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WINDSOR to WOODSTOCK, GODERICH to PORT DOVER and COMMUNITIES IN-BETWEEN Winter 2016 • #164 OF NEWSPAPER THE DIOCESE OF LONDON Amherstburg | Aylmer | Belle River | Blenheim | Brights Grove | Brussels | Chatham | Comber | Corunna | Courtland | Delaware | Delhi | Dresden | | Emeryville | Erieau | Essex | Exeter | Forest | Glencoe | Goderich | Grand Bend | Harrow | Ingersoll | Kingsville | Kinkora | Langton | LaSalle | Leamington | Listowel | London | Lucan | Maidstone | McGregor | Merlin | Mitchell | Mount Carmel | Oxley | Pain Court | Parkhill | Pelee Island | Petrolia | Port Dover | Port Lambton | Ridgetown | River Canard | Rondeau | Sarnia | Seaforth | Sebringville | Simcoe | St. Joseph | St. Marys | St. Thomas | Stratford | Strathroy | Tecumseh | Thamesville | Tilbury | Tillsonburg | Wallaceburg | Walsh | Waterford | Watford | West Lorne | Wheatley | Windsor | Wingham Woodslee | Woodstock | Zurich “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” -

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

On Sunday, September 4, with St. John Paul II waived the discarded, . . . seeing in them of her homes for children in between you and God. great joy the Church celebrated five-year period normally their God-given dignity.” Calcutta. I include them here: It was never between you and the canonization of Mother observed before initiating the them anyway. People are often unreasonable, Teresa of Calcutta, a woman of beatification process, and, In 1979, Mother Teresa was irrational, and self-centred. extraordinary faith and charity in 2003, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Mother Teresa gave the world Forgive them anyway. who dedicated her life to beatified. for her work to overcome a powerful witness of God’s If you are kind, people may serving the poorest of the poor. poverty. She refused to go to love for the poor. Her witness At the Mass of her the ceremonial banquet given accuse you of selfish, ulterior of holiness inspires all of us. Albanian by birth, she knew canonization, Pope Francis to laureates and asked that motives. May we follow her example from an early age that she was stated: the money, $192,000, be given Be kind anyway. and support one another in called to religious life. When to the poor in . On that If you are successful, you will living generous and holy lives God is pleased by every act of she was 18 years old, she occasion, she spoke out strongly win some unfaithful friends and of humble service, especially to mercy, because in the brother entered the about the evils of abortion: “the some genuine enemies. the poor and vulnerable. With or sister that we assist, we at Loreto Abbey in Ireland. At greatest destroyer of peace,” she Succeed anyway. God’s grace, may we be bold recognize the face of God which the Abbey, she learned English, said, “is abortion.” When asked If you are honest and sincere, and courageous witnesses of the no one can see (cf. Jn 1:18). the language used by the Sisters what we could do to promote people may deceive you. joy and hope that Jesus brings Each time we bend down to to teach school children in world peace, she answered: “Go Be honest and sincere anyway. us. the needs of our brothers and India. The next year, she went home and love your family.” She What you spend years creating, sisters, we give Jesus something to India and, on May 24, 1931, pointed out how difficult it was others could destroy overnight. Sincerely yours in Christ, to eat and drink; we clothe, we made her first profession of to remove poverty, not only in Create anyway. help, and we visit the Son of vows. She chose Teresa as her poor countries but also in the If you find serenity and God (cf. Mt 25:40). religious name after St. Théresè West. happiness, some may be jealous. Most Rev. Ronald Fabbro, csb of Lisieux, the patron saint In his homily, the pope Be happy anyway. The “Paradoxical of London of missionaries. Following emphasized that Mother Teresa The good you do today will Commandments”, often twenty years of missionary was “a generous dispenser of often be forgotten. attributed to Mother Teresa, work in India, she founded God’s mercy, making herself Do good anyway. were actually written by Dr. the , available for everyone through Give the best you have, and it Kent M. Keith. Mother Teresa a congregation of women her welcome and defence of will never be enough. was so moved by them that she dedicated to helping the poor. human life, those unborn Give your best anyway. put them on the wall of one and those abandoned and In the final analysis, it is

