which might raise eye - lIFE IN CANAdA — Rev. Moses savarimuthu Canadians off. Some well as racism, transgender identi - the priest more human.” brows here in Canada. with a parishioner at Blessed sacrament Parish of the students also fication, and same-sex attraction. The Enculturation Program in - To say there can be a bit of cul - in Wainwright. The priest from Trichy, India, gain a greater appre - If there are priests who are cludes a visit to Our Lady of Mercy ture shock inside and outside of has noted many differences in church life ciation for human resistant to the Enculturation Parish in Enoch, to observe how parish life for foreign priests is an between his home country and Canada. rights. Program, they are a minority, mass is celebrated by First Nations, understatement. However, the im- “Freedom is not Gauthier said. and a learning session with Gary pact is eased a little by their partic - began in 2004 through the work of always respected,” said Ndanga, “At the beginning the first pre - Gagnon, the Aboriginal relations ipation in an Enculturation Pro- Rev. Jack Gallagher, who was pres - the new associate pastor at Our senters are bishops, in order to co-ordinator for the Archdiocese of gram offered through Newman ident of Newman at the time, and Lady of Angels Parish who arrived show to these priests that this is Edmonton. Theological College to internation - Alice Colak, who was in charge of from Congo in September. “The important. You’re here and you’re al priests who serve across Western immigration and settlement with respect for human rights is not not wasting your time. But on the — FoREIGN , page 10 4 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS November 29, 2017 Alberta education minister stresses Catholic support

By Andrew Ehrkamp after Bishop emeritus Fred Henry They would teach that consent is prohibit school authorities from Grandin Media of Calgary addressed the same “always necessary” in a healthy notifying parents of their child’s meeting over concerns about the sexual relationship, and that there involvement in a gay-straight EDMONTON (CCN) — human sexuality curriculum cur - are also other factors to consider alliance or related activities. The Alberta Education Minister David rently being revised and the future in sexual decision-making. bill passed third and final reading Eggen offered full and vocal sup - of Catholic education in Alberta. In media interviews Eggen this week, despite objections port for Catholic education recent - In response, Eggen said, “those called the document “unaccept - raised by parents, superintend - ly, but he did little to allay con - naysayers shouldn’t be construed able,” and Premier Rachel Notley ents, and trustees. cerns that the province’s human as being what we feel as a govern - pledged that such ideas that The bill is expected to become sexuality education curriculum ment, which is to support choice “attack or hurt others” would law in April, and LaGrange said will conflict with Catholic teach - in education, which includes never be taught. the ACSTA plans to work with the ing. strong Catholic education.” Adriana LaGrange, president provincial government on imple - “As we develop the new health “We’re working closely with of the Alberta Catholic School menting it. and wellness sexuality curricu - Catholic school boards. You saw Trustees Association, stressed that “We haven’t always seen eye lum, we will work with all schools the response in the room here Catholic schools teach the full to eye, but we can agree on our — including Catholic schools — today. They recognize our sinceri - provincial curriculum in all sub - common goals of providing the to ensure we are meeting the safe - ty to move forward and ensure the jects, but supplement it with a best possible education in a wel - ty standards for individuals and integrity of Catholic education Catholic perspective, and she coming, caring and safe environ - for our society as a whole,” said every step of the way.” expects that to continue. ment for all our children, for all Eggen, commenting at the annual Eggen’s statements followed a “We will continue to be able to david Eggen our students,” LaGrange said. meeting of Alberta Catholic media firestorm last month after teach the approved curriculum in “I believe there’s always a school trustees. publication of a working docu - all aspects, including health and all school boards to continue to need to be vigilant and to look at “I know that all of us, includ - ment by Catholic superintendents wellness, and will also be able to teach the provincial curriculum any concerns that people raise ing Catholic schools, have the that identified for government supplement it with Catholic regardless. very thoughtfully. But our pub - health and welfare of students at officials possible areas of con - resources,” LaGrange said. “I’ve had no problems with licly funded Catholic education their very heart. We’ll work cern in the human sexuality part The ACSTA continues to meet any of my schools, mostly, and system in Alberta has been here through it. I’m very confident that of the health and wellness cur - with Eggen and provincial educa - that expectation remains the for 170 years, and we’re confident all of my friends here today will riculum. tion officials as they design the same,” he said, adding “Catholic that we’ll be around for another help us achieve that goal.” The superintendents said their new curriculum, she said. Asked schools have been doing a good 170 years.” Addressing trustees from across input was meant to ensure the new about the potential conflict job to make sure they do teach to Eggen said the province is the province, Eggen offered his curriculum is not so restrictive between the new human sexuality the curriculum and everybody is committed to growth, noting the government’s commitment in no that it would prevent Catholic curriculum and Catholic teaching, compelled to do so.” Alberta government opened a uncertain terms: “You have my full schools from including relevant LaGrange said those details are Trustees have also raised con - record 53 new public and Catholic support as minister of education church teachings alongside the still being worked out. cerns about Bill 24, which would schools this fall. and the government of Alberta and provincial curriculum. “We are not making any pre - Premier Rachel Notley to ensure For example, they would teach suppositions about what will be in Child poverty should be the integrity of Catholic education the curriculum content on contra - the curriculum. We look at what in this province, to ensure the ceptives and abortion, but also comes as it comes, and we will strength of faith-based education in teach why the church opposes supplement it with our Catholic priority for government this province of Alberta, and to these measures. They would teach resources,” she said. “We always ensure that it is fully funded about different sexual orienta - look at our programming through Continued from page 1 ability insurance. through all forms of our govern - tions, but also teach the Catholic our Catholic worldview.” Among the recommendations: ment.” view of marriage as a sacramental Eggen said he doesn’t antici - poverty line, as well as for our the creation of good jobs and the His comments came just a day bond between a man and woman. pate any conflict, but he expects entire society,” said Joe Gunn, implementation of a $15 minimum executive director of Citizens for wage across the country; enhanc - Public Justice, a member group of ing the Canada Child Benefit; Kindness can transform our relationships Campaign 2000, and a faith-based increasing the Working Income social justice think-tank. “Poverty, Tax Benefit; a universal child care By deborah Gyapong someone asked a similar question problem or solve it, but “it made it beyond the statistics, represents program; enhanced medical cover - and she gave similar advice. The so much easier to work on it the lives and unique experiences age to include vision, pharmacare, OTTAWA (CCN) — Kindness next woman who stood up, said, together,” Feldhahn said. of our neighbours — but with a rehabilitation services and dental is a superpower with a miraculous “If you will do what Shaunti just What happened in her and her common point: the loss of access care; programs to address housing ability to transform us and our said, you’ll find it changes every - husband’s life was “supernatural to chances of realizing not only and food insecurity and income relationships, says author Shaunti thing.” and miraculous,” Feldhahn said. economic potential, but human inequality. Feldhahn. “That is the power of kindness.” potential.” Linda Woods, co-chair of the The bestselling American In order to dig out these truths “This loss rests on individuals, United Church of Canada’s Bread author of For Women Only and Feldhahn has done eight research but also weighs on all of society,” Not Stones, a grassroots organiza - The Kindness Challenge was in studies to find out the common he said. “We see more economic tion, told the news conference Ottawa Nov. 17 as part of the denominator of what helps people inequality, more societal fracturing, MPs and many senators would Neejee Association for Women thrive in their lives and relation - lessening of social confidence and receive a “Rag Doll of Hope” to and Family’s annual parenting ships. success at school, higher rates of remind them of the importance of seminar. “How well you thrive in life is criminalization, more health prob - addressing child poverty. “Everyone has a relationship far more correlated to how you lems, even financial crises hit hard - We are asking politicians to we would love to improve,” treat other people than how you er. This isn’t just a political issue — close the funding gap to all First Feldhahn said. Kindness can are being treated,” she said. “It’s it is also a moral challenge.” Nations children; to close tax improve any relationship or make all about being kind.” “We call upon the government havens at home and abroad to an already good relationship Kindness helps make a better and each political party to ensure address income inequality, and to great. marriage, a better parent, and a the passage of a national anti- lead by example in encouraging Feldhahn said she began her better leader in the workplace, she poverty plan based on human the implementation of a $15 mini - study of kindness after speaking at said. rights, not charity,” Gunn said. “It mum wage across the country, a women’s event in Colorado “There’s a catch,” she said. is necessary to include timetables Woods said. about her book For Women Only , “You have to be kind when you and goals, focused on persons “They are asked to keep our which studies how men think, and don’t want to be, when your with a lived experience of pover - children in poverty on the front “what’s really important” to them CCN/D. Gyapong spouse is insensitive or your boss ty.” burner,” she said. but “they can’t articulate.” shaunti Feldhahn is cruel, or your daughter is rolling Entitled “A poverty-free Can - Though studies highlighted by A woman stood up in the ques - her eyes at you.” ada requires federal leadership,” Cardus Family show most families tion and answer session at this It turns out it was the same “This is when it matters most the 2017 report card offers a de - would prefer a parent or a close event and said, “I know you say woman who had asked a similar and has the most power,” she said. tailed set of recommendations for relative provide child care and my husband needs to know I question three years previously. “The problem is we already a national anti-poverty strategy institutional daycare is the last appreciate him, and respect him. She told Shaunti, “Everything in think we are kind,” she said. “We with clear “targets and timelines,” choice, Khanna said the call for a What if I don’t?” she said. me wanted to ignore everything think someone else needs to do “developed in consultation with universal child care program is Feldhahn recommended some - you said.” this.” provincial and territorial govern - based on “world evidence” that thing she had learned from author “I did it,” she said. “I had no “We have no idea,” she said. ments,” and funded in the next affordable child care reduces child Nancy Leigh DeMoss about a idea it wasn’t just about him. I “We are completely deluded. We federal budget. poverty. challenge of interacting with her saw things I was doing to hurt him are not as kind as we think we are.” Khanna said the national strat - Canada’s child poverty rate is husband in a different way for a every day.” Kindness involves: withhold - egy is necessary “to level the 17 per cent, Khanna said, meaning period of a month. The process started softening ing unkindness, saying kind playing field” across the country. almost one in five children lives in After that conference, she out - her heart, and eventually her hus - things, and doing kind things. It also calls for consultation with poverty. Denmark’s poverty rate is lined The 30 Day Kindness band’s. Three years later, they In the Kindness Challenge, you First Nations leaders, and en - only five per cent, and it has Challenge. were happily married after having say nothing negative to the person hanced employment insurance to affordable child care spaces. Three years later she was in been on the verge of divorce. The help with maternity leave and “Choice is a key component,” she another part of Colorado and process didn’t fix the underlying — VENTING, page 5 sick leave for those without dis - said. November 29, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 5 Religious freedom in Canada under attack: Bennett

By Michael swan secularists as some groups imag - “The root cause of people’s The Catholic Register ine. I think this poll shows that opposition is ignorance — igno - simply isn’t happening.” rance of what Islam is about,” TORONTO (CCN) — Most What has changed is that under Bennett said. Ca na dians respect religion, believe the constitutional order of the last People can’t demand religious it is relevant and think it benefits 35 years, courts and legislatures in freedom for themselves and turn society, according to a new Angus Canada no longer favour Chris tians. around and deny that same free - Reid Institute poll. “The government is refusing to dom to a tiny minority of new But despite those positive find - legislate Christian morality and Canadians, he said. ings, religious freedom expert the Supreme Court has adamantly “We have an opportunity to Andrew Bennett is worried about said it will basically strike down champion the human dignity and Canada’s acceptance of religion any legislation that attempts to the religious freedom of all reli - and religious diversity. legislate morality for individuals,” gious communities, including “My fear is that increasingly Seljak said. Muslims,” said Bennett. “I would the public square is becoming this While Canadians tell pollsters be a pretty funny Catholic if I was gated community, where the only they’re in favour of religious free - opposed to what a woman wears people who can inhabit it are dom and view religion positively on her head, given religious those who adhere to this new type on a general level, they are decid - (nuns’) habits.” of secular orthodoxy,” Bennett Catholic Register/Michael Swan edly negative on Islam. Almost “Generally, people don’t have told The Catholic Register . RElIGIoUs FREEdoM — Andrew Bennett, Canada’s former reli - half (46 per cent) told Angus Reid complaints about their Muslim In a public lecture sponsored gious freedom ambassador, fears the public square is becoming increas - they view the overall presence of neighbours. But this mistrust by the Canadian Catholic Bio - ingly cut off to religious Canadians. Islam in public life as “damaging” occurs mostly at the level of imag - ethics Institute, Bennett made the to Canada and Canadian society. ination,” said Seljak. “We’re deal - case that religion in general and tive contributions of religion), tolerant — and also prescribing a Only 13 per cent were willing to ing at the mythological level.” Christianity in particular are being what are they imagining? What particular morality through laws say the tiny minority of less than In contrast, Catholics are the shoved aside in the media, the are they thinking about when they on a whole range of issues.” four per cent of Canadians are most positively viewed religious courts and legislatures. Bennett say religion?” said St. Jerome’s But if Bennett feels besieged “benefitting” Canada. subset of Canadians. Twice as argues religious freedom is under University sociologist of religion it’s not because Canadians are On the specific issue of Mus- many Canadians say Catholicism attack and Canadians no longer David Seljak. “I think they’re against him, said Seljak. lim women who wear veils in is “benefitting” Canadian society understand or respect the contri - thinking about hospitals, health “I have heard some people say public, 87 per cent of Quebeckers (35 per cent) as those who say it is butions religion has made to services, social services, educa - that Christianity is persecuted,” and 70 per cent of Canadians out - “damaging” society (17 per cent). Canada’s social fabric. tion. And they’re thinking about Seljak said. “That is again an side Quebec said they favour leg - More than half of those surveyed “We may not have red martyr - the fact that religion provides peo - inference that conservative Chris - islation limiting these Muslim said they understand Catholicism dom in this country, but we will ple with meaning, direction, a tians are picking up from the women’s access to public services either “quite well” or “very well.” experience white martyrdom — moral compass.” United States. Canadian Chris - and their employment in the pub - At the same time, 47 per cent said shaming and disavowal,” Bennett This positive assessment of reli - tians sometimes feel that — the lic sector. Catholic influence in public life is told an audience of about 40 at the gion has nothing to do with the dynamics of that culture war that Both Bennett and Seljak be - shrinking, with only five per cent annual CCBI lecture at St. specific moral positions of church - is occurring between conserva - moan ignorant, xenophobic atti - saying it’s on the rise. Michael’s College on Nov. 16. es on end-of-life care, abortion, tives and liberals in the United tudes toward Muslims prevalent The Angus Reid poll on Cana- sexuality — most of them unpopu - States, between Christians and throughout Canada. — TAX-EXEMPT , page 17 dian attitudes toward religion sur - lar or misunderstood by the gener - veyed 1,972 Canadian adults al population, Seljak said. between Oct. 16 and 23. It found “People are less interested in Ethical training for nurses in short supply that only 14 per cent think reli - what the church teaches and what gious contributions to public life theologians say,” he said. “But By Michael swan how central conscience is to the research has shown that hospitals, are a bad thing and more than they are appreciative of what the The Catholic Register life and work of nurses. nursing homes and other employ - twice as many, 38 per cent, see churches are doing.” “Nursing education has to be of ers have been able and willing to religion’s contribution as good. A Bennett acknowledges that TORONTO (CCN) — Legal - a continuing, practical and espe - accommodate ob jecting nurses, big mushy middle of 48 per cent most Canadians are positive about ized euthanasia in Canada is put - cially moral nature,” Florence but not all nurses are confident opt for a “mix of good and bad.” individual people of faith and reli - ting nurses — and their con - Nightingale wrote in Notes on they will get that consideration. Additionally, roughly half the giously inspired institutions, from sciences — in tough situations, Nurs ing: What Nursing Is, What Lamb wants employers to be more population believes religion re - hospitals to universities. “My con - said University of Alberta nursing Nursing is Not in 1859. In forthcoming about how they will mains as relevant or more relevant cern is at the elite level,” he said. professor Christina Lamb. Nightingale’s day, most people help nurses who object to any as ever, and a majority support Court rulings, new legislation “A lot of nurses are switching thought of nurses as either drunks course of treatment on moral maintaining tax exempt status for and a disdainful tone in the media their clinical areas or even leaving grounds. churches. have conspired to marginalize tra - the profession,” said Lamb in a “We need to create The poll was commissioned by ditional religious views on mar - speech to a crowd that included morally supportive envi - the Christian think-tank Cardus riage, homosexuality, transsexu - medical professionals and stu - ronments,” she said. for its Faith in Canada 150 proj - als, abortion, suicide and the per - dents at the annual deVeber As a bioethicist and ect. Bennett is the law program missibility of voluntary euthana - Lecture in Toronto Nov. 14. nursing professor, Lamb director at Cardus and the former sia, he said. Lamb is one of the few bioethi - encouraged any worried Canadian ambassador for reli - “Government is taking action cists who has studied conscientious nurses in her audience to gious freedom. proscribing a certain morality,” objection and conscious objectors call her. “I will come talk to “You have to ask yourself said Bennett. “Both proscribing in depth since the law in Canada your managers,” she said. when people are answering this — saying that if you hold a partic - changed in 2016. Figuring out Nurses today are under question (about positive or nega - ular moral view that is no longer whether health systems can adapt pressure, given the rising when conscience prevents nurses tide of demand for medical - from participating in so-called ly assisted suicide from Venting is not healthy medical assistance in dying has to Canada’s rapidly aging pop - involve more than just surveys and ulation of baby boomers, Continued from page 4 Feldhahn debunked the idea raw numbers, Lamb said. said second-year Ryerson that it’s healthy to vent and let a Lamb conducted in-depth in - nursing student Douglas and you say nothing negative to little steam out of the kettle. terviews with eight Ontario nurses Naus at the end of Lamb’s anyone else about the person, she Instead what we’re doing is “turn - who objected to a procedure or a lecture. said. ing up the heat under the pot.” course of treatment on patients “There’s definitely a When I vent to another person Refusing to share the negative near the end of life (seven of the fight now and more in the about my husband or boss, “I’m is like turning the heat down, she eight objected to euthanasia). future,” he said. sabotaging how I feel about him,” said. Their answers revealed a lot Dr. Paul Zeni, a pallia - she said. “If you do this, you’re going to about the ethical training of nurs - Catholic Register/Michael Swan tive care physician in Instead, you find one thing start to see how often you are es and the capacity of health sys - ETHICAl TRAINING — Nursing pro - Georgetown, Ont., was every day you can sincerely affirm unkind without even intending to tems to accommodate objections, fessor Christina lamb delivers the annu - happy to get an overview and tell them, and tell somebody be,” she said. said Lamb. al deVeber lecture in Toronto Nov. 14. of conscience rights from a else, she said. And third, “you do Feldhahn has targeted seven “This health care community is non-doctor in health care. one small act of kindness or gen - “unkindness negative patterns.” tearing apart a little bit,” she said. or prostitutes. No educated woman “We all have a right to be con - erosity.” They are exasperation; suspicion; Ethical decisions are not frills of standing in society was permit - scientious objectors,” Zeni said. “You will start to see that it sarcasm; pessimism, complaining; or rare occurrences for front-line ted to work outside the home. “We should have the support of changes your feelings about the bitterness and anger. nurses, yet the state of ethical If nurses today really are pro - whatever professional organiza - other person,” she said. The Neejee Association for training in most nursing programs fessionals, then they have a right to tion we’re in.” When you start withholding the Women and Family is a Catholic is almost haphazard, according to their own code of ethics which pre - Lamb is currently working negative, “you start to see how women’s group that offers spiritu - Lamb. sumes they have a right to exercise with the Canadian Nurses Asso - often that kind of stuff comes out al and educational support for She reached back to the origins their conscience, said Lamb. ciation on conscientious objection of you,” she said. women and families. of modern nursing to point out For the most part, Lamb’s issues. 6 Prairie Messenger LOCAL NEWS November 29, 2017 Hagemoen emphasizes call to live in righteousness

