Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 94 No. 41 April 5, 2017

René Fumoleau, OMI But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your saviour. — Isaiah 43:103 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS April 5, 2017 UN’s top official visits camp for Syrian refugees

By Dale Gavlak Guterres, a former Portuguese Guterres, 67, is no stranger to inquiring about the appropriate sup - well in school so they can one day prime minister, told reporters at the camp, having served as the port systems available to help them. return to Syria and perhaps be - ZAATARI, Jordan (CNS) — the camp on the eve of a summit UN refugee agency’s high com - He empathized with another come members of parliament. As the UN secretary general visit - gathering Arab leaders on the missioner for a decade, visiting woman requesting the need for One told him that she wanted ed the world’s biggest camp for shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan. the dusty desert facility numerous family reunification. Her husband to become a psychologist when Syrian refugees in late March, he “This has not only become a times. He headed UNHCR when and a son are now in Germany; she grew up, to help her people made an impassioned plea: Stop tragedy for the Syrian people, but the Syrian conflict broke out in another son is in Turkey; she and traumatized by the conflict. Syria’s devastating war. it has become a threat to the sta - March 2011. But this visit was two other sons are in Zaatari camp. Guterres told the teen that his “I want to make a strong bility of the region, a global secu - different, now as the UN chief, “This is not good. It would be wife and sister are psychiatrists. appeal to the parties of the conflict rity threat for the world, as terror - coming with the burden of Syria’s much better if everyone could be “Psychiatrists do very important and those who have an influence ism is benefiting from the crisis in grinding war on his shoulders. reunified,” Guterres told her. things. They make people feel on (them) to understand that we Syria and other crises in the “I remember six years ago at “When I was head of UNHCR, happy again.” must make peace,” Antonio world,” he said. the border, when I saw the first we discussed family reunification a “He is very open about his Syrian refugees coming lot. It always seemed like the right Catholic identity,” said Msgr. to Jordan. How sad it is, thing to do. But, unfortunately, a Robert Vitillo, secretary general how terrible it is, that lot of countries are still not willing of the Geneva-based International today we still have to do it. But we will see what we Catholic Migration Commission. Zaatari camp . . . and that can do,” the UN chief said. “I have always found him so pas - the tragedy of Syrians is Guterres’ face lit up as he visit - sionate and compassionate for going on and on and on,” ed a boisterous classroom of refugees and how he tries to find a he said. fourth-grade refugee children solution. Syria’s war has killed learning English. He encouraged a “While visiting refugee camps, more than 320,000 people special book club and information he isn’t someone who goes off in and has forced 4.9 million technology forum, dubbed the a suit and tie. He went as someone people to flee their coun - “Tiger Girls,” to keep pursuing who really wanted to listen. You try. their dreams. could see that he is someone who Guterres is a practis - The adolescent girls are cham - cares a great deal. This is what ing Catho lic and clearly pioning reading and are consid - impresses me most about him,” demonstrates his com - ered role models for their commu - passion for people. He nity. He encouraged them to do — STRONG STAND , page 5 listened carefully to the concerns of refugee Congo’s bishops give women battling family violence and early mar - CNS/Paul Haring riage in the camp of some up on peace mediation CANADIAN BISHOPS IN ROME — Seamus McKelvey of Winnipeg crashes a 80,000. group photo with Canadian bishops in front of St. Peter’s Basilica March 27. “These things are very KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — He added that the politicians From left are Archbishops Richard Smith of Edmonton, Richard Gagnon of worrying. Are there people Catholic bishops in Congo have involved had failed to prioritize Winnipeg, and Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Diocese of New to listen and solve the abandoned attempts to arrange a the nation or the people’s welfare. Westminster, B.C. The bishops were making their ad limina visits to the Vatican. problems?” he asked, government-opposition power- “The bishops’ conference can - sharing agreement, amid rising not mediate endlessly. It will now violence. be up to President (Joseph) Kabila Western Canadian bishops meet with pope Archbishop Marcel Utembi to find quick ways to implement Tapa of Kisangani, the bishops’ agreement on a national unity gov - conference president, said the lat - ernment that can lead the country By Carol Glatz the Assembly of Western Catholic culties with the church or don’t est round of political negotiations to presidential and parliamentary Bishops, and another two dozen like the church: talk to them, listen were not satisfying the Congolese elections.” VATICAN CITY (CNS) — bishops from Western Canada to them and go forward with that.” people. He said bishops had con - The bishops’ conference “That’s your bishop!” a woman made their ad limina visits and pil - Smith said the pope “is not tinued working with both sides launched a mediation bid after shouted to Seamus McKelvey of grimage to Rome and the Vatican. afraid to say he doesn’t have imme - until March 27, but that all parties opposition leaders accused Kabila Winnipeg, as he leaned in for an Gagnon said the major con - diate answers” and therefore, nei - were pulling back from a consen - of seeking to retain power after the impromptu picture with three cerns and issues the group brought ther should the bishop. But that does sus on issues previously agreed Dec. 20 expiration of his second prelates posing for a professional to the table for discussion includ - mean there is “a need for deep, sus - upon. and final term. portrait with St. Peter’s Basilica in ed the Catholic Church’s relation - tained prayer, because the protago - “This lack of sincere political Under the Dec. 31 accord, the the background. ship with the indigenous people nist in all of this is the Holy Spirit will did not allow for an agree - president was to remain in office McKelvey was with a large and how to minister to them in leading us to Christ.” ment,” the archbishop said at a pending elections by the end of group of tourists from Western their communities. For example, The only way to discern and March 28 news conference. 2017, alongside a government Canada that just happened to be the decline in religious vocations accompany people properly, he “We are therefore bringing the headed by an opposition-nominat - crossing the large boulevard in means that diocesan bishops said, is being “men of prayer, deep political impasse in these discus - ed prime minister, but it also had front of St. Peter’s Square when he “need to integrate more fully into prayer, and listening to where the sions to national and international to comply with constitutional pro - decided he would crash the lineup that missionary mode” for indige - spirit is leading.” attention — as well as the lack of visions barring him from a third and jump right in for his own sou - nous peoples. Gagnon said that during their political goodwill and the incapac - term. venir snap with Arch bishops Smith told CNS that the pope lengthy conversation, Pope Francis ity of the political and social However, press reports said the Richard Gagnon of Win ni peg, spent “a lot of time talking about displayed “a powerful openness.” actors to find a compromise.” accord’s implementation had been Richard Smith of Edmon ton, and immigration,” reaffirming that “Certainly his pastoral style is Utembi said the bishops left in doubt since the Feb. 1 death Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of people from other lands and cul - such where people feel affirmed believed power-sharing negotia - of opposition leader Etienne the Ukrainian Diocese of New tures “are a gift” that should be and assured that there is a listen - tions, which followed a Dec. 31 Tshisekedi, who was to have head - Westminster, B.C. It was a prize integrated. He said the pope told ing ear,” he said. church-brokered peace accord, ed a 28-member National Transi - picture with the prelates dressed in them, “Migration is a human phe - There was “a feeling like we were now “in a state of failure.” tion Council. their finest, fresh from a meeting nomenon, don’t be afraid, trust in were talking with our brother,” with Pope Francis March 27. the Lord, welcome people.” Nowakowski said. The day started “in a rather Nowakowski said the pope Gagnon said Pope Francis left spectacular way” with an early reminded them to listen to young them with a strong message of not morning mass at the crypt at the people, to understand their per - giving up, despite the challenges. tomb of St. Peter, followed by a spectives. The pope also reaffirmed the two-and-a-half-hour conversation When the bishops told the pope need for “a collaborative approach, with the successor of Peter, Gagnon how young people are so bom - understanding where people are told Catholic News Service. barded with “so many anti-Gospel coming from and knowing, at the Those two events, one after the messages,” he showed deep con - same time, that clear decisions need other, would make it “a hard act to cern and said: “Please be close to to be taken on certain issues” that follow for the rest of the week” as your people. Accompany, be near underline church teaching, Gagnon the archbishop, who is president of them” so the church can offer “the said. hope that comes uniquely from Smith said this approach was Front Cover the Gospel,” Smith said. particularly timely at this moment The cover image of a child on The archbishop said the pope in history when outlooks, technol - Great Bear Lake in the emphasized the point that when ogy and culture are changing so CNS/Aaron Northwest Territories is by the church listens to young people, quickly and “very often catching Rene Fumoleau, OMI, from “you’re listening to reality,” and us all off guard.” VIOLENCE IN CONGO — Human skulls suspected to belong to vic - Denendeh: A Dene Celebration . he urged them not to “confine It shows “discernment is exact - tims of a recent fight between the Congolese army and Kamuina Nsapu It was featured in the March 28, yourselves to those in your parish - ly what has to be done” for the militia are seen March 12 on the roadside near Kananga, Congo. The 1994, Prairie Messenger . es or dioceses, but reach out to church “to respond with clarity Catholic bishops in Congo have announced they are withdrawing from those who are maybe having diffi - with the Gospel,” he said. the peace process because of lack of progress. April 5, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 3 ‘Spiritual abuse’ had deep roots for First Nations

By Evan Boudreau “As a child I remember the “As I began to examine the At the school, mostly run by “The bottom line was that the The Catholic Register shock of being removed from my cultural holocaust of residential religious orders, First Nations stu - schools were run much like refor - family,” said Stonechild. “One schools I began to realize that this dents were made to regularly matories where inmates are badly TORONTO (CCN) — Blair thing that really stands out in my discounting of indigenous ideolo - repeat the Christian sacraments as in need of discipline and moral Stonechild knows first-hand the mind was the endless torrent of gy was a phenomenon that started teachers sought assimilation rather training,” he said. “But the only devastating effects residential prayers, masses and confessions.” much further back in history and than spiritual awakening, said thing that we had done wrong was schools had on First Nations spir - Today, as a professor of indige - has extremely deep roots,” Stone - Stonechild. that we were born indigenous.” ituality. nous studies at First Nations child said as he delivered the 2017 “The real intent of the schools Had First Nations been allowed He spent nine years at University of Canada, Stonechild Royackers Lecture at Regis was to eradicate any vestiges of to practise and preserve their cul - Qu’Appelle Indian Residential looks back on that dark period of College in Toronto on March 22. traditional indigenous beliefs and ture, Stonechild believes life on School in Lebret, Sask., beginning Canadian history as “spiritual “While indigenous people replace it with an alien belief sys - Canadian reserves — which are in 1956. abuse,” and its roots go deep. were largely decimated by dis - tem,” he said to about 200 people plagued with issues of poverty, eases, the bias against a spiritual who attended the lecture. abuses of all forms and suicides — and cultural system that was not Not only did First Nations stu - would be much different. understood by Europeans led to dents have Christianity imposed “If they had been allowed to constant efforts to undermine on them at residential schools, continue practising their spiritual - indigenous societies. they were also restricted from ity, their societies would have “Europeans did not understand practising indigenous spirituality been maintained and remained indigenous spirituality anymore or culture. largely intact,” said Stonechild, a than modern archaeology under - Recalling the school’s uniform, member of the Muscowpetung stands the spirituality of ancient in which a personal identification First Nation. “(But) indigenous people.” number was on the front, Stone - spirituality . . . is an ancient sys - Stonechild was only six years child compares schools like tem that is greatly misunderstood old when his parents arrived at Qu’Ap pelle to correctional insti - and came to be sidelined and sup - Qu’Appelle. tutions. pressed.” Students gather for Intercordia event

By Caitlin Ward darity through living with and year, the program will send nine learning from marginalized com - students abroad: five to communi - SASKATOON — Students and munities across the world. Stu- ties in the Rio Yuna basin in interi - alumni gathered at St. Thomas dents take a course focusing on or Dominican Republic, and four to More College on the evening of global inequalities and solidarity live with indigenous families in the March 24 to mark the STM- during the school year, and partici - Ecuadorean Andes. One student Intercordia program’s 10th anniver - pate in four seminars that prepare will live with a L’Arche communi - sary. The event celebrated the study them emotionally, spiritually, and ty in Cape Breton. Catholic Register/Evan Boudreau abroad program’s challenges and philosophically for their experi - The celebration also featured a Blair Stonechild successes over the course of the ence. Students then spend a sum - special thank you to STM’s associ - past 10 years, as well as key people mer term abroad in a host commu - ate dean, Dr. Darrell McLaughlin, CNEWA celebrates who have worked to ensure STM- nity, connecting these larger theo - who has been instrumental to the Intercordia’s longevity. retical concepts to their personal program’s success, and is retiring The night featured video greet - lived experience encountering this year. When the program began 12 years in Canada ings and congratulations from the poverty, social inequality, and cul - at the college 10 years ago, national program’s co-founder, Joe tural differences. McLaughlin developed and taught By Deborah Gyapong It also supports churches in Vorstermans, and community part - Intercordia Canada, a national the first sociology class associated Ukraine where there is “great ten - ner Esteban Polanco, the executive NGO, was co-founded in Toronto with the program. Once he became OTTAWA (CCN) — As the sion between pro-Russian forces director of La Federacion de Cam- by Jean Vanier and longtime associate dean of the college, Catholic Near East Welfare Asso - in Eastern Ukraine confronting the pe sinos Hacia El Progreso , STM- L’Arche community member Joe McLaughlin was instrumental in ciation (CNEWA) marks its 90th Ukrainian government,” he said. Intercordia’s host partner in the Vorstermans. In 2006, a few years preserving the program at STM anniversary this year, CNEWA “This has destabilized the econo - Dominican Republic. STM’s Chair after Intercordia Canada’s found - while the national Intercordia or - Canada celebrates 12 years. my of Ukraine. Inflation and in Catholic Studies had sponsored a ing, STM partnered with the organ - ganization went through a process CNEWA Canada came into exis - unemployment are very high.” visa for Polanco to visit Saskatoon ization to bring the program to of revisioning. Students from years tence Feb. 12, 2005, said Carl Hétu, “Of course, this means poverty concurrently with this anniversary, Saskatchewan, and sent their first past sent videos of gratitude and its national director, and since then is also increasing; people in need but the Canadian government cohort of students abroad in the congratulations to McLaughlin, the Holy See charity has seen “an are increasing,” he said. refused his application. summer of 2007. Since then, STM which were edited into a presenta - increased trust from Canadian “When people donate to STM-Intercordia, a flagship and Intercordia have sent 98 stu - tion that showcased the contribu - Catholics toward our agency.” CNEWA they know it will be well program in the college’s Engaged dents to live with host communities tions he has made to the program “We are transparent and we used and we are doing our best to Learning Office, seeks to help stu - in seven different countries, as well and the positive impact he has had deliver on our mission,” he said. keep administration costs as low dents develop a sense of moral as sending students to L’Arche on students’ education and their “We’re good at delivering on what as possible,” Hétu said. Ninety per responsiveness and educated soli - homes throughout Canada. This lives. we say we’re going to do.” cent of donated monies go directly “Our niche is always to work to mission; four per cent is spent with the church, wherever the on administration and six per cent church is present,” he said. “If you on fundraising. want to reach out to Christians, Canadians donated $991,141 whether persecuted or not, to the toward projects in the Middle East; church that cares for the poor and $277,583 to projects in Africa, pri - the marginalized, CNEWA is very marily the Horn of Africa; $500,000 strong in working with the local to projects in Ukraine; and $700,000 church in providing social service toward spiritual formation, training, support.” and humanitarian programs in Ar - Pope Pius XI founded CNEWA menia, Georgia, Egypt and India. in 1926 to support members of the Hétu said on the surface the sit - Eastern Catholic churches in coun - uation may seem bleak, but the tries such as Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, projects help the churches build India and Ethiopia plagued by con - bridges, serve the vulnerable and flict, poverty and natural disasters. defend against hate. Hétu pointed out the needs in these “This is precisely what Pope parts of the world remain strong. Francis calls us to do and the op - Over the past year, 4,500 Cana - portunity around which Canadians dians have contributed $4.3 mil - are rallying.” lion to CNEWA Canada to help “Canadians have shown im - local churches provide food, shel - mense charity over the years,” ter, education and health care. said Msgr. John E. Kozar, presi - With the ongoing crisis in Iraq dent of CNEWA’s international and Syria, CNEWA has added aid office based in New York. “We to refugees and displaced persons greatly appreciate the support as to its programming, Hétu said. our Canadian donors have been a CNEWA has also maintained a pillar of encouragement, helping Vanessa Leon focus on the Horn of Africa afflict - us to maintain a variety of active INTERCORDIA — Dr. Darrell McLaughlin (seated) poses with STM faculty and Intercordia students past ed by a major drought. programs in key regions at risk.” and present. 4 Prairie Messenger CANADIAN NEWS April 5, 2017 Doctors say they are bullied over assisted suicide