Regardless of age, pre-planning your cemetery arrangements together simply makes sense - financially and emotionally. See back page for details Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta I Thirst For You describe My love for you: I Thirst For You. I thirst to A meditation attributed to Mother Teresa, read by Fr John love you and to be loved by you- that is how precious Riccardo on “Christ is the Answer” you are to Me. I Thirst For You. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. new creation, and give you peace, even in all your trials. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it I Thirst For You. You must never doubt My mercy, My could be Me, I am there. I await even the smallest sign of acceptance of you, My desire to forgive, My longing to your response, even the least whispered invitation that will bless you and live My life in you. I Thirst For You. If you allow Me to enter. feel unimportant in the eyes of the world, that matters not at all. For Me, there is no one any more important in And I want you to know that whenever you invite Me, I do the entire world than you. I Thirst For You. Open to me, come - always, without fail. Silent and unseen I come, but come to Me, thirst for Me, give Me your life - and I will with infinite power and love, and bringing the many gifts prove to you how important you are to My Heart. of My Spirit. I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your Don’t you realize that My Father already has a perfect comprehension- a love every bit as great as the love I have plan to transform your life, beginning from this received from the Father (“As much as the Father has loved moment? Trust in Me. Ask Me every day to enter and me, I have loved you .. “ [Jn. 15:10]). I come - longing take charge of your life - and I will. I promise you before to console you and give you strength, to lift you up and My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your bind all your wounds. I bring you My light, to dispel your life. Why would I do this? Because I Thirst For You. All darkness and all your doubts. I come with My power, that I ask is that you entrust yourself to Me completely. I will I might carry you and all of your burdens; with My grace, do all the rest. to touch your heart and transform your life: and My peace I give to still your soul. Even now I behold the place My Father has prepared for you in My Kingdom. Remember that you are a pilgrim I know you through and through - I know everything in this life, on a journey home. Sin can never satisfy you, about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. or bring the peace you seek. All that you have sought Prayer for the Intercession of Nothing in your life is unimportant to Me. I have followed outside of Me has only left you more empty, so do not you through the years, and 1 have always loved you even cling to the things of this life. Above all, do not run from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in your wanderings. I know every one of your problems. Me when you fall. Come to Me without delay. When Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, I know your needs and your worries. And yes, I know you give Me your sins, you give Me the joy of being your you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to all your sins. But I tell you again that I love you - not for Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal: so what you have or haven’t done - I love you for you, for the come now, and unburden your soul. become a living flame within you, beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in and so became the light of His love to all. His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your beauty you have tarnished by sin. But I love you as you are, you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may request). and I have shed My Blood to win you back. If you only ask bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess remember, one thing that will never change: I Thirst For Me with faith, My grace will touch all that needs changing my whole being so completely that my life, too, may You - just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in your life; and I will give you the strength to free yourself radiate His light and love to others. Amen. from sin and all its destructive power. in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you. You forget Me, and yet I am seeking you Immaculate Heart of Mary, I know what is in your heart - I know your loneliness every moment of the day - standing at the door of your Cause of Our Joy, and all your hurts - the rejections, the judgments, the heart, and knocking. Do you find this hard to believe? pray for me. humiliations. I carried it all before you. And I carried it Then look at the cross, look at My Heart that was pierced Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. I for you. Have you not understood My cross? Then listen pray for me. know especially your need for love - how you are thirsting again to the words I spoke there - for they tell you clearly to be loved and cherished. But how often have you thirsted why I endured all this for you: “I Thirst ... “ (Jn. 19:28). you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again in vain, by seeking that love selfishly, striving to fill the Yes, I thirst for you- as the rest of the psalm -verse I was and again, not in mere human words but in spirit: “No emptiness inside you with passing pleasure -with the even praying says of Me: “I looked for love, and I found none ... matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake. greater emptiness of sin. Do you thirst for love? “Come to “ (Ps. 69:20). All your life I have been looking for your love Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your Me all you who thirst ... “ (Jn. 7:37). I will satisfy you and - I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I fill you. Do you thirst to be cherished? I cherish you more you. You have tried many other things in your search for stand at the door of your heart and knock ... Open to-Me, than you can imagine - to the point of dying on a cross for happiness; why not try opening your heart to Me, right for I Thirst For You ... “ you. now, more than you ever have before. I thirst for you. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever

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The Newspaper of the Diocese of London, ISSN: 0831-9715 Publisher: Diocese of London established in 1980, is published quarterly in Publications Mail Agreement #: 41699033 Editor: Emma Moynihan March, June, September and December, 1070 Waterloo Street with approximately 37,000 copies distributed Subscriptions London, ON N6A 3Y2 throughout nine counties in southwestern Ontario: $12/year. Individual copies are 50 cents each. 519-433-0658 x263 Elgin, Essex, Huron, Kent, Lambton, [email protected] Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford and . Advertising Please visit www.dol.ca for latest rates. A Chance Meeting with Mother Teresa Bishop Sherlock reflects on his together. had discovered that there 1982 trip to India was a ship sequestered We made up our minds before in the harbor and it was A meeting with Mother Teresa we went that we would not go loaded down with linens, was certainly something we to Calcutta with the purpose of beds, and so forth, enough weren’t anticipating, or expecting. visiting Mother Teresa, because to furnish this place. And we felt that it was an intrusion. of course, Mother Teresa The reason I wanted to go to Everybody travelling to India managed to get all of these India, particularly, was because from was running materials for nothing. It was of Save A Family Plan (SAFP), over to Calcutta to do exactly God providing, as usual, for which is centered in St. Peter’s that, and we figured that it was her. And so she was there Seminary. distracting her from her work. at this place, at the time of After I became Bishop in 1978, I We landed in Bombay (which our trip. began to see the regular reports is now known by the name of So we went with Msgr. of the work of SAFP and the Mumbai) and it was a huge Maskeranus to say hello, tremendous amount of money teeming city, unlike anywhere we and of course she greeted that was going to India. They had ever been. We had a contact us with enthusiasm and joy, were presenting all of their there, Msgr. Maskeranus, who and we were immediately projects as keeping with the had stayed in my parish while impressed. First of all, she kind of cooperative spirit that I visiting relatives in Hamilton, was a very tiny person was familiar with, because I had when I was a pastor. As we had physically, but she just been involved in co-op housing become friends during his visit, I radiated presence, sanctity, when I was an assistant priest in contacted him to see if we might and joy. Hamilton. The whole philosophy stay overnight with him before was that it was helping people to moving on south to meet Msgr. She proceeded to show us help themselves, and I wanted to Kandathil, and he enthusiastically around this warehouse, have a look for myself. So Msgr. agreed. which already was Gus Kandathil, who was the populated with abandoned founder of SAFP, was in India at After Mass on the first morning people who had been the time and he arranged to meet we were there, Msgr. Maskeranus picked up on the streets and us and to take us around. asked if we would like to meet brought there to be tenderly Mother Teresa. So, we simply gave cared for until they died. Two priests, Msgr. Bill O’Brien him our prepared speech, “Oh we Little children who had and Fr. Vic McNamara, have decided not to go to Calcutta been abandoned were also accompanied me on that trip. Fr. and disturb her, or take her away there. Bill, who died last year at the age from her work…” of 92, had a special reason for We walked around the coming along, as he had inherited And he said, “She’s here, in warehouse with her, and we a substantial sum of money and the parish!” And we thought could see how every place those words were to her, the by these words of Jesus, “I thirst.” was determined to give it away he was kidding with us. Msgr. she went and every person she words of Jesus from the cross. In her mind, all human beings to charity. For some time he had Maskeranus was very involved spoke to was immediately filled were, and are, thirsting for the donated his money through the in working with the poor in with joy and a real sense of loving It was clear to us that these words love of Christ. Thirsting to be Church, and a lot of it was going Mumbai. He raised money, he presence. She really touched were profoundly important for loved, as he is longing to be to India. He also wanted to see counseled families, and even people’s hearts. her when we were talking to her loved by all of us. That became the work that was being done opened an – so it and listening to her. The words, Then she took us up to a little the center of her spirituality. In firsthand, and throughout our should have been no surprise that “I thirst”, were the words, which retrospect, seeing those words trip he handed out substantial he had a relationship with Mother chapel that they had for the sisters she felt, Jesus was speaking to who were there. It was plain with and learning their meaning to her amounts of money to those in Teresa and knew that she was her out of the mouths of all of was probably the most important need. there. white washed walls, and on the the suffering people that she was floor there were cushions that the thing about our visit and meeting caring for. In other words, in them her. Fr. McNamara was our classmate It turns out somebody had given sisters used to sit on when they he was thirsting for love, and care, from our Seminary days, so the Mother Teresa a vacant warehouse prayed. On the wall behind the and compassion, and gentleness, I think that for Mother Teresa, three of us had been great friends near the parish, and as always altar there was a simple crucifix, and concern, and healing. Jesus speaks to us in a special way for many, many years, and had with very little money, she was and written on the wall beside it through the poor, through the travelled together before, so it was transforming it into housing for were the words “I thirst” and she In a sense I think she saw the natural that we should go to India the desperately poor. Somebody explained to us how significant whole world as being represented continued on next page A few photos from the chance meeting. Top left: “This is where I remember her best.,” shared Bishop Sherlock. Below left: The chapel for the sisters.

