Donald Bolen the New Archbishop-Elect of the Archdiocese of Regina
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VOLUME 19 NUMBER 1 AUTUMN 2016 Donald Bolen the new Archbishop-Elect of the Archdiocese of Regina Grace and peace of Saskatoon, with the authority of a diocesan bishop. Upon to you in the Lord my installation as Archbishop of Regina, it is to be anticipated Jesus Christ. that the College of Consultors in the Diocese of Saskatoon By now you will will be asked to meet and elect a Diocesan Administrator have received the who will work with others to lead and guide the diocese until news that I have a new bishop is named. been appointed I have every confidence that the Holy Spirit, who has been by Pope Francis leading us these past years, will continue to be at work in the as the Archbishop fine and gifted lay faithful, religious, and clergy of the diocese. of Regina. I write Thank you for your faith, wisdom and generosity, which have this note with many made it such a joy to minister alongside you these past years. and conflicting You remain in my heart and I assure you of my ongoing emotions, held prayers, and in turn, ask your prayers for all that lies ahead. together by a deep To the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of and abiding trust in Regina, I promise to try to serve you well, by the grace of God’s mercy and God, and very much look forward to working with you at the faithfulness. service of the Kingdom. Serving with you Returning to Regina means coming home to the place where in the Diocese of I grew up (then in the Diocese of Gravelbourg), where I was Saskatoon these educated (many years at Campion College), and where many past six-plus years of my family members and friends still reside. I was ordained has been one of the great joys and privileges of my life. Under a priest by Archbishop Charles Halpin, blessed by Archbishop the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI then of Pope Francis, Peter Mallon’s willingness to have me spend years working at together we have sought to address pastoral challenges the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome, within our parishes and communities. With an exceptional and had the privilege of serving (briefly) as Vicar General of team of clergy and lay leadership, we have sought to be the Archdiocese then as fellow bishop alongside Archbishop a church that in our parishes and outreach proclaims the Daniel Bohan. Many of my teachers in the faith, spiritual Gospel of Jesus Christ, trying to live the Gospel with integrity, guides and mentors in life have been from among the clergy mindful always of the mercy of God at the source of our and faithful of the Archdiocese. calling. We have striven to be a church in dialogue with our culture, with other Christian communities and with adherents There is a great legacy within the Archdiocese of strong parish of other religious traditions, always open to working together communities, evangelization, dialogue, collaboration between at the service of God’s merciful designs for humanity. We all the people of God, and the pursuit of justice. It is a privilege have sought to be a church seeking justice, engaging in to serve in a new way, alongside all of you, as we strive to be issues of the day, addressing systemic injustice, and showing faithful to the Gospel and respond to the world in its needs. special concern for those on the margins of our society. While I am also mindful that many things have changed in the our efforts have been shaped by our own limitations and Archdiocese in my years away from it, and that my knowledge failings, we have felt and seen significant signs of the Holy of its parishes and people is very limited. There is a steep Spirit at work in our midst. learning curve ahead, and I ask in advance for your patience, The years I have served in Saskatoon have coincided with and especially for your prayers. the Truth and Reconciliation process addressing the painful It is my hope to keep as episcopal motto the phrase from legacy of the Indian Residential Schools. As a people, we Thomas Merton which speaks eloquently the name of God: need to learn to tell the story of our land differently. As church, ‘mercy within mercy within mercy’. May we jointly be held by we are learning anew to walk together with Indigenous and draw life from that great font of mercy, and daily show it peoples. Through a series of initiatives, we have set out with to others and to the world. energy on this walk, with the support and guidance of many Indigenous friends. I hope and pray that these efforts and Yours in the Risen Lord, this learning will continue. Grace and peace to you in the Lord