Bishop Addresses Faithful
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A T IME FOR HOPE : F INALLY DIOCESAN CONGRESS BISHOP ADDRESSES FAITHFUL GOOD NEWS ABOUT MARRIAGE DAY IN THE DEANERIES ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE ISSUE • P AGES 8-9 • P AGES 12-15 • P AGE 24 Newsletter of the Diocese of Saskatoon Visit us on the web at: www.saskatoonrcdiocese.com Spring 2010 Diocese rejoices in new bishop BY KIPLY LUKAN YAWORSKI Saskatchewan-born priest Donald Bolen was ordained the seventh bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon in a joyful celebration that brought together family and colleagues, ecumenical guests, priests and bishops from several continents, and representatives from across the dioceses of Saskatoon and Regina. Archbishop Daniel Bohan of Regina was the principal consecrator during the ordination liturgy on the Feast of the Annunciation March 25, along with co-consecrators Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg and Bishop Brian Farrell of Rome’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. Thirty other bishops from across Canada, as well as Archbishop John Bathesby of Brisbane, Australia and the Holy See’s representative in Canada, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro López Quintana also participated in Bolen’s episcopal ordination held at St. Patrick’s church in Saskatoon. Diocesan consultor Fr. Michael Koch read the apostolic letter from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Archbishop James Bolen as bishop of Saskatoon, Weisgerber of Winnipeg and those assembled gave their assent by saying “Thanks be to God” followed by a thunderous round of applause. After making his promises to uphold the faith and carry out his duties as bishop, Bolen lay prostrate on the floor The diocese of Saskatoon’s new shepherd Bishop Don Bolen blesses the assembly at the March 25 ordination. during a litany of the saints. Led by Archbishop Bohan, the Catholic bishops present at the celebration placed hands upon He noted that the heart of the gospel is repeated in the new Bolen’s head in silent prayer. bishop’s motto: Mercy within mercy within mercy . During the prayer of consecration, the open book of the “This is a changeless message and it is a message that our gospels was held over Bolen’s head, signifying that the bishop world so desperately needs to hear. We need to hear that this is a world in which God delights. We are called to joy; we are is to live under the gospel, and faithfully preach the word of At the centre of Bishop called to community; we are called to deepen our love,” Coat of Arms God. Other elements of the celebration included the anointing Donald Bolen’s Coat of Weisgerber said. of the bishop’s head, the presentation of the book of the Arms is the open word of gospels, and the investiture with the ring, a symbol of MORE Ordination Page 3 God, with the Latin phrase faithfulness; the mitre, signifying the bishop’s resolve to “Verbum Vitae ,” which pursue holiness; and the pastoral staff or crozier, symbol of means, “the Word of Life.” the bishop’s role as shepherd of the flock of Christ, the Good At the bottom is a small Shepherd. banner that reads “mercy During the homily, Weisgerber reflected on the Feast of within mercy within the Annunciation, which set the pattern of God’s action in our mercy.” The quotation is midst. “God continues to take flesh in his people,” Weisgerber from Thomas Merton’s said, for instance in the presence of the community gathered, 1953 book The Sign of Jonas (Jonah) and describes and in the presence of the bishop. God’s overflowing mercy. The shepherd’s crook –a bishop’s staff – represents the apostolic calling to be a good shepherd. The sword is the traditional symbol of St. Paul, who is the patron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. The wheat sheaf, against the blue backdrop, speaks of the Saskatchewan prairies, the vast sheltering skies beneath which we live, and the dignity of a way of life closely tied to the land. Jesus also speaks of his own paschal mystery in terms of the grain of wheat which falls to the ground and dies, and bears much fruit. Wheat is also thus a symbol of the Eucharist, of the Lord’s invitation to receive his life-giving presence into our lives, to allow our lives to be broken and poured out for others. As the wheat symbolizes Eucharist, the shell symbolizes Baptism; together they point to the sacramental life of the Church, but also to ecumenical efforts to come to a shared sacramental life. The hat with six tassels on either side and the cross are emblematic of the hierarchical status of the episcopal office, and are present on every Roman Catholic bishop’s coat of arms. For more details about the coat of arms see: Fr. Ron Beechinor and Bev Hansen delighted the Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface (left) greets www.saskatoonrcdiocese.com/bishop/index.cfm assembly with a dialogue to welcome the new bishop. the new