lonely, through the aged, through The community grew and grew, other words, God was perfecting she persevered. the abandoned, through the evidently having been blessed her and absolutely cleansing her To embrace the cross in its Though our meeting with Mother marginalized; and he’s calling out by God. But as it did, Mother of any shred of self-satisfaction or fullness is to embrace this total Teresa was a casual one, it still to be loved in them, to be loved Teresa began to experience this selfish joy. absence of spiritual satisfaction, was a profound one… but I think through them. He identifies with sense of God’s absence, and which tends to foster a certain every meeting she ever had was the poor, and the needy, and the this feeling that she was being He was allowing her to self-regard, a certain self- profound! suffering in a very special way, rejected and she was no longer experience the sense of importance. In doing so, it allows and far more quickly than with able to communicate in the same abandonment that Jesus speaks saints to see the world through We went just because we had the rich and self-righteous. sensitive way she had before. of from the cross, “My God, my Jesus’ eyes, and I think this was accidentally discovered that She didn’t have the confidence God, why have you forsaken exactly how Mother Teresa saw she was here in Mumbai. It was Thoughts on Mother Teresa’s that Jesus was hearing her, yet me?” And that’s how she felt, I the world. providence. I’ve never forgotten Spiritual Darkness the external evidence was always think, almost to the end of her it, and I pray to her daily, as I there that her life. And in spite of the darkness, *** have for years. • Periods of spiritual darkness work was being characterize the life of a lot of blessed in an saints. I suppose the contrast in extraordinary Mother Teresa’s life which is so way. striking, is that there was no way for us to tell when we were with Mother Teresa her whether she was in spiritual herself was going darkness or not. I don’t know if through a period she was in darkness when I met of darkness, and her, because there was still that I think that the holy and joyful presence about explanation is her. that God was calling her to Mother Teresa went from a great such a profound sense of immediate intimacy holiness, that He with Christ and she even had was not allowing visions of Jesus calling her to her to experience this work before she began it, any consolation when she was a sister of Loretta, in prayer, so that teaching in a school designed everything that largely for the upper class. She she did would be had experienced this call, and I done not because think also experienced a constant she drew pleasure presence of Jesus calling her, to from it, but this apostolate with the poor. simply because she knew it was Once she began her work, the right thing to it flourished and she was do and the thing overwhelmed with the number of that she had been candidates that came to join her. called to do. In Homily of Pope Francis at the Mass of Canonization “Who can learn the counsel of 6:6; Mt 9:13). God is pleased by sterile because it lacks roots. The those in need. available for everyone through God?” (Wis 9:13). This question every act of mercy, because in the task which the Lord gives us, on her welcome and defence of from the Book of Wisdom that brother or sister that we assist, we the contrary, is the vocation to Following Jesus is a serious task, human life, those unborn and we have just heard in the first recognize the face of God which charity in which each of Christ’s and, at the same time, one filled those abandoned and discarded. reading suggests that our life is no one can see (cf. Jn 1:18). Each disciples puts his or her entire life with joy; it takes a certain daring She was committed to defending a mystery and that we do not time we bend down to the needs at his service, so to grow each day and courage to recognize the life, ceaselessly proclaiming that possess the key to understanding of our brothers and sisters, we in love. divine Master in the poorest “the unborn are the weakest, the it. There are always two give Jesus something to eat and of the poor and to give oneself smallest, the most vulnerable”. protagonists in history: God and drink; we clothe, we help, and We heard in the Gospel, “Large in their service. In order to do She bowed down before those man. Our task is to perceive the we visit the Son of God (cf. Mt crowds were travelling with so, volunteers, who out of love who were spent, left to die on the call of God and then to do his 25:40). Jesus” (Lk 14:25). Today, this of Jesus serve the poor and the side of the road, seeing in them will. But in order to do his will, “large crowd” is seen in the great needy, do not expect any thanks their God-given dignity; she we must ask ourselves, “What is We are thus called to translate number of volunteers who have or recompense; rather they made her voice heard before the God’s will in my life?” into concrete acts that which we come together for the Jubilee renounce all this because they powers of this world, so