By Michael Swan industry, privacy and freedom of said. “We need protection from The Catholic Register information, workers compensa - our own regulatory body, which is tion, etc., into line with federal leg - demanding something that no TORONTO (CCN) — Doctors islation that legalized assisted sui - other province and no other coun - are being bullied, silenced and cide last June. try requires of their physicians — coerced in a pro-euthanasia envi - Ontario is the only jurisdiction mandatory referral.” ronment which is forcing those in the world that forces doctors to The co-founder of MAID- who object to medically assisted provide an effective referral for GTA, Dr. Chantal Perrot, defend - suicide to provide an effective assisted suicide. ed the duty-to-refer policy. referral for patients who wish to Hamilton Dr. Jane Dobson held “There is already a lack of die, provincial legislators were back tears as she described the pres - effective referral for MAID in told during hearings into Bill 84. sure she’s faced since the College of Ontario,” Perrot said. “The CPSO Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario policy on effective referral bal - ruled that doctors who have a ances the rights of true conscien - moral, ethical or religious objection tious objectors with the rights of to assisted dying must nevertheless patients to access a legal medical provide an “effective referral” for service. The focus should be on the procedure. enforcing the policy, not eliminat - Catholic Register/M. Swan “If I don’t comply, I face fines ing or eroding it.” Jane Dobson and the possible suspension of my Perrot dismissed the idea of licence,” Dobson said. creating a third-party care co-ordi - it’s absolutely essential for us in a Collins told Progressive Con - Dobson described how her nation system to replace the duty- free democracy,” he said. “It is serva tive health critic Jeff Yurek. own brother became suicidal to-refer policy. alarming to hear good doctors say Liberal parliamentary secretary when, at the age of 50, he discov - The president of the Assembly that they would have to leave the to the Minister of Health John ered his tonsillar cancer had of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, practice of medicine in Ontario if Fraser repeated the government’s spread to his brain. London Bishop Ronald Fabbro, they were forced to act against intention to create a care co-ordi - “He was admitted to the psy - emphasized that seeking conscience their conscience.” nation service. However, at pres - chiatric ward for therapy. His rights for doctors is not about trying Toronto Archbishop Cardinal ent, that proposal would still re - mood rebounded and he spent the to re-fight the Supreme Court case Thomas Collins said health care quire a doctor’s referral. Fraser next months of his life receiving that made assisted suicide legal. institutions should be free to make claimed any protection of con - care, first at home and then in hos - “The law needs to strike a bal - moral choices about whether or science rights inside the “techni - pice, where he was able to recon - ance between legal rights here and not to offer euthanasia and assist - cal” bill was not appropriate. nect and reconcile with old friends fundamental rights that the Charter ed suicide. Yurek said he will introduce an and family members and he spent of Rights and Freedoms of our “Institutions have consciences amendment to protect conscience meaningful time with his two country say we stand up for — say too. It’s called their mission,” rights for medical professionals. young sons and his wife,” Dobson Catholic Register/M. Swan said. “He was truly grateful for Ellen Warner the extra time.” University of Toronto profes - Oncologist Dr. Ellen Warner sor and St. Michael’s Hospital told an all-party committee that endocrinologist Dr. Maria Wolfs physicians at Toronto’s Sunny - said medical schools are facing brook Hospital are “being bullied” pressure to weed out students who and are experiencing a “horren - might object to assisted suicide. dous stress level.” She described “If conscience protection is not colleagues who object to assisted included in Bill 84, future physi - suicide speaking in code and cian training in Ontario may be at using alternative email addresses risk,” Wolfs said. to discuss doctor-assisted death. The University of Toronto “Physicians are afraid that they School of Medicine encourages will lose their jobs if they say any - doctors in training to act on their thing,” Warner said. “We feel consciences and to form an ethical sometimes like we’re in some sort foundation for their future prac - of dystopian novel.” tice, but the College of Physicians and Surgeons of On - tario’s duty-to-refer poli cy is undermining student training, said Wolfs. “Those who are ob - jecting conscientiously are worried that they might not be able to practise in areas that are either remote, be cause of the need for effective referral, or in areas such BISHOPS MEET IN ROME — The Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops met recently for their ad limina as palliative care, criti - visit in Rome. Among those who attended the meetings are, from left: Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, Prince cal care and oncology. Albert Bishop Albert Thévenot, M.Afr., Regina Archbishop Don Bolen, Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas I’ve definitely heard Murray Chatlain, Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, and that (from students),” Saskatoon Diocesan Administrator Rev. Kevin McGee. (See story, page 2.) she said. Representing the B’Nai Brith Canada, psychiatrist Dr. Janice Halpern said the Col - lege of Physi cians and Catholic Register/M. Swan Surgeons’ policy is at odds with the subtleties Maria Wolfs of a psychiatric doctor- NDP health critic France patient relationship. How long can Gélinas said she was “horrified” a psychiatrist work with a patient by Warner’s testimony. “on finding their will to live again” A majority of witnesses appear - before referring that patient for ing before the March 23 hearings assisted suicide, she asked. of the Finance and Economic “My regulatory body says this Affairs Committee want con - must be done in a ‘timely man - science protection for physicians ner,’ ” Halpern said. and other health care workers writ - “Participating in killing, put - ten into the new law. Bill 84 will ting my need to keep my job first bring a host of provincial laws — none of you would want that governing coroners, the insurance on your conscience,” Halpern April 5, 2017 CANADIAN NEWS Prairie Messenger 5 Syrians choosing to remain need help to rebuild

By Deborah Gyapong members, primarily women, to developing new leaders. “It’s very For the year beginning June 1, learn basic job skills to improve important to invest in Syrians, to 2016, and ending May 31, 2017, OTTAWA (CCN) — Syrians their living conditions. build their capacities and give them the Darna Centres expect to have need help to rebuild their lives, “Darna means ‘our home’ in tools to build their country again.” given 280 women access to an says a Syrian refugee who man - Arabic,” Sukhaita said. Those inside Syria do not need 11-week sewing course; 265 ages centres funded by the When meeting with Canadian immediate humanitarian relief as women English language train - Canadian Catholic Organization government officials, she said she much as previously, she said. “It’s ing; 300 women a computer for Development and Peace. hoped to convey some “small, not just relief that can solve or course; and 80 women courses in “Most are talking about sup - positive stories” of how the Darna respond to needs. We should also reading and writing. porting refugees, how we support Centres have helped women who support and invest in development Development and Peace esti - refugees and neighbouring coun - have been forced by the civil war projects.” mates 80 per cent of those who tries,” said Rand Sukhaita, who to take on new roles that challenge The Darna Centres help people have taken the sewing course manages the Darna Centres in traditional ones. Most of them to “have an income” and give chil - will be able to find a job using Syria funded by the Canadian bish - have now become the breadwin - dren, youth and women psychoso - those new skills. ops’ overseas development agency. ners in their families, she said. cial support, she said. “All of us, the Sukhaita manages the Darna “That issue is very important; we These changes have affected all Syrians, are traumatized because of Centres from Turkey, where she should give solutions and support.” communities that are fighting not what’s happening — displacement, fled in 2013, not long after giving “Also there are people who only for their rights with the gov - violence. Just following the news birth to her daughter in December choose to stay in Syria, we should ernment, but against ISIL extrem - every day is traumatic.” 2012. She and her mother and her also support them,” said Sukhaita ists. “I wanted to highlight how According to Development and baby daughter joined her husband in a Skype interview March 24 Syrians still survive, what they want Peace, the Darna Centres aim to who had already gone to Turkey. after she had returned to Turkey and why they are still in Syria.” “promote women’s economic au - The family has been there for from a trip to Canada that includ - “Most of the people know there tonomy; to lay the foundation for almost four years. “We didn’t CCN/D. Gyapong ed visits with federal government is war in Syria and few of them an egalitarian society; and break know what would happen,” she Rand Sukhaita visited with federal representatives in Ottawa. know it was a revolution and why it the cycle of poverty.” said. “After one year, I started to government officials in Ottawa in Supporting them includes giv - all started,” she said. The war Development and Peace - realize I would stay in Turkey, and mid-March to share her concerns ing them tools, knowledge and between the regime, rebel groups Caritas Canada began supporting I wanted to engage with the about the needs of Syrians who have help building resilience, she and ISIS has led to confusion on the vocational training centres in refugees from Syria so I started chosen to remain inside the country. added. “After all, they are the the ground. “No one knows what is Maarat-Al-Numan (Idlib) and the working with Syrian Medical ones who stay and who build.” daily happening,” she said. No one city of Aleppo in 2015. The centres Society.” She worked with the soci - Three million Syrians live in Rebuilding in Syria remains knows how women and youth face offer women a monthly stipend and ety for one year as they supported Turkey where they do not have “very dangerous,” but people all the traumatic circumstances. child care so they can attend class - field hospitals inside Syria, and then official UNHCR refugee status, need hospitals, education, safe Sukhaita recommended Canada es. They also have social workers began working with the Darna but have been treated reasonably spaces and a future, she said. support Syrian civil society and let on staff who can help with psy - Centres where she was eventually well by the government. Sukhaita The Darna Centres help its civil society groups take the lead in chosocial support and services. made manager. hopes eventually to return to Syria. Archbishop Durocher hopes to make Psalms accessible in new book

By Deborah Gyapong dom and passion for the Psalms ing ven geance,” she said. “There is not only to a new generation, but no aspect of the human condition OTTAWA (CCN) — Arch bish - also the entire Canadian commu - absent from the Book of Psalms.” op Paul-André Durocher hopes his nity,” Sinasac said. They give voice to “joys, sor - new three-volume The Psalms for Carol Kuzmochka, a specialist rows and anxieties,” she said. Our Lives will help people gain a in faith education and director of During her fifth pregnancy, deeper appreciation for the Psalms. Saint Paul University’s School for Kuzmochka said she experienced At a book launch March 24 at Ministry Formation, described health difficulties. “When I tried to Saint Paul University hosted by The Psalms for Our Lives as “150 pray, the words were like straw in Novalis, the Archbishop of Gati - gifts” that can “nourish and deep - my mouth, until I found the words neau said he hoped the books would en our faith” and that of others. of Psalm 57,” she said. “Have help people connect the Psalms to The fathers of the Second Vati can mercy on me, God, have mercy on their Christian faith,” to their per - Council in their Pastoral Con - me. In you I seek refuge.” sonal lives and to their prayer life. stitution Gaudium et Spes identified Rev. Ivan Mathieu, the Dean of The idea for the volumes came the “disconnect between faith and the Faculty of Theology at Saint out of columns he began writing 15 life” as one of the problems fac ing Paul University, spoke about years ago in French and in English CCN/D. Gyapong the modern world, Kuzmochka said. Durocher’s book from the per - for local papers while he was Archbishop Paul-André Durocher Fifty years later, their “think - spective of a homilist. Every Bishop of Alexandria-Corn wall. ing endures,” she said. Durocher’s Sunday comes the challenge, He knew he had both Catho lic and Consequently, he had a collec - Psalm and the “sense of the text”; book can help heal that disconnect “What can I say?” Protestant readers as well as those tion of commentaries he could he would connect the Psalm to the between faith and life and “help While the archbishop’s book with little or no faith at all. consult: a Catholic commentary; a Gospel message in the New Testa - us to be better evangelizers.” does not create short cuts by doing Writing once a week, it took Protestant commentary; a feminist ment; and connect the Psalm to Durocher “lifts up the Psalms the work of the homilist for him, it him three years to get through all commentary; and commentaries his life. Then he would look at the for us as a place to fully and teaches that God “wishes to speak 150 Psalms, he said. by the Church Fathers. broader relevance of the Psalms. authentically be a human being,” to me and wishes to speak to us,” Durocher would usually write If he was writing about Psalm Novalis publishing director Joe she said. Mathieu said in French. on Saturday mornings. Though his 15, for example, he would read Sinasac said he had met Durocher The Psalms present “real hu - “That opening can help all who aca demic specialty had been sa cra - what the various commentaries at a reception and, after learning man beings” who are fearful, must prepare homilies to come mental theology, he had always had to say, and then sit for a while about the columns, suggested this angry, sorrowful, even “demand - before God in prayer.” loved studying Scripture, and in prayer to discover the focus he “labour of love” would make preach ing was important to him, he would take for the newspaper. good books, accessible to readers. said. He examined the origins of the “He brings his inspiring wis - Strong stand taken on abuse

Continued from page 2 vides humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including medical Vitillo told Catholic News Service services for pregnant women and by phone. children, and makes available safe “People are the centre of his play spaces for children. attention. This will make him a Guterres has established new very good secretary general of the procedures at the UN against sex - UN,” said the church leader. ual abuse to address violations Vitillo served for years as the carried out in by UN peacekeepers May the Light of the Risen Christ shine upon you Caritas Internationalis head of and staff. There are now internal delegation to the United Nations controls to prohibit someone with in Geneva before assuming his such history from consideration and bring hope for a faith-filled future. current post with the International for a UN job, Vitillo said. Catholic Migration Commission. “He made it absolutely clear from the The commission is a network that there is zero tolerance for SASKATCHEWAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION of Catholic bishops’ conferences such behaviour. I’m very im- and organizations that work with pressed with his strong stand on Paula Scott Ken Loehndorf migrants and refugees, and it this,” Vitillo said. “We have to President Executive Director advocates on the global level. In make sure that this is not happen - the Mideast, the commission pro - ing in the refugee community.” 6 Prairie Messenger LOCAL NEWS April 5, 2017 St. John’s Bible touring Winnipeg archdiocese

