Resurrection BULLETIN RESURRECTION BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 Dear Reader, “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter Fr. Fedy professed his religious vows in the Congregation people and hallelujah is our song.” (Pope John Paul II) on September 8, 1953 and was ordained to the ministe- These words of Pope Saint John Paul II give us great hope rial priesthood on May 28, 1960 at St. Peter’s Seminary, as Christians. To say that we are an Easter people is to London, Ontario. For the next 12 years Fr. Charlie minis- proclaim that we believe that the death of Jesus on the Cross tered as a teacher at Scollard Hall in North Bay, Ontario transformed all suffering and pain, and the Resurrection and was principal in his last year there. He then served as ensured the promise of eternal life. Rector of St. Thomas Scholasticate, London, Ontario from 1972 to 1982. In this issue, we remember the life of Fr. Charles Fedy, CR, a man who lived the Paschal Mystery every day, and believed Fr. Charlie ministered as in the promise of new life. Fr. Charlie died of cancer on Associate Pastor at St. Aloysius January 31st. We also remember Fr. James (J.J.) Johnstone, Parish, Kitchener, Pastor of St. CR, a man of faith and a priest for 63 years, who died unex- Joseph’s Parish, Hamilton; and pectedly on March 15th. May they rest in peace. Pastor of St. Agatha Parish, St Agatha for seventeen years This year the Congregation honours seven priests who are until his retirement in 2010. celebrating significant anniversaries. Four of these priests He also celebrated Mass will be featured in this issue. Fr. Bill LaFlamme is celebrat- and was a confessor for the ing sixty years of ordination. Fr. Peter Pigott, Fr. Harry Carmelite Sisters of St. Agatha Reitzel and Fr. Jim Valk will mark fifty years of priesthood. on a regular basis. Three priests, celebrating forty years of priesthood, will be Rev. Charlie Fedy, CR featured in our next issue. They are Fr. Chris Buda, Fr. Ray Within the Congregation, Hughes and Fr. George Nowak. A special celebration will be Fr. Charlie held a variety of leadership roles, including held to honour the jubilarians in September. We congratu- Director of Formation, chairman and member of a number late all of these men and thank them for their many years of of committees, Provincial Councilor, Assistant Provincial (2 dedicated service to the people of God. terms), Rector of Resurrection House in Toronto, Assistant Rector of Resurrection College, and Pre-Novitiate Director. We particularly want to highlight the amazing gift of Fr. Fr. Charlie was a highly regarded retreat director and spir- Walter Schnarr, CR in this issue. Fr. Walter celebrated his itual director. 78th year of priesthood on March 14th at the age of 103. Fr. Charlie’s life of faith-filled service touched the lives of May this Easter season bring you peace, happiness and joy! his students, his fellow religious, colleagues, parishioners, We are the Easter people. Hallelujah is our song! spiritual directees, family and friends. His gifts of quiet steadfastness, devotion and humility were personal traits IN MEMORIAM recognized by all who encountered him. In his funeral homily for Fr. Charlie, Fr. Murray McDermott Fr. Charles Fedy, CR said that for many people Fr. Charlie was the Rock upon whom they could depend for truth, encouragement, After a two year battle with cancer, Father Charles Richard support, loyalty, dependability, steadfastness, and unwaver- Fedy, CR died on Saturday, January 31st, at Hospice ing devotion to Jesus. Wellington in Guelph. He was 80 years old, in his 62nd year of religious life and 55th year of ordained priesthood. 1 Resurrection BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 Fr. Murray said that “Fr. Charlie was the Rock when it