By Kiply lukan Yaworski are called to look deeper, and dis - received since his appointment, lay people have been cover the hope provided by living and for the pastoral leadership that summoned forth,” the SASKATOON — In his first beyond survival, said the bishop. has formed the church in the Nuncio said, turning to homily as the bishop of the This is a way of life that calls Diocese of Saskatoon. Hage moen. “Please Roman Catholic Diocese of for “ongoing healing,” he said, “I am very grateful and wish to continue fulfilling this Saskatoon, delivered during the expressing appreciation for his acknowledge the pastoral leader - witness which I have Nov. 23 installation mass at the time among the indigenous peo - ship of this diocese’s recent shep - received and which I Cathedral of the Holy Family, ples in the north, “for what they herds: Bishops James Weisgerber, pass on to you.” Bishop Mark Hagemoen empha - have taught me about faith and Albert LeGatt, and Donald Bolen” Bonazzi encouraged sized the call and the challenge to our common journey, of healing — three of the 20 bishops attending the diocese to continue live in righteousness, following and growth as we come to know the installation. “I come to a dio - to treasure and protect the example of Jesus Christ. the heart of the one God.” cese that is in good shape, in large Catholic education, Hagemoen cited Pope Francis’ Hagemoen described how his part because of them, and of course noting that, with the message on the World Day of appointment to Saskatoon came the excellent work of a committed new bishop’s love for Consecrated Life in which he calls unexpectedly, and there was a bit - and dynamic people of God.” education and youth, he for overcoming “the temptation of tersweet quality to it as he bade Hagemoen asked for prayers “will accompany with survival (which) turns what the farewell to the Diocese of and patience as he takes up his great interest and sup - Lord presents as an opportunity Mackenzie-Fort Smith, “where new role, pledging “to serve this port this important tool for mission into something dan - there is much work yet to do.” He local church to the best of my for evangelization.” gerous, threatening, potentially expressed his appreciation for the ability, with God’s help.” Bonazzi quoted disastrous.” Followers of Christ welcome and support he has At the conclusion of the cele - from testimony re - bration Archbishop Luigi ceived during the time Bonazzi, the Apostolic Nuncio, of discernment prior to brought greetings from the pope: Hagemoen’s appoint - “It is a joy for me to transmit to ment: “One of the you as a representative of Pope major social and pas - Francis in Canada, the closeness, toral challenges for the the prayers, the affection, the Diocese of Saskatoon benediction of Pope Francis to and the upcoming bish - each one of you, to the Diocese of op will be the ongoing Saskatoon and to the dioceses of challenge of building all Canada.” healthy relations with Kiply Yaworski He encouraged the diocese to the indigenous popula - GIFTs FRoM THE dIoCEsE — Bishop welcome its new shepherd, as they tion and guiding the Mark Hagemoen holds up a saskatchewan have welcomed others. “This dio - church in learning to Roughriders jersey presented by Christine cese, along with the wider commu - walk with indigenous scherr of the Catholic Pastoral Centre, one of nity, has welcomed the strang er, the people in addressing two gifts presented to the new bishop by the immigrant, and the refugee, making the systemic injustices diocese of saskatoon to mark his installation true the motto of the prov ince: and social challenges Nov. 23. The other gift is the sponsorship in Multis e gentibus vires — from they face in Saskatch - his honour of a day at Friend ship Inn dec. 8. many peoples, strength.” ewan. This is a major Kiply Yaworski Saskatoon is a diocese that em- challenge facing the people of you were welcomed by a number PAssING THE KEYs — Archbishop donald Bolen of Regina (right), braced the Sec ond Vatican Saskatche wan, and it is also a of individuals and groups who rep - former bishop of saskatoon, presents a symbolic set of keys to Bishop Council. “It is a diocese with a tra - great pastoral challenge.” resent the diversity of our diocese Mark Hagemoen during a dinner held before the installation mass Nov. dition of healthy relations be tween The Nuncio urged the faithful and the unique gifts and culture of 23 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in saskatoon. clergy and laity, where the gifts of to continue to pursue “this mutual the province of Saskatchewan,” he desire within the Catholic Church, said. “Many hands extended them - within society and within the selves. From this moment on, Lack of love behind assisted suicide indigenous population — this these and many more hands will desire for a new friendship, this extend themselves to you and By Paul Paproski, osB preted by some as proof that Palliative care is centred on helping process of reconciliation — that it invite you into their lives as our humans have less dignity as they ease pain, Saretsky said. It cannot may grow for the benefit of all.” shepherd. You will find much sup - HUMBOLDT, Sask. — The age, contract a terminal illness, or end all suffering, but it is a way of Rev. Kevin McGee addressed port here. You will be much loved. legalization of assisted suicide suffer from depression or some affirming life. It is only a small per - the new bishop on behalf of the And I assure you that, wherever and euthanasia in Canada is more other debilitating illness. When centage of people who suffer from people of the diocese. “As we you go, you will find an open a sign of a culture dying for lack conditions seem hopeless, people intractable pain. began our celebration this evening door.” of love than a nation being open to feel pressure to choose death. The Caregivers can make a tremen - choice, said Jackie Saretsky at a decision to end a life becomes eas - dous difference for people who “Dying Healed” workshop held ier to accept when it is softened by are facing life-changing illnesses Sister Winifred dies Nov. 15 - 16 at St. Augustine by offering a loving presence and parish hall in Humboldt. The sick affirming their dignity and worth, By Frank Flegel Deeply involved in her religious and the elderly may actually have Saretsky said. “Volunteers need to community, Sister Winifred also less choice and feel pressure to witness to the fact that those with REGINA — Sister Margaret served on a number of Regina arch - end their lives prematurely, said poor physical or mental condi - Winifred Brown, known to stu - diocesan committees. She was a Saretsky, chaplaincy co-ordinator tions are wanted, loved, possess dents and friends as Sister recipient of the pontifical medal with the Diocese of Saskatoon. dignity, and deserve respect. The Winifred, died peacefully Nov. 8 Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for her Modern attitudes about inde - sick are an integral part of our at the Santa Maria Senior Citizens service to the church. pendence and success have led human family, precisely because Home in Regina, where she had The Resurrection Mass was many to believe that their lives are they call us to compassion.” been living as well as dedicating celebrated Nov. 14 at Christ the worthless or have less value as Suffering and end-of-life situa - service and care to the residents. King Church in Regina, with they age or become ill. People feel tions can be meaningful because Sister Winifred was born and Winnipeg Archbishop Emeritus they have become burdens to their they bring people to reflect on raised in Estlin, a village about 10 James V. Weisgerber presiding. families or society when they are choices they have made in the past. kilometres southeast of Regina. She unable to work or need the assis - Acknowledging previous failures attended high school at Athol tance of others. Saretsky recalled and conflicts can bring healing and Murray College of Notre Dame in a conversation with a patient who forgiveness. Spiritual healing is Wilcox, Sask., then joined the had been diagnosed with terminal possible when one surrenders to Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions cancer and was terrified at the the past and prepares for the next (RNDM) in 1946. Over the years thought of needing help to bathe Paul Paproski, OSB life with God. she served in local and national or use the bathroom. The idea of Jackie saretsky Palliative care volunteers leadership roles as well as General wearing a diaper was humiliating. “have the opportunity to be a part Secretary of her community in “At what point in life do we terms such as “dying with dignity.” of that healing process by remind - Rome. become undignified?” Saretsky Death may appear to be the only ing the suffering of their worth She earned her BA and master’s asked. option for people who are vulnera - and dignity,” she said. “The suf - degrees from Notre Dame College at She is aware of another person ble, isolated, or alone and unable to fering person, through humiliation the University of Ottawa, and a BEd who had been recommended for express their fears and needs. and powerlessness, may under - from the University of Mani toba. euthanasia after being misdiag - Physical pain can make life stand for the first time that dignity Her career in education spanned nosed. The family was aware of unbearable, especially when the sit - is not connected to autonomy.” some 23 years, beginning with the doctor’s mistake, but did not uation seems hopeless. The issue is The very presence of compas - Lebret High School, then Sacred report it. the pain and how to control it. sionate volunteers will communi - Heart Academy and Marian High The legalization of euthanasia Health care must be designed to cate the value of the suffering per - School in Regina, where she served RNDM and assisted suicide is being inter - relieve pain and not kill the person. son. as vice-principal and principal. sister Winifred Brown, RNdM November 29, 2017 LOCAL NEWS Prairie Messenger 7 Anglicans and Catholics meet for workshop

By Joanne shurvin-Martin At the diocesan level, there local covenant in the international have been annual joint prayer serv - and national context. He pointed REGINA — More than two ices, with the 2018 service planned out that, when it comes to theo - dozen representatives from Angli - for May 13, with Bishop Bryan logical issues, Anglicans and can and Roman Catholic parishes Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Roman Catholics “are a lot farther across southern Saskatchewan Eparchy of Saskatoon as the along than some other denomina - met Nov. 19 for a workshop, in homilist, at St. Paul’s Cathedral in tions. For example, we don’t have which they shared stories of ecu - Regina. Joint workshops for inter - to discuss baptism or the Creed, menical action in their areas and cessors and lectors have been well because we are already in agree - learned about Anglican and attended, and deacons from both ment.” Roman Catholic dialogues at traditions have attended various Jesson discussed the first agreed national and international levels. gatherings and programs. statement — on the eucharist — Rev. Rick Krofchek, a member Anglican delegations attended which was issued in 1971, and was of the Anglican-Roman Catholic the funeral of Archbishop Daniel followed by statements on ordina - Covenant Implementation Com - Bohan and the installation of tion and ministry, authority in the mittee (ARCCIC), opened the Archbishop Donald Bolen. The church, and, most recently, the gathering with prayer in the hall episcopal ordination of Anglican statement on Mary. Jesson provid - attached to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Bishop Rob Hardwick was held at ed handouts with excerpts from the Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen Holy Trinity Roman Catholic statements and the history of the then recounted how the covenant Joanne Shurvin-Martin Church, with Bohan and other cler - many documents prepared by the between the Anglican Diocese of ARCCIC — Co-chairs susan Klein and Canon Michael Jackson gy attending. ARCCIC also spon - Anglican-Roman Catholic Inter- Qu’Appelle and the Archdiocese describe the many joint activities initiated by the Anglican-Roman sored a workshop on indigenous national Commission and the In- of Regina had come to be: it was Catholic Covenant Implementation Committee at a workshop for ministry, with Rev. Dale Gillman ter national Anglican-Roman Cath- built on relationships that had parish representatives held in Regina Nov. 19. and Sister ReAnne Létourneau. o lic Commission for Unity and been developing since the 1960s, St. Mary’s Anglican in Regina, Mission (IARCCUM), which is a he explained, and was signed in Eileen Herman and Bruce Farrer of church at the wrong time, but they with the help of Holy Family joint commission of the Anglican January 2011. the Anglican churches in Qu’ - often stay for whatever service is Parish, organized a study evening Communion and the Pontifical Bolen has been involved in Appelle and Vernon, described being celebrated, and have learned on the place of Mary in the two Council for Promoting Christian ecumenical relations at all levels, how the Roman Catholic parish that there are many similarities in the traditions. Keynote speaker was Unity. Bolen is international co- including the Pontifical Council has come to worship in the two traditions. ARCCIC member Brett Salkeld, archdiocesan the - chair of IARCCUM. for Promoting Christian Unity at Anglican building of St. Peter, Susan Rollins of Plain and Valley ologian, who based his talk on the Toward the end of the work - the Vatican from 2001 to 2008. Qu’Appelle. When faced with Parish, Lumsden, commented that 2005 international ARCCIC shop, Canon Michael Jackson, “We were created for community, costly repairs to their building, people get attached to their church agreed statement, “Mary: Grace ARCCIC co-chair, led a tour of with God and with one another,” Immaculate Conception parish - buildings, “but if we are worshipping and Hope in Christ.” the Anglican cathedral, which was he said, adding that the ecumeni - ioners had several options: travel God, we can do that anywhere.” ARCCIC member Nick Jesson, followed by mid-day prayers. cal work in Saskatchewan is “a to Indian Head to worship, hold Elsewhere, there have been ecumenical officer for the Arch - Archdeacon Catherine Harper good example for the rest of the services in the local seniors’ centre, many examples of the churches diocese of Regina, placed the offered a closing prayer. country, although we still have or use the Anglican building. working together, sometimes with more to do.” “I’m glad we chose St. other communities. Many parish - Susan Klein, co-chair of ARC - Peter’s,” said Geis. “It’s worked es have held joint events, includ - Prayers in many languages CIC, said they were encouraged to out well. They’ve been extraordi - ing programs and special services start small — “You can’t do narily welcoming.” during Advent and Lent, delega - Continued from page 1 mon Witness also came forward to everything at once” — but she has Herman and Farrer described tions attending each other’s serv - greet the bishop. Ron and Jan been surprised by how much has what their congregation had to do — ices, vacation Bible schools, and greeted the new bishop, accompa - Gitlin of Congregation Agudas been accomplished already, with chiefly, adjusting their own schedule prayer services, especially during nied by Carol Zubiak of the Dio - Israel brought greetings, as did many parishes working together in order to fit the Cath olic services the Week of Prayer for Christian ce san Council for Truth and Rec - Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, in a variety of ways. in. Minor alterations were made to Unity. Other examples include a onciliation (DCTR). Other DCTR representing elected officials Recent actions in the town of the lectern to fit a larger book, and joint marriage preparation course, members present were Parish Life across the diocese. Qu’Appelle were presented as a hymn boards were add ed. The potluck dinners, youth groups, Director Debbie Ledoux, Elder Diversity was the hallmark of case study. Chad Geis of Imma- changing service schedule has meant and events focusing on First Michael Maurice, and Elder Gayle the prayers of the faithful, which culate Conception Parish, and that some people have come to Nations. Weenie of Our Lady of Guadalupe were presented in Cree, French, Parish. English, German, Tagalog (Philip- Representing the laity were pines), Vietnamese, Spanish, Bari Missionary society serving P.A. diocese Caitlin and Graham Hill and their (South Sudan), Ukrainian, and six children, while religious were Polish. Leading the music for the By donald Ward with Renee “Further afield” turned out to be worked alongside Nnanga, and it represented by Sisters Teresita celebration was the diocesan choir, Hammer Paradise Hill, a village of some was natural that she would devel - Kambeitz, OSU, and Dolores with members of other parishes and 500 souls in the Diocese of Prince op an interest in the Missionary Bussière, FDLP, Brother Kurt Van groups from across the diocese. PARADISE HILL, Sask. — In Albert. One of its chief attractions Society of St. Paul. She was en - Kuren, OSB, and Rev. Iheanyi Hagemoen gave the homily and August 2014, Renee Hammer is Our Lady of Sorrows Roman couraged to get involved, and Enwerem, OP. Bonazzi spoke at the conclusion of knew very little about Nigeria and Catholic Church, which was deco - will ingly assisted the priest as he Representatives from other Cath - the celebration. Some 1,200 people had no clue what “MSP” stood rated by the German artist Berthold and his fellow missionaries o lic rites brought greetings as well, were in attendance, and the mass for. Her small parish in the Prince Imhoff early in the 20th century. In worked toward establishing a including Rev. Janko Kolosnjaji, was live-streamed on the diocesan Albert diocese had not had a resi - 2014, Rev. Peter Nnanga, MSP, Canadian mission that would no vicar-general for the Ukrainian website. dent priest since 1985, and the arrived as the new pastor. longer be under the jurisdiction of Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon; Events earlier in the day in- rectory had been converted to a Nnanga brought to the parish a the United States leadership. Kaesir Istifo of the Sacred Heart cluded a meeting between the apos - gathering place for catechism and new spirit of prayer and participa - To the disappointment of his Chaldean Catholic community; and tolic nuncio and the clergy of the fellowship. They had never had a tion. With his love of music and parishioners, Nnanga was called Rev. Anthony Plogen of the Syro- diocese, and an installation dinner parish secretary, but as secretary his community mindedness, he to serve as pastor of Sacred Heart Malabar Catholic community. that began with Chief Gil Ledoux of the parish council, Hammer easily blended in, and his desire to Parish in Spiritwood after only a Several people came forward of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and offered her services. spend time with parishioners was year at Paradise Hill. As Nnanga representing Catholic education and his wife, Debbie Ledoux, extend - “MSP,” she learned, stands for heartening — though they were had begun his mission work in the health care, including Dr. Terrence ing a welcome to Treaty 6 territory. the Missionary Society of St. Paul, startled by his decision to live in diocese, however, Hammer had Downey of St. Thomas More Col - Sister Teresita Kambeitz said grace a society of apostolic life founded the old rectory, when he could embarked on a journey of her own lege; Diane Boyko and Greg before the meal. in response to Pope Paul VI’s call have shared accommodations with — one that eventually led her to Chatlain of Greater Saskatoon Cath - During the program, Abbot Peter for the African church to “become another priest in a modern rectory join the Associate Missionaries of olic Schools (GSCS); David Hardy Novecosky, OSB, expressed thanks a missionary church,” as the Holy in a neighbouring parish. With St. Paul (AMSP) in the newly of the GSCS Foundation; Jim to McGee for his 13 months of Father proposed in his pilgrim visit labour and prayer, however, the formed MSP Canada Mission. Anderson and Vicky Serblowski of service as diocesan ad ministrator. to Uganda in 1969. Seven years building was made ready for “From all I had seen and expe - St. Therese Institute of Faith and Winnipeg Archbishop Richard later, the Catholic Bishops’ Con fer- occupancy, and Nnanga soon rienced with the priests of the Mission; Robert Harasymchuk of Gagnon brought greetings on behalf ence of Nigeria established the made it into a home. Missionary Society of St. Paul — St. Peter’s College; Scott Irwin of of the Canadian Con ference of National Missionary Seminary of The rectory served as both the their commitment to their parish - Emmanuel Care; and Sandra Kary Catholic Bishops, and the bishop’s St. Paul. priest’s residence and the parish ioners, leading by example with of the Catholic Health Association brother, Dan Hagemoen, spoke on “It is timely,” wrote the soci - office, and was used for meetings, faith and humility — I wanted to of Saskatchewan. behalf of the family. Bolen wel - ety’s founder, Cardinal Dominic Bible study, office work, and fel - do what I could to assure that their Bishop Sid Haugen of the Sas - comed Hagemoen with a symbolic Ekandem, in 1976. “The church in lowship. Conversations there were mission continued,” she said. katchewan Synod of the Evan geli- “passing of the keys.” Nigeria, by reason of her bright marked by “laughter and encour - The inaugural mass of the MSP cal Lutheran Church in Canada, Two gifts were presented on future in vocations, has a respon - agement,” Hammer recalled. The Canada Mission was celebrated Rev. G. Scott Pittendrigh of the behalf of the diocese: sponsorship of sibility toward the whole of Africa priest readily shared his love of his by Prince Albert Bishop Albert Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon, a day of meals at Friendship Inn, to bring the Good News to all homeland and his love of the work Thévenot, M. Afr., at St. Joseph and David Smith and Jeromey and a Saskatchewan Rough riders places on the continent, and even of his missionary society. Calasanctius Church in North Martini of the Evangelical-Roman jersey presented by Christine Scherr further afield.” As parish secretary, Hammer Battleford on Jan. 25, 2017. Catholic Commission for Com- of the Catholic Pastoral Centre. 8 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS November 29, 2017 Scientists worldwide echo pope’s global warning