By James Buchok script designed specifically for the St. John’s University in Col - March 19 - 20, sponsored annual - ered. It also uses inclusive lan - project. It is the first handwritten legeville, Minn., part of the St. ly by St. Paul’s College at the guage, which was a requirement WINNIPEG — The St. John’s Bible commissioned by the Bene- John’s Abbey campus, which also University of Manitoba. from the beginning,” Patella said. Bible, a handwritten and illuminated dictines since the invention of the hosts St. John’s Preparatory School The Bible tour is displaying The Bible is a collaboration of creation 15 years in the making at a printing press 500 years ago. It is and the graduate School of renditions of Gospels and Acts, scripture scholars and theologians Benedictine Abbey in Minnesota to based on the New Revised Theology Seminary. The affiliated which include illuminations of the at St. John’s University with a mark the third Chris tian millennium, Standard Version of the Bible. St. Benedict’s women’s college is genealogy of Jesus, the multipli - team of artists and calligraphers. is touring the Archdiocese of Winni- “The New Revised Standard in nearby St. Joseph, Minn. cation of the loaves and fishes, In 2000, Donald Jackson, senior peg for the next year. Version is a revision of the RSV, “As a translation, it is truly an Luke’s anthology, the crucifixion scribe to Queen Elizabeth, and a The scripture is accompanied which is descended from the King ecumenical effort, with nearly and the Gospel of St. John. crew of artists and calligraphers by 160 illuminations designed for James, so, for English speakers, it every major Christian denomina - Modern images used to bring began the first of the Bible’s 1,150 specific passages but with touches has a great pedigree,” said Rev. tion represented among the trans - the ancient words to life include a vellum pages. of humankind’s accomplishments Michael Patella, OSB, a monk of lators, including Roman Catho - double-helix DNA strand, images The Bible is written and drawn over the past 500 years. All the text St. John’s Abbey. Patella is an lic,” said Patella, who presented sent from the Hubble telescope, the entirely by hand using quills and is written in calligraphy, with a author, theologian, and professor at this year’s Hanley Lecture Series, Twin Towers of 9/11, jet airplanes, pigments ground from minerals modern architecture, an allusion to and stones such as malachite, silver the AIDS virus, and scenes of and 24-karat gold. A team from Omar Khadr the focus of Nash Lecture genocide, but all with a subtle and Minnesota and Wales worked to - stylized method. Such items are gether to complete the project. By Frank Flegel nary conference held in Edmonton stand-in teachers. intended to give future generations Patella believes the legacy of in 2008 and it was at that point At Millhaven he requested and clues as to when the Bible was cre - the work “will be a realization of REGINA — You don’t hear that Zinck and some of The King’s was granted a transfer to the maxi - ated. Other images come from the role of art in faith and theology. much about Omar Khadr these students became interested in his mum security institution in Edmon - East ern religious and Native Scripture is more than a text. Truth days, but he is alive and well, liv - plight. ton where he continued his educa - Amer ican traditions. Many illumi - is more than a treatise or essay. ing in Edmonton with the intent of “What happened next with the tion. He was eventually transferred nations emphasize women, neg - Some things can only be expressed pursuing a career in nursing. At students,” said Zinck, “was re- to Bowden medium security insti - lected peoples, and the poor. All with colour, design, and image.” markable.” tution at Innisfail, Alta. animals, fauna and insects in the “The word of God is not limit - They began writing letters to Throughout her presentation, artwork are native to Min ne sota. ed by the five senses but involves Khadr. They researched his story, Zinck talked about the value of a The volumes are two feet high by all of them and things we have not discovered the military had altered liberal arts education in teaching three feet wide when open. yet imagined.” records to make him look guilty, values needed throughout life. “We wanted this project to look To find out where the St. and became advocates for his She and some of the students from to the future, not the past; hence, John’s Bible will be on display, release. The King’s University remain in any biblical translation that used contact St. Paul’s College at (204) “It was a moment when they touch with Khadr. antique language was not consid - 474-8582. came into adulthood,” said Zinck in response to a question. She used PowerPoint slides to empha - Jewish community celebrates Purim size her points. One slide con - tained the line, “Hope must find By Frank Flegel its way through lies, fantasy into facts and existence.” REGINA — The Purim cele - Because Khadr expressed an bration is sometimes called the interest in advancing his educa - Jewish Mardi Gras where people tion, a group of faculty at The dress in costume and make a lot of King’s University developed a noise. Frank Flegel special curriculum for him that Each year Jewish children are Dr. Arlette Zinck included several Canadian novels, told the story of Queen Esther, including Who Has Seen The who is the hero of Purim, a cele - one time, in the early 2000s, he and Wind by W.O. Mitchell, that bration that commemorates the his Canadian family were the sub - would help teach him the basics. survival of the Jewish community jects of much diplomatic activity His military guards became his in ancient Persia. between the United States and Haman, the King’s chief minis - Canada as various groups in both ter, falsely accused the Jews of not countries advocated for and against obeying the king’s laws, and so his release from prison. the Persian king planned to exter - His journey from Afghanistan to minate all the Jews in his king - Guantanamo Bay Prison to Ed mon - dom. They were saved through the Frank Flegel ton was the subject of this year’s intervention of his queen, the PURIM — Rabbi Jeremy Parnes of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Regina Campion College Nash Memorial beautiful Esther, who, unbe - mixes with participants at this year’s Purim celebration, which is some - Lecture held March 21 in the knownst to the king, is a Jew. times called the Jewish Mardi Gras as people dress in costume and University of Regina’s Education The chief minister, Haman, is make a lot of noise. auditorium. Lecturer Dr. Arlette hanged by the king for his evil Zinck is an associate professor of intentions, and Mordecai, Esther’s Haman is mentioned the noise- Most of the children come English and dean of the faculty of cousin who originally presented makers and the booing are sup - dressed in costume, but a few arts at The King’s University, a pri - Esther to the king when he was posed to drown out the mention of adults always join in the fun as vate Christian institution in Ed - searching for a bride, is elevated his name. well. This year children had the monton. The title of her lecture was, to the chief minister’s position. After the reading, refreshments added fun of an air-filled boogie “Discerning a Path Toward Hope: A The noise and partying come are served, including Haman bouncer, and prizes were awarded Liberal Arts University’s Journey when the Megillat Esther , which taschen , which are fruit-filled pas - at the end of the celebration to with Omar Khadr.” is really the Book of Esther in the tries in the tri-corner shape of what children who participated in creat - Khadr was 15 years old when Old Testament, is read. Whenever is supposed to be Haman’s hat. ing art while sitting at their tables. he joined his father fighting with OSU the Taliban against the United URSULINE DIES — On March States invasion of Afghanistan. 13, in the 79th year of consecrated He was seriously wounded and life, Sister Ambrosia Wending, eventually charged by the U.S. OSU, completed her earthly jour - military for throwing a grenade ney and peacefully entered her that killed an American medic. He eternal home, joining all her was sent to Guantanamo Bay immediate family members and where he was held for 10 years her many Ursuline companions. without trial. Wending’s life was one of service As he was a Canadian citizen, — as teacher, local and general attempts were made to have him superior, as well as a variety of released. Because he was not yet jobs at Marian Press in Battleford, 16, various factions appealed to Sask. In her retirement she joined both the Canadian and U.S. gov - the Brescia Prayer Apostolate in ernments and the U.S. military to Saskatoon. She enjoyed life’s return him to Canada. Eventually lighter moments, such as fishing, he was sent to Millhaven maxi - picnic lunches and gardening, and mum security prison in Ontario. will be remembered for her caring, His Canadian lawyer told her sense of humour, and her ever- Khadr’s story at an interdiscipli - ready smile. April 5, 2017 LOCAL NEWS Prairie Messenger 7 Spiritual care funding eliminated in Sask. budget

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski budget announced March 22 by faith communities is not funded Lasair. bers, points out Lasair. “With out Finance Minister Kevin Doherty, by the province. Some faith-based Stress, fear, and loss are com - spiritual care de partments to over - SASKATOON — The elimina - “pastoral care services” were facilities also use funding from monly experienced by patients, see the dissemination of informa - tion of provincially funded spiri - eliminated from provincial health foundations or endowments to families and staff in health care tion, we are not entirely sure how tual care services in hospitals and care funding, amounting to some cover spiritual and pastoral care and long-term settings. Spiritual community clergy are even going to care homes across Saskatchewan $1.5 million annually. beyond what the province has pro - care providers address the spiritual know if their people are in hospi - will seriously affect patient care The cuts affect spiritual care vided. dimensions of these difficult or tal.” and health outcomes, predicts departments and personnel funded The decision does not take into life-altering situations, says Lasair. It will leave many without any Simon Lasair of the Canadian through the provincial health care account the invaluable and unique “One of the implications of this form of spiritual care at all. “The Association for Spiritual Care. system. Pastoral care provided by skills that spiritual care providers decision is that there is actually majority of clients we see in the As part of the 2017 provincial clergy, staff and volunteers from bring to a health care team, says going to be a greater burden of health care system are people who care upon the system, because have no religious background, and professionals will not be there to although they may not understand provide the emotional and spiritu - what spiritual care is all about, al support needed,” he says. these people have spiritual needs as Many don’t understand the dis - well,” Lasair says. The elimination tinction between pastoral care and of spiritual care means that a signif - spiritual care, Lasair points out. icant segment of the population Pastoral care consists of reli - will no longer have their emotional gious support and denominational or spiritual needs met at often-criti - care — often involving clergy or cal moments. faith communities. “Spiritual “There is an increasing body of care, on the other hand, is more evidence that having some sort of generalized, providing emotional professional spiritual care as part and spiritual support for health of the delivery of overall medical care clients and their families,” he care improves medical outcomes. describes. And so, I think one of the implica - “We have a number of tech - tions of this decision is that there niques that we use to facilitate is actually going to be a greater clients in the telling of their sto - burden of care upon the system ries, their experience of health because there are not profession - care, their experience of their ill - als there to provide the emotional ness, (or) of being in long-term and spiritual support needed.” care. By drawing attention to spir - Accreditation Canada recom - itual concerns within those sto - mends that professional spiritual ries, our hope is to alleviate emo - care be an integral part of health tional and spiritual suffering.” care teams. “There will now be a As a professional practice, spir - significant gap in most health care Kiply Yaworski itual care requires technical skill institutions in Saskatchewan, DEDICATION — After leading a dedication liturgy March 23 at Holy Family Catholic School, students and training that makes it distinct which will need to be remedied to gathered around a photo of Msgr. Len Morand. The school and its chapel have been dedicated to Morand, from other health care professions. ensure the highest standards of who served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon for some 51 years before his death in 2007. “Most spiritual care practitioners accreditation are maintained.” in the province have achieved at A letter addressed to Premier least a master’s level in academic Brad Wall, the finance minister and School dedicated to Msgr. Morand training, (and) all of us have had the health minister has been writ - multiple units of specialized spiri - ten by spiritual care practitioners in By Kiply Lukan Yaworski shared memories of his mentor mentary feeder schools, he came tual care training through the the province, expressing grave and friend. to all their sporting activities, and Canadian Association for Spiritual concerns about the cuts, and asking SASKATOON — Students “Monsignor was the holiest most importantly he prayed for all Care,” Lasair says, adding that this for the funding to be restored. filled the gymnasium at Holy and the best man that I have ever the students that were in the “enables us to understand some of “I think that as a profession we Family Catholic School March 23 known,” Cratty told the children, schools, and that was something the psycho-social issues that might have a lot of stereotypes working to celebrate the dedication of their who listened intently and looked really exciting for you, because I be contributing to a person’s emo - against us,” suggests Lasair, not - school and its chapel to the late at images in a slide show of know right now Monsignor is tional or spiritual distress, and we ing that spiritual care providers Msgr. Len Morand. Morand’s life. praying for each one of you.” are also specifically trained in how are not simply “nice people who Morand died in June 2007 after “Monsignor was originally Cratty described Morand as a to reflect theologically on the go in and say a prayer.” serving 51 years as a priest in the from a small community just out - man of wisdom, of prayer and of experiences of ill - Roman Catholic Diocese of side Windsor, Ontario. He was great love. “Monsignor was a good ness or being in Saskatoon. one of nine children, two girls and shepherd and he cared for every - long-term care.” Holy Family students led a seven boys. Six of those boys be- one. He founded Guadalupe House, While other liturgy of the Word to mark the came priests,” Cratty said. served in many parishes and in health care profes - dedication. “We pray in thanksgiv - “Since your school is dedicated every level of leadership in our dio - sionals are trained ing for Msgr. Morand; may the to Monsignor, there are some very cese,” he said. “Your school is truly to be sensitive to memory of his service to other important things that you should blessed to be dedicated to him.” spiritual needs, people be kept,” students prayed. know about him. First, there was The dedication concluded with they do not have “Keep the memory of Msgr. no greater advocate for youth in the assembly singing the school the same special - Morand alive in our school and our diocese,” Cratty said of the song, with signing by school Sign ized training, nor may the special plaque that we dis - priest and one-time teacher, who Club members from Grades 1 to 3. are they primarily play in our chapel be cherished.” also worked with the Catholic After the celebration, student focused on the Terry Cratty, who served in board of education. leaders brought a gift of candy spiritual dimension youth ministry at Holy Family “As pastor of Holy Family, around to students in every class - of care. “This Parish when M orand was past or , Mon s igno r c a me t o all the ele - room to mark the special event. training is unique among the health care disciplines we work with, and I Tim Yaworski In the triumph of the Lord . . . think it is also fair PARISH MISSION — Theologian and story - to say that even teller Megan McKenna led a parish mission May you always rejoice! among community March 25 - 29 at St. Mary’s Parish in Saskatoon. clergy this training With energy, humour and proclamation, is unique.” McKenna explored three lenten Gospels from the In the Glory of the Lord . . . Cutting profes - Gospel of John: the woman at the well, the man sional spiritual care born blind, and the raising of Lazarus. in hospital and Combining theological insights, engaging stories, may you always find happiness! long-term care set - and an understanding of how tentative faith tings also eliminates develops into full-blown discipleship, McKenna the partnership and shed light on the catechumenate, the call of all Wishing you & your family support that spiritu - the baptized into a deeper relationship with al care departments Christ, and our Christian identity as “beloved a happy and blessed Easter! routinely provide to disciples.” McKenna was also facilitating an Our clergy and faith Lady of Guadalupe Parish series March 31 - communities that April 2 about the power of storytelling in passing are offering pastoral on faith and tradition, particularly for indige - Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus care to their mem - nous communities. 8 Prairie Messenger ARTS & CULTURE April 5, 2017 Sixth season of beloved ‘Midwife’ series underway

By Chris Byrd woman Wilma Goddens (Olivia suspending all belief in miracles cial episode, a Nonnatus House vates her to be exacting now. Darnley), with ultimately tragic until further notice.” contingent travelled to South Africa When Sister Ursula limits her NEW YORK (CNS) — Sister results, the midwife who cared for The fact that midwife Patsy to shore up the order’s clinic there, midwives to 20-minute home visits, Ursula’s (Harriet Walter) arrival at her, Trixie Franklin (Helen Mount (Emerald Fennell) and which was in danger of closing due however, one of Barbara Gilbert’s Nonnatus House shakes things up George), revises her attitude. nurse Delia Busby (Kate Lamb) to inefficiency. A preoccupation (Charlotte Ritchie) patients suffers in the sixth season of Call the Thus, stylish Trixie tells Angli - try to keep their lesbian relation - with ineptitude informed Sister the nearly fatal consequences of this Midwife , PBS’ warmly engaging can vicar Tom Hereward (Jack ship a secret also accurately Ursula’s actions when she subse - misguided policy. and popular limited-series drama. Ashton), her former fiance, “You reflects the era. Like the other quently replaced Sister Julienne at In keeping with the program’s Having debuted on BBC 1 Jan. and I have different ideas about mature elements already men - the head of the staff. fundamentally humane approach, 22, Call the Midwife premiered miracles. I honestly thought that tioned, Call the Midwife makes Sister Julienne clashes with her instead of feeling vindicated when Sunday, April 2, and concludes its was what the pill was, and if the appropriate viewing for discern - new superior. But she also under - a villain receives her comeup - eight-week run on Sunday, May 21. doctors are right, and there are ing adults. stands that an experience of fail - pance, we’re moved with compas - As veteran viewers will know, issues over its safety, then I’m In the 2016 Christmas Day spe - ure in Sister Ursula’s past moti - sion toward Sister Ursula as she Call the Midwife chronicles the penitently confronts her demons lives of nuns from the fictitious and grievous flaws. Anglican order of St. Raymond of The death of the redoubtable, Nonnatus who, together with their cantankerous, but compassionate un-vowed colleagues, assist ex- Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris) at pectant mothers in the Poplar area the end of Season Five, has of London’s East End during the brought Sisters Julienne, Monica 1950s and ’60s. Joan (Judy Parfitt) and Mary The series contains realistic Cynthia (Bryony Hannah) more to scenes of childbirth, descriptions of the forefront. medical complications, and frank, Concerned with Sister Mary necessary discussions of sexuality Cynthia’s mental fragility after she and reproduction. Reflecting the was violently assaulted in Season reality of its mid-20th century set - Five, Sister Julienne entrusts the ting, the show also depicts clinics motherhouse with the care of the distributing contraceptives. young sister, who is preparing to Although Sister Julienne (Jenny profess her vows. Agutter), the nun in charge, ex- In her 90s, and contending with presses reservations, the sisters’ dementia, Sister Monica Joan overall attitude falls far short of accompanies convent handyman vigorous opposition to this emerg - Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) to a ing trend. That’s in keeping with mental hospital called Linchmere the cautious acceptance the Church as he looks for a possible home of England extended to artificial for Reggie (Daniel Laurie), an contraception beginning with the orphaned young man with Down Lambeth Conference of 1930. syndrome who is in Fred’s care. However, when use of the pill Having concluded the place engenders complications for local CNS/PBS isn’t appropriate for Reggie, BELOVED SERIES — Judy Parfitt stars as Sister Monica Joan, centre, and Victoria Yeates as Sister Sister Monica Joan is distraught to Winifred, in the PBS series Call the Midwife . The series chronicles the lives of nuns from the fictitious discover that Sister Mary Cynthia Byrd is a guest reviewer for Anglican order of St. Raymond of Nonnatus who, together with their un-vowed colleagues, assist expectant Catholic News Service. mothers in the Poplar area of London’s East End during the 1950s and ’60s. — MIDWIFE , page 14 Be wary of the temptation to being busy: rest is part of our faith