bishop of Saskatoon during the ordination. Page 2 Newsletter of the DIOCESE OF SASKATOON Spring 2010 Ecumenical service held on the eve of bishop’s ordination BY KIPLY LUKAN YAWORSKI of Common Prayer on behalf of A unique ecumenical prayer recently ordained Saskatoon service was held on the eve of Anglican Bishop David Irving, as Bishop Donald Bolen’s episcopal Jesson described the importance of ordination, reflecting his own years the prayer book in Anglican life working for Christian unity as well over the past four centuries. as a tradition of ecumenical Bishop Cindy Halmarson of the dialogue in Saskatoon, home of the Saskatchewan Synod of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leaders of local Christian Canada, carried up an image of churches as well as guests involved Luther’s rose, a symbol of Martin in ecumenical dialogue from around Luther’s theology, Jesson said. the world were among those who Rev. Bill Blackmon of the gathered March 24 for the service at Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship St. Paul’s Cathedral in Saskatoon. carried forth a book of the The celebration included prayers scriptures, recently translated into for Bolen, a reflection on the “Word Fr. Bernard De Margerie (left) leads a blessing during the ecumenical service March 24, that included yet another of the world’s many of Life”, and a presentation of the local church leaders (l-r): Prairie Centre for Ecumenism director Jan Bigland-Pritchard; Fr. Don languages, while Bishop Jerold Hamel, rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral; Rev. Deb Walker of the United Church of Canada; Retired gifts that different denominations Gliege of the Evangelical Orthodox Anglican Bishop Rodney Andrews; Lutheran Bishop Cindy Halmarson; Rev. Bill Blackmon of the bring to the world. Church presented readings from the Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship; Bishop Jerold Gliege of the Evangelical Orthodox Church; Apostolic Fathers. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Mennonite Pastor Jerry Buhler; Rev. Amanda Currie of the Presbyterian Church; Jay Cowsill of the an ordination which began with an Society of Friends; Roman Catholic Bishop-elect Donald Bolen; and Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Pastor Jeremiah Buhler of the ecumenical service – now that’s Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy. Mennonite Church in saying something about how far we Saskatchewan presented a peace still have to go,” said Bishop Brian said Bolen. mutual effort, citing the first letter description in the first letter of John lamp as a symbol of his Farrell, a native of Ireland who Bilateral dialogues in recent of Peter, which calls for Christians about seeing, hearing and touching denomination’s commitment and worked with Bolen at the Pontifical decades have addressed the to give an account of their hope to “that which was with us from the focus on peace. Rev. Amanda Council for the Promotion of relationship between scripture and others. “In our culture and in our beginning.” Currie of St. Andrew’s Christian Unity in Rome. tradition, one of the “classic day we all know that it is Wainwright noted that a Presbyterian Church brought up a “You have a bishop who is controversial themes” dividing increasingly difficult, even for statement on revelation and faith by copy of the Presbyterian “Book of totally committed to the cause of Christian churches, he said. He those who desire to believe, those the Methodist-Catholic dialogue, Forms,” and bishop-elect Bolen Christian unity. I hope that you will quoted from Methodist-Catholic, who desire to have a strong faith, to entitled “The Word of Life” grew presented a copy of the Catholic welcome him with an open heart,” Lutheran-Catholic and Anglican- believe with heart and mind and out of a reflection on this same lectionary. Farrell said in his opening remarks. Catholic documents released in recent soul,” he said. scripture passage. Jay Cowsill of the Society of Taylor Croissant, a United years to show that differences in “I think there’s a moment of This was followed by a Friends presented a candle as a Church of Canada seminarian from this regard have largely been opportunity where we can work statement entitled “Speaking the symbol of truth, peace and integrity, St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, resolved through patient and together and think together and pray Truth in Love,” on teaching while Bishop Bryan Bayda of the led the call to worship. During a persevering dialogue. together to come to a new found authority in the Church, grounded Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of prayer of confession, the assembly These dialogues have spoken of way of living our faith, but also for in the letter to the Ephesians, and by Saskatoon carried up an icon. acknowledged failures to heal the tradition as the transmission of the giving an account of our faith, the most recent dialogue, “The Finally, Rev.