that they invoke in prayer and profess in of Mercy. You are that crowd have discovered true love. Just might recognize their guilt for We find the answer in the faith. There is no alternative to who follows the Master and who as the Lord has come to meet me the crime of poverty they created. same passage of the Book of charity: those who put themselves makes visible his concrete love for and has stooped down to my level For Mother Teresa, mercy was Wisdom: “People were taught at the service of others, even each person. I repeat to you the in my hour of need, so too do I go the “salt” which gave flavour to what pleases you” (Wis 9:18). when they don’t know it, are words of the Apostle Paul: “I have to meet him, bending low before her work, it was the “light” which In order to ascertain the call of those who love God (cf. 1 Jn 3:16- indeed received much joy and those who have lost faith or who shone in the darkness of the God, we must ask ourselves and 18; Jas 2:14-18). The Christian comfort from your love, because live as though God did not exist, many who no longer had tears understand what pleases God. life, however, is not merely the hearts of the saints have been before young people without to shed for their poverty and On many occasions the prophets extending a hand in times of refreshed through you” (Philem values or ideals, before families suffering. proclaimed what was pleasing need. If it is just this, it can be, 1:7). How many hearts have been in crisis, before the ill and the to God. Their message found a certainly, a lovely expression of comforted by volunteers! How imprisoned, before refugees and Her mission to the urban and wonderful synthesis in the words human solidarity which offers many hands they have held; how immigrants, before the weak and existential peripheries remains “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Hos immediate benefits, but it is many tears they have wiped away; defenceless in body and spirit, for us today an eloquent witness how much love before abandoned children, to God’s closeness to the poorest has been poured before the elderly who are on of the poor. Today, I pass on this out in hidden, their own. Wherever someone is emblematic figure of womanhood humble and reaching out, asking for a helping and of consecrated life to the selfless service! hand in order to get up, this is whole world of volunteers: may This praiseworthy where our presence – and the she be your model of holiness! service gives presence of the Church which May this tireless worker of voice to the faith sustains and offers hope – must mercy help us to increasingly and expresses be. understand that our only the mercy of criterion for action is gratuitous the Father, who Mother Teresa, in all aspects of love, free from every ideology draws near to her life, was a generous dispenser and all obligations, offered of divine mercy, making herself freely to everyone without distinction of language, A Private, Classical, Catholic culture, race or opportunity is available religion. Mother Teresa loved to for your child... say, “Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile”. Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer. In this Competitive tuition. way, we will open Small class sizes. up opportunities Experienced, certified Catholic teachers. of joy and hope for our many brothers Our Lady and sisters who are of discouraged and the Pillar Registration open for children grades JK-8 - contact us today! who stand in need Academy of understanding and tenderness. www.pillaracademy.ca | 519-245-6000 | Strathroy, Ontario London’s Most Experienced Stained Glass Craftsmen 97 Wharncliffe Rd. S. London, Ont. Heritage 519-432-9624 Memorial • Quality • Storm Windows Restoration & Glazing www.sunrisestainedglass.com Since 1979 Woodwork Volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity in Yet they have something many people I have met so many wonderful people with all of those things will lack this during my time volunteering, and I Christmas. Mother Teresa was right; here consider the Missionaries of Charity to people share. They huddle under the same be my extended family. People think it is blanket, and they share the little food courageous to go to Kolkata and volun- they have with their neighbors. There is teer, yet those who do so discover that far no room at the inn for them either. They from being difficult, they are embraced live in the cold, rejected by the world; and and welcomed with such love. I would they do so with humility. like to say my motive for volunteering was altruistic, but I needed them far more I was reminded this morning as we gave than they needed me. The irony is, it is out blankets and rice, of the queues easy to love in Kolkata, where the physi- around the world in shopping malls at cal poverty is so great. As Mother said, this time of year. People waited so long for “You will find Kolkata all over the world these essential items, which they received if you have the eyes to see,” and this is the with such gratitude. biggest challenge for long term volunteers and indeed, for all of us. •