By Caitlin Ward of how easy it is to invest too things can be good, certainly, but itself. We make work for our - obsessed with being busy. It much time and effort into a job, they are not restful. And the selves in places where there once begins to feel as if we in North Today I told my officemate he and how one’s well-being and funny thing is, a lot of it is ritual wasn’t meant to be work. We America must have something had to take some time off. He’s work can suffer as a result. I that we have constructed around make ourselves busy. against resting. Not everyone worked a lot of overtime in the know this because I have been Christmas, rather than having I’ve been thinking about the can take space to rest, I know, last month, and even though he quite bad for it in the past, emerg - much to do with the holy day Book of Genesis, and the wisdom but even those who can take swears he feels fine, it’s obvious ing from the school year emotion - of the Is - space tend not to do so. There’s to me he’s exhausted. Well, actu - ally and physically exhausted and raelites: “. . . so probably something about pres - When I wake up early in the morning ally, I didn’t tell him he had to sometimes pretty hateful as a on the seventh tige with it — our importance is Lift my head, I’m still yawning take some time off. While he was result. I do not want this for my day he rested in part determined by just how When I’m in the middle of a dream at a meeting I scheduled a day officemate. My officemate is also from all his much is our responsibility — but Stay in bed, float up stream (Float up stream) and a half off for him and said it my friend, you see, and I don’t work. Then there’s more to it, too. There’s a was non-negotiable. There was a want him to be exhausted and God blessed certain kind of capitalist obses - Please, don’t wake me, no, don’t shake me small and mostly convivial argu - hateful as I have been in years the seventh day sion with being productive. Leave me where I am, I’m only sleeping I’m Only Sleeping past. He needs rest. I need rest. and made it There’s a certain kind of work We all need rest, sometimes. holy, because ethic that finds virtue in the act Everybody seems to think I’m lazy I’ve been thinking about rest on it he rested of doing work as much as it The Beatles I don’t mind, I think they’re crazy as we approach Easter. Easter from all the finds virtue in what is accom - Running everywhere at such a speed doesn’t have quite the same sec - work of creat - plished. There’s this idea that Till they find there’s no need (There’s no need) ment on the subject when he saw ular profile that Christmas does. ing that he had anything less than perfection is it in the calendar, but I put my At the end of December we let go done.” Because by definition not good enough, Please, don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away foot down and he acquiesced to of some of our regular obliga - of Easter, of and so we must work tirelessly And after all I’m only sleeping my authority in due course. Now, tions for a few days and pay clos - course, we until things are flawless. I don’t really have the authority er attention to our faith. We are Catholics I don’t mean to characterize Keeping an eye on the world going by my window to make him take time off, but he not afforded the same luxury at instead rest on any of these as personal failings. Taking my time doesn’t seem to realize it. Let’s Easter. Though it is the holiest of the first day of Each one carries a weight of Lying there and staring at the ceiling keep that last part between you seasons for us, there isn’t much the week, social expectation that affects all Waiting for a sleepy feeling . . . and me, though, shall we? space to breathe and live in these rather than the of us to varying degrees, and in I know that may read as pretty moments outside the Triduum last. And for some cases having so much to do Please, don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away paternalistic in its way, and I itself. The rest of life doesn’t stop some, the day is not a choice, but simply the And after all I’m only sleeping probably come off a bit authori - in quite the same way. itself cannot reality of one’s life. Some types tarian, too. Generally speaking, That being said, I don’t know always be a of work actually never do end; Keeping an eye on the world going by my window I’m not particularly authoritarian if the Christmas season affords us day of rest. sometimes there is too much to Taking my time at work. That said, I am cognizant that much more time to contem - Rest is meant do. plate and live in these moments, to be part of It’s hard not to think of all of When I wake up early in the morning either. There’s time off from our faith as these reasons as symptoms of a Lift my head, I’m still yawning work for many of us (though not much as any - rather unhealthy society, though, Ward is a Saskatoon-based free - When I’m in the middle of a dream all), but the time off can easily be thing else. and I do wonder why we have lance writer who spends her days Stay in bed, float up stream (Float up stream) (and most nights) working at a consumed with family obliga - And yet, allowed it to develop this way. tions, Christmas preparations, here we are I’m not entirely sure what we’ve small Catholic college. Her less Please, don’t wake me, no, don’t shake me and meeting with friends who living in a gained by it. But I’m also not eloquent thoughts can be found at Leave me where I am, I’m only sleeping www.twitter.com/ newsetofstrings have returned from away. These society that is sure how it stops. April 5, 2017 ARTS & CULTURE Prairie Messenger 9 SXSW vibrates with insight, passion and thrills

Screenings & Meanings

Gerald Schmitz

March weather in Austin, Texas, dramas more frequently to a more can swing between cool and siz - critical response. For all its cine - zling. An atmosphere of both matic promise, set against the what’s fresh and what’s hot could backdrop of Austin’s celebrated be said to apply to the South By music scene, Song to Song unfor - Southwest (SXSW) Conference tunately continues that trend. It and Festivals, now in its 34th year, had many in the SXSW audience offering an awesome array of shaking their heads, though media, technology and arts-related Richard Brody of The New Yorker events. The 2017 film program was subsequently penned a rapturous the 24th edition and proved to be review. As an admirer of Malick, I stronger than ever. Over nine days would call it a magnificent mis - some 130 features were screened fire. — 84 world premieres and 54 by The movie has been long in the first-time filmmakers — along with making with some footage appar - 128 short films; this total selected ently shot back as far as 2011. from over 7,600 submissions. The Snippets from music festivals, Gerald Schmitz diversity ranged from high-demand including SXSW venues, perform - FILM PREMIERE — South By Southwest Festival director Janet Pierson introduces the team behind Life headliners to innovative low-budg - ances and backstage mo ments at its SXSW world premiere March 18. et independents at the critical cut - make it into various scenes of a ting edge. Some of the most inter - meandering elliptical narrative of a relief, though this only happens La La Land . looks like a gelatinous starfish, ex - esting work was in documentaries structure. The central storyline is after he abandons the snares of No one should expect light- hibits remarkable properties. An- as well as hybrid forms blending that of a lovers’ triangle that comes musical dreams for a simpler life hearted musical romance from other new life is celebrated when non-fiction with dramatic elements. together, then disintegrates. The working in the Texas oil patch. Malick. The famously reclusive Sho watches his wife giving birth While SXSW has its own dis - pivotal character is that of the soul - As usual with Malick, much of 73-year-old director makes no con - to their child by video link. tinctive approach, I was pleased to ful Faye (Rooney Mara), an aspir - the spoken word is in the form of cessions to popular tastes. It was a Soon, however, wonder turns see the programming of several ing guitarist and songstress who is inner stream-of-consciousness surprise when he appeared on a to horror and then terror as contact festival favourites which I had sharing a bed with a ruthless high- voiceovers by characters who are morning after an interview with is lost with earth and the evolving missed during the Sundance festi - powered hard-living record execu - searching, sprinkled with hints of Fassbender and another renowned Calvin proves to be anything but val where they premiered. Nota - tive and cynical promoter named the transcendental beyond. Austin filmmaker, Richard benign, possessed of protean and ble among them were The Big Cook (Michael Fassbender). Ex - (“There’s something else . . . Linklater, whose Everybody Wants indestructible powers. Rory is its Sick , a superb comedic drama hibiting different hairstyles and something that wants to be Some! had opened last year’s festi - first victim, followed by Hugh drawn from real life that took the moods, Faye will be the principal found,” says one.) The bond that val. Malick has never seen any whose last words are “Calvin audience award in that category, channel for expressing trademark survives between Faye and BV need to explain himself or his doesn’t hate us, he just needs to and the urgent environmental doc - Malickian angst questioning the suggests that, in forgiveness, methods. kill us to survive.” Set to a pound - umentary Chasing Coral , which mystery and meaning of it all. “mercy has a human heart.” Other ing propulsive score, surviving was a Sundance audience award Into Cook’s opulent starry sur - desiderata are scattered through - * * * crew members make furious winner. More about these in sub - roundings arrives “BV” (Ryan out, as the flow of life and love efforts to try to contain and de - sequent columns on narrative and Gosling), another aspiring musi - that still hasn’t found what it’s For something completely dif - stroy the alien monster that must documentary highlights. cian and songwriter. The lure of looking for (to quote a U2 lyric) ferent, SXSW chose Life , a high- be stopped from reaching earth at The festival’s opening and clos - what Cook can offer — making it moves from moment to moment, profile big-budget mainstream all costs. Finally it’s down to ing headline features certainly movie to close the festival. Swedish David and Miranda who share attracted major-league attention director Daniel Espinosa helms an some soulful parting moments. Is and, as they played only once, huge international cast, members of a six- this the end of the world as we lines waiting hours for even pri - person Mars Pilgrim 7 mission know it? mary badge holders to have any operating the orbiting International Life certainly lives up to its chance of getting in to see them. Space Station (ISS) when a probe to tagline: “Be careful what you The March 10 opener, Terrence Mars returns carrying material from search for. We were better off Malick’s enigmatic Austin-based the red planet. The lead scientists alone.” With superior set design Song to Song (http://www.song - are Hugh Derry (Ariyon Bakare), a and visual effects, and a script tosongmovie.com/), was presented disabled man who needs no wheel - from Rhett Reese and Paul in the largest venue, the Paramount chair in the weightless atmosphere, Wernick ( Deadpool, Zombieland ), Theatre, a grand historic movie in the music business — is strong. desire to desire, song to song. and Miranda North (Rebecca it’s better and smarter than any palace on downtown central Con - When Faye and BV fall for each Occasionally legendary perform - Ferguson), a microbiologist with “Mars attacks” B-movie genre. gress Avenue leading to the Texas other she continues to sleep with ers drop in to the mix — Patti the Centres for Disease Control and Comparisons with Alien are in - state capitol. As the Paramount was Cook. The threesome even enjoy a Smith and Iggy Pop being two. Prevention who has knowledge not evitable. Indeed earlier in the fes - not available for the March 18 clos - seemingly happy-go-lucky jaunt to (Famous people and actors may shared with the others — engineer - tival Ridley Scott was present to er, Daniel Espinosa’s space-based Mexico by private jet. Of course be curious as to who made the ing specialist Rory Adams (Ryan show his 1979 classic along with a Life (http://www.lifemovie.com/) this unstable triangle soon falls final cut. Christian Bale, who Reynolds), Japanese technician Sho sneak peek at scenes from the screened in the second largest apart. Cook picks up Rhonda starred in Malick’s Knight of Murakami (Hiroyuki Sanada), highly anticipated sequel Alien: venue, the very modern Zach (Natalie Portman), a waitress in a Cups, supposedly shot a number Russian cosmonaut Ekaterina Covenant due out in May. Life Theatre, appropriate for a futuristic restaurant, and transforms her into of scenes of which there is no evi - Golovkina (Olga Dihovichnaya), isn’t a mere inferior knockoff. It sci-fi thriller. While both films cast a high-fashion spousal accessory, dence.) and physician David Jordan (Jake develops an original scenario of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars an arrangement doomed to trage dy. For all its fractured, at times Gyllenhaal), the longest in space the mystery of extraterrestrial life in lead roles, they could hardly be Holly Hunter makes an appearance exasperating storylines, the movie who has worked in war zones and that devolves into an entertaining more opposite. as Rhonda’s mother. The serial can still entrance through the strik - seems relieved to have left such high-octane dose of sci-fi thrills Terrence Malik is a Texas attractions of beautiful women con - ing poetic cinematography of mul - earthly places behind. and chills. treasure, one of world cinema’s tinue as Cook be comes involved tiple Oscar winner and longtime Hugh subjects the Martian sam- It may be questioned whether great original filmmakers, and his with the lovely Amanda (Cate Malick collaborator Emmanuel ples to intensive examination such movies with big stars need masterworks made years apart Blanchett). In an other sub-narrative Lubezki. The roving camera is as under conditions of extreme tem - the exposure given them by festi - from the 1970s on will stand the there’s even a passing lesbian flirta - restless as the characters — glid - perature variation and different vals. Within days of SXSW Life test of time. That’s certainly true tion that introduces a French- ing, swooping, swooning through a concentrations of atmospheric ele - was in multiplexes across North of the Texas-based The Tree of speaking woman, Zoey (Bérénice raucous world that seems perpetu - ments, eventually focusing on America. Song to Song had a the - Life , awarded the Cannes festi - Marlohe), into the tangle of con - ally off balance. The only sense of what appears to be a single-cell atrical release before the festival val’s prestigious palme d’or in founding relationships. Most go repose is when that is left behind organism. When under Hugh’s ended, albeit far more limited. 2011. But since then the aging nowhere except for that between and the magic sunset hour de - efforts it emerges from a dormant Headline premieres generate a lot master has been releasing lesser Faye and BV, which is somewhat scends on a Texas field. Strangely state, begins to move and grow, the of media buzz judging from the for a 130-minute opus titled Song news of the discovery of a life hordes of paparazzi they attract. to Song , the fragments of music are form beyond earth provokes global The hope is that this will also www.prairiemessenger.ca not particularly memorable. There excitement. A girl in Time Square draw attention to the broader fes - is no song that stands out, unlike calls it “Calvin” and the nickname tival program and the smaller Gosling’s crowd-pleasing turn in sticks. The tiny creature, which screen gems within it. 10 Prairie Messenger April 5, 2017 Easter is about daylight: a ‘new day’ in time

By David Gibson Christ is light, just as he is life An imprisoning trap. That is Easter sets the tone for all in 2014, just before becoming — new life. what Pope Francis believes a lack of Christian living. It is a matter of Chicago’s archbishop, about the Easter begins in the darkness Yes, Easter begins in the night hope becomes. No wonder the risen coming out of the darkness and into Christian mission to stand alongside and at night, when the great vigil darkness. But, in the Exsultet’s Lord so often is called a liberator. the light. It is a matter, too, of those who experience a “dryness” in mass for this central Christian feast words, “this is the night of which What freedom do people need accompanying others as they life that “eats away” at their hopes. is celebrated. Yet Easter is all about it is written: The night shall be as that reflects Easter’s new life? attempt, perhaps haltingly, to dis - “Our aim should be to make daylight — a “new day” in time. bright as day” and “full of glad - Freedom, possibly, from the fear cover what new life means for them. sure that everyone has a place at The resurrected Jesus is “the ness.” of putting the finest of their God- “Goodness always tends to the table of life,” he said. Morning Star,” according to the “Gladness,” admittedly, is not given gifts to fuller use and thus spread,” and “any person who has He mentioned “the mother Exsultet , the rather ancient and a word uttered often nowadays. beginning to grow again. experienced a profound liberation needing prenatal and postnatal remarkable hymn still heard dur - But we know what it implies: joy, It would be a mistake, after all, becomes more sensitive to the care, and protection for herself ing the Easter Vigil. Like the happiness and, no doubt, a life in to imagine weak hope as a sign that needs of others,” Pope Francis and her child, the former inmate morning star shining at dawn, which hope plays a significant someone actually is hopeless. In a wrote in “The Joy of the Gospel,” seeking a fresh start, the drug Jesus signals a new day’s arrival, role and opportunities arise to famous 2013 interview with Jesuit one of his most-read documents. addict who needs someone to with all the hopes attached to it. experience fulfilling satisfactions. Father Antonio Spadaro, an Italian What the Jesus of Easter does help her take one day at a time, The Exsultet proclaims Jesus Gladness may assume many communications expert, Pope is what Christians are meant to do. the father and mother who want as “the one Morning Star who forms, but in some form, I be - Francis insisted that al though a per - Remember, it was the resurrected their children to have the educa - never sets.” With his return “from lieve, it represents what most peo - son’s life “is a land full of thorns Jesus who accompanied the two tional opportunities other families death’s domain,” it reminds wor - ple desire. That’s just the point. and weeds, there is always a space disciples making their way to have.” shippers that he sheds “his peace - Easter zeros in on the desires in which the good seed can grow.” Emmaus, spending time with These people, the cardinal ful light on humanity.” of the human heart. He has a “dogmatic certainty,” them in ways that comforted and stressed, represent “the vast army It would be a shame to reduce It’s true that darkness casts a the pope said then, that “God is in enriched them (Luke 24:13-35). God is inviting us to raise up with Easter to a series of nice-sounding shadow over the lives of too every person’s life.” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich spoke him.” words and phrases to describe the many. Pope Francis is well aware risen Lord and to escape from the of this. “Christ wants to come and challenge of telling who he really take us by the hand to bring us out is. So calling Jesus the Morning of our anguish,” the pope said on Star was anything but that for our Easter 2016. forebears. The “first stone” to move aside Christ is the light; he illumines on Easter, he said, is “the lack of the world. His followers, like him, hope that imprisons us within our - are called to carry his light and to selves.” Living without hope is a assure that it shines brightly in the “trap” that, in his eyes, means liv - universe of all their activities. ing “as if the Lord were not risen.” The resurrection is like the break But, the pope indicated, Jesus’ of dawn. To state this is to reach into followers ought to follow his lead. the very heart of Chris tianity and to So the risen Lord sends each per - begin a conversation about the son who encounters him “to essentials of Christian living. announce the Easter message, to awaken and resurrect hope in hearts burdened by sadness, in Gibson served on Catholic News those who struggle to find mean - Service’s editorial staff for 37 years. ing in life,” said the pope.