By Michael swan he said. “One of the main goals of The Catholic Register our paper is to trigger a global dis - cussion and debate at many differ - More than 15,000 scientists ent levels on how humanity, in a worldwide, including more than sustainable way, can move forward 500 Canadians, have issued a for the benefit of all life on Earth.” “Warning to Humanity” that paral - Science alone can’t answer all lels concerns raised by Pope Francis the questions or provide people in his encyclical Laudato Si’ . with a framework for a meaning - Global ecosystems are reach - ful, fulfilled life in a post-con - ing their limits and in some cases sumerist world, said McCarthy. collapse has already begun, ac - “It’s almost like an anthropolo - cording to the World Scientists’ gy we’re trying to craft. What does Warning to Humanity: A Second it mean to be human? Human in a Notice published Nov. 13 by the context of a wider world or natural Alliance of World Scientists in the world?” said McCarthy. “The fact journal BioScience . is that now you have this kind of “Humanity is not taking the human-dominated world and urgent steps needed to safeguard we’re kind of recognizing that — our imperilled biosphere,” said we’re recognizing the limitations the warning, which came with of it in some ways. Once you focus nine graphs outlining the collapse too much on yourself, if you of species, denuding of forests, become the centre of the garden if exponential growth in oceanic CNS/Rebecca Naden, Reuters you will — well, you get exiled dead zones, rising levels of carbon GloBAl WARNING — “Humanity is not taking the urgent steps needed to safeguard our imperilled bios - from the garden in Genesis.” in the Earth’s atmosphere and our phere,” said World scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A second Notice published Nov. 13, which came with How people can live a mean - warming global climate. nine graphs outlining the collapse of species, denuding of forests, exponential growth in oceanic dead zones, ingful life while consuming less “I see great parallels between rising levels of carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere and our warming global climate. and living in greater harmony with the Laudato Si’ (encyclical of their environment aren’t questions Pope Francis) and our scientists’ “It supports Laudato Si’ quite a imbalances in population density, lieves that it has the right to con - science can fully an swer, which is warning to humanity,” Oregon bit — chapter one of Laudato Si’ , on both national and global lev - sume in a way that can never be why Laudato Si’ goes on for five State University forestry profes - which really takes the science seri - els,” Pope Francis wrote in universalized, since the planet more chapters after it acknowl - sor William Ripple told The ously,” McCarthy said. “The au thors Laudato Si’. “To blame population could not even contain the waste edges the scientific facts in chapter Catholic Register . “Additionally, here use the word ‘home’ too.” growth, instead of extreme and products of such consumption.” one, said McCarthy. I see the pope’s document as The pope subtitled his 2015 selective consumerism on the part Ripple sees room for dialogue “Laudato Si’ is much more rad - being very important in helping encyclical “On Care for Our of some, is one way of refusing to between the church and science ical in the sense of including all this make progress on global environ - Common Home.” face the issues. It is an attempt to on the question of population. but going beyond it in a much mental and climate issues.” But the pope and the scientists legitimize the present model of “There should be room for dia - deeper and fuller way,” McCarthy Ripple was one of the principle part company on population. The distribution, where a minority be - logue within and between groups,” said. organizers and authors of “Warn ing scientific consensus is that the to Humanity.” The document fol - Earth can sustain no more than 15 lows a similar 1992 warning issued billion human beings. The global Nuncio: mercy is rooted in dialogue by the Union of Concerned Scien - population stands at 7.4 billion tists and signed by 1,575 re - and has increased 35 per cent in By Veronique demers searchers, including 99 of the 196 the last 25 years. The scientists Nobel laureates living at that time. recommend “further reducing fer - QUEBEC CITY (CNS) — The new warning calls it “a tility rates by ensuring that women Pope Francis’ representative to moral imperative” that world lead- and men have access to education Canada said diplomats today “are ers, legislators, business, the media and voluntary family planning called to be peacemakers, in a sin - and ordinary citizens take immedi - services, especially where such cere dialogue.” ate action on the environment. resources are still lacking.” In a talk at Laval University Nov. None of the information in the While Pope Francis does not 14, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, apos - Alliance of World Scientists’ warn - dispute the science on sustainable tolic nuncio, stressed that pontifical ing should come as a surprise, espe - population densities, he abhors diplomacy aims at serving humani - cially to those Catho lics who have the rich world tendency to blame ty, trying to be a united family. paid any attention at all to Pope the poor and dictate family size to He said mercy is rooted in a cul - Francis on the issue, said Jesuit sci - distant people and cultures. ture of dialogue, which must be entist Rev. John McCarthy. “Attention needs to be paid to fos tered in any peace process. Bonazzi quoted Pope Francis’ 2016 National conference meeting in Havana with Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Mos cow; the CNS/Philippe Vaillancourt, Presence highlights value of liturgy meeting led to important advances MERCY ANd dIAloGUE — In a talk at laval University Nov. 14, in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. Archbishop luigi Bonazzi, apostolic nuncio to Canada, stressed that pon - “The church does not exist to tifical diplomacy aims at serving humanity, trying to be a united family. By Agnieszka Krawczynski “By the experience of this ritu - promote itself, but to collaborate The B.C. Catholic al, the community is reminded that with the faithful and realize the in Congo, said Bonazzi, acknowl - firming the Vatican’s commitment they are called to live in commun - aspiration of its founder, Jesus. We edging that Congolese bishops against nuclear weapons. “Weap - RICHMOND, B.C. (CCN) — ion with God and the church is to must look at humanity through were unable to achieve conclusive ons are not the way to re solve a Liturgies and rites are essential in have, as its final goal, salvation.” mercy,” he said. results as mediators. conflict. Pope Francis wants to helping Catholics understand who Symbols involved in the rite, Bonazzi and Anne Leahy, Ca- The mandate of Congolese recall that war leads to death and they are, according to liturgy including anointing the altar with nadian ambassador at the Holy President Joseph Kabila expired destruction. He invites rich coun - expert Rev. Michael McGourty. holy oil, blessing the baptismal See from 2008 to 2012, spoke last December. Since then, elec - tries to unite with weaker ones and “As people drive by a church, font, and placing relics in the altar, about the role of the Vatican in tions have been delayed. This invest in health and education they see the brick and the mortar all point to that reality. “The ritual international diplomacy. post ponement has increased ten - instead of the arms industry.” and they are reminded that there is has made of our building a sign “Peace and security between sion and anger in the country, Questioned about a possible a community there that makes that reminds us who we are.” nations is paramount. But diplo - while violence continues in the papal trip to Saskatchewan, where Christ present,” McGourty said at He added that liturgies them - macy is much broader than that,” regions of Kasai and Kivu. Pope Francis has been invited to a National Liturgical Conference selves do not bring about holiness. said Leahy, now professor at the “We could not continue the dia - meet with members of the First hosted in Vancouver Nov. 6 - 7. “Our holiness is based on the fact School of Religious Studies at logue in these conditions. There Nations, Bonazzi replied that the “So, too, we are reminded that that Christ is the cornerstone around McGill University in Montreal. was a withdrawal, but not abandon - Holy See “is waiting for the right we are to be signs of Christ’s pres - whom the entire church arises and Bonazzi said the Vatican is try - ment. The elections will be held in moment.” He said the invitation ence in the world.” is defined.” ing to deploy its human resources December 2018,” said Bonazzi. by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau An Ontario priest and professor About 120 priests, deacons, to bring comfort and consolation He said the nuncio to the Congo and Canadian church authorities of liturgy, McGourty led about 120 and lay faithful from across Can - in countries where it has diplomat - recently reminded people that elec - was received with “with apprecia - conference participants through the ada arrived in Richmond for the ic relations, in addition to having, tions must be held before Pope tion and consideration.” rite of the dedication of a church conference, hosted at the Marriott when necessary, a mediation role, Francis would visit the country. “At the end of the month, the and what it means for parishes. Hotel. he said. Bonazzi also noted that good Holy Father will be in Myanmar The “beautiful ritual” marks a “It’s a really excellent confer - Such is the case with the crises international relations cannot be and Bangladesh, where there is no building as a sacred space, meant ence,” said Patty Fowler, a mem - dominated by military force. prosperity. He has the desire to for celebrating the sacraments and ber of the National Council for “No nation deserves that. Pope repair the wounds of the past, to sending the faithful out on a mis - Demers is journalist with Francis likes to practise unarmed bring healing and to meet the needs sion of evangelism, he said. — HYMNAl , page 9 Presence info, based in Montreal. diplomacy,” he insisted before reaf - of young and old,” he added. November 29, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 9 Met Museum embraces the art of Catholic fashion