By Verity Worthington dying and the tears of the searching meet; a place where east meets west; where Many people have asked me what draws boundaries are broken. I was continually me to Kolkata, and it’s a difficult question humbled; at the lady who thanked me for to answer. For my confirmation, way back helping her eat, at the lady curled up in in the last millennium, I received a book the corner of her bed sobbing who let me with daily quotes, The Joy in Loving, from sit with her, at the woman with excru- Mother Teresa. I remember reading one ciating burns who endured daily agony entry, which described a young girl visit- yet raised her hands in gratitude to the ing Kolkata from Paris. Mother noted that doctor. her eyes weren’t smiling, and sent her to work in , where she found Jesus. You’re reminded that it’s the 21st century and people are dying without anything Perhaps I knew my eyes weren’t smil- and anyone; forgotten by the world; ing either, because as soon as I finished rejected; unwanted; unloved. One lady in school, I decided I would go to Kolkata to particular stands out in my memory – she volunteer. Looking back I was certainly had such sad eyes; our lives had been so very young and innocent. I remember different; different languages and cultures my journey from the airport, wondering and customs; yet as I fed her, we were if these people really slept on the streets. somehow united together in our human- It was akin to landing on another planet, ity. That shared experience matters, and many miles away from my all-girls school you realize that touching each other’s in rural England. However, I was soon brokenness is where we find Jesus. captivated by the volunteer community, Every volunteer contributes a drop to and by the warmth and friendliness of the the ocean of humanity, and it is certainly people and sisters. For the first time in true that the ocean would be less without my life I felt accepted for who I was, not these drops. It is so easy to look at the big for what I could do. I began working in a picture; to see the thousands of suffer- dispensary, and led a group of volunteers ing people, and forget that we can only painting the park at Shishu Bhavan. It do small things with great love - that the probably sounds clichéd, but from the one person we serve at a given moment is very beginning it became apparent that Jesus. whatever we gave, we received much more. This was definitely apparent when on Christmas day we served food to thou- Since that first visit nearly 10 years ago, sands of people who queued so patiently I’ve returned many times to Kolkata, at the gates of Shishu Bhavan. This is a and have volunteered elsewhere with the passage from an email I sent home: “There Missionaries of Charity. Like many other is a chilly cold in the air at the moment, volunteers, I enjoy sharing in the prayer and as I walk to work past bodies wrapped life of the sisters as well as the apostolate. in sheets on the pavement - I realize how We began our day at 5 am with Morning close to that first nativity we are here. Prayer, and ended it with adoration. In a When we tend to the dying in Kalighat, city as chaotic and noisy as Kolkata, the when we give out blankets as we were this chapel becomes a vital part of the vol- morning ... this is Christmas, not fairy unteer day. Mother’s Tomb is also a very lights and tinsel. I find myself seeing the special place to offer prayers and find mo- Holy Family on every pavement in this ments of solitude. The volunteer commu- city; poor, needy and vulnerable; whole nity, under the care of Sister Mercy-Maria, families surviving in this cold weather, is remarkably close. on a patch of dirty pavement. Living one day to the next, one year to the next. Sometimes it’s easy to become immune to They aren’t busy preparing the turkey the poverty in Kolkata – after all, every- or wrapping last minute presents. They thing is relative. However, volunteering haven’t sent any Christmas cards this year, is a very humbling experience. Kalighat or decorated a tree. These babies know especially is a very special place. It is a nothing of Santa Claus, they don’t have a quiet place; a place where the tears of the stocking to hang at the end of their bed. Roof Tile Management is Holy Name of Mary, St. Mary’s proud to have worked with the Diocese of London on a St. Joseph, Chatham wide range of projects: St. John the Evangelist, Woodslee Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, Mount Carmel General Contracting, London St. Anne, Tecumseh Roofing and Sheet Metal, Masonry, St. Justin, London St. Patrick, Kinkora Woodworking and Interior St. Mary, London St. John the Baptist, Amherstburg Restoration St. Patrick, London and many others Contact Us: St. Clement, McGregor 360 Drive, Mississauga, ON L5T 2P5 905-672-9992