"Wishing you New Life" Janice Weber EASTER PROCLAMATION — “Come Easter night, we are called to sing, with holy abandonment, the boundless song of new life, of resurrection. . . . Our resurrection song may not pretend that the evils in our world and in our church — and most certainly, in our hearts — do not exist. It is precisely in the midst of sin that we are asked to proclaim our belief in the risen Lord.” — Andrew M. Britz, OSB

Are you passionate about ending poverty in Canada? ...come learn with us Poverty Studies Summer Institute June 5 – 23 • Calgary, Alberta

Learn with leading experts from across North America

Courses include: Sisters of the Child Jesus Shock Poverty Psychological Impacts of Poverty Human Rights and Poverty Community Organizing for Social Change Collaborative Leadership Co-op Development for Poverty Reduction Biblical Theology of Justice

For information and to register visit: email: [email protected] http://www.povertyinstitute.ca/poverty-studies-summer-institute Residence accommodation is available for out-of-town participants. April 5, 2017 Prairie Messenger 11 The goal of Easter: to bring us to newness of life

By Rev. Tom Ryan, CSP share in the dying-rising of Christ. We are engaged in daily re - What will you be celebrating hearsals for our grand finale. this Easter? A Mystery? Yes! Death and resurrection are not The Paschal Mystery of Jesus separate from life. They are not Christ that lies at the very centre just future. They are present. To of Christian faith and discipleship. look upon the resurrection as a The word “paschal” comes from narrow escape from death is to the Greek term pascha , which goes miss the full meaning of human back to the Hebrew pesach , which life, to miss the death and resur - refers to the annual commemora - rection that are present in every tion by the Israelites of their liberat - day’s living. ing Passover from slavery in Egypt. Death and resurrection are not The Paschal Mystery is intend - to be pushed out of life, are not to ed to pick up for Christians this be seen as ultimate events, but as rich Hebrew background and to immediate experiences. They are locate the historical death and res - not final events but daily choices. urrection of Jesus as the establish - They are every step of the journey, ment of a new, liberating Passover the inner exodus from the old self — the Passover from slavery to to the new. “I die daily,” said St. sin to newness of life. Paul. But he also rose daily. When we look closely at the Dying to what? Basically to sin life of Jesus, we see that it was a and a self-centred existence. Dying life lived out of love for others. to sin is not merely turning from And when we probe this life of evil, but turning to Christ ever love, we see that it is animated by more fully in a deepening process the presence of a powerful para - of constant, lifelong conversion. dox — the paradox of finding life One illustration of it is seen in through death and of losing one’s our struggle to let go of yesterday, life to save one’s life. of the past. Not forget it, just let it M. Weber The spirit of this paradox is go. Whether it’s turning 21, 50, captured in the saying of Jesus A WORK OF LOVE — “The Lord measures out perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of 65, or 80. Whether it’s losing our that “those who want to save their our deeds, but the manner in which we perform them.” — St. John of the Cross health or our hair, our money or life will lose it, and those who lose our memory, a person we love or a their life for my sake will find it” death comes new life! Living ception of what is happening and and allowing it to serve as a spe - possession we prize. (Mt 16:25). fruitfully requires a kind of dying. give an affirming stamp to our cial pair of lenses which enable us “Dying to self” is letting go of This striking paradox perme - Whenever we are faced in any hope that out of this “death” will to see into the nature of all reality. where our security once lay. ates his preaching and comes to a way, then, with a form of “dying” come new life and growth. To see this mystery at play in the Whether it’s family or friends. particular climax in his historical or letting go, the Paschal Mystery Being a disciple of Christ seasons of the year and the stages Whether it’s being retired, di - death and resurrection. Out of of Christ is there to shape our per - involves living out of this paradox of our lives. No dying, no new vorced or disabled. Whether it’s a life. No emptying, no being filled. change of life or a change of pace. The origins of Lent and Easter The pattern of death and resur - We must not cling to what once rection in Jesus’ life is being re - was but is no more. produced in our own through many Wherever or whatever or with By Joseph Kelly new date was Victor I, bishop of this last week, effectively crafting little “dyings” and “risings” until whomever we’ve been, we dare not Rome (189-198), who threatened what we now call Holy Week. one day comes “the Big Letting cling. We have to move on. And all “If Christ has not been raised, to break off communion with the This practice would expand so Go” that is our death, opening into moving on is a dying, a letting go. your faith is in vain,” wrote the “Fourteeners.” that virtually every day of that week the new life that is our resurrection. It’s the imprint of the Paschal Apostle Paul (1 Cor 15:17), pro - Fortunately that did not happen, had something special about it. The In the meantime, all along the Mystery of Easter on our lives. claiming the resurrection of Jesus to but the future lay with Pope Victor Jerusalem approach to the last week way in relationships of friendship Only by dying will we rise to be the most important element of the and his allies. The feast of the res - of Lent would spread widely. and love, people do “die” for the fresh life. Only by letting go of faith. And such an important event urrection would be determined by Both Easter and Holy Week sake of each other. Spouses give yesterday will we open ourselves would deserve a kind of memorial. the major churches, especially would change over the centuries themselves in costly love and par - to tomorrow where the seeds of The majority of the first Rome in the Latin-speaking parts and in the endless number of places ents sacrifice themselves out of fresh life await us. The resurrection Christians expected the world to of the ancient world. to which Christianity would love for their children. Friends is not merely an object of faith, the end almost any day, and so there In the Bible, every major feast had expand, but both are key elements make themselves available to acceptance of a theological truth. It was no great need for feast days. a time of preparation. Since feasts of the liturgy, a Greek word that serve each other’s good in some - is a call to newness of life. Most initial Christians were con - included much food as part of the cel - means “the work of the people.” times heroic ways. The great Easter truth is not that verted Jews who reverenced the ebration, the Christians thought that a By recognizing the great status Here is an essential truth of we are to live newly only after Old Testament and thought the fast before the Easter feast would be of Holy Week and Easter, the Christian faith: when we, like death, but that we are to live newly way to be a good Christian was to appropriate for all people except the ancient church made it clear how Jesus, are available for service in now because of our experience of follow the Jewish law. ill and small children. important the liturgy, “the work of love at the cost of personal sacri - Christ’s continued, em powering Rather obviously, the world did The first such fast was three days, the people,” is for us all. fice, the very act of living is a presence through the Holy Spirit. not end, and by the year 150, most corresponding to the days from the Christians were gentiles, including crucifixion to the resurrection. bishops, who wanted specifically In 325, the first ecumenical Christian feasts with liturgies cen - council met at Nicaea. Since all the tred on Sunday and not the bishops of the Roman Empire were Sabbath, the holy day of the Jews. there, they discussed major matters Those wanting to retain the including the pre-Easter fast. Jewish reckoning lived mostly in Candidates for baptism fasted the Eastern Mediterranean while for 40 days just as Jesus did after his those wanting to use a more gener - baptism, and the bishops at Nicaea al reckoning lived in the gentile decreed that all Christians should world and especially in Rome. fast for 40 days before Easter, effec - An important element separat - tively creating the season of Lent. ing these two groups was that the Yet there was more. Lent Jews used a lunar calendar, so stretched to 40 days, but the final there was no way to synchronize days before Easter were significant, the two calendars. especially since the Gospels give The defenders of the old way accounts of Jesus’ last parables and said that the resurrection should be work among the people then. observed on the 14th day of the But there was more — in the Jewish month of Nisan, a date last days of his life, Jesus had his derived from their interpretation last supper with his closest disci - of the Gospel crucifixion narra - ples, and this became a model for tives, and their opponents called many liturgies since it involved Gerald Schmitz them the “Fourteeners.” bread and wine. Sadly, the struggle became All this took place in Jeru salem, EASTER GLORY — It is miraculous that tulips appear without anyone doing anything at all, even when fierce because the entire Christian and, appropriately, it was the snow might still be on the ground. And, though their lush colours hypnotize with their intensity, they still calendar depended upon the Jerusalem church that began to spec - seem unpretentious. As tulips grow they become wider and wider, as if to embrace the universe. If a humble results. The main proponent of the ify the different days and events of flower can return in Easter glory, why can’t we imagine it will be so for us? 12 Prairie Messenger DEEPENING OUR FAITH April 5, 2017 The image of God has been placed in our souls

formless cosmos. Although the the Nicene Creed, “. . . I look for ‘body’ at all, involves some sort of wounds of the crucifixion are evi - the resurrection of the dead, and spatial relations and in the long dent, there is little to connect with the life of the world to come.” run a whole new universe.” The Jesus’ humanity. Breakfast on the Indeed, Jesus has told us some - risen Christ has indeed prepared a beach seems a long way away. thing about that new life and even new world for us, a world not lim - Both Lungs Yet another image of the risen promised a warm welcome. “In ited by the universe we know and, Christ comes from first-hand wit - my Father’s house there are many yet, somehow a world which will nesses. “And it happened that dwelling places. If there were not, be familiar to us. If our own bod - Brent Kostyniuk while they were conversing and would I have told you that I am ies are to be perfected through res - debating, Jesus himself drew near going to prepare a place for you” urrection and achieve a new form, and walked with them, but their (Jn 14:2). then nature, too, will be perfected. When our daughter Victoria favourite images of the risen eyes were prevented from recog - If Jesus is going to prepare a The point is that we simply was quite young, one of her Christ. It is a comforting image. nizing him. . . . And it happened place for us, it must mean that it is cannot know what the next world favourite Bible stories was that of Jesus has returned through the res - that, while he was with them at a new place, one unlike anything will be like. What is important is Jesus roasting fish by the shore of urrection and wants to share a table, he took bread, said the we have ever pictured in our that we focus on the risen Christ a lake and calling Peter over to meal with his friend. Although he blessing, broke it, and gave it to minds. Thus we are forced to cre - and remember we are destined to join him. It remains one of my can enjoy a piece of fresh caught them. With that their eyes were ate a new picture, as C. S. Lewis share in his resurrection as tilapia, he can also pass through opened and they recognized him, explains in Miracles . “It is not the expressed in our Easter prayers. walls as if they didn’t exist. Is this but he vanished from their sight” picture of an escape from any and “All you who have been baptized Kostyniuk, who lives in Edmon - what heaven will be like? (Lk 24:15, 30-31). What was it every kind of Nature into some into Christ have put on Christ.” ton, has a bachelor of theology A very different image of the about Jesus that prevented them unconditioned and utterly tran - By putting on Christ we share not from Newman and is a freelance risen Christ dominates our parish from recognizing him? Did he scended life. It is the picture of a only in his resurrection, but in his writer. He and his wife Bev have church. Overlooking the sanctu - deliberately alter his appearance new human nature, and a new humanity as well. Deep within us been married for 39 years and ary is a massive mosaic portraying to make this re-enactment of the Nature in general, being brought is a desire for that union. In his have eight grandchildren. an ethereal Christ floating in a Last Supper more dramatic? into existence. We must, indeed, theology of the body, St. John Our interest in the risen Christ believe the risen body to be Paul II describes it as an “original goes far beyond theological spec - extremely different from the mor - solitude,” which goes beyond our ulation because of our concern tal body; but the existence, in that natural inclinations and seeks about our place in the next world. new state, of anything that could As w e exp ress each tim e w e pray in a ny sense be described as a — IMAGE , page 16

May the celebration of Easter energize you with the gift of reconciliation and with new life in the Spirit.

Abbot Peter Novecosky and Monks of St. Peter’s Abbey G

Kostyniuk RISEN CHRIST — Mosaic of the Risen Christ at St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Edmonton.

NOW AVAILABLE e-Edition subscriptions visit: www.pmonline.ca for more information Receive 45 issues per year

Mail coupon to: Prairie Messenger, Circulation Dept. Box 190, Muenster, SK S0K 2Y0 Phone: (306) 682-1772 Fax: (306) 682-5285 email: [email protected] J J One YearJ $37.00 U.S. $170.00 Foreign $269.00 Applicable tax included J J New Renewal www.gscs.ca Name: ______

Address: ______

City/Town: ______Prov: ______

Postal Code: ______Tel: ______

Visa/MC: ______Expiry: ______April 5, 2017 DEEPENING OUR FAITH Prairie Messenger 13 Lenten penitential journey turns to celebration

the world around us and confront the finality of death. Dr. holds that “Just when we are in many ways moving to an Dean Hamer, the director of the Gene Structure and ever greater validation of the sacredness of the individual Liturgy Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute in person, our capacity to imagine a social fabric that would America, goes so far as to argue for a “god gene” that pre - hold individuals together is vanishing. This is in part because disposes us humans to believe in a of the fact that our ethical individual - and Life greater spiritual force at work in our ism, deriving, as I have argued, from lives. the Protestant religious tradition in Faltering numbers of churchgoers America, is linked to an economic Michael Dougherty in more secular societies like Canada individualism that, ironically, knows suggest, according to Quentin nothing of the sacredness of the indi - Atkinson, a psychologist at the vidual. Its only standard is money, and To feel a loss keenly, to sense the profound emptiness University of Auckland, that now the only thing more sacred than money that comes when a person central to your life — a spouse, “Basically, people are less scared is more money. What economic indi - parent, or first friend — can no longer be with you, touch - about what might befall them.” vidualism destroys and what our kind es all of us at some point in our lives. When there is noth - However, in the same BBC article, of religious individualism cannot ing more you can do but to say goodbye, we can be left Ara Norenzayan, a social psycholo - restore is solidarity, a sense of being staring into a void that may seem unbreachable. Surely it gist at the University of British members of the same body.” had been a quiet morning when Mary of Magdala came to Columbia in Vancouver and author of Being joined together in a faith the tomb. Her grief was intense, love and hope lost in a vio - Big Gods , proposes that “Existential security is more falli - community provides us with another way to breach that lence of the crucifixion. ble than it seems. In a moment, everything can change: a void we face. Remember the lifeless three-year-old body of While years may dull the pain of separation, it remains. A drunk driver can kill a loved one; a tornado can destroy a Aylan Kurdi being tenderly carried from a Turkish beach friend I shared a long overdue conversation with recently town; a doctor can issue a terminal diagnosis. . . . then suf - by would-be rescuer? The fact that this young boy and his told me of how profoundly the death of an adult daughter 10 fering and hardship could fuel religiosity.” “People want to Syrian refugee family had been blocked in trying to find years ago still affected him. He had been immobilized by his escape suffering, but if they can’t get out of it, they want to their way to Canada and the haven sponsoring relatives sadness for months after her fatal car accident. Eventually he find meaning,” Norenzayan says.” would have provided here, sparked national grief and the felt he had to sell the home they shared in order to move on. collective resolve to open our doors to these refugees. A visit a couple of weeks ago to my family’s cemetery plot Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Gord Downie tells the story of Chanie Wenjack in his Easter Sunday where four generations of my kin have been laid to rest no Psalm 118 album Secret Path . The cold death of this 12-year-old longer evokes tears, but rather a sense of peace and the full - Colossians 3:1-4 Ojibwa boy on his solitary attempt to run home from resi - April 16, 2017 ness of life for me as I “talked” to them there. Luke 24:13-35 dential school revived this heart-rending tale from half a What bridges this void for us? The 84 per cent of our century ago. This call to healing touched many. It chal - world’s population who embrace some form of religion, Phil Zuckerman, a professor of sociology at Pitzer College lenged us to truly proclaim the truth of the residential according to the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion in Claremont, California, and author of Living the Secular school experience and find national reconciliation. & Public Life, would surely say their faiths offer that abil - Life , sees “For some reason, religion seems to give meaning Our lenten penitential journey turns to celebration today. ity. Some evolutionary researchers studying the psycholo - to suffering — much more so than any secular ideal or belief As the psalmist says, “This is the day the Lord has made; gy of religion see global faiths as a byproduct of the way that we know of” (www.bbc.com/future/story/20141219- let us rejoice and be glad.” What Mary of Magdala and the our brains work. They say religions develop out of our will-religion-ever-disappear). We want to believe that we are other disciples experienced at the empty tomb on that first search to seek order from chaos, to understand our place in a part of something grander, that our suffering has a purpose Easter morning liberated them from despair. It can liberate and meaning. us as well. Their experiences with Jesus “all over Judea” One of the most important books I have read in the last now reached its fulfilment in his resurrection. They now Dougherty is co-chair of the Social Justice Committee at couple of years is Robert Bellah’s Religion in Human would embark on a path on which we join them. It is where Sacred Heart Cathedral in Whitehorse, Yukon. Evolution: From the Paleolithic to the Axial Age . In it he we, as Paul, urges, “seek what is above.” He is risen! We still find religious justification for doing violence in God’s name