By Meggie Hoegler costumes were used to highlight fessor at St. Jos eph’s Col lege at The Catholic Register the extravagance of the fictional the University of Alberta, equates young pope played by Jude Law. the fashion industry’s fascination Catholicism and its fashion Now New York is getting on - with Ca thol icism to how vest - have fascinated the secular media board. The theme for the 2018 ments were once modelled after for decades. Met Gala, a high-profile fundrais - the luxurious and dramatic attire In last year HBO’s TV series ing event hosted annually by the of European kings and emperors. The Young Pope, several lavish Metropolitan Museum of Art, is “If you look back at early litur - “Heavenly gical garb from the Middle Ages, it Bodies: was taken from secular rulers. The Fashion Catholic Church itself is a very and the sensuous church. It is sacramental. Cath olic Beauty is a part of how we honour Imagina - and worship God,” said tion.” Cuplinskas, who teaches Chris tian Celebri - history at St. Joseph’s in Ed - ties will monton. take inspi - “There are other sectors of ration for Christianity which are very skep - their tical about ornaments and adorn - wardrobes ments. If you look at Old Order from Mennonites, they don’t even Catholic wear buttons because it is too vestments, prideful. The Catholic Church robes, cleri - has over 1,500 years worth of cal cloth - ornamentation that in and of ing, arti - itself is art.” CAPPA MAGNA — Cardinal Raymond Burke wears a cappa magna facts and Similar to how trends come (literally, “great cape”) in this uncredited 2014 photo. A form of mantle, artwork and go in the fashion industry, it is a voluminous ecclesiastical vestment with a long train, proper to spanning pastoral vestments and clothing cardinals, bishops, and certain other honorary prelates. It is hardly nearly have changed over the years. ever worn. 2,000 Following Vatican II, attire in the years. 1960s became less ornate and While Catholic fashion has sig - Catholics will be offended by the According more practical. nificance, clerical attire is not attire some celebrities choose to to Vogue, “Along with a simplification of regarded as a sacred object, which wear to next May’s gala. But the gala mass came a simplification of is perhaps why the Vatican was overall she thinks the gala and the will “high - vestments,” said Cuplinskas. “For open to the idea of a Catholic- exhibit are a good thing. light the instance, the papal tiara has not themed celebrity function. enduring been worn since Pope Paul VI in Following the gala evening on influence 1963.” April 30, the Met Museum will of religion The papal tiara is a large present an exhibition of papal and liturgi - headpiece once placed on the robes and accessories, with items Courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art cal vest - heads of popes at their corona - on loan from the Vatican. ‘HEAVENlY BodIEs’ — An oil on canvas painting, ments on tion. The tiara comprised three “There’s an important dis - Cardinal Fernando Niño de Guevara (1541 - 1609), by El fashion.” layers of gemstones symboliz - tinction between symbols and Greco, circa 1600. It is one of the featured artworks in an Indre ing the powers as priest, prophet clothing,” said Cuplinskas. “In exhibition under the 2018 Met Gala theme “Heavenly Cuplin - and king. While Pope Paul VI’s terms of appropriation and disre - Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” skas, a pro - tiara weighed only two pounds, specting the Catholic religion, I the papal tiara donated by would find it more significant if Napoleon I to Pope Pius VII in people were disrespecting sym - New hymnal expected 1804 weighed upwards of 18 bols re lating directly to God and pounds. Christ. Continued from page 8 ference of Catholic Bishops, came “That being said, I to a climax with mass at Canadian don’t expect attendees to Liturgical Music and an organist Martyrs Church in Richmond and be particularly knowl - from St. John’s, N.L. a banquet at the parish hall. edgable about the signifi - CNS/Paul Haring “It’s giving a real theological In his homily, Archbishop J. cance of Cath olic vest - A priest wears a biretta with a underpinning to the whole idea of Michael Miller, CSB, challenged ments. I think some peo - magenta pompom. who we are as church, who we are participants to actively respond to ple will want to play with as temples of the living God. We the call to evangelism. the theme and shock “I tend to look at these kinds of are a sign of God in our world and “The question for us to ponder audiences.” things as opportunities,” she says. we are to be sent.” is twofold: how am I responding In 2015, the theme for “People will have a chance to see She added she’s looking for - to the Lord’s call to celebrate the Met Gala was “China: real vestments and history from ward to a new Canadian Catholic eucharist: Am I indifferent? Do I Through the Looking the Vatican.” hymnal, expected as early as 2018. come lackadaisically and unpre - Glass.” The night gener - The general exhibit will be “It’s important when people pared? And second, do I go out to ated considerable contro - open to the general public from take hold of the liturgy and make it invite others, those on the periph - versy surrounding cultur - May 10 to Oct. 8. our own,” said Rev. Jim Richards, ery, to mass? When was the last al appropriation and “I cannot predict what the a participant and priest from the time I invited someone to come to stereotyping of Chinese designers are going to do,” said Diocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. church with me?” culture. Celebrities wore Cuplinskas, “but I think there is He said it’s important to dis - He said people with a heart for kimonos, ornate head - potential to celebrate the beauty CNS/Paul Haring cuss the relationship between liturgy should lead evangelizing pieces and carried bejew - within our church.” church rites and the people who initiatives. Pope emeritus Benedict XVI smiles while elled dragon evening When it comes to the church in participate in them. “They are all “To celebrate the sacred mys - wearing a red hat known as a saturno . bags. Pop singer Rihanna the media, Sister Helena Burns’ about being part of the universal teries with beauty and authentici - was the only celebrity philosophy is that all publicity is church.” ty, with God’s grace we must do Colour also plays a significant who was ap plauded for honouring good publicity. The two-day national confer - all we can to ensure that the ban - role in church fashion. The colour the culture. Her yellow silk gown “It is usually a good thing ence, put on by the National Lit - quet hall is full, for the Lord’s in - worn by clergy still indicates their was created by Chinese designer, when the secular world even urgy Office of the Canadian Con - vitation extends to everyone.” place in church hierarchy. Guo Pei. cares about what the church is “If you go to the Vatican in The last celebrity to create doing,” said the Toronto-based 2017, you can still figure out who major controversy over adapta - Pauline sister. “It’s when they is who and what their rank is tion of church practices was stop showing you, when we dis - based off of what colour they are American rap singer Nicki Minaj. appear from the media, then I am wearing,” said Cuplinskas. At the 2012 Grammy Awards she concerned.” Advertise in the For instance, a Cappello performed an offensive skit that Cuplinskas tends to agree. romano, the once popular hat with included a mock confession, on- “The Catholic Church does not Prairie Messenger a wide brim, comes in different stage exorcism and backup danc - separate itself from the rest of the Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5 p.m. colours — red for cardinals, green ers dressed as choir boys and world, we’re very involved,” said Ph. 306-682-1772 Fax 306-682-5285 for patriarchs, bishops and arch - monks. She was accompanied to Cuplinskas. “When you’re in- bishops, violet for monsignors the event by a date dressed as a volved like that, you’re always at email: [email protected] and simple black or white for priest. risk for being misunderstood, but priests. Cuplinskas predicts some at least you are present.” 10 Prairie Messenger ARTS & CULTURE November 29, 2017 The colour purple, for those far from home

By Caitlin Ward sister you would know that her grocery store. It’s that everything with the chicken pox on Christmas reasonable size, but that brings me homesickness can manifest itself is a little different no matter what, morning; standing around the to point two: it is surprisingly hard I’ve been sorting Skittles the as blind rage, so it’s often as funny that you are always not from there, Advent wreath every evening sing - to give away Skittles. I tell my past few nights. That’s not a meta - as it is poignant to hear her rail and for God’s sake, why does the ing “O Come O Come Emmanuel”; Ukrainian Catholic friends they’re phor. Literally, I’ve been sorting against purple candy, the abun - sun set so early here? going over to my grandma’s house vegan, so they aren’t breaking the Skittles. My sister who once again dance of instant coffee, or how There’s something a little un- for the Feast of the Holy Family, Nativity fast. I tell everyone else cannot come home for Christmas comfortable about your existence because we’d had her over for that they’re free, and they’re sweet, mentioned a few weeks ago how I’ll Be Home for all of the time when you’re an im- Christmas the week before; break - and who doesn’t want candy? It Skittles were making her homesick. Christmas migrant. There’s something slight - ing down crying in the chapel at St. gets me nowhere. I still have a two In England, purple candy is usually ly off. There are always the subtle Peter’s Abbey at the age of 18 or 19 litre freezer container full of every black-currant flavoured, whereas Bing Crosby but constant reminders that, no on Good Friday because I really un - kind of Skittle except purple. I’m here it is grape-flavoured, so when matter how long you live there, derstood, for the first time, what we beginning to wonder if everyone she has Skit tles in England, every everyone stops in the road without and my sister has lived in England were commemorating that day. secretly likes the grape Skittles the purple Skittle is a reminder that reference to other people. for half her adult life, you are not Time telescopes and it sutures she’s not in Saska toon. Culture shock manifests itself from there. This is not home. on high holidays, and on Christ mas I’ll be home for Christmas On the one hand, this sounds in the strangest ways, sometimes. This feeling gets a bit stronger Day we are not just celebrating this You can count on me sweet and sad, but if you knew my It’s not the accents, the buildings, for my sister around the high holi - year, but also remembering every Please have snow the money, or even the weather; days. High holidays revolve around year that we have celebrated. Our And mistletoe it’s the purple candy that doesn’t family, and for us, around church, as family traditions become rituals And presents ’neath the tree Ward is a Saskatoon-based free - taste like grape, and the eight-day well. Many of my more vivid mem - that dovetail with the church’s, and lance writer who spends her days wait for a temporary parking per - ories are wrapped up in those times: it’s a reminder not only of Christ, Christmas eve will find me (and most nights) working at a mit, and the marshmallows that me, at four, taking the brass bell my but of each other. Where the love light gleams small Catholic college. Her less are made with sugar instead of sister picked off the tree at St. So I’ve been sorting Skittles. I’ll be home for Christmas eloquent thoughts can be found at corn syrup, and the perogies that Phillip Neri Parish and brought to Every year they can’t come home to If only in my dreams www.twitter.com/newsetofstrings aren’t in the freezer section of the me because I was stuck at home visit, along with presents from Etsy or Amazon, I send my sister and Christmas eve will find me brother-in-law foods that are hard to Where the love light gleams come by in England: the cheese I’ll be home for Christmas packets from boxes of Kraft Dinner, If only in my dreams a family-size pack of Bridge Mix - ture, Cheezies, Kraft peanut butter best, and they’re resentful I’m try - (smooth, not crunchy), root beer ing to force subpar Skittles on syrup to mix with sparkling water, them. To be honest, grape Skittles and this year, a bag of purple are probably my favourite flavour Skittles. I picked out the purple ones next to orange ones, so I don’t from six mega packs of Skittles, and entirely blame them. put them all in a freezer bag in a box So instead I eat handfuls of bound for St. Alban’s, Great Britain. Skittles for breakfast along with I’ve learned a few things about my coffee. I eat Skittles before bed Skittles in the past week: one, pur - and try to brush them out of my ple candy is seriously underrepre - teeth with limited success. I have sented in most packets of Skittles. I grown to hate Skittles on some have a two-litre Glad freezer con - level, except that I don’t, quite. I tainer full of red, orange, yellow, know that at some point, in Jan- and green Skittles. At best, I have a uary, they will be a source of com - mediocre-sized bag of purple fort for my sister when she’s sad Skittles. I am tempted to buy more she couldn’t come home for so the bag I send my sister is a more Christ mas once again this year. THE ColoUR PURPlE — Purple skittles don’t taste the same in every country, and the difference in flavour can trigger intense homesickness. Foreign priests face Books isolation, homesickness Book is a journal of a poet in love with creation Continued from page 3 Savarimuthu said he’s been able join in volleyball, soccer and other DECOYS by William Robertson. Saskatoon: Thistledown Press, 2017. Softcover, 80 pages, $17.95. Gauthier says: “If you want to sports in his local parish — and Reviewed by Edwin Buettner. serve people from First Nations, if he’s even watched his first hockey you don’t know their background, game at Rogers Place, although he William Robertson is a Saskatchewan writer, moon” ( Trespassing ). you don’t know their history and hasn’t played the game himself yet. reviewer, broadcaster, and university teacher. In this Many of the poems in this collection explore the challenges they are facing now, Gauthier said he “can’t imag - collection of well-crafted and easily accessible points of tension among nature, humanity, and tech - you could have a very good heart ine” that a foreign priest who poems, Robertson invites his reader on a kind of nology. There is a comfortable reciprocity in some, but it could be very difficult.” spends several years in Canada exploratory hike guided by verse that “goes down while others bristle with the energy of conflict. For Foreign priests face the addition - would not return to his home coun - easy.” example, Brook Trout touches on the complexities of al challenges of isolation and home - try as a changed man who will This book is the journal of a poet in love with cre - the human/nature relationship involved in the act of sickness, so they are paired with a enrich his home country. ation. At times, however, one can sense a degree of fishing. Initially, the “fish wasn’t going to be inter - mentor priest in the same diocese to “The experience they will have tension, if not guilt, between the intimacies of the ested / in what I was throwing at it,” yet it eventual - share experiences and thoughts. here could change their mind, change poet’s heart-knowing and his impressive taxonomic ly takes the bait and things escalate to a pitched bat - Thousands of kilometres from their vision, and I don’t think they knowledge of the natural world: “. . . time was, birds tle. Though ultimately victorious, the fisher pays home, the foreign priests keep in would be the same priest.” were all just birds / undifferentiated animals that flew silent homage to the spent warrior he has landed: “I contact with family and friends in By the same token, local parish - and made / noise above till someone had to name fall/before it. muddy bloody crazy / both worn out, I their home country, and some of es in Canada won’t be the same, them” ( Bush League Adam ). Evoking the Book of rub away the muck / to shine its silver.” them think about them a lot. either. Genesis, it seems, for Robertson, “naming” is risky Robertson understands that poetry is most effec - “It’s my country. I miss my fam - “The priests come with their in that, unchecked, it leads to greater alienation from tive when its focus is on the particulars — a thing’s ily, my friends, my land and my ecclesial experience and their nature and even other people. For example, in distinctiveness — details that elude the non-poetic culture,” Ndanga said, adding they social and cultural experience, and Taxonomy , a local girl returns from university armed eye and ear. His work fairly teems with expressions have questions about life in Canada I would say this exchange can with “new names for old things.” This newfound of the exquisite uniqueness of things: “the hard as he becomes more and more enrich our church,” Gauthier said. power leads to a rift in relationship when she says denim edge / of a pocket”; “boathouse with its leaky comfortable here. “A positive sign with the com - hurtful things to a beloved elderly uncle. Her insen - canoe, crazy tools / and milk cartons of old records”; “I’m feeling at home with Ca na - ing of these priests is that sitivity “wip(ed) the smile off his face with her word “Robins . . . / redbreasts puffed with lust.” In sharp dian culture. I have to make myself ‘Catholic’ means universal. Cana - . . . / she tells him, use the proper word, and feels the relief, the “local guys” in Not Saying a Word , reveal Canadian among Canadians. I came dian churches are multinational, so first little hurt / of loneliness” a certain blindness when they refer to an injured to work with people. I came to be it’s good that we have priests from Robertson takes many opportunities to give the lie moose as “just one / of thousands on this island.” one of them, to work with them.” abroad. They bring not only their to humanity’s bold pretense of “ownership” applied While evocative of an intricate arc of spiritual Savarimuthu admits he did get experience of Jesus Christ, but they to the natural world. In Any Tree , he poignantly cap - connection between humanity and nature, these emotional last year when, as he was also bring their sensitivity.” tures nature’s inexorable triumph: “. . . a farm gone poems are solidly grounded in ordinary reality. Like boarding a flight to Canada, his 86- Ndanga agrees, adding that he back to ground, the trees still / hanging on to their St. Francis of Assisi, Robertson views the natural year-old mother asked him to may be new to Canada, but he human roots, planted / by hand against the long view world as revelatory of a creative and loving force that prom ise to return to officiate at her brings a universal gift to his new of open ground.” Yet the poet intimates that there infuses all things: “. . . the same thing that guides / funeral. home. exists a deeper and more authentic kind of owner - the fish . . . tells us who to seek out / and love.” As Since then he has adapted to his “What I bring from Congo is my ship: “In my small town I own / so much more of the above, so below. new home. An avid athlete, experience of God.” November 29, 2017 ARTS & CULTURE Prairie Messenger 11 Worlds of wonders are coming to the big screen