Jesus Christ. The date for the transition to Regina has not yet been set. + Donald Bolen As of July 11, 2016, I am the Administrator of the Diocese Archbishop-Elect of the Archdiocese of Regina PAGE 2 - THE ARCH, SUMMER 2016 Farewell Fr. Canisius Seiferling, O.F.M. Fr. C. Seiferling, August 30, 1916 - August 10, 2016: Father assistant in the parish at St. Charles. Canisius Seiferling of Cochrane, AB, passed away on August In 1973, he became assistant pastor 10, 2016 at the age of 99 years. at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Father Canisius Seiferling, a Catholic priest in the Religious Maillardville/Coquitlam, BC, where Order of Franciscans of Western Canada, was born he spent six years, and then returned in Sedley, Saskatchewan. At the age of 17 he went to to Saskatchewan. For the next three Edmonton, Alberta, to finish his schooling at St. Anthony's years, he was director of Franciscan College. When he finished high school, he entered the novices at Saint Michael's Retreat Centre in Lumsden and Franciscan Order, and spent the next 8 years of religious a faithful Saskatchewan Roughriders' fan. formation in Quebec, after which he was ordained a priest, Fr. Canisius spent the last 34 years of his life at Mount Saint in Montreal, in 1943, at the age of 27. Francis Friary in Cochrane, AB, where he happily kept himself Fr. Canisius's first, longest and happiest appointment was busy clearing brush, hiking with friends, visiting with alumni, as a teacher and physical education instructor at Saint and connecting with family. Anthony's College. He is fondly remembered by numerous Fr. Canisius is survived by three sisters Mary Wade and alumni who knew him as an excellent hockey player and Felicia Klein of Regina, and Sr. Herman Seiferling, IBVM, in exceptional coach. In 1963, after twenty years of teaching Toronto, as well as by numerous nephews and nieces; and and coaching, he began pastoral ministry in Manitoba his Franciscan brothers. In living memory of Father Canisius predominantly as a prison chaplain at Headingly and as an Seiferling, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park. Rev. Maurice Minne Celebrates 60 Years of Priesthood years. He remained in the A stint as weekend chaplain in Saskatoon’s Royal University Gravelbourg Diocese for Hospital was the first thing to come to mind when Reverend most of his service including Maurice Minne was asked to remember a highlight of a posting as Pastor at his 60 years as a priest. He was there from 2000-06 and Our Lady of Assumption specifically remembers getting a call to come to the hospital Cathedral in Gravelbourg. for a premature child who was not expected to live very long. Following retirement in “They asked me to come to the hospital and baptize it. It was 2000 he spent a total of six a time to get off your high horse as an administrator and do a years in Saskatoon helping person to person thing.” He recalled several other instances priests, several months in being called to a hospital including a few months in Regina. the Regina Archdiocese Minne was born in Lafleche, Saskatchewan in what was and four years in St. John’s then Gravelbourg Diocese, the oldest of four siblings. “I Newfoundland Labrador have three sisters and they have one brother,” he laughed where a friend had invited as he frequently did during the interview with the Prairie him to come and visit. He returned to Gravelbourg in 2011. Messenger. There wasn’t any particular time when he felt a Now, at age 84, he provides sacramental ministry for parishes calling to become a priest; “I just grew up with it,” said Minne in Coderre and Hodgenville both within the boundaries of the He received his early education in Lafleche and College former Gravelbourg Diocese. Mathieu in Gravelbourg where he received his high school Minne celebrated his 60 years of ordination, first by education and a B.A. from the University of Ottawa with celebrating Mass Sunday, July 3 in the Chapel on the Hill which the College is affiliated. At age 20 he entered the St. south of Moose Jaw with 36 people in attendance. “If I had Boniface, Manitoba, Seminary in 1952 and four years later celebrated it on July 1, there might have been me and one with a Bachelor Degree in Theology was ordained priest in other person there,” he joked. Secondly, he hosted a dinner his home parish of Lafleche. “It was a national holiday, July in Gravelbourg for 65 invited guests from the various parishes 1, 1956. The first time an ordination was held in Lafleche. he had served. He didn’t want them to pay for it but they The church was packed full.” Following his ordination, he took up a collection that paid for everything except the wine.