from actively per se cut ing others that God’s purposes de mand that we What does it mean? for religious reasons, to waging kill someone. Many too justify Moses went up a mountain and In war in God’s name, to burn ing abortion by an appeal to our God- God, with his finger, wrote the Ten people for heresy at the In qui sition, given freedoms. Not least, virtually Commandments into two tablets of to practising capital pun ish ment all of us justify certain violence in stone. As Moses approached the Exile for religious reasons and, not least, our language and discourse because Israelite camp on his return, carry - at one point in history, to handing we feel our cause is so special and ing the two tablets of stone, he Ron Rolheiser, OMI Jesus over to be crucified out of sacred that it gives us the right to caught the people in the very act of our misguided religious fervour. bracket some of the fundamentals committing idolatry. What did he These are some salient historical of Christian charity in our dealings do? In a fit of religious fervour, he examples. Sadly, not much has with those who disagree with us, broke the Commandments, literally, Blaise Pascal once wrote: “Men and justify them in God’s name. changed. Today, in its most gross namely, respect and graciousness. physically, over the golden calf and never do evil so completely and We see countless examples of form, we see violence done in Our language, in both the circles then picked up the fragments and cheerfully as when they do it from this in history. From the time we God’s name by groups like al-Qaida of the right and the left, is rife with threw those stones at the people. a religious conviction.” How true! first gained self-consciousness, and ISIS who, whatever else might a violence we justify in God’s So here’s the irony from which This has been going on since the we’ve done violence in God’s be their motivation, believe they are name. On the right, issues like to draw a lesson: Moses was the beginning of time and is showing name. It be gan by sacrificing hu- serving God and cleansing the abor tion and the defence of dogma first person to break the Ten Com - few signs of disappearing any time man persons to try to attain God’s world in God’s name by brute ter - are deemed so important as to give mandments. He broke them in soon. We still do violence and evil favour and it led to everything rorism and murder. The death of us permission to demonize others. God’s name and then took the frag - thousands of innocent people can be On the left, issues of economic and ments and stoned the people. He did justified, they believe, by the fact ecological injustice, because they this violence in all sincerity, caught that this is God’s cause, so sacred so directly affect the poor, similarly up in religious fervour. Of course, and urgent that it allows for the give us permission to bracket re - afterward, he had to go back up the bracketing of all basic standards of spect and graciousness. Both sides mountain and have the Command - humanity, decency, and normal reli - like to justify themselves with an ments written a second time. How - gion. When it’s for God’s cause, appeal to God’s righteous anger. ever before giving Moses the Com - outright evil is rationalized. There’s a story in John’s Gospel, mandments a second time, God also Happily, it’s impossible for most delicious in its irony, which helps gave him a lecture: Don’t stone peo - We are Easter People – of us to justify this kind of violence expose how we are so often blind to ple with the Command ments! Don’t and murder in our minds and hearts, the violence we do in God’s name. do violence in my name! but most of us still justify this kind It’s the famous incident of the wom - We’ve been very slow to grasp Hallelujah is our Song! of sacral violence in more subtle an who is caught in adultery. They this mandate and take it seriously. modes. Many of us, for instance, bring her to Jesus and tell him they We still find every sort of moral and still justify capital punishment in caught her in the very act of commit - religious justification for doing vio - the name of divine justice, believing ting adultery and that Moses com - lence in God’s name. We are still, Wishing you all the joys manded, in God’s name, that women like Moses, smashing the Com - like this be stoned to death. Jesus, for mandments on what we consider Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, his part, says nothing. He bends idolatrous, and then stoning others of the Resurrection. and award-winning author, is down and writes with his finger, with the fragments. This is evident president of the Oblate School of twice, on the ground and then tells everywhere in our religious and The ology in San Antonio, Texas. them the one among them who’s moral discourse, particularly in how He can be contacted through his without sin might cast the first stone. we, as Pascal might put it, in God’s website: www.ronrolheiser.com. They understand the gesture: why he name, “completely and cheerfully” Now on Face book: www.face - is writing on the ground, why he is bracket charity as it pertains to gra - book.com/ronrolheiser writing twice, and what that means. ciousness and respect. 14 Prairie Messenger FEATURE April 5, 2017 Rabbi Sacks on clearing scriptural minefields

By Yonat Shimron Populism is the politics of the and respectfully with people of strong leader. other faiths?” That is a job only DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — And then there is a third phe - Jews can do for Judaism, only Rabbi Jonathan Sacks made a nomenon, and one is loath to use Christians can do for Christianity name for himself as chief rabbi of the phrase, which is the sense of and only Muslims can do for Great Britain for nearly a quarter- the decline of the West. You see Islam. But sometimes the sight of century, a time of great tumult that that in particular in the fraying of someone in one faith wrestling included the Sept. 11, 2001, families and communities, which with that faith can empower you attacks, the influx of millions of leaves whole swaths of people to wrestle with another faith. Muslims into Europe and the without the traditional networks For me, it was reading about ongoing pressures to absorb and of support. You’re dealing with how the Catholic Church wrestled assimilate newcomers into a most - three big crises. When they come with itself in the 1960s. Pope John ly secular society. together, it’s the perfect storm. XXIII set Nostra Aetate (the Dec - As chief rabbi from 1991 to laration on the Relation of the 2013, he stressed an appreciation How does religion play into it? Church with Non-Christian Reli - and respect of all faiths, with an In the Middle East and else - gions) in motion. It changed the emphasis on interfaith work that where, political protest is taking relationship between Jews and brings people together while religious form. We haven’t seen Cath o lics. Today Jews and Cath - allowing each faith its own partic - RNS/Reuters/Paul Hackett that in the West since Martin olics meet as friends. If you can do ularity. RABBI SACKS — Britain’s former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, left, Luther. The great rows in the 16th that after the longest history of His two books, The Dignity of speaks during a news conference after being awarded the 2016 and 17th centuries were religious hatred the world has known, that Difference: How to Avoid the Clash Templeton Prize, as Jennifer Templeton Simpson, granddaughter of rows. The cliché is right: those empowers you as a Jew or a Muslim of Civilizations and Not in God’s John Templeton, watches in London, March 2, 2016. who forget history are doomed to to wrestle with your faith. Name: Confronting Religious Vio - repeat it. The West has forgotten lence , were well-reviewed, and last by 9/11. I stood at Ground Zero How have the political changes what religious revolution looks What role can interfaith dia - year he was awarded the Templeton among the wreckage with the of the past year in Europe and like. Religion isn’t something you logue take? Prize archbishop of Canterbury, imams the U.S. informed your think - do just in the home or in a house I distinguish between two kinds Recently he visited Duke Uni - from the Middle East and gurus ing? of worship. You can sometimes of interfaith engagement: what I versity to deliver two public lec - from India. I said this is going to What we’re facing here is a take it to the street, and we’ve for - call face to face and side by side. tures and meet with scholars, stu - be the battle of our generation, whole series of interlinking factors. gotten how dangerous that can be. Face to face is interfaith dialogue. dents and clergy. He also took the and I resolved to write a book on First, there’s a wave of counter- As a religious leader, I encourage time to talk to RNS. it be cause you have to think it revolutions in the Islamic world — You’re meeting with clergy this even more side by side. When This interview has been edited through. That book was called revolutions against secular nation - week. Is there any one message you’ve got Jews and Chris tians, for length and clarity. The Dignity of Difference. I alism, a process set in motion in you want to convey to them? Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus re - began almost im mediately a deep - Iran in 1979. Yes. We all have hard texts in moving graffiti from buildings or What led you to take on the er book, which I rewrote four Undergirding all of this is one our Sacred Scriptures that have getting drug dealers off the street, issue of religiously motivated times, Not in God’s Name. So it’s of the great revolutions in world been the source of estrangement, that’s side by side. When you do violence? a combination of 15 years of history: the revolution brought hatred and violence. For the past that, you take it from the very ele - I was shaken like other people thinking about this. about by the Internet, by instanta - few centuries we haven’t worried vated level of interfaith dialogue to neous communication. This is a about those texts because for the the street level of neighbours. You In ‘Midwife,’ no soul is revolution at least as great as the past few centuries no one has get them working side by side and invention of printing. It’s affecting taken religion seriously outside they become friends. Friendship western economies. It’s behind the the home and the house of wor - sometimes counts for more than beyond God’s endless love presidential elections in the U.S. It ship. But now religion has be - interfaith agree ment or understand - lies behind the Brexit vote. It lies come a factor in world politics. ing. Friendship is deeply human. Continued from page 8 This beautiful, touching, well- behind the politics of anger in the We have not yet cleared the mines Let’s say there were, God forbid, played moment underscores why West. In any movement of epoch- from the minefields. There are riots in Birmingham. The fact that is a patient there. She says to Fred, Call the Midwife is exceptional making change there are winners hard texts in each tradition which laypeople in that community are “We must muster our co horts. We among TV dramas. Hannah con - and losers. The losers feel people me must confront and ask our - friends can stop that from happen - must instruct our troops. An inno - veys perfectly the light of relief are not taking them seriously, and selves, “Can we reinterpret those ing very fast. Local friendships are cent is in danger.” that comes into Sister Mary then there’s the rise of populism. texts to allow us to live peaceably very powerful. When Sisters Monica Joan and Cynthia’s glazed-over eyes as she Julienne arrive to remove their sees her sisters. And Agutter’s confrere, Sister Julienne says, warm and calm Sister Julienne “We will make amends for every makes an effective counterpart to day you spent beyond the reach of Parfitt’s wonderfully expressive love.” But Sister Monica Joan Sister Monica Joan. responds, “She’s never been Even more significantly, in beyond the reach of love. For all Call the Midwife’s world, no soul love is His and He is every - is entirely lost or beyond God’s wDhere.” bo u ndles s — and endless — love.

Our Church is a Family of Families

As we approach Easter, we walk toward the death and resurrection of Christ. May your journey of faith be filled with as much joy as the first Easter, when Peter and John visited the empty tomb. Most Reverend Albert Thévenot, M. Afr. Bishop of Prince Albert April 5, 2017 FEATURE Prairie Messenger 15 Luke’s gift of storytelling is an Easter blessing

This editorial by Andrew M. Britz, OSB, titled “God’s gracious tude totally absent in the original How better could Luke tell us Easter. Catholics have been en - word,” was published in the April 4, 2001, issue of the Prairie story. about meeting the risen Lord in riched by learning from our sepa - Messenger. It is featured in his second volume of editorials, Rule of The second story, concerning the “todays” of our lives than by rated brothers and sisters in the Faith: as we worship, so we believe, so we live. the resurrection, is equally simple showing us the true value of the faith how to truly value the Scrip - — and complicated. Bible and the sacraments? In word tures in worship. We in turn can St. Luke wrote his Gospel for new way of life. Two heavy-hearted disciples and sacrament we celebrate the give them a sense of sacrament simple people, for the am ha-ares, The tradition prior to St. are trudging home to Emmaus. Lord’s resurrection. We must ask that moves far beyond magic and “the people of the land.” These Luke’s Gospel had Jesus silent on They had hoped Jesus would be over and over again: “Did not our places the mystery of our redemp - people were scorned, considered the cross. Our Saviour is present - the saviour, but now he was dead hearts burn within us as he opened tion right at the heart of our too ignorant to take advantage of ed with a silent strength — but not and all their hope had vanished. the Scriptures to us?” And, in rec - believing community. the salvation available to them as so strong as to make it impossible Jesus, who is never immediate - ognizing the community we cele - As a sign of God’s special members of the chosen people. for us to identify with him. His ly recognizable to us in our daily brate with as the true Body of Easter blessing, we can all togeth - The scribes and pharisees had only words on the cross are a lives, speaks of suffering by open - Christ, we come to know the liv - er thank St. Luke for his great gift made the observance of the Law a moan from the core of his being, a ing the Scriptures to them. Then ing Lord in the “breaking of the of telling stories by finding our - complicated matter. Not only moan that identifies him with the they recognize him in the break - bread.” selves shoulder to shoulder “with were there more than 600 laws to Suffering Servant tradition: “My ing of the bread. We have much to celebrate at the people of the land.” be carefully observed; there was God, my God, why have you also a long, extremely complicat - abandoned me?” ed “teaching” to accompany these Luke has Jesus quite talkative laws indicating how they were to on the cross; right after being be observed or, as was often the nailed to the cross, Jesus shocks case, how the initiated could be the people by breaking this silence excused from their obligation. that had become part and parcel of Jesus saves some of his harsh - the telling of his death by uttering est words for this legal folly: the unbelievably gracious word of “Alas for you, because you load the kingdom: “Father, forgive on people burdens that you your - them; they do not know what they selves do not move a finger to lift are doing.” . . . you have taken away the key That Jesus shocked the people of knowledge; you have not gone by his word was not something in yourselves and have prevented out of the ordinary. In his first others going in who wanted to” recorded words as part of his pub - (Lk 11:46, 52). lic ministry (according to Luke) Jesus, St. Luke knew, had both Jesus had shocked the people of simplified and complicated the Nazareth “by the gracious words message of salvation. Gone was that came from his lips” (Lk the notion that the law of God 4:22); he had quoted the prophet could be captured in a number of Isaiah about the messianic age. By laws — even if that number tend - stopping in mid-sentence, he pre - ed to grow and thus seemingly sented the year of the Lord’s “complicated” life. Yes, what a favour without any reference to strange “simplification” Jesus hellfire, something the local syna - gave as his alternative; he infinite - gogue establishment believed to ly complicated religion, making it be an essential part of any true exactly as complicated as human practice of religion (see Is 61:2). life itself. On the cross Jesus put his body So Luke, instead of attempting where his mouth was. One of the to theologize or legalize religion, thieves taunts Jesus, asking him to CNS/ L’Osservatore Romano told stories — stories that “the save him from the cross. With no MAUNDY THURSDAY — Pope Francis washes the foot of a refugee during last year’s Holy Thursday Mass people of the land” could easily sign of repentance, with no fer - of the Lord’s Supper at the Centre for Asylum Seekers in Castelnuovo di Porto, near Rome. The pope grasp, stories that at once gave vent promise never to thieve washed and kissed the feet of refugees, including Muslims, Hindus and Copts. “More than his decision to them dignity and freedom, dignity again, the other thief simply asks live outside the papal palace or to eschew luxury vehicles, the pope’s washing of the feet is a deeply symbol - in God’s presence, freedom from Jesus to remember him in the ic connection to Christ’s demonstrated ministry,” writes Gerry Turcotte. all those laws they could not hope kingdom. Hardly enough to war - to properly fulfil. rant canonization! Theologians have written But Jesus’ word to the thief, “I Maundy Thursday: washing of the feet countless books on the meaning of promise you, today you will be the Lord’s death and resurrection; with me in paradise,” reveals to canon lawyers, over the centuries, the people of the land the full The obvious contemporary have written many thousands of meaning of the cross of Christ. parallel to this behaviour has been canons to give an institutional Salvation is freely given. The thief modelled by Pope Francis, who face to Jesus’ passing from death had done nothing to deserve the Figure of time and again has chosen to wash to life. “reward” of life eternal in the the feet of the other, first at a While certainly not intending company of Jesus himself. youth detention centre, then pris - to disparage the critically impor - As the people of Nazareth Speech oners and then women. More than tant contributions of theologians were shocked that first day by his decision to live outside the and canonists, we must remember the gracious words of Jesus, so Dr. Gerry Turcotte papal palace or to eschew luxury that our faith in our salvation is at the story of the cross and the vehicles, the pope’s washing of once much more simple than any Lord’s gracious judgment of the the feet is a deeply symbolic con - law could ever indicate and much thief continues to shock the Mandatum novum do vobis: novum do vobis , or “I give you a nection to Christ’s demonstrated more complicated than the smart - righteous in the church. In a vain I give you a new commandment. new commandment.” ministry. It is also an example of est among us will ever grasp. effort to weaken the stark fool - — John 13:34 We celebrate Maundy Thurs - servant leadership, where the St. Luke tells two simple sto - ishness of our God, the church, day during Holy Week, during the most humbling act brings the ries to convey to us the meaning in retelling the story, started to One of my favourite words is Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It was highest and lowest to the place of of the death of Jesus on the cross speak of the “good” thief, Maundy. Growing up I never knew there that Jesus washed the feet of common bond where God first and of his rising to an altogether assigning to him a moral recti - what Maundy Thursday meant. I his disciples. You will remember placed us. just knew it was a pretty serious the dramatic retelling of this epi - It is perhaps because of this time during Easter. For a while I sode in John 13 when Jesus not that Maundy Thursday matters so used the word interchangeably only identifies Judas as his betray - much, but also that we need to with maudlin, and came to think of er, but also humbles himself to move past the bristling Peter the maundies as relating to sadness wash the feet of his disciples. showed, especially when we look and gloom. So it was with some Peter appears to bristle at the at those who are not like us: the surprise that I eventually learned it intent, but Jesus explains: “If I do outsider, the marginal, the strug - meant commandment, from the not wash you, you can have noth - gling and the lost. Our need to Old French mandé , and from the ing in common with me.” The look beyond formal rules and reg - Latin, mandatum . Its connection to point of the gesture, and one Jesus ulations and reach out, despite church practice comes from insists on, is that this is a moment whatever fear or strangeness sepa - Christ’s own words: Mandatum of communion with the other that rates us, is not only important, but must be passed on through all our mandated . Christ did not come to relationships. “I have given you make us comfortable; he came to Turcotte is the president of St. an example so that you may copy make us grow. Are we prepared to Mary’s University in Calgary. what I have done to you.” turn away?