comics sold like hot - cakes but were also condemned for alleged Screenings moral perversions, even burned in public & Meanings protests. By 1945 Dr. Marston was on the hot seat, defending himself Gerald Schmitz to Josette Frank (Connie Britton) of the Woody Allen’s newest annual as a blockbuster superhero, the tim - concerned Child Study feature Wonder Wheel won’t reach ing could not be better for writer- Association of theatres until next month. But won - director Angela Robinson’s Pro - America. What does der is a theme that runs through a fessor Marston and the Wonder he have to say about number of recent movies. Women , which recounts the history the comic strip’s sce - Wonder isn’t in the title of of her creation as a popular, and narios of bondage, Loving Vincent (http://lovingvin - controversial, comic book figure. suggestive deviant sex - cent.com/), but this first fully oil- In the late 1920s William Moulton uality and undercurrent painted film, a Polish-British co- Marston (Luke Evans) was a psy - of sadomasochism? production directed by Dorota chology professor to bright female The story flips Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, is students at Radcliffe College. His back and forth be - certainly a visual wonder. The book Emotions for Normal People tween that interroga - subject is the reclusive Dutchman posited four primary human behav - tion room and the lovingvincent.com Vincent van Gogh who died in a iours: dominance, inducement, unfolding ménage à LOVING VINCENT — The film Loving Vincent brings the paintings of Vincent van small French village in 1890 at submission, compliance (known as trois involving Mar- Gogh to life to tell his remarkable story. (Café Terrace at Night). age 37 of a bullet wound to the DISC theory). Marston’s wife and ston with Eliza beth stomach after producing some 800 collaborator was the blunt-spoken and Olive as bisexual lovers. The a favourite famous actress, Lillian (good) playing a kid who imag - paintings in eight years, but only subject of scandalous rumours, Mayhew (Julianne Moore), a star ines himself to be a Mongolian selling one. This is the van Gogh Loving Vincent William and Elizabeth lost their of the stage and the silent screen goat herder, and in The Book of who became one of the most cele - teaching posts and, having failed just as the “talkies” are about to Henry (not so good). But he will brated painters of all time, whose (Poland/U.K.) to patent the lie detector, needed take over. Although that doesn’t star in Xavier Dolan’s first coveted art fetches fortunes, and Professor Marston and another source of income. While turn out so well for the star-struck English-language film, The Death who remains a figure of enduring the Wonder Women Elizabeth worked as a secretary, Rose, she discovers other wonders and Life of John F. Donovan, controversy over whether the fatal William came up with a novel in the American Museum of scheduled for a January release. wound was self-inflicted. (U.S.) way to explore female desire and Natural History where her brother And, now 11, he is a wonder in the Over six years 125 painters Wonderstruck power, which he saw as confirm - Walter works. A promising door director Stephen Chobosky’s laboured to produce 65,000 painted (U.S) ing his DISC theory. Why not a has opened. aptly named Wonder , adapted frames in van Gogh’s strikingly dis - Wonder (U.S.) fighting female heroine? Not For young Rose’s bustling New from the novel by R.J. Palacio. tinctive impressionist style. That coincidentally, Wonder Woman York of the Roaring Twenties, Tremblay plays August work has been transformed into a (like Superman’s Clark Kent) con - Haynes and longtime ace cinematog - “Auggie” Pullman who was born moving posthumous mystery and Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), a fellow ceals her identity as a secretary. rapher Edward Lachman create the with a rare condition known as story arc by means of animation psychology academic resentful of And she has a golden lasso that silent black-and-white world that she mandibulofacial dysostosis, which techniques including live action and Harvard’s refusal to grant her a compels men to tell the truth. witnesses. Ben’s 1970s New York is affects the face and ears. Even after digital rotoscoping. The story has doctorate. The couple invented a The threesome indulged in a multiracial polyglot place viewed in 27 corrective surgeries marked Armand (Douglas Booth), the son of lie-detection apparatus based on some kinky behaviour while rais - Technicolor and showing the scars of facial deformities remain, and local postmaster Joseph Roulin measuring subliminal physiologi - ing two sons. Elizabeth and Olive urban blight. In addition to evocative Auggie, stargazer and Star Wars (Chris O’Dowd), tasked with deliv - cal responses. Their own emotional briefly separated, but reunited music by Carter Burwell, the visual fan, takes to wearing an astronaut ering a letter from Vincent to his relationship was tested when before William died of cancer in contrasts are accompanied by David helmet to hide from the world. It’s brother Theo (Cezary Lukaszewicz). Marston was drawn to an attractive 1947, and spent the rest of their Bowie’s Space Oddity and a version also a reason he loves going about Armand’s investigation into the student, Olive Green (Bella lives together. Though the accura - of Richard Strauss’s Also sprach masked on Halloween. murky circumstances of the artist’s Heathcote), whom he engaged as cy of their sexual bond has been Zarathustra (the famous theme of Auggie is lucky to have two demise brings into the picture other an assistant. questioned, the movie makes one Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey ). loving parents, Isabel (Julia figures, notably Doctor Gachet Although the daughter of a rad - wonder about the unusual human This city turned toward the future Roberts) and Nate (Owen (Jerome Flynn) and his daughter ical feminist and niece of contra - affairs in the genesis of cartoon seems to embody a repeated phrase Wilson), a kind adolescent sister, characters. from Oscar Wilde: “All of us are in Olivia “Via” (Izabela Vidovic), the gutter, but some of us are looking and family dog Daisy. But after * * * at the stars.” early years of home schooling, Wandering its strange crowded Mom decides it’s time for him to Director Todd Haynes’ streets, Ben is soon robbed. But he enter fifth grade with regular kids Wonderstruck, adapted by Brian still has the bookmark and a fortu - at Beecher preparatory school. Selznick from his 2011 novel, tells nate encounter with an African- The principal, Mr. Tushman one of the year’s most unusual and American boy of similar age leads (Mandy Patinkin), tries to ease that beautiful stories through alternat - to the Museum of Natural History process and Auggie’s homeroom ing narratives set a half-century where the boy’s father works. teacher, Mr. Browne (Daveed apart that parallel the experiences Further discovery takes Ben to a Diggs), is a cool black dude. But of two deaf children in New York relocated bookstore run by a man the whip-smart Auggie sticks out, City until ultimately they intersect. named Walter and a meeting with and kids can be insensitive and In 1977 in Gunflint, Minnesota, his deaf sister Rose (Moore cruel. A rich, overbearing class - 12-year-old Ben (Oakes Fegley) again), whose only son, Daniel, mate, Julian (Bryce Gheisar), is a has nightmares about wolves as he had travelled to Gunflint Lake as particular teasing tormentor, treat - mourns the loss of his single moth - part of creating a diorama of ing him as a freak. Auggie thinks er, Elaine (a brief appearance by wolves for the museum. he’s made a friend of another boy, Michelle Williams), the local Rose tells Ben of her work as a Jack Will (Noah Jupe), but is heart - librarian. One day Ben discovers a maker of models for museums, broken when something is said lovingvincent.com book with the title “Wonderstruck” and takes him to see a miniature behind his back. An African- oIl PAINTING ANIMATIoN — Loving Vincent was first shot as a live about the origins of museums as panorama of New York built for American girl named Summer action film with actors, and then hand-painted over frame by frame in “cabinets of wonders.” Inside is a the 1964 world’s fair in which she (Millie Davis) then reaches out to oils. Robert Gulaczyk appears in his first film role as Vincent van Gogh. bookmark to Elaine signed “Love had hidden mementos of Daniel. him. Meanwhile, Via struggles Danny” with the address of a New Outside, the great blackout strikes with her own issues, feeling left Marguerite (Saoirse Ronan), immor - ception advocate Margaret York City bookstore. Just as Ben and the stars come out over the out and abandoned by best friend talized in van Gogh portraits. The Sanger, Olive tells them she was thinks he may have found his darkened skyline. Miranda (Danielle Rose Russell). film leaves unresolved the enigma of raised by nuns. As bizarrely, if father, a lightning strike renders So ends a wondrous fable in When she and an African- the painter’s tormented character and less than fully convincing, is that him deaf. Ben is hospitalized but, which the stars seem to align as American boy, Justin (Nadji Jeter), the manner of his passing. Its main the young sexual ingénue soon undeterred and with a little help, we look up at them. become close, she pretends to be effect is to inspire a fresh apprecia - enters into an unconventional love hops a bus to the Big Apple in an only child. tion for the wondrous power of a triangle with her mentors that is a search of the bookstore and Danny. * * * A series of small dramas ensue, unique artistic vision. prelude to the circumstances for In 1927 in Hoboken, New but with kindness as the theme, Marston’s later comic inspiration. Jersey, a deaf girl, Rose (played Vancouver child actor Jacob things eventually work out. * * * The movie tries to hook us into by Millicent Simonds who is Tremblay, Oscar nominated for Indeed, together with some that consequential narrative from deaf), leaves her stern father’s 2015’s Room , has had mixed suc - endearing fantasy touches, this is Following this summer’s return the start by jumping ahead to when household and takes the ferry to cess in several roles since — in the kind of movie described as of Wonder Woman to the big screen the wartime Wonder Woman the marvels of Manhattan seeking the overlooked Burn Your Maps heartwarming, and that’s OK. 12 Prairie Messenger DEEPENING OUR FAITH November 29, 2017 At Advent we renew our pledge to not settle down

Over the next few months the Prairie Messenger will occasionally fea - ture writing from past contributors and editors. The following editorial by Andrew Britz, OSB, is titled “ Advent dares us to dream ,” and was origi - nally published in the Nov. 29, 2000, issue of the PM . It is also included in his book Rule of Faith : as we worship, so we believe, so we live.

Advent is a time of longing, worth its salt invariably leads to the longing for the kingdom made discovery of new “crud.” Thus it is present in Jesus Christ. easy to be cynical, to see only It is not a time to pretend that smallness of spirit if not outright Jesus has not yet come. We do not self-serving sin in others. And, per - long for someone whom we do not haps saddest of all, we choose the know. It is precisely because we personal path of least resistance and have already come to know and become cynical about ourselves. cherish Jesus as our Lord and Rather than truly face that Saviour that we can truly long for alarming emptiness in our hearts, his presence. that deadening hollowness, we God with wisdom divine made proclaim it to be normal. We con - us a mystery unto ourselves. Every veniently decide that we should time we come to a new level of self- not expect more of ourselves. awareness we also awaken to the Advent dares us to dream. The Design Pics fact that there is much more about eighth chapter of St. Paul’s Letter AdVENT PRoCEss — “We should take consolation that the church in its Advent liturgy admits to its ourselves that we do not know. to the Romans provides us with a incompleteness, its smallness of spirit, its temptation to settle down and idolize its current structures as nigh- And so, even our self-accept - wonderful Advent meditation. The on perfect. . . . Advent reminds us that we can change and move beyond what satisfies us today. Advent also ance becomes an act of faith in the apostle reminds us bluntly what the assures us that our church can change, can change even those structures it has so carefully divinized. In this God who created us. So it is not first fruits of the Spirit will mean Advent process we come to notice that our very concept of God also changes.” just Jesus whom we now know for us. The Spirit, he says, will help only in faith and hope. Advent us groan inwardly as we wait for itself makes its own the words of makes our smallness of spirit the that our church can change, can tells us not to be afraid to hope for our bodies to be set free. “For we the prophet Isaiah, words spoken norm. Because we know Jesus, we change even those structures it has so the kingdom, a kingdom of justice must be content to hope that we during some of Israel’s most diffi - hope for more. We should take carefully divinized. In this Advent and peace, a kingdom of self-ful - shall be saved; our salvation is not cult years. How can it be, we ask, consolation that the church in its process we come to notice that our filment, a kingdom in which the in sight — we should not have to be that the church makes its own the Advent liturgy admits to its in com- very concept of God also changes. church itself is known not so much hoping for it if it were — but as I pathos in Isaiah’s heart as he cried pleteness, its smallness of spirit, its With the new freedom that for its propensity to point out sin say, we must hope to be saved since out in the wilderness of his being temptation to settle down and idol - comes from facing our deepest but, rather, for its marvellous abil - we are not saved yet; it is some - for consolation, for a path of salva - ize its current structures as nigh-on fears, we can with St. Paul realize ity to reveal to us that goodness thing we must await in patience.” tion in his personal desert? perfect. that our patient groaning has been made obvious in Jesus Christ. Paul uses some difficult con - Yes, the church cries out: During Advent we as individu - changed into the new song of the Advent flies in the face of 11- cepts: groaning, not yet in sight, “Come to us, Lord, with your als and as church renew our pledge kingdom: “For I am now certain of o’clock news broadcasts. What is patience. We do not want to groan peace that we may rejoice before not to settle down, not to make our this: neither death nor life, no good in our world is not news. inwardly; we want instant gratifi - you with our whole heart.” Freely, home in the present age. We prom - angel, no prince, nothing that Almost by definition news has cation; patience comes hard for all openly, the church admits that it is ise not to attempt to fill our incom - exists, nothing still to come, not become “bad news.” By wallow - of us. restless. But what else is to be pleteness with anything and every - any power, or height or depth, not ing in the bad, we can justify that Advent does not provide ready expected since the church is not thing that is handy. any created thing, can ever come weakest of human responses — answers; it calls us to faith. A line yet fully at home with its Lord? Advent reminds us that we can between us and the love of God cynicism. often used in the Advent liturgy And so we shun the temptation change and move beyond what satis - made visible in Christ Jesus our Cynicism is beguiling. Before should become a mantra for us: to cynicism, the temptation that fies us today. Advent also assures us Lord.” we know it, our cynicism has not “O, come, Lord Jesus; O you only involved the world — espe - heavens, rain down your salvation. cially, these days, the world of pol - Lord, just let it pour upon me.” itics — but also has come to Texts such as these are put not 2018 include our views about ourselves, just on the lips of individual our church, our God. Christians. In the liturgy the whole There is a hollowness in our church cries out longing for full - ORDER hearts, and any self-examination ness. During Advent the church NOW! 2018

Retreats & Workshops Calendar St. Peter’s Press, 1908 TOGETHER THROUGH ADVENT — An Ecumenical Journey Darcie Lich and Claire Ewert Fisher Saturday, Dec. 2: Holy Linoleum — Rediscovering Sacred Ground The Prairie Messenger 2018 calendar features local photography accompanied Darcie Lich by a meditation. The calendar measures 8 1/2 x 11” and includes the Sundays Saturday, Dec. 9: Every Creature Singing — Claire Ewert Fisher of the liturgical year, holy days, saints’ days and the phases of the moon. Cost: $20 per session/optional lunch: $13. Come to one or both. Please register. plus S&H SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: Contact Sr. Adeline at Queen’s House or any ORDER TODAY FOR A LOW PRICE OF $15.95 affiliated spiritual director for more information or to begin your journey. Mail coupon to: St. Peter’s Press Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 For program details visit www.queenshouse.org To register please call 306-242-1916 Phone: (306) 682-1770 Fax: (306) 682-5285 or email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Name ______Ongoing programs include: Address ______Journey with Scripture: Fr. Paul Fachet. $25 w/lunch. 1st Wed./month at 10 a.m. Women in Ministry Luncheons: One Friday/month, 12 - 1:30 p.m. Town/City ______Prov. ______P. Code ______K of C BROTHERS KEEPER BREAKFAST: 2nd Tuesday/month, 7 a.m. Phone # ______Quiet Day of Prayer: 2nd Wed./month. $25 w/lunch, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration: 4th Monday of the month, 12 p.m. -Tuesday, 12 p.m. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery Personal Day(s) of Private Prayer: Book anytime. K K Cheque/Money Order enclosed VISA/MasterCard VISA/MasterCard #______CVV #______www.facebook.com/Queens-House-Retreat-and-Renewal-Centre Expiry Date ______Name of cardholder ______K Please send me ______calendars @ $15.95 for a total of $______601 Taylor Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9 Postage and Handling (Add $4 for 1st calendar and .50¢ for each additional) $______tel: (306) 242-1916 fax: (306) 653-5941 6% PST (Sask. residents only, on calendars only) $______DO YOU NEED A FACILITY FOR: 5% GST (on calendar and postage) $______Inservices, seminars, workshops, retreats, or any occasion? BOOK QUEEN’S HOUSE TODAY! (306) 242-1925 or [email protected] Total $______November 29, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 13 We should keep our traditions, but lose the idols

with them in the forgotten reaches of the countryside. vision ad seems anxious to foist upon us. We could become Reflecting on the Advent readings while remembering the people of Good Friday (and Easter), not Black Friday; my time in Central America now, though, I wonder if my celebrators of Christmas Day, rather than Boxing Day. Liturgy more recent North American Christmas traditionalism has A priest friend, now in his 70s, tells me he’s spent led me astray. enough time in the confessional to be able to say, “I’ve and Life Isn’t John the Baptist meant to be a model for me, and heard it all” — except for one thing. There is one sin he has all Christians, this Advent? While I’m not ready to eat never, ever heard confessed. Which one? The Second locusts, or forego my winter coat for camel hair, John’s Command ment. Are our idols invisible to us? Joe Gunn proclamation of “a baptism of repentance for the forgive - The ness of sins” challenges me today. How should I “prepare Greek word a way for the Lord?” metanoia OK, I admit it — I just love preparing for Christmas! Perhaps the answer doesn’t lie with Bing Crosby . . . speaks of a I start getting ready in November, collecting the innu - I saw people “prepare the way of the Lord” this week by change of merable ingredients needed to bake my famed Christmas organizing concerts for worthy charities. I saw young “John mind, the fruit cakes, putting up the various decorations my mom and the Baptists” visiting nursing homes to sing Christmas carols suggestion dad left us, and constantly playing Christmas music (which and deliver sweets. Others prepared the way of the Lord by of an expan - drives my kids to distraction). Although I no longer have advocating with their member of Parliament for greater social sion of hori - any wee ones of my own, there are eight kiddies among my justice. Human rights “baptists” wrote Christmas cards on zons. Advent colleagues at work (and another on the way), so, somebody International Human Rights Day to those unjustly imprisoned. would seem has to make sure that the office party is fun for them. I Advent seems to be calling us to a more radical living of to be a per - guess I’ve gladly become a bit of a Yule fool. the Gospel. Isaiah wanted to “comfort” his people, which fect time to It wasn’t always that way. likely meant liberating them from the Babylonian captivity. be about When I lived in Nicaragua, I chose to spend Christmas metanoia . holidays differently than most aid workers. Every year I’d Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Accepting second sunday of Advent travel to the mountainous northern border areas and volun - Psalm 85 the coming teer to pick coffee. Sleeping on the ground, eating rice, tor - 2 Peter 3:8-14 of Christ into december 10, 2017 tillas and beans three times a day, trudging out in the rain, Mark 1:1-8 the world wasn’t exactly “a holiday.” But selling this export crop would mean meant hard foreign currency for the country, and a better life The people rushed to hear John the Baptist, and have the love acceptance for the peasants who had benefitted from land reform and the of God poured on them in baptism — in the wilderness, in the of that radi - creation of their new co-operatives. Somehow, in spite of the desert. That is, they went to seek God on the margins of soci - cal change in Stushie Art fact that foreigners weren’t nearly as efficient harvesters as ety, not in the temple. And certainly not in the shopping malls. our lives that my Nicaraguan hosts, I was always made to feel that I was Advent is a time to prepare for a renewed encounter with would see the little ones, the marginalized, the widows and contributing. And I’d never have understood the struggles Jesus. To create space in our busy lives for the arrival of the the orphans, the lonely and the forgotten, the refugee and for survival of these campesinos had I not spent those weeks Saviour, we probably don’t have to give up all our traditions, the violated person — all those who enjoy God’s favour — but we must give up our idols. Idols are those things we newly perceived as “Emmanuel,” or “God among us.” place above our relationship with Our Lord, anything that So, this Advent, let’s spend some quiet time discerning Gunn is the Ottawa-based executive director of Citizens keeps us from becoming all we can be in relationship with all we need to do to truly prepare for the moment of Our for Public Justice, www.cpj.ca, a member-driven, faith- Jesus. In North America, most of us could do well by fore - Saviour’s arrival in our lives. Let’s identify our “idols.” based public policy organization in Ottawa focused on eco - going any of the competitive consumerism, the wasteful con - And let’s refuse to place them where that Child, born in a logical justice, refugee rights and poverty elimination. sumption, or ecologically ruinous behaviour that every tele - manger, rightly belongs. Mystery of God’s intimate presence inside us is beyond our imaginations

