May 2010 Jim Meyer Editor [email protected] ______
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Serrapost May 2010 Jim Meyer Editor [email protected] __________________________________________________________________________________________ Sister Mary Francis, generated lots of smiles and laughter May 5th, as a large turnout of Serrans listened to her vocation story and work as a Missionary Sister of the Precious Blood. Born in Scotland, she was kicked out of high school, “I put on my leather jacket , lit a cigarette and went to a pub.” “ A group went to England where I got a job in what I thought was a factory but turned out to be an institution for the mentally challenged or as they said in those days for idiots, morons and imbeciles.” She was given a cattle prod and showed where to shock the inmates into submission. After a period of time she wanted some adventure and hopped on a boat for Australia. Because she was experienced, she got a job in a state institution. One day while working there a lady said she was volunteering in a place very different from here, “Who runs it?” “A group of sisters.” “You mean nuns.” “Yes” “ No honey, I don’t like nuns, never have, never will, --still don’t” However she went to see the place and was truly shocked at the cleanliness of the place. The bathrooms actually had doors and the showers, curtains. Returning to her job she realized something was wrong there and finally phoned an asked if she could speak with the sister. She went and the sister spoke of treating the patients with dignity, “the first time I heard the word.” “Impressed, I asked if I could volunteer when the nuns went to prayer. Later I asked if I could work fulltime” “Yes but you have to finish your high school” “Oh no, I’m stupid.” “You have a special talent and if you come each week I’ll tutor you.” “Do I have to go to Mass?” “No.” “O.K. but none of this God or Jesus stuff.” “I was really obnoxious.” For a solid year she studied and God wasn’t mentioned. When she got her diploma the nun said “Now you’re going to college.” “No.” But she did, knowing that this would be her life’s work. After graduating she was interested in people with special needs and getting people out of institutions. A nun visiting from America said knew of just the program for her, a new program at Temple University. “Temple University, where is that?” “Philadelphia.” “Well they offered to pay my tuition and a place to live, so I went to the U.S.A. No one told me God was a Yankee.” “As part of my course I was sent to a place where they looked after battered children aged from3 to 9. I was really impressed by the love and caring of these Sisters of the Precious Blood.” During this time she joined a group experimenting in mind control and New Age religion but she went to Mass because it was her job. Influenced by the holiness of a woman she was working with she decided to go to confession. “But not to anyone local.” The next day she went to communion. Although she had made her first communion at the age of seven she felt this was truly the first time. The Mass began to have meaning and she snuck a bible out under her dress and began reading. Eventually with the support of another nun she took her vows and received her habit. 1980 Opened the John Paul II Centre for special handicap and learning abilities needs. 1989 Founded a group home for physically and mentally challenged adults. 2008 Came to Canada and is Administrator of St. Bernard’s Residence. Father Kenneth LeBlanc, a member of the Legionaries of Christ, whose motto is to “Love, Serve, Build” the lay apostolate, spoke to our Serra Downtown members on Wednesday, May 19th. Fr. Kenneth reported that he grew up in a family without religion. One day, his father, a flower child of the 60s was hitchhiking and was picked up by a Catholic hermit. This meeting was soul changing – with the result that his parents changed their “hippie ways” and become firm believers in the faith. At the age of 6 years, he considered becoming a priest. He felt the call so strongly that he couldn’t meet the priest’s eyes at Mass. At 16 years of age, he began to ask himself, what makes people happy? What is the meaning of life? He went on retreat and read St. Francis of Assisi who said that becoming a saint made people happy. He realized that he was missing the intimate closeness with God that he experienced as a child. As a teenager, he realized that he was looking for God. At that point his father said to him, “Are you going to become a priest or what? and he responded “Yes”. From that moment on, once he had surrendered his life to God, he found incredible peace. He was drawn to the Legionaries of Christ due to its resemblance to the army – very disciplined and very organized. At 17 years of age, he joined 100 other young men in Connecticut at the seminary for the Legionaries and “it felt like home”. In 1990 he was ordained. In 2002, he invited his three brothers to visit him at the seminary and one of them stayed. At the current time, the Legionaries are very involved with forming the lay apostolate, developing programs for youth and families, to assist the laity to change the world for the love of Jesus. Born and raised in Rogersvilles, New Brunswick, Fr. Kenneth entered the Legion of Christ at 18 years of age, studied in the United States, Canada and Rome. He was ordained in Rome on Dec. 24th, 2002. He is currently residing in Oakville, and works primarily with Regnum Christi members in the GTA area. He also serves as chaplain to Compass, a University campus Catholic fellowship group for students. He is the Vocational Director for the Legionaries in Canada. His brother Raoul was ordained last December in Rome. Kathleen Ancker Fr. Luis Manuel Calleja Jr. born and raised in Toronto, attended St. Bridget school. Fr. Luis felt his call at 18, and discerned at Serra House while studying philosophy at St. Philip’s Oratory. He entered St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2005. He was ordained at St. Michael’s Cathedral on May 5 and said his first solemn Mass at St. Bridget’s Church where his parents, Lea and Luis Manuel Calleja Sr. are parishioners. He is the first student from the school to become a priest. Fr. Luis is a relative of Serran Sally Lianco. Father Thomas Ferandes Remedios, 37, associate Plant a Seed pastor of the Church of Jesus in the village of Recent research has shown that the majority Nuven, India, died of a heart attack after saving of vocations are the result of the example set by a three young parishioners from drowning on May parish priest and the encouragement of parents, 13th. A group of mostly young people from the especially mothers. Furthermore, 68% considered a parish were having a day of fellowship at the beach religious vocation by the time when two boys and a girl, aged 17 to 19 got into they were12, 53% said they trouble after venturing into the sea. Father thought about it before the age Fernandes swam after them, rescuing two of 18 and 19% considered it immediately. After he rescued the third he suffered before the age of 14. Almost a fatal heart attack. three-quarters served as Altar In a statement the local church affirmed “he Servers. What better time to is a shepherd who gave his life for his flock.” plant a seed than at the Altar Servers Awards Mass? Last year the Serra Club of Toronto Dedication Ceremony Downtown offered all clubs hosting the Awards, In September, the U.S. Postal Service will cards with the Altar Servers prayer on one side and release a stamp honouring Blessed Teresa of a message to parents on the other— Calcutta, known as Mother Teresa. WHO COULD BE PROUDER THAN THE The Freedom From Religion Foundation FAMILY OF A PRIEST OR RELIGIOUS? opposed the postal stamp. Shocking! Francis Anthony Morrocco 1913 – 1975 A new study concludes that women at July 18th marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Catholic colleges are more promiscuous than their Bishop Francis Anthony. A beloved and peers at secular colleges, raising new alarms about enthusiastic leader, Bishop Morrocco guided the the state of Catholic higher education. Serra Club of Toronto Downtown (the club that Colleges with strong “moral communities” made Serra International) for eight years. have a positive influence on students’ religious After graduating from St. Peter’s High practice—Catholic colleges generally lack clarity School in Peterborough, he attended the about the Catholic faith and have the same impact University of St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, on Catholic students as do public universities. N.S. and St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto. He Researchers looked at a survey of 1,000 U.S was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto in students and were surprised to find women 1956 and Bishop of Peterborough in 1969. attending Catholic colleges and universities are His funeral, attended by more than 200 almost four times likely to have a ‘hook-up’ Priests, 25 Bishops, 3 Archbishops, Cardinal compared to women at secular schools. A ‘hook-up’ Flahiff of Winnipeg, as well as the Papal Nuncio, is a casual physical encounter with a male student was a testament to the esteem in which the without the expectation of an ongoing relationship.