16 Prairie Messenger April 5, 2017

The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities. — From “A Night Prayer,” A New Zealand Prayer Book

Easter blessings from the editors and staff at the Prairie Messenger and St. Peter’s Press

Because you give… The Good News of Our Lord is shared with our brothers and Janice Weber sisters in remote and isolated EASTER CORNER — Dulled by disillusionment we walk and walk the missions across our vast land. grey streets of our minds, leaving behind a trail of lost dreams. But life breaks through where we least expect as we turn the Easter corner and “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”—Matthew 28:19 collide into hope. Your support will help train lay leaders to assist in ministry across our North. In photo, Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Keewatin-Le Pas missioning lay leaders The image of God has been in Northern Saskatchewan. placed in our souls: JPII PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRIES OF CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN CANADA. Here is my gift of: F $20 F $50 F $100 F $200 F $______Continued from page 12 ible reality of the world the mystery F Cheque (made payable to Catholic Missions in Canada) F Visa F Mastercard F AMEX hidden from eternity in God, and communion with the Divine. This thus to be a sign of it” (Theology of Credit Card No.______Expiry______longing is not an accident. St. John the Body 19:4). Paul II reminds us that the image of Created in the image and like - Name______Signature______God has been placed in our souls. ness of God, an image tarnished Fr./Sr./Br./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms. Moreover, he explains that this by the Fall, we seek a restoration Address______invisible image does have a physical of that image. In the risen Christ City______Province______Postal Code______reality, that the human body is a sign we see the perfection of the human Phone______Email ______of the divine image in the human body, uniquely and inexplicably Mail to: Catholic Missions In Canada soul, “. . . only the body is capable linked. As we gaze at the risen 7

1 201 – 1155 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4T 1W2 3

of making visible what is invisible: Christ, we also anticipate our own 0 M the spiritual and the divine. It has resurrection and the perfection it P Tel: 416-934-3424 Toll-free: 1-866-YES-CMIC (937-2642) Website: www.cmic.info been created to transfer into the vis - will bring.

PRAIRIE MESSENGER PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

MCKERCHER LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS RAYNER AGENCIES LTD. MAURICE SOULODRE KAPOOR, SELNES, & www.rayneragencies.ca Est. 1948 KLIMM General Insurance Broker Architect Ltd. SASKATOON: Motor Licences & Notary Public Maurice Soulodre, B.A., B.Ed., M.Arch., SAA, MRAIC John Schachtel Barristers & Solicitors (306) 653-2000 1815C Lorne Ave., Saskatoon, SK S7H 1Y5 1000 Central Avenue, Saskatoon 1201 - 8th St. East W. Selnes, B.A., LL.B.; L.J.(Dick) Batten, QC Your Best Insurance Tel: (306) 955-0333 Fax: (306) 955-0549 Phone: 306-373-0663 Is An Insurance Broker G. Klimm, B.A., LL.B.; Michel G. Thibault E-mail: [email protected] Saskatoon, Sask. David M.A. Stack,QC Shawn Wasylenko Norbert Wasylenko (306) 978-5200 Phone (306) 752-5777, P.O. Box 2200 Melfort, Saskatchewan S0E 1A0 Curtis J. Onishenko Assante Financial Management Ltd.   
  Phone (306) 873-4535, P.O. Box 760 Galen R. Richardson Tisdale, Saskatchewan S0E 1T0 REGINA:     301 - 500 Spadina Crescent East Systems Ltd. 306.565.6500 Peter Martens, FICB Financial Advisor Saskatoon, SK S7K 4H9 David E. Thera, QC 
     T: (306) 665-3244 Hearing Aid Sales, Service & Repair Cara Martens, CFP  WEBER 1-800-465-2100    Committed to serving the legal Financial Advisor Ph: 306.979.4543 #16-1945 McKercher Dr. E: [email protected] Cell: 306.881.8602 Saskatoon, SK S7J 4M4     
 Barristers& GASPER & Solicitors needs of Religious Organizations Russel Weber (B.A., LL.B.) for the past 90 years. VOLUNTEER INTERNATIONAL Bookkeeping, MALINOSKI & DANYLUIK Tabbetha M. Gasper (B.A., LL.B.) CHRISTIAN SERVICE Charity Returns, FUNERAL HOME 517 Main Street, Humboldt, Sask. requires Teachers, Administrators, Medical Professionals and Trades People, aged 21 - 65. If you are interested in GST Filing, HWY 5 EAST HUMBOLDT Phone: 306-682-5038 serving overseas for two years, we may have FRAME Reports an assignment for you! Please call 780-485-5505, ACCOUNTING SERVICES Humboldt’s only 100% Fax: 306-682-5538 locally owned and operated. Email: [email protected] or visit Specializing in parishes and parishes with schools. E-mail: mckercher.ca our Website at www.volunteerinternational.ca [email protected] Mira Salter ~ [email protected] PH : 306-682-1622 April 5, 2017 CHURCH AT HOME Prairie Messenger 17 We are called to discover anew the divine within

paper” she loves to scrunch in her fingers. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has become a very Around the colourful caterpillar rattle Anissa stretches toward when she pushes it beyond her reach. A few days ago Kitchen Table Anissa wasn’t even reaching. Now she grasps a toy in her hands and Maureen Weber turns it over and over, examining it as intently as a gemologist might scrutinize a precious stone. Then Five-month-old granddaughter down. I hadn’t heard sounds like she tries to cram it into her mouth. Anissa (and her mother, Leigh) that in about 25 years and it A windup mobile plays and I spent a couple of weeks with us seemed miraculous it wasn’t a am amazed that Brahms’ Lullaby recently. One morning I awoke to dream. hasn’t changed. The manufacturer the gentle sounds of musical baby The baby sounds of my own hasn’t even attempted to make it toys, which lifted me off my bed children, sunk deep in memory, sound less tinny, but still, babies and carried me, as if in a trance, bubble up and become new with a never tire of it and it’s music to into the living room where Anissa little one in our midst. The muted my ears too. was playing in her saucer chair tinkling of a soft pink bunny, the As a young mother I was never (an apparatus that looks like the ears of which Anissa takes in her very good at playing with my chil - planet Saturn and is no less spec - tiny hands and presses into her face dren. Russ was the one who would tacular), setting off nursery tunes as she chats herself to sleep. The put a blanket on the floor and trans - and lights as she jumped up and satisfying crunchy crinkle of “baby form it into a lone raft floating on a vast ocean. A major rescue was needed for the child who fell off. Leigh is good at playing too — Leigh Weber dancing, singing, making faces and EASTER JOY — Anissa spreads her arms like wings and flies through flailing her arms to elicit laughs her own world of delight. Her joy captures the wild optimism of Easter. from her daughter. “I’m friggin’ hilarious and this baby is the been shaken and settled over our eggplants, grapes and plums, toughest audience I’ve ever had!” world. Yesterday we walked on green frogs, yellow daffodils, red she says. Maybe Anissa is more dry sidewalks wearing flip-flops tomatoes. Don’t show her the reserved, like her nana. Except and flashing freshly painted toes tomatoes! I hate tomatoes, Leigh right now I’m dying laughing. in the colours of spring flowers. jokes. Most of my kids hate toma - I may not have been good at Seasons change, even in the toes. What did I do wrong? Maybe playing rollicking games, but my blink of an eye. Our lives have Anissa’s Italian grandmother, children knew I would stop every - seasonal arcs too — like the shim - Maria, will have more luck. thing to read to them. It was my mering summer of young adult - She spreads her arms like favourite part of any day when hood. But all seasons have their wings and flies through her own they were little. storms and youth often shimmers world of delight, she roars with Leigh rummaged through our only in memory. joy at her pop-up owl when she children’s literature collection to I’m still getting used to the sea - finally figures out how to make it find something that would catch son I’m in now. One of the appear, and bounces with reck - Anissa’s five-month-old eye (I strangest parts of having a grand - less abandon in her jumper, find - knew our books would be put to child is not the child herself, ing new ways and reaching new good use again). though that is miracle enough. It’s heights each day. Tiny Anissa, I sunk into a chair with my seeing one’s own child become a sparkling with divine energy in a granddaughter in my arms. mother. Leigh’s exuberance is universe that has infinite possi - Outside the window thick snow exactly that of her three-year-old bility. fell as though a white duvet had self, yet here she is, tossing a baby Being in her presence makes into the air who has big round eyes me wonder, when do we become just like hers. It takes my breath too self-conscious to find joy in away. being who we are? I pick up our tattered copy of Andrew Britz, OSB, once Colours and Anissa’s rosy pat-a- wrote that “Easter lacks all bal - cake hands grasp my knobby mis - ance; it is optimism gone wild.” shapen fingers. Snow is still Easter is here, and it is our season. falling outside. Hesitant at first, I It’s our season to go wild with gradually find the cadence of my optimism and rediscover the vMoice pic king u p the p urp le of divine e n ergy wi t hin e ach of us .

CHRIST IS RISEN! Alleluia!

Mural image St. Thomas More College Chapel. Artist Lionel Thomas “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, May the miracle of Easter and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. ” John 11:25-26 bring you renewed hope, faith, love and joy.

Missionary Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart stmcollege.ca stmcollege.ca and of Mary Immaculate Unit 111-420 DesMeurons St., Winnipeg, MB R2H 2N9 18 Prairie Messenger EDITORIALS April 5, 2017

Jesus laughs at Easter words of the Risen One manifest this joy — this know that God is really Father, really Almighty. laughter of redemption: if you see what I see and have “No one who has grasped that can ever be utterly Easter is the most solemn feast of the Christian seen, if you catch a glimpse of the whole picture, you despondent and despairing again. No one who has liturgical year. However, it is overshadowed in our will laugh! (cf. John 16:20). grasped that will ever succumb to the temptation to society by Christmas, with all its commercial, social “In the Baroque period the liturgy used to include side with those who kill the Lamb. No one who has and family celebrations. Easter has been making a the risus paschalis , the Easter laughter. The Easter understood this will know ultimate fear, even if he slow recovery to its place of primacy since the litur - homily had to contain a story that made people laugh, gets into the situation of the Lamb. For there he is in gical reforms of the 1950s under Pope Pius XII, when so that the church resounded with a joyful laughter. the safest possible place. the liturgy was made more “user-friendly.” That may be a somewhat superficial form of Christian “Easter, therefore, invites us not only to listen to While Easter is our most solemn feast day, that joy. But is there not something very beautiful and Jesus but also, as we do so, to develop our interior does not mean it should make us grim-faced and over- appropriate about laughter becoming a liturgical sym - sight. This greatest festival of the church’s year serious. Quite the opposite. And the authority for this bol? And is it not a tonic when we still hear, in the encourages us, by looking at him who was slain and is none other than the former pope, Benedict XVI. play of cherub and ornament in baroque churches, is risen, to discover the place where heaven is opened. Before he was pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger that laughter which testified to the freedom of the “If we comprehend the message of the delivered occasional sermons on Bavarian Radio. His redeemed? Resurrection, we recognize that heaven is not com - meditations covered major Catholic holidays. He con - “And is it not a sign of an Easter faith when Haydn pletely sealed off above the earth. Then — gently and nected the celebration of Easter with joy and laughter. remarked, concerning his church compositions, that he yet with immense power — something of the light of He commented that on Easter, we imagine Jesus’ felt a particular joy when thinking of God: ‘As I came God penetrates our life. Then we shall feel the surge laughter of redemption. “We who share an Easter to utter the words of supplication, I could not suppress of joy for which, otherwise, we wait in vain. faith can say, like Sarah, ‘God has made me laugh.’ ” my joy but loosed the reins of my elated spirits and “Everyone who is penetrated by something of this Ratzinger connected Easter and laughter by wrote allegro over the Miserere , and so on?’ joy can be, in his own way, a window through which reflecting on the story of our founding family of faith: “The Book of Revelation’s vision of heaven heaven can look upon earth and visit it. In this way, Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. Here is an excerpt from expresses what we see by faith at Easter: the Lamb what Revelation foresees can come about: every crea - his sermon, which focuses on Abraham’s call to sac - who was slain lives. Since he lives, our weeping ture in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in rifice his son Isaac: comes to an end and is transformed into laughter (cf. the sea, everything in the world, is filled with the joy “Jesus is both the lamb and Isaac. He is the lamb Revelation 5:4f.). of the redeemed (cf. Revelation 5:13). who allowed himself to be caught, bound and slain. “When we look at the Lamb, we see heaven “To the extent that we realize this, the words of He is also Isaac, who looked into heaven; indeed, opened. God sees us, and God acts, albeit differently the departing Jesus — who, parting from us, is the where Isaac saw only signs and symbols, Jesus actu - from the way we think and would like him to act. coming Jesus — are fulfilled: ‘Your sorrow will turn ally entered heaven, and since that time the barrier Only since Easter can we really utter the first article into joy’ (Jn 16:20). And, like Sarah, people who between God and humanity is broken down. Jesus is of faith; only on the basis of Easter is this profession share an Easter faith can say: ‘God has made me Isaac, who, risen from the dead, comes down from the rich and full of consolation: I believe in God, the laugh; everyone who hears will laugh with me’ ” (Gn mountain with the laughter of joy in his face. All the Father Almighty. For it is only from the Lamb that we 21:6). — PWN Medicine Hat pioneers a reasonable solution to help the homeless