ries like this, gathered through might not want to stay there. Hell, imagine that the infinite Creator dozens of years, published or sim - as Jesus assures us, is a real option; and Sustainer of all things is inti - In ply shared with loved ones. What’s though, as Jesus also assures us, we mately and personally present in - interesting (and consoling) is that judge ourselves. God puts no one to side us, worrying with, sharing virtually all these stories are won - hell. Hell is our choice. our heartaches, and knowing our Exile derfully positive, irrespective of the However, it was what happened most guarded feelings. person’s faith or religious back - after this discussion that I want to Compounding this is the fact that Ron Rolheiser, OMI ground. In virtually every case their share here. A woman approached whenever we do try to imagine experience, while partially inde - me as I was leaving and told me she God’s person, our imaginations scribable, was one in which they had had this exact experience. She come up against the unimaginable. felt a warm, personal, overwhelm - had been clinically dead for some For example, try to imagine this: There’s a growing body of liter - A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the ing sense of love, light, and wel - minutes and then revived through There are billions of persons on this ature today that chronicles the Afterlife . More recently Holly wood come, and not a few of them found medical resuscitation. And, just like earth and billions more have lived experience of persons who were produced the movie Miracles from themselves meeting relatives of the experience of all the others in the on this earth before us. At this very clinically dead for a period of time Heaven which portrays the true theirs that had passed on before literature around this issue, she too minute, thousands of people are (minutes or hours) and were med - story of a young Texas girl who them, sometimes even relatives experienced a wonderful warmth, being born, thousands are dying, ically resuscitated and brought was clinically dead, medically re - they didn’t know they had. As well, light, and welcome, and did not thousands are sinning, thousands are back to life. Many of us, for exam - vived, and who shares what she in virtually every case, they did not want to return to life here on earth. doing virtuous acts, thousands are ple, are familiar with Dr. Eben experienced in the afterlife. want to return to life here but, like Inside of all of this warmth and love, making love, thousands are experi - Alexander’s book Proof of Heaven: There are now hundreds of sto - Peter on the Mountain of the Trans - however, what she remembers most encing violence, thousands are feel - figuration, wanted to stay there. and most wants to share with others ing their hearts swelling with joy, all Recently while speaking at a is this: I learned that God is very of this part of trillions upon trillions conference I referenced this litera - close. We have no idea how close of phenomena. How can one heart, ture and pointed out that, among God is to us. God is closer to us than one mind, one person be conscious - WE INVITE YOU TO PLACE YOUR other things, it seems everyone we ever imagine! Her experience ly on top of all of this and so fully goes to heaven when they die. This, has left her forever branded with a aware and empathetic that no hair CHRISTMAS GREETING of course, immediately sparked a sense of God’s warmth, love, and falls from our heads or sparrow from C G spirited discussion: “What about IN THE welcome, but what’s left the deepest the sky without this person taking hell? Aren’t we judged when we brand of all inside her is the sense of notice? It’s impossible to imagine, die? Doesn’t anyone go to hell?” God’s closeness. pure and simple, and that’s part of 20172017 CCHRISTMAS IISSUE My answer to those questions, I was struck by this because, the very definition of God. which need far more nuance than OF THE RAIRIE ESSENGER like millions of others, I generally How can God be as close to us as P M are contained in a short soundbite, don’t feel that closeness, or at least we are to ourselves? Partly this is was that while we all go to heaven don’t feel it very affectively or mystery, and wisdom, bids us the Christmas issue is when we die, depending upon our imaginatively. God can seem pret - befriend mystery because anything moral and spiritual disposition, we December 13, 2017 ty far away, abstract and imperson - we can understand is not very deep! Deadline for ads is Dec. 1 al, a Deity with millions of things The mystery of God’s intimate, per - to worry about without having to sonal presence inside us is beyond Please contact us to reserve Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, worry about the minutiae of my our imaginations. But everything your advertising spot for your and award-winning author, is small life. within our faith tradition and now Christmas Greeting in this president of the Oblate School of Moreover, as Christians, we most everything in the testimony of special issue! Theology in San Antonio, Texas. believe that God is infinite and hundreds of people who have expe - He can be contacted through his ineffable. This means that while rienced the afterlife assure us that, website: www.ronrolheiser.com. we can know God, we can never while God may be infinite and inef - Ph: 306-682-1772 Fax: 306-682-5285 Now on Facebook: www.face - imagine God. Given that truth, it fable, God is very close to us, clos - email: [email protected] book.com/ronrolheiser makes it even harder for us to er than we imagine. 14 Prairie Messenger FEATURE November 29, 2017 Developed world does not recognize food insecurity

By Phyllis Zagano Being hungry is worse than being poor, but the two so often Luxury predicts downfall, and go hand in hand that Pope Francis when food preparation gets too recently hosted lunch for about fancy, the society is about to 1,200 people in the Paul VI crumble. That’s an idea related to Audience Hall, following his cele - the fall of the Roman republic that bration of mass at St. Peter’s for some credit to the Roman histori - the first World Day of the Poor. an Livy (Titus Livius). Others Nearly 2,800 others were served credit Cyrus the Great. No matter Sunday pranzo at pontifical col - who, it is something to think leges around Rome. about as we see shows on the The idea was to focus on the Food Channel or follow the latest needs of others, especially the celebrity chefs. There is some - poor. thing wrong with the developed Around the globe, some dioce - world’s priorities. ses and parishes picked up the I’ve got nothing against pope’s lead, but the developed Wolfgang Puck, or Rachael Ray, world does not always see the or even Martha Stewart. But realities of poverty. That’s not to intense interest in Kobe beef and say the church doesn’t kick in its fertilized duck eggs is a little over fair share. It’s just that we do not the top, especially since about 10 always see the poor among us. per cent of the people on the plan - Moreover, the developed world et suffer food insecurity. That generally does not recognize the means huger, malnutrition, wast - incredible food insecurity knock - CNS/Justin Lane, EPA ing, stunting, disease, and down - ing at its own back door. Statistics PoVERTY ANd HUNGER — There is poverty, hunger, and homeless worldwide, and also in our own right misery. gathered by the U. S. Department neighbourhoods. of Agriculture in 2016 count 12.6 per cent of American households ago I shared lunch with Sir Arthur that seek to alleviate suffering. an mar, home to the world’s longest- Zagano is senior research asso - worried about the next meal, or at Lewis, Nobel Prize-winning econ - Why? Aside from the systemic running civil war. Myan mar, where ciate-in-residence at Hofstra Uni - least the next one after that. omist and expert in development difficulties that keep bread away Buddhist majority forces are push - versity in Hempstead, New York. According to Campaign 2000, issues. Sir Arthur explained that from starving children, the insani - ing Muslim Rohingya across to Her books include Women Dea - Canada’s child poverty rate is 17 there was enough food in the ties of war rip it from their Bangladesh, is hosting Pope Francis cons: Past, Present, Future and per cent. Africa and Asia count world, but that combined prob - mouths. The UN’s Food and this week. How many people are Women Deacons? : Essays with many more starving people, from lems of transportation and politics Agriculture Organization states suffering there? The numbers range An swers. Libreria Editrice Vati - 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their kept individuals, even nations, that 489 million of the world’s from 400,000 to 600,000 people on cana , the Vatican’s publishing various national populations. starving. While things have 815 million chronically food inse - the move or already refugees. house, has just published her The Pockets of real poverty cause improved since then, it is increas - cure people live in places torn by Horror stories abound; how about Light of the World: Daily Medi - awful conditions in Oceana, Latin ingly clear that the same troubles conflict. the woman, whose child was pulled tations for Advent and Christmas America, and the Caribbean. infect the attempts of individuals, That’s war with all the trap - from her back and tossed into the in Italian. So, what to do? Many years organizations, and even nations pings: killing, burning, looting, flames of her burning village, and raping — just about any heinous was then raped by soldiers? crime you can think of. When the She is just one person. She is We are each a work in progress marauding army shoots your live - poor. She is hungry. She is home - stock, there’s no milk or meat. less. The paradox is that we can’t When the bombs and rubble ruin She is legion. be purified without getting our the stream, there’s no fish to be So, before you pass up Aunt hands dirty, because that’s how caught. When the sky is falling and Rose’s creamed spinach this week, Outlooks from the work gets done, including the you’re constantly on the move, remember there really are people soul work. That doesn’t mean we there’s no time to harvest the crops. starving in China. And in Myan - can’t be perfect in our hoped-for And that, by the way, is what is mar. And in Bangladesh. And the Inner Life life purpose. Alfred Adler, who happening to the Rohingya in My - maybe just next door. along with Freud and Jung was Cedric Speyer part of the original trinity of modern psychology, spoke of a fictional final goal or guiding fic - “The student of utopias knows the weakness that lies in perfectionism tion as indispensable to mental . . . what is lacking in such dreams is not a sense of the practical; what health. By that he meant the opti - is lacking is a realization of the essential human need for disharmony mistic intention to hold the vision and conflict, elements whose acceptance and resolution are indispensa - of what we can be at our best, ble to psychological growth.” — Lewis Mumford however that is imagined by the individual. It’s a positive, teleo - Considering that inner and outer self-idealization. Otherwise known logical approach to personality, conflict characterizes much of our as being “above it all” with one’s emphasizing the higher calling of individual and collective lives, one belief system providing a kind of a person under their unique life has to wonder about the gospel divine immunity to the down side circumstances. injunction “Be ye perfect.” It can’t of the human condition, inside and Adler’s theory diverged from mean faultless or flawless, because out. Freud’s exposure of the underbel - “As it is written, there is none There is no seal of godly ly of humanity, covered up by a righteous, no not one” (Rm 3:10). approval. There is no perfection thin veneer of civilization. The As more accurate translations making us acceptable to God that truth lies between the two. When and nuanced readings would have we can achieve or accomplish on asked about religion, Adler said, it, each of us is still very much a our own. There is only the perfect “we try to live in a way that, if “work in progress” and under the finished plan for humanity, para - there is a God, he must be satis - grace of God “even as your Father doxically accounting for all in fied with us.” which is in heaven is perfect” and need of redemption. It’s when the fiction of the shaping us in his image. That One of the funniest moments envisioned final goal (in that it’s makes the perfection in question we’ve ever had in the locker room always yet to be fulfilled) is dis - more a matter of the completion we at the gym where I go is when we placed by reification of the ideal - envision and embrace as our divine were teasing one of the guys about ized self, and an “elected” spiritu - destiny, than any meeting of high how much time he spent preening al stance, that the story of reli - standards. Otherwise the command in front of the mirrors. I asked him gious hypocrisy begins. There are to be perfect is prone to the biggest during the banter why he didn’t many great movies on the subject trap for the religiously inclined: seem offended when labelled a — see the films Rain (Joan narcissist. To this day, I don’t know Crawford, 1932), Susan and God how consciously clever and ironic (Joan Crawford, 1940), Elmer Speyer is a Benedictine Oblate his reply was intended to be, or Gantry (Burt Lancaster, 1960) and as well as an author, subject mat - how half-serious his response. In The Apostle (Robert Duvall, 1997) ter ex pert for e-therapy, clinical any case, without missing a beat he for how the religiously perfect can consultant and director of Inner - quipped, “I don’t mind because be the enemy of the providentially View Guid ance International (IGI). I’m not just any narcissist. I’m a possible, and how much mayhem https://www.innerviewguidance.com flawless narcissist.” that can cause. November 29, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 15 Hindu-Catholic dialogue: on love of neighbour

been exhausted,” she said. Christians who de nounce Hindu - for the dignity of life expressed in “We have to engage in dia - ism that they are demonizing a church-sponsored hospitals, soup logue with traditions other than very good religion,” said Reding - kitchens, homeless shelters, and Challenge our own, “ Swamini reflected. “In ton. “Tolerance is necessary as a other charities, challenges Hindus the past, Christianity was used as minimum. At a middle level is to ask: “Do we serve enough?” a tool of colonialism in India and respect for religions other than our “Catholics are so caring for un- of Ecumenism other parts of the world. We need own. The highest level is friend - born life,” said Dasa. “Should we a new covenant of relationship so ship. Aspects of another’s religion Hindus not become equally advo - Thomas Ryan, CSP that we go beyond this history and can enrich me and my own reli - cates on this issue? You challenge the pain of the past. We need to gion.” me to be deeper and more self-dis - reset the button on new ways of Another panel respondent, ciplined about my own faith. To “Respect for the dignity of the ment in the past month that poli - interacting and respecting one Anuttama Dasa, director of a Hin - not just study it, but to live it! We human person is the foundational tics needs leadership that func - another.” du international commission, can both do better in word and principle. The crown of creation is tions in a spirit of conciliarity and Swamini cited climate change shared that the Christian respect deed, starting today.” the human person,” said Arch - solidarity. While the church is as a domain of collab - bishop Christophe Pierre, Vatican supportive of patriotism and cul - oration. “There is a Ambassador to the United States, tures, she rejects nationalism. She lot that Pope Francis at the Nov. 11 third national proposes the culture of encounter. is doing to respond to Hindu-Catholic dialogue meeting. “Before war can be engaged,” climate change. This “The human person bears the said Archbishop Pierre, “all other is something Hindus divine image and is made for means of seeking to resolve the would be happy to communion — union with God conflicts must have been tried engage with. We have and with others. Dignity is not first. The weapons of truth and jus - a lot to explore in based on what the person has or tice must be used. One is morally common, and we can does, but on what the person is,” bound to confront others who work together to pro - he said. commit genocide. This is a crime mote understanding The meeting, which took place against God and humanity.” and harmony among at the Shri Siva Vishnu Temple in In her keynote address, all religions.” Lanham, Md., began with a video Swamini Svatmavidyananda, a Jesuit Father James communication to the dialogue professor in Berkeley, Calif., and Redington of the Uni - participants from Congress woman spiritual director for Hindu educa - versity of Scranton, Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii: “The tional communities in Maryland Pa., one of the panel more we grow in love of God, the and Oregon, said “The right to respondents to the more we will love our neighbours, practise one’s own faith does not key note speakers, ob - and the less we will see war as the include making it difficult for served that solidarity answer to our problems. We can - other faiths to practise theirs. is a real help for com - not cultivate our love for God Freedom of religion enjoins upon mon action in over - independent of the well-being of everyone the responsibility to coming poverty, mak - others who are all God’s children. respect, and never to denigrate or ing peace, helping ref - What could be more pleasing to vilify, others’ faith and practice.” ugees, offsetting cli - God than caring for God’s chil - “Everything for us Hindus is a mate change. dren? This is the solution to all of manifestation of God,” said “If we act together our problems,” said Gabbard. Swamini. “The air we breath, in solidarity, that will In his keynote address on the trees, clouds, all created beings are deepen and make Tom Ryan, CSP theme of the gathering — “Love just manifestations of that one more effective our HINdU-CATHolIC dIAloGUE — A Hindu-Catholic dialogue meeting took of neighbour in the Catholic and God. We do not worship idols or work. Good Chris- place at the shri siva Vishnu Temple in lanham, Md., recently. “The more we grow Hindu traditions: Reflections on graven images; they are simply tians should have the in love of God, the more we will love our neighbours, and the less we will see war as War, Nationalism and Poverty” — expressions of the One. And that courage to tell other the answer to our problems” said Tulsi Gabbard, a Congresswoman from Hawaii. Archbishop Pierre stated that love Presence is not outside of who you is a choice for the good of others, are.” the common good, and that this is On the topic of war, Swamini Educate with passion, to instil passion the proper context for discussing noted that the Hindu tradition is nationalism. committed to ahimsa , non-vio - and the dynamic messaging of He cited Pope Francis’ state - lence. “Our whole life is gov - today’s technology, and the contra - erned by non-violence. If we had dictory information that flows to to pick out one value in all the Figure of our children, is overwhelming. Ryan directs the Paulist North values of Hinduism, it is non-vio - The Calgary Catholic Educa tion American Office for Ecumenical lence. The Veda encourages its Foundation is one organization that and Interfaith Relations in Boston, practice in all transactions. Using Speech understands the challenge for both MA, and is a member of the dia - arms comes only at the very end teachers and students. Founded in logue. when all other possibilities have Dr. Gerry Turcotte 2008, CCEF is a charitable organi - zation that raises funds for schools in need — innovative educational Besides being wise, the parody, he often builds on real situ - experiences, technology, literacy Teacher also taught the people ations to make his humour more projects, and educational environ - knowledge, weighing and study - identifiable. While all of us no ments — to ensure that no child is ing and arranging many proverbs. doubt prepare diligently for each left behind. And once a year, on — Ecclesiastes 12:9 class, it’s true to say that the work - Catholic Education Sunday, the or - load for teachers is at times over - ganization rallies to raise funds In the hilarious television pro - whelming. And teaching isn’t just through parishes and the communi - gram Mr. D. , the titular character about the material anyway. As ty to help support educational The heart-warming expounds a basic philosophy about teachers everywhere understand — opportunities and initiatives that are teaching. “Mark the smart kid’s it’s how you present information, otherwise not funded. and humorous memoirs exam first and use it as an answer and how you connect to your stu - I’m proud to say that this year key.” He explains in another epi - dents, that can be the difference be - our bachelor of education students of a great friend of sode about the mentoring of tween failure and success. All this is will be playing an active role in the Prairie Messenger practicum students — basically, compounded by the different learn - helping to promote the founda - throw them into the deep end and ing needs and styles of the students tion’s objectives, and indeed that and the poor. $20 take a day off. In his standup routine themselves. Clarity for one individ - one of our education students, he once told a group of teachers, “I ual can be gobbledygook to another. Vanessa Bitoni, is on CCEF’s To order contact: saw a seminar recently, ‘Engaging For all of these reasons, I think board of directors. Together I am Ted Gerwing: [email protected] 306-374-9771 Students in the 21st century.’ It was teaching is one of the toughest gigs sure that we will work together to Steve Buttinger: [email protected] 306-374-3345 cancelled. You can’t engage them on the planet. And yet, the world ensure that this is one of the most anymore! Teachers saying, ‘I’m not over, masochists keep presenting successful years to date for CCEF. going to that! That’s impossible.’ ” themselves to take on this chal - Our job is not just to educate, Needless to say, Mr. D. is not lenge. Why? I truly believe that but also to do this with passion, so To make a tax deductible donation make cheques payable to: actually a role model for us as most individuals turn to this re - that we can help students find The Al Gerwing Foundation, 14 Harvard Cres., Saskatoon SK S7H 3R1 teach ers, though in the way of great markable profession because they theirs. Aristotle once said, “Edu - To donate online visit: The Alphonse Gerwing Foundation website. want to make a difference in the cating the mind without educating lives of others. Teaching, in the con - the heart is no education at all.” To Turcotte is president of St. text of a faith tradition, can be even which I think we can all say: Mary’s University in Calgary. harder. We live in a secular society, Amen! 16 Prairie Messenger FEATURE November 29, 2017 Meeting the Calls to Action, one step at a time