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missions across our vast land. NDL_0116

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifi ces are pleasing to God.”—Hebrews 13:16 Your support will keep the church heated during winter liturgy services at St. Peter’s Church in St. Paul’s River, NorthernThe Quebec, CatholicDiocese of School Boards serving the Diocese of London Baie-Comeau. wish to thank all the parents, volunteers, parishes and community leaders PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRIES OF CATHOLIC MISSIONS INfor CANADA. supporting Catholic education! Here is my gift of: F $20 F $50 F $100 F $200 F $______F Cheque (made payable to Catholic Missions in Canada) F Visa F Mastercard F AMEX Credit Card No.______Expiry______

Name______Signature______Fr./Sr./Br./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms. Address______City______Province______Postal Code______Phone______Email ______Mail to: Catholic Missions In Canada 201 – 1155 Yonge Street, ON M4T 1W2

NDL_0116 Tel: 416-934-3424 Toll-free: 1-866-YES-CMIC (937-2642) Website: www.cmic.info

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Excellence in Learning, Living in Christ

Brant Haldimand Norfolk Huron-Perth Catholic London District Catholic St. Clair Catholic District Windsor-Essex Catholic Conseil scolaire catholique Catholic District School Board District School Board School Board School Board District School Board Providence 322 Fairview Drive, PO Box 87 Mill Street, PO Box 70 5200 Wellington Road South 420 Creek Street 1325 Avenue 7515 prom. Forest Glade 217 Brantford, ON N3T 5M8 Dublin, ON N0K 1E0 PO Box 5474 Wallaceburg, ON N8A 4C4 Windsor, ON N9B 3Y6 Windsor, ON N8T 3P5 519-756-6505 519-345-2440 London, ON N6A 4X5 519-627-6762 519-253-2481 519-984-9227 www.bhncdsb.ca www.huronperthcatholic.ca 519-663-2088 www.st-clair.net www.wecdsb.on.ca www.cscprovidence.ca www.ldcsb.on.ca Serving the needs of the faithful in Southwestern Ontario

And more than 65 parish cemeteries serving local communities from Windsor to Woodstock and from Goderich to Port Dover.