By Gerry Chidiac Canada that’s as innovative and the crime rate, reduced the work - a permanent roof over their heads tions and mental health issues. revolutionary as public education load of first responders, reduced and provide them with the services These are realities for many fami - Former American president and socialized medicine were in the number of hospital emergency they need. lies. As Harold Kushner stated so Jimmy Carter said, “The measure their day. While the following room visits and eased pressure on Not only does giving homes to beautifully in his book When Bad of a society is found in how they project looks like an additional the courts. While it can cost over the homeless make financial sense, Things Happen to Good People , treat their weakest and most help - public expenditure on something $100,000 a year to service a person it improves the quality of life for challenges in life can happen to less citizens.” that should be delivered by chari - living on the streets, it costs rough - everyone. Many of the people liv - Serving those in need may ty groups, it simply makes good ly $35,000 a year to give a person ing on the street suffer from addic - — QUALITY , page 19 seem simply like the charitable financial sense. thing to do. When we look a bit In 2009, the Alberta city of deeper, however, we see that Medicine Hat established the goal Letter speaks to rights of medical profession many social programs help the to eliminate homelessness. It was entire population. Even on a seen as a humanitarian effort and a Dear Elected Members of story, page 4). As leaders repre - concerns and encourage the gov - financial level, projects that bene - money-saving initiative. By 2015, Provincial Parliament: senting sizeable constituencies ernment to find a pathway that fit those in need benefit us all. the goal was achieved. Today, peo - throughout On tario, we know that respects the rights of medical pro - In Canada, two programs have ple spend no more than 10 days in We write to you today regard - thousands of our members have fessionals, facilities and patients. become engrained in our culture: temporary shelters before they’re ing Bill 84 (Medical Assistance in written to you regarding the issue public education and socialized assessed and on their way to find a Dying Statute Law Amend ment of conscience rights as they relate Position of the College of Physi - medicine. Neither is perfect and home. Act) which is currently before the to Bill 84 and the implementation cians and Surgeons of Ontario both are in need of constant Housing and caring for these legislature and with committee of euthanasia and assisted suicide At present, the College of improvement, but the benefits of vulnerable individuals has reduced hearings underway (see related in the province. We echo their Physicians and Surgeons of both far outweigh their costs. Ontario (CPSO) requires an effec - Our education system is one of tive referral from doctors who do the key factors in making Canada a not wish to participate in ending great place to do business. We have the lives of their patients. For a well-trained workforce that’s physicians who object, whether adaptable to changing de mands. for personal or moral reasons, a The resources invested in each child referral is akin to performing the come back to us many times over. procedure itself. Whether you do Our American neighbours something yourself or arrange that often point to our health care sys - it be done by someone else (effec - tem as either a scourge or a tive referral), you are causing it to panacea. The bottom line is that happen. our publicly insured medical sys - We are also concerned by the lan - tem gives service to our entire guage used by the CPSO in a recent population at a fraction of the cost deposition, which suggests that of their selective, privately in - those with moral objections should sured system. Canadians are also pursue pathology or plastic surgery able to live with peace of mind to avoid such conflicts. Canadian knowing that the cost for medical medical ethicist Dr. Udo Schuklenk, emergencies will be covered. This from Queen s Uni ver sity, has pub - is simply not the case for many licly advocated for a morals test to people living in the United States. be applied to medical school appli - A new idea is now emerging in cants in order to screen out those with conscientious objections of any kind. Medicine would forever be Chidiac is an award-winning altered in our province if we were to high school teacher specializing in screen out those who entered the languages, genocide studies and CNS/Alaa Al-Marjani, Reuters field motivated by their religious work with at-risk students. He THIRST FOR JUSTICE — “Love the dispossessed, all those who, living amid human injustice, thirst after beliefs or moral convictions. lives in Prince George, B.C. justice. Jesus had special concern for them. Have no fear of being disturbed by them.” — Rule of Taizé (A www.troymedia.com displaced Iraqi girl holds a lamb in a safe area in Mosul Feb. 28.) — SUPPORT , page 19 April 5, 2017 LETTERS Prairie Messenger 19

Time to bring the ‘ viri probati’ in from the cold

The Editor: The Holy Father fess of one obvious solution. service and crisis intervention uti - is no laggard. He has distin - I am certain that of the number lizing some of their transferable guished himself for his acumen to of canonical priests still active in skills garnered from their semi - pick up on the most obscure and their faith communities, a good nary training and time as priests. niggling issues and arriving at many have the present ability to To state the case, these men have workable and durable solutions. provide meaningful service and established themselves as persons The article on viri probati (PM, ministry. They are and have been of good character and virtue long March 15) underscores this point. a visible sign in our midst labour - before and after receiving their dis - Organizations such as Corpus ing conscientiously doing diverse pensations. It’s time to bring these have conscientiously made the sorts of pastoral work in prisons, viri probati in from the “cold.” Vatican aware that the problem of hospitals and the like, a good The sooner accomplished, the steadily decreasing numbers of many providing service gratis. better for both faithful and the priests in their ranks, particularly Many have been able to transition church. — Randy Fleming, in the developed world, does con - providing invaluable counselling Moose Jaw, Sask. Support conscience rights for doctors

Continued from page 18 discriminated against for declin - leagues in the legislature to ensure ing to participate for reasons of there is conscience protection for Impact of Bill 84 conscience. the doctors and nurses who serve Bill 84 provides immunity for 2) Create a Care Co-ordination the sick, the elderly, the dying and those who participate in ending Service consistent with the ap - other vulnerable members of soci - the lives of their patients, yet no proach of Alberta, which protects ety each day in our province. We such immunity (professional or both patients and health care work - urge you to work together on otherwise) is offered in this legis - ers. At present, the Ontario govern - behalf of all Ontarians, to protect lation to those who cannot partici - ment has proposed a care co-ordi - and respect the fundamental free - pate in euthanasia or assisted sui - nation model that requires physi - dom of conscience. cide. The message to health care cian referral. The full Alberta Be assured of our ongoing Anne Wicks professionals in Ontario seems to model is a template currently in prayers for you and all elected be that if you are not willing to place that avoids any conflict for members of Provincial Parliament. Inside the Empty Tomb Easter Sunday Morning participate in ending the life of objecting health care professionals Sincerely, your patient, you may be sanc - by providing access without requir - So, the sun has risen again. tioned or suspended. ing referral. Metropolitan Archbishop Soti rios Ontario stands alone in taking The Coalition for HealthCARE (Athanassoulas) of Toronto The dust the boys kick up in play this position. No other foreign & Conscience has met with more (Canada), chair, Canadian Con fer- smells of all the world. jurisdiction that has legalized than 60 members of Provincial ence of Orthodox Bishops Voices in the garden outside assisted suicide requires effective Parliament. In many of these Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, Presi- echo around these cool damp walls. referral. Eight Canadian provinces meetings, we have been accompa - dent, Lutheran Church-Canada do not require effective referral. It nied by doctors and nurses who Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka, C.M., I will trap their keening and laughter is difficult to comprehend why have shared first-hand the moral Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation and give them back to the One who was here Ontario chooses to be so restric - dilemma they face and the fear of Machzikei Hadas and now is not. tive. Free dom of conscience and sanctions or reprisals for not help - Bruce Clemenger, president of By J. Oliver religion are enshrined in the ing to end the life of their patients. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canadian Charter of Rights and The doctors and nurses that you Canada Freedoms. These rights must be have met reflect the concerns of Cardinal Thomas Collins, respected, especially in matters of thousands of their colleagues and Archbishop of Toronto Quality of life is improved life and death. patients across the province. Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Many MPPs are still not aware Primate of the Armenian Diocese Conclusion of the present reality and the fact of Canada Continued from page 18 ity, they have proven that it’s cost- We join in solidarity to ask that the situation in Ontario Commissioner Susan McMillan, effective. They also es tablished a each one of you to support con - remains a global anomaly by forc - Territorial Commander, The any of us. When we give homes to model that other cities are begin - science rights for those who can - ing health care workers to partici - Salvation Army Canada and the homeless, just as when we pro - ning to emulate. not participate in assisted suicide. pate in assisted suicide. Bermuda Territory vide publicly funded education and The long-term benefits of this Please take the following action: Let each one of us reflect Dr. Mouhammad Iqbal Nadvi, health care, we’re helping our - solution to homelessness are yet 1) Amend Bill 84 to protect deeply on this issue. The medical Chair, Canadian Council of selves. to be seen. It’s not unrealistic to physicians and other health care profession must not lose those with Imams A great deal of credit must be conclude, however, that the Med - professionals from being forced to deeply held ethical, moral and reli - Archbishop Papken Tcharian, given to the community leaders i cine Hat model will spread refer for, perform or assist in med - gious beliefs. We ask you to work Prelate, Armenian Prelacy of and municipal government in across Canada and throughout the ical assistance in dying, or being across party lines with your col - Canada Medicine Hat. Homelessness is a world. long-standing social challenge that And that it will improve the has been difficult to solve. They quality of life for not only the have not only implemented a solu - most vulnerable, but for all citi - tion that respects people’s human - zens. Letters to the editor

We welcome your response to articles published in the Prairie Messenger. Two-way communication assures every - one of a better exposure to the truth. We cannot publish any letters to the editor unless you give us your full name, your address and your telephone number. (It is especially important to remember this if you are sending your comments by email) . Due to limited space we ask you to keep your letters short — 300 to 350 words maximum. The Prairie Messenger reserves the right to edit letters to conform to space requirements and newspa - per style .

Editor: Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB 306-682-1772 Subscriptions: $37.00 per year (45 issues); tax included; U.S. $170.00 per year. Foreign $269.00 per year. Associate editors: Maureen Weber , Single copy: $1.00 GST#10780 2928 RT0001 Don Ward Copy and advertising should arrive 12 days before publication date. Layout artist: Lucille Stewart Change of address: Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing and send Advertising: Gail Kleefeld 306-682-1772 both old and new addresses. Circulation: Gail Kleefeld 306-682-1772 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Website: http://www.prairiemessenger.ca Circulation Department Regina diocesan editor: Frank Flegel 306-586-7316, 306-352-1651 100 College Drive, Box 190, Muenster, Sask., S0K 2Y0 Saskatoon diocesan editor: Kiply Lukan Yaworski 306-242-1500, 306-651-3935 Prince Albert: Chancery Office 306-922-4747 Fax: (306) 682-5285 [email protected] Member of Winnipeg diocesan editor: James Buchok 204-452-2227 Published by the Benedictine monks of St. Peter’s Abbey. Canadian Church Press Saint-Boniface Chancery Office 204-237-9851 and the CCNA Printed by St. Peter’s Press, Muenster, Sask. CN ISSN 0032-664X Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 20 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS April 5, 2017 Loving families central to bringing joy, mercy to world

By Carol Glatz dominated by a lack of love.” VATICAN CITY (CNS) — “Only starting Pope Francis urges families to dis - from love can the cover God’s love and be generous, family manifest, forgiving, patient, helpful and spread and regen - respectful. erate God’s love in Family life will be better if the world,” he people use the words “please,” said. “thank you,” and “I’m sorry” Making sure every day, he said, and the world family life is will be a better place if the church “based on love, for reaches out to the imperfect and love and in love” the wounded. means “giving one - The pope’s reflection was part self, forgiving, not of a letter to Cardinal Kevin losing patience, Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery anticipating the for the Laity, Family and Life, other, respecting. which is helping plan the World How much better Meeting of Families in Dublin, family life would Aug. 21 - 26, 2018. The Vatican be if every day we released the text of the pope’s let - lived according to ter March 30. the words, ‘please,’ The letter was meant to help ‘thank you,’ and Catholic families and parishes ‘I’m sorry.’ ” around the world prepare for the Every day, peo - CNS/World Meeting of Families gathering, which will focus on the ple experience fra - WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES — This is a promotional image for World Meeting of Families to be held Aug. 21 - 26, theme, “The Gospel of the gility and weak - 2018, in Dublin. The theme of the meeting is “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World.” Family: Joy for the World.” The ness, Pope Francis pope said he hoped the event said. All families and pastors need of Dublin told reporters that the archbishop said. “Families need a also must be “a place where those would help families reflect on and humility so they will become better pope’s letter shows the clear, cen - church which is with them, ac - who have failed can experience share his apostolic exhortation disciples and teachers, better at tral role families have in the companying them in a process of not harsh judgment, but the strong “Amoris Laetitia.” helping and being helped, and able pope’s great dream of renewal of discernment and integration embrace of the Lord which can lift “Does the Gospel continue to to accompany and embrace all peo - the church and society. though helping them to respond them up to begin again to realize be a joy for the world? And also, ple of goodwill. “The family is called to be a with a ‘yes’ to the divine love.” their own dream even if only does the family continue to be “I dream of an outbound place of encounter with that But the church, Martin said, imperfectly.” good news for today’s world?” the church, not a self-referential one, divine mercy which heals and lib - pope asked. a church that does not pass by far erates,” he said. Pope Francis backs The answer is “yes,” he said, from man’s wounds, a merciful “The pope’s vision of the mis - because God’s love is his “yes” to church that proclaims the heart of sion of the family does not attempt all of creation; it is God’s “com - the revelation of God as love, to hide the fact that families expe - nuclear weapons ban treaty mitment to a humanity that is which is mercy,” he said. rience challenges, weak ness, fra - often wounded, mistreated and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin gility and even breakdown,” the By Josephine McKenna stressed it was possible to achieve. “Although this is a significant - VATICAN CITY (RNS) — ly complex and long-term goal, it El Salvador passes metal mining ban Pope Francis says nuclear weap - is not beyond our reach,” he said. ons offer a “false sense of securi - Pope Francis said money cur - SAN SALVADOR, El ty” and are an ineffective deterrent rently spent on nuclear weapons Salvador (CNS) — At the urging to 21st-century threats like terror - could be used for “the promotion of Catholic leaders, El Salvador ism, conflict and cybersecurity. of peace and integral human has passed a law banning metal The pontiff spoke as talks on a development, as well as the fight mining nationwide, making the proposed global nuclear arms ban against poverty.” small Central American country at the United Nations seem “An ethics and a law based on the first in the world to outlaw the doomed to fail with the U.S., the threat of mutual destruction — industry. France, Britain and South Korea and possibly the destruction of all The new law, approved over - among nearly 40 countries boy - mankind — are contradictory to whelmingly by El Salvador’s con - cotting the talks. the very spirit of the United gress March 29, orders the In a message addressed to the Nations,” he said. Economy Ministry to close exist - conference in New York, the pope “We must therefore commit ing mines while prohibiting the called for “total elimination” of ourselves to a world without nu - government from issuing new nuclear weapons. He said there were clear weapons, by fully imple - mining licences. It gives small- many doubts about the effectiveness menting the Non-Proliferation scale and artisanal miners a two- of deterrence and warned of “cata - Treaty, both in letter and spirit.” year period to phase out produc - strophic humanitarian and environ - In New York, the U.S. ambassa - tion. mental consequences” if nuclear dor to the United Nations, Nikki R. Mining had become highly weapons were ever used again. Haley, told reporters the countries contentious in the country of 6.3 “How sustainable is a stability skipping the negotiations believe the million, as environmental groups CNS/Oscar Rivera, EPA based on fear, when it actually current Non-Proliferation Treaty is a protested the effects on water MINING EXPLOITATION — Protesters in San Salvador, El Salvador, increases fear and undermines better accord. It entered into force in sources and soil contamination. demonstrate against mining exploitation March 9. El Salvador passed a relationships of trust?” Francis 1970 and is aimed at preventing the Anti-mining groups have claimed law March 29 banning metal mining nationwide, making the small asked. spread of nuclear weapons and that at least four people had died Central American country the first in the world to outlaw the industry. “International peace and stabil - weapons technology. in mining conflicts. ity cannot be based on a false She singled out North Korea, “Mission accomplished,” said Philippines. The government had Although it is the first nation - sense of security, on the threat of which has recently conducted mis - Congressman Guillermo Mata of denied permits for a gold mining wide metal mining ban, other mutual destruction or total annihi - sile tests in violation of UN reso - the ruling party, the Farabundo project in northern El Salvador that countries already ban some min - lation, or on simply maintaining a lutions. Marti National Liberation Front, the company was trying to estab - ing processes, like the use of balance of power.” “We have to be realistic,” she on his Twitter account. “As a lish. It sued for unrealized profits. cyanide to extract gold. The pope said the elimination told reporters. “Is there anyone political party, we were the driv - The legal win prompted a Anti-mining groups praised the of nuclear weapons was a “moral who thinks that North Korea ers, but the hard work was done diverse set of organizations to push Salvadoran vote. and humanitarian imperative” and would ban nuclear weapons? by the social movements, the for a new mining law. The push “It is amazing what this small NGOs and the church.’’ was led by Catholic bishops, who country has achieved against tre - Previous initiatives to ban the in February called on congress to mendous odds,” said Manuel O God, whose presence is veiled from our eyes: practice were defeated by conser - pass an outright ban. Dem on - Perez-Rocha of the Institute for vative factions of congress. But strations and a petition signed by Policy Studies in Washington. The Grant that when we do not recognize you, our momentum shifted last year, when 30,000 residents furthered the push institute, part of the International hearts may burn within us, and when feeling is lost, the government won a $300-mil - for a ban. Allies coalition with the National we may cling in faith to your word and the power lion lawsuit brought against it by “We have to defend the rights of Roundtable Against Metallic Pac Rim Cayman, a unit of all people; as a church, we will Mining in El Salvador, sees the of bread broken in the name of Jesus Christ our Canadian-Australian mining giant always defend the right to life,’’ law as “an inspiration for coun - Lord. Oceana Gold, which has opera - Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas tries throughout the region,’’ he — Book of Common Worship tions in New Zealand and the of San Salvador said at the time. said.