Catholic Connections

Joanna Landry

Truth and Reconciliation Com - acknowledge that the foundation mission Chief Justice Murray of reconciliation is built on rela - Sinclair hit the nail on the head tionships of trust and respect. when he coined the phrase In 2015 the Truth and Recon - “Education is what got us here ciliation Commission created 94 and education is what’s going to Calls to Action to redress the lega - get us out.” cy of residential schools so organ - These powerful words put izations and individuals would things into perspective. How can have guidelines to create aware - we realistically move a whole ness and move forward on making school division to change and change. The calls specific to edu - acknowledge what we have cation advanced Regina Catholic learned about indigenous people Schools to create a plan for imple - mentation. Regina Catholic Schools As we gath - WINTER CoUNT BUFFAlo RoBE — In May of 2017 renowned artist and Elder Wayne Goodwill from ered to mark the standing Buffalo First Nation was commissioned to create an authentic Winter Count Buffalo Robe on beginning of the behalf of Regina Catholic schools. At the opening school mass in August the buffalo robe was placed on the new school year altar while Archbishop don Bolen spoke to reconciliation. on Aug. 31, 2017, Arch bish - make a difference for reconcilia - cantly and will make its way ing school year. Staff and students op Donald Bolen tion. In May of 2017 renowned through the schools, the larger in Regina Catholic schools began reminded us at artist and Elder Wayne Goodwill Catholic Community and for any - the day in prayerful silence and our opening from Standing Buffalo First one wanting to hear the story. This acknowledged the children who mass of the im - Nation was commissioned to cre - initiative has grown in magnitude were forced to attend residential portance of our ate an authentic Winter Count and will leave a historic legacy for schools. Each of our schools call to reconcili - Buffalo Robe on behalf of Regina Regina Catholic Schools. marked Orange Shirt Day with a ation with our Catholic Schools. At the opening On Oct. 2, 2017, Regina Cath- liturgy of remembrance and a indigenous sis - mass the buffalo robe was placed olic Schools marked its annual variety of learning activities to ters and broth - on the altar while Archbishop Don Orange Shirt Day — Every Child recognize the wrongs of the resi - ers. His power - spoke to reconciliation. Matters. The wearing of an orange dential school system and to hon - ful message has The Winter Count Buffalo shirt is to honour Phyllis Jack our residential school survivors. resonated this Robe displays a timeline of histor - Webstad, a First Nation elder, who Our school division continues school year as ical significance for indigenous on her first day of residential to strive to meet the Calls to and transition into “reconcilia - we live out our theme of “Let people in Canada. It is to be pre - school was stripped of her brand Action through various resources tion” mode? Well, you accept the Your Light Shine.” This theme of sented as a gift of reconciliation to new orange shirt and never saw it and supports provided. One of our fact that it cannot be done bringing light when parts of our Pope Francis in Rome in anticipa - again. This day is an opportunity most impactful resources is the overnight, that this is a journey world are in darkness has never tion of his visit to Saskatchewan. to set the stage for anti-racism and that may take many steps, but been more important, especially It would be a major step toward anti-bullying policies for the com - — sTUdENTs , page 17 most importantly, we need to during this time of reconciliation. healing to have Pope Francis Archbishop Bolen’s message acknowledge the TRC Calls to started our school year off in a Action #58 where he apologizes Landry is co-ordinator for First good way, but his ongoing mes - to our indigenous brothers and sis - Nations, Inuit and Métis Educa - sage throughout the year also ters, on our soil. tion in Regina Catholic Schools. brought to light our efforts to This project has grown signifi - BOSCO FOUNDATION John Bosco Child & Family Services Foundation

The John Bosco Child and Family Services Foundation (Bosco Foundation) is a public foundation dedicated to the provision of buildings and facilities used for the treatment, education and housing of children, adolescents and adults who are in need of support. Bosco Foundation believes in assisting non-profit and charitable organizations who provide vital services which aid vulnerable people in our society. We do this by providing our facilities to various non-profit and charitable agencies at below market level rental rates. Our facilities are used for social services group care, foster care, adult mental health care, the St. Francis Food Bank, two AA groups and a NE Edmonton cadet core among others. In addition, we provide volunteer services to assist two small non- profit organizations working with low income seniors and victims of stroke with fundraising and volunteer recruitment assistance. The Bosco Foundation is currently working with a large service organization on a joint project with the aim of providing affordable housing for low-income seniors. 100% of donations go toward charitable purposes. Administrative expenses are covered by other sources. Please forward your donation to: Bosco Foundation 315-6770 129 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T5C 1V7 N Tel: (780) 809-8585 Fax: (780) 809-8586 www.boscofoundation.com *Charitable Tax Number: 85985 8664 RT0001*

November 29, 2017 CHURCH AT HOME Prairie Messenger 17 Memories and gifts from 24 Christmases at the PM

have apparently passed along to then feeling ashamed you don’t sioned to help Andrew with the my children. Whenever they come have anything to give back? meal — lasagne and Caesar salad. home we vow we won’t stay up as Gratitude just feels puny. You Afterward we walked a few steps Around the late as the last time. First night of want to run out to find something out the church over to the rectory the Thanksgiving weekend, visit - bigger, and drop it off later. where we enjoyed drinks from ing until 2:40 a.m. Next night But gifts aren’t meant to be Andrew’s well-stocked bar. It was Kitchen Table 2:15. OK, a bit earlier. balanced out, compared, repaid, the only time I visited him in his One evening years ago Andrew or one-upped. own home. There was the friend Maureen Weber rang my doorbell, not my mom One of my favourite Christmas who loved to celebrate, talk, wel - and dad’s, and sat in my kitchen, memories from my time at the PM come and be welcomed. Christmas and offered me a job. Would I join was the staff party Andrew hosted is when I miss him most of all. Andrew Britz, OSB, was a reg - always welcome. Sometimes he’d the Prairie Messenger staff as at his parish. It’s flat country and Andrew showed up at my door ular guest in our home from the pop in for a few minutes en route to associate editor? No. Don’t want Russ and I drove to St. Anthony’s once upon a time, bearing gifts time I was no more than 12. I somewhere else. Often he came for it. Can’t do it. It was my mind’s in Lake Lenore under a dome of that have taken 24 years to remember Andrew as the robust meals, and even more often he default position. Reluctantly I said starlit midnight blue. The dinner in unwrap. They turned out to be a man with the black beard whose came for evening visits with my yes. I didn’t think it would be a the church basement was served, good fit. presence filled our kitchen. Kids mom and dad, scotch in glasses as good fit. with lights dimmed, by Father I have nothing to give but grat - naturally took to him and he loved they talked late into the evening This will be my 24th Christmas Demetrius, who was commis - itude. It’s not puny. to tease my brothers, who were about church, theology, baseball, with the PM. The lights of the sea - much younger than I, by twisting life’s absurdity, and life’s grace. son are already twinkling (some their words and making them Kids are especially good at say too early, but not I) and, with laugh. It makes sense. As anyone eavesdropping, and overhearing this last Christmas here, I’ve been who followed Andrew’s 21 years bits of their conversations was my thinking about gifts. Here’s the as editor of the PM knew, he was first dip into the pool of deep dis - thing with some gifts — you don’t a wordsmith. cussions that ripple beyond mid - always see them that way at first. Andrew often arrived at our night. I don’t know if it was the The early years at the paper home unannounced. He’d ring the memory of Andrew’s visits with were hard — coming to terms doorbell repeatedly — his trade - my parents, but the enjoyment of with a more hectic home life, mark — knowing it was kind of talking late into the evening has having less time with the kids annoying, but also knowing he was stayed with me, and something I and for myself and with my hus - band, feeling clumsy and inept in Tax-exempt status supported a new workplace and making mistakes (getting the paper tem - porarily banned in Winnipeg Continued from page 5 Only 12 per cent of religiously comes to mind). Andrew’s leg - committed Canadians say the endary standard of excellence Most Canadians understand the same. and attention to detail was now seal of the confessional, with 72 In the population as a whole, 34 experienced first-hand, and I per cent saying priests should not per cent say the government over - learned workplace personalities be forced to disclose what they does respect for religion. One in six don’t necessarily match that of a hear in confession. say the government shows too little friend’s. The big divide on religion in respect for religion and nearly half Andrew was blunt but fair. Canada’s public life is between the (49 per cent) think the government Were my headlines really stupid? believers and the unbelievers. gets the balance about right. Mentors are tough because they While 71 per cent of religiously The 19 per cent of Canadians push your limits — because they committed Canadians say that reli - who are non-believers also dis - believe in you, even when you gious and faith communities are agree with their fellow citizens don’t believe in yourself. It took making a “very good” or “more about the tax-exempt status of reli - awhile to learn that making an good than bad” contribution to the gious foundations. Almost eight in error, even a big one, didn’t cause country, only 13 per cent of non- 10 non-believers want their local me to break, though I often felt I believers say the same thing. churches, synagogues, mosques might. A clear majority of 54 per cent and temples taxed. But the major - Christmas is a season of gifts. of non-believers say the govern - ity of survey respondents (55 per Have you ever answered your M. Weber ment shows “too much” or “way cent) support tax-exempt status for door to find someone unexpected PM AT CHRIsTMAs — A look across the Prairie Messenger editorial too much” respect for religion. organized religion. standing there with a present, and office, with fond memories of Christmases past. This year will be our last. PRAIRIE MESSENGER PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Students, staff eager to learn

MCKERCHER LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS KAPOOR, SELNES, & Continued from page 16 we internalize the learning. The KLIMM SASKATOON: John Schachtel Regina Catholic Schools Circle of (306) 653-2000 Barristers & Solicitors relationship sustained by indige - Voices First Nations, Inuit and W. Selnes, B.A., LL.B.; L.J.(Dick) Batten, QC 1201 - 8th St. East G. Klimm, B.A., LL.B.; Michel G. Thibault Saskatoon, Sask. nous elders in the schools. The sup - Métis Advisory Committee created David M.A. Stack,QC (306) 978-5200 port, teaching and knowledge they a Truth and Reconciliation symbol Phone (306) 752-5777, P.O. Box 2200 Curtis J. Onishenko Melfort, Saskatchewan S0E 1A0 share is a powerful resource for our that will become a visual reminder Galen R. Richardson   
  Phone (306) 873-4535, P.O. Box 760 students. The support they provide of our commitment to ensure that Tisdale, Saskatchewan S0E 1T0 REGINA:     306.565.6500 through curricular connections, we share the truth and become David E. Thera, QC 
     traditional perspectives models for reconciliation. and cultural practices The learning contin - WEBER Committed to serving the legal        
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Trafficking on a global scale front all its economic, environmental, political, and ethi - Nicole Barrett, a human trafficking expert at the cal causes,” Auza said, “but it is particularly important to University of British Columbia’s Allard School of Law, While the world is witnessing unprecedented num - prevent and end the wars and conflicts that make people said that anecdotally 12 or 13 years old was a common bers of displaced persons and refugees, a recent UN con - especially vulnerable to being trafficked.” age for young women to be forced into the sex trade. ference highlighted a troubling side-effect: human traf - In his Nov. 21 address, the UN secretary general said, She added that, much like the overall picture of ficking. “Criminals and terrorists are capitalizing on, and perpetu - human trafficking in Canada, the data related to the ages of “Wars and violent conflicts have become the biggest ating, the disorder and mayhem of conflict. To fund their the victims and their abusers is hobbled by the fact that driving force of forced human displacement,” Archbishop crimes, they prey on the vulnerable. Their brutality knows only a fraction of trafficking crimes are ever uncovered or Bernardito Auza said in a recent address to the United no bounds: sexual exploitation, forced labour, the reported. Nations. The Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer removal of bodily organs and slavery are the tools of their A Wikipedia article quotes The Native Women’s of the Holy See to the UN noted that traffickers take trade.” Association of Canada as saying that Aboriginal women and advantage of the chaos of war to exploit vulnerable peo - António Guterres named some of the groups he was girls are significantly over-represented in the statistics on ple, using them for sexual slavery or forced labour. referring to: “Terrorist groups such as Da’esh, Boko sexual exploitation and trafficking in Canada. The associa - In recent years, Europe has been experiencing a Haram, Al-Shabaab and the Lord’s Resistance Army are tion identified the root causes of the crisis as the ongoing refugee crisis at a level unseen since the Second World forcing women, boys and girls into dehumanizing servi - impact of colonialism on “Aboriginal societies, the legacies War, with millions fleeing violence and instability, largely tude.” African migrants, he reported, have been sold as of the residential schools and their inter-generational effects, in the Middle East, leaving hundreds of people, particular - “goods” in Libya. family violence, childhood abuse, poverty, homelessness, ly women and children, vulnerable to trafficking. The “It is our collective responsibility to stop these lack of basic survival necessities, race and gender-based dis - Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, issued by the UN crimes,” he said. crimination, lack of education, migration, and substance Office on Drugs and Crime, reports that increasing num - In Canada, Global News reported that people under addictions.” bers of victims trafficked from Iraq, Syria and Somalia are the age of 18 made up about a quarter of recorded human Traffickers mask their crimes by appearing or claim - appearing in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. trafficking victims in Canada between 2009 and 2014. ing to care about these girls. The relationship may start The Report stated that the most common type of Statistics Canada, meanwhile, has noted that minors with promises and expensive gifts, but it soon degenerates human trafficking (79 per cent) is for the purposes of sex - not only make up a significant portion of the victims of into exploitation fuelled by greed. Often girls are forced ual exploitation. The victims are overwhelmingly women forced labour and sex trafficking but that they also make to recruit other girls, fearing violent retribution from their and girls. The second most common form of trafficking is up around seven per cent of the perpetrators. trafficker if they refuse. Girls are moved across provincial aimed at forced labour (18 per cent). Worldwide, almost The 18 - 24 age cohort was even more startling, with borders until they become completely disconnected from 20 per cent of trafficking victims are children. nearly 50 per cent of the victims and 41 per cent of the friends and family. “To eradicate trafficking in persons, we must con - perpetrators falling into that range. It is a crime that cries to heaven for redress. — PWN The Amazon effect initiates the slow death of the grocery store

By sylvain Charlebois Maple Leaf Gardens store in ing good labour to cover large 2025, more than eight million time-strapped consumers want con - Troy Media Toronto. But suddenly, serving up spaces is challenging. As higher Canadians will be 65 or older. venience. Those who can’t or don’t President’s Choice in people’s minimum wages add to the pres - Add Canada’s unpredictable — want to cook are looking for quick The bricks-and-mortar food ho mes seems like a better idea. sure, grocers need to think of and sometimes horrid — weather fixes. So that’s exactly what the retailing model is losing its lustre Basically, the socio-economic ways to make their equity and and all indicators point to one food retail industry is trying to offer. in Canada. fundamentals that supported big- human capital work more effi - thing: the traditional food retail Grocers are essentially trying The signs are everywhere. box stores are weakening rapidly. ciently. What’s more, a good por - structure is less attractive to a to chase down the money that Loblaws is the latest grocer to Real estate isn’t cheap, increasing tion of the Canadian population is growing number of Canadians. commit to home delivery. Starting in-store sales is difficult and find - becoming less independent. By Our lifestyle is also a factor: — CANAdIANs , page 19 in December, the leading food retailer in Canada has an ambi - tious plan to deliver food for a fee It’s the religious who tend most to favour diversity from coast to coast. The company has spent mil - By Ray Pennings secularism and religion — of what est Angus Reid Insti tute (ARI) poll only about atheists. lions to make many of its stores Troy Media is and isn’t allowed in contempo - conducted in partnership with the It seems those who are most cathedrals for food — like the rary public and common Canadian think-tank Cardus suggests those tolerant of various faith communi - Throughout autumn, the soup of life. Efforts to relegate religious ex - who are anti-religious are the out - ty voices, including those they dis - our multicultural society has almost pression and thought to the margins liers. agree with, are religiously com - Charlebois is Senior Fellow boiled over with questions about have been ramped up. Those Almost half of Canadians (48 mitted Canadians. By contrast, the with the Atlantic Institute for efforts, however, are out of step per cent) tell ARI the overall con - non-believers hold that those who Market Studies, dean of the Faculty with broader Canadian society. tribution of religion and faith com - espouse a faith are hurting the of Management and a professor in Pennings is co-founder and So, what evidence is there of the munities to Canada is a mix of country. But we know from previ - the Faculty of Agriculture at executive vice-president of the secularist push? In September, good and bad. Another 38 per cent ous ARI polling that this intoler - Dalhousie University. www.troy - think-tank Cardus. www.troymedia. some openly questioned whether a say their contribution is either very ance belongs to the minority. Only media.com com turban-wearing Sikh who heads a good or more good than bad. Only 19 per cent of Canadians identify major political party is 14 per cent take a negative view as non-believers. an acceptable national overall. And the same poll suggests Worryingly, the minority belief leader. In the same almost half of Canadians are open that religion is harmful to Canada month, niqab and to religious communities having carries over into other policy areas. burka-wearing Mus - influence on Canadian public life. ARI found that 55 per cent of lims felt targeted by a Where things get dicier is when Canadians support tax exempt sta - Quebec law that seeks Canadians are asked to gauge the tus for organized religion, which to expunge public overall presence of a particular exists partly because of the religious spaces of their particu - religious community as benefiting role in charity. However, almost lar religious expres - or damaging the country overall. eight in 10 non-believers say they’d sion. Just a couple of Here, Canadians in general have a rather see churches, synagogues, weeks ago, Gov. Gen. net positive view of the country’s temples, mosques and other reli - Julie Payette mocked various streams of Christianity, as gious entities taxed. Similarly, 55 those who believe life well as Judaism. They’re neutral per cent of Cana dians say workers is a divine creation. on Hinduism and atheism, some - at a religiously affiliated nursing And at the end of what negative on Sikhism, and home should have the right, on November, Trinity heavily negative on Islam. moral grounds, not to participate in Western Uni versity However, when the poll exam - doctor-assisted death. Almost two- will appear before the ines the attitudes of religiously thirds of non-believers would deny Supreme Court of committed Canadians (most of them conscience rights. Canada as law soci - whom identify as Christians of one Could it be that this same anti- eties challenge the pri - sort or another) it reveals a net pos - religious intolerance is behind the vate Chris tian school’s itive view of every religious com - same public issues we’ve been right to set religious munity save Islam — and even debating over the last months? As standards for its facul - then, they’re a lot less negative than alarming as it is to see such intoler - ty and student commu - Canadians in general. They save ance, it’s heartening to know that nity. the strongest negative response for such voices are the outliers. The But the push for atheism. It’s those in the category polling confirms most Canadians CNS/Kim Ludbrook, EPA secular su premacy — of non-believers (those who reject are tolerant and welcoming. If we’re ZIMBABWEANs CElEBRATE MUGABE’s REsIGNATIoN — People celebrate often done in the name religious belief) who overwhelm - to keep the multicultural pot from Nov. 21 outside parliament after hearing that President Robert Mugabe resigned in of inclusion or neutral - ingly believe every religious com - boiling over, it seems we’ll need to Harare, Zimbabwe. All Zimbabweans should have a voice in the country's gover - ity — doesn’t mesh munity in Canada, especially Mus - double down on dialogue and under - nance following Mugabe's 37-year presidency, and the new government should well with Canadian lims and evangelical Chris tians, standing — even with those whose embrace diversity, Zimbabwe's bishops said. society. In fact, the lat - hurt the country. They feel good religion we do not share. November 29, 2017 Prairie Messenger 19 Billboards welcome Pope Francis

Continued from page 1 groups of Rohingya militants. only a portion of Myanmar’s eth - The pope arrived in Myanmar nic groups, were joined by anoth - ly harsh measures against the entire after a more than 10-hour, over - er 100 schoolchildren wearing Rohingya community following night flight from Rome. The chil - white slacks and white T-shirts attacks on security posts by small dren in costumes, representing with the logo of the papal visit. Banners and billboards along the road from the airport into the city proclaimed: “A heartiest welcome to the Holy Father, Pope Francis.” Because the flight took off late at night, Pope Francis spent less time with reporters than he usual - ly does. He made no comment about his hopes for the trip, only mentioning that he was told it was very warm in Yangon and he hoped the reporters would not suf - fer too much. once upon a time As is customary, the pope sent telegrams to the heads of state of your Tilley hat all 13 nations he flew over on the sat on the chair way, including Italy. in the cabin porch In his message to Italian Presi - where you left it dent Sergio Mattarella, Pope before you went home Francis said he was making the trip to the city to Myanmar and Bangladesh Nov. to die 27 - Dec. 2 as a “pilgrim of peace, to encourage the small but fervent Catholic communities and to meet a rakish hat believers of different religions.” with a gull feather The majority of people in tucked in its sweat band CNS/Paul Haring Myanmar are Buddhist, while the totem PoPE VIsITs MYANMAR BANGlAdEsH — Pope Francis greets majority of Bangladeshis are of the ritual children as he arrives at Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Muslim. Pope Francis had meet - beach walks Myanmar, Nov. 27. The pope is making a six-day visit to Myanmar and ings with religious leaders sched - we would take Bangladesh. uled in both countries. once upon a time Canadians spend 30 per cent on food before the walking stopped your Tilley hat Continued from page 18 Foods, we can assume that the receive and we’ll only pay for so empty now grocery store is in Amazon’s what we consume. that I cannot bear to see it shows up less often at their door - sights. It’s redefining how the It’s also possible that leftovers and remember steps. food industry makes transactions could be credited, resold on our what it represents As a result, we’re witnessing in a digitalized, borderless world. behalf and used for something the walks — and contributing to — the slow In Canada, Grocery Gateway is else, eliminating waste. the gulls death of the traditional grocery a pioneer. For years, this fleet Similar gains can be achieved the lake store. owned by Longo Brothers deliv - on the nutritional front. Con sum - your face brimming a smile An increasing portion of the ered food products in the Greater ers could wear portable devices under the Tilley brim average Canadian’s budget — Toronto Area but barely made a that automatically tell their fridges your hands and heart almost 30 per cent of all money profit. The company acquired it’s time to be replenished to satis - in touch with mine spent on food — is dedicated to Grocery Gateway in 2004 from a fy customized diets. Or a Fitbit for eating outside the home. failed dot-com project. food could see food retailers once upon a time As well, most of us are shop - For 13 years, the competition deliver healthy choices, directed before the touching stopped ping online for anything and stood back and did nothing, for fear by a personal tracker. everything. And food is part of that of cannibalizing a fellow market The new trends will force gro - you didn’t know that you would not be back portfolio. Five years ago, barely grocer. Several questioned the sus - cers to deal with better-informed and now one per cent of our food purchases tainability of operating a full fleet consumers. All the data con - your spirit lingers were made online. To day, some of trucks while charging a premium sumers need is readily available analysts suggest that’s close to of 15 to 20 per cent on an order of online, where they can also shop when I pluck the hat four per cent. We’re catching up to $50. But Grocery Gateway learned at their own pace. That should from its resting place the Americans, who now buy sev - and is now expanding. make consumers more rational, set it on my head en per cent of their food online. For Longo Brothers, it was dampening impulse buying — a and finger the brim as you would do And prodded along by Wal mart, about running a good business. scary thought for many food com - online grocery shopping is expand - For Loblaws, it’s about fight - panies. Grocers will need to be far once upon a time ing. Walmart’s online sales in the ing the Amazon effect, which is more precise in their practices to By Joan Baragar U.S. grew by almost 50 per cent why we’re about to see a revolu - match higher expectations. last quarter and a lot of it was food. tion in home food delivery. The food retailing industry’s Canada is seeing similar trends. Imagine coming home and link directly to our homes may Letters to the editor Even though Canadian gro - everything is already done for seem incredible but it’s only the cers’ balance sheets are in fairly you. Leveraged by data, food beginning. We welcome your response to articles published in the Prairie Messenger. good shape, Amazon — the retailers have started to connect While management at Loblaws Two-way communication assures everyone of a better exposure to the truth. boogeyman of retailing — has directly with homes. In some U.S. and other retailers are kept up at We cannot publish any letters to the editor unless you give us your full become a legitimate threat since it cities, Walmart is delivering food night seeking strategies for long- name, your address and your telephone number. (It is especially important took over Whole Foods this sum - to the consumer’s fridge. term survival in the face of the to remember this if you are sending your comments by email). mer. Amazon isn’t just a business In 10 or 15 years, the possibili - Amazon effect, the opportunities Due to limited space we ask you to keep your letters short — 300 to 350 killer, it destroys entire sectors. ties seem boundless. are endless. words maximum. The Prairie Messenger reserves the right to edit letters to The bookstore was its first victim. It’s possible, for example, that At least Loblaws had the fore - conform to space requirements and newspaper style. And since its acquisition of Whole companies will own the food we sight to act before it’s too late.

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By Rhina Guidos Though the tomb of Christ had never been featured in the pages WASHINGTON (CNS) — In of National Geographic , the mag - the modern age, news about Jesus azine’s iconic yellow frame this doesn’t just sell newspapers, it December features a Rembrandt racks up page views, too. painting depicting the face of In 2016, when renovations Jesus on its cover, along with an around the site believed to protect accompanying story about what the tomb of Christ in Jerusalem archaeology reveals about the life were underway, religious leaders of Jesus. agreed to the temporary removal The organization also had pre - of the marble slab covering the viously published the book In the tomb so that restorers could install Footsteps of Jesus, which is now a moisture barrier to protect it. It being sold in paperback at its would mark the first opening of store. National Geographic also the space in perhaps centuries. will debut a documentary Dec. 3 A team from National Geo - on its cable channel about the graphic, which had been at the restoration work at the tomb, and site to document the restoration, recently opened its “Tomb of was allowed, during a relatively Christ: The Church of the Holy short window of time, to docu - Sepulchre Experience” virtual ex - ment the opening of tomb, in hibit, which uses 3D and VR, vir - words, photos and video. National tual reality, technology to provide Geographic noted the interest by visitors to its Washington muse - the number of clicks on the story um a different way to visit the and images the team posted about tomb. those 60 hours, which appeared “We have for many years been on its website, not its iconic mag - taking people on journeys to CNS/Rebecca Hale, National Geographic azine, because of its immediacy. places that they may never get to NATIoNAl GEoGRAPHIC EXHIBITIoN — The National Geographic exhibition “Tomb of Christ: The “There was this incredible re - visit,” said Keane, and with new Church of the Holy sepulchre Experience” opened Nov. 15 at the National Geographic Museum in sponse to the news story in Oc- technology, there are new ways to Washington and is on display through the fall of 2018. The historic renovation project will be featured as tober (of 2016),” said Kathryn do that. part of National Geographic magazine’s cover story in the december 2017 issue. Additionally, it will be fea - Keane, vice-president of exhibi - “We have many ways to tell a tured in an upcoming episode of Explorer, airing globally dec. 3 on the National Geographic Channel. tions for National Geographic story,” said National Geographic during a Nov. 9 interview with archaeologist-in-residence Fred covering the restoration. The restored the small shrine to struc - Edicule and pilgrims crowding Catholic News Service. Hiebert. “The exhibition is a Greek Orthodox, along with the tural and physical glory. around the space once more. More than three million view - chance to walk into Jerusalem and Armenians and the Franciscans, “Monuments talk, and the J.J. Kelley, senior producer at ers worldwide flocked to the into the church itself, the maga - share stewardship of the Church tomb of Christ was talking to us,” National Geographic Explorer , National Geographic website to zine article is mainly about the of the Holy Sepulcher, the main said Moropoulou, who spoke had set up cameras inside the read the news documenting the larger context of the footsteps of structure over the smaller shrine, briefly at the opening night of the small shrine, hanging above the removal of the slabs and to see Jesus, we have a book about that, called the Edicule (Latin for “little exhibition in Washington. “This tomb to capture the moment when photos that included images of too, with maps, great storytelling, house”), covering the tomb. was a place full of energy . . . it the slabs were lifted. broken marble around the tomb very historical . . . we do the Hiebert, who had worked on a was a tomb but it was alive.” “I got chills, goose bumps inscribed with a Christian cross. whole story.” previous exhibition about ancient And the team from National being inside that space,” Kelley “It was one of the highest-rated The opportunity to present the Greeks, joined a group of engi - Geographic captured part of that said during a panel at the museum stories of the year for us,” said story of the tomb arrived when neers, led by scientist and professor life, with images of pilgrims arriv - on the opening night of the virtual Keane. “We got a sense from that, officials from the Greek Orthodox Antonia Moropoulou, who directed ing, the work before and after the “Tomb of Christ” exhibition. “It’s that there would be a lot of inter - Church asked National Geo- a team from the National Technical restoration, the opening of the one of the most profound assign - est in this story.” graph ic if it would be interested in University of Athens, while they tomb, the reopening of the ments you could ask for.” Archaeologist finds his human side at the tomb of Christ

By Rhina Guidos beneath the Black Sea. pottery or a 600-year-old brick, a ed to Genghis Khan. In addition to the quick visit, the The lively and friendly archaeol - piece at his office, which he exca - “I’ve been to Machu Picchu, tiny space within the shrine, where WASHINGTON (CNS) — ogist-in-residence at Washington’s vated under water from a palace in I’ve been to the tombs of the the tomb is located, snuggly holds Fred Hiebert’s identity is firmly National Geographic Museum is central Asia. Mycenaean kings in Greece and three or four people at most. But grounded in academia and in his not a stranger, by any means, to an - “This was a sign of royalty to it’s . . . you commune with the that’s where Hiebert ended up in professional work as a scientist. cient treasures and places. have that blue glaze,” he ex - past. You sort of close your eyes” 2016 after he had worked with Over the years, he has studied He speaks about communing plained, holding the decorated trying to imagine cultures and National Geographic on an exhibit and taught about ancient trade “like this,” closing his eyes, with brick that is in the shape of a slice people who lived there long ago, about the ancient Greeks. routes, such as the Silk Road, objects and in places thousands of of pizza. It’s part of the palace of he said about his job. The National Geographic team from China to Europe, and led years old. He gets excited talking Tamerlane, also known as Timur, It was an easy feat until his last ended up filming, not just the underwater archaeology projects about a 5,000-year-old piece of a Turco-Mongol conqueror relat - assignment, one he wasn’t expect - work of those 60 hours, but also ing and which took him in 2016 the emotions surrounding the and 2017 to the bustling city of opening of the tomb. Surprisingly, Jerusalem and the place long that included the emotions of its believed to be the site where Christ archaeologist. Hiebert said his was buried and where Christians knees started shaking during the believe that he returned to life. opening of the tomb. “In this case, there’s no possi - “I’m not supposed to be like ble way to close your eyes and that,” Hiebert said in a Nov. 9 inter - commune with the past because view with Catholic News Service. everybody’s pushing you,” he said “Earlier in the year, I was all by of the experience of visiting the myself in (King) Tutankhamun’s Edicule , the small shrine within tomb in the Valley of the Kings. My the Church of the Holy Sepulcher knees didn’t shake then.” in Jerusalem, which is the home Though the tomb has many les - of the tomb. sons, for Hiebert, it showed him an “I’ve never been in a place important one about himself: that where a Greek Orthodox monk even a scientist may occasionally says, ‘You have 30 seconds to be have emotions while at work. here’ ’’ and then tells you to exit, “There is a certain . . . some - he said. That’s the typical experi - thing about the Church of Holy ence many pilgrims get when they Sepulcher. It’s alive. It’s a living arrive to venerate the tomb. monument,” he said.

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is CNS/Oded Balilty, National Geographic “Thank You,” it will be enough. REsToRING CHRIsT’s ToMB — A conservator cleans the surface of the Edicule , the traditional site of — Meister Eckhart Jesus’ burial and resurrection, in the Church of the Holy sepulcher in the old City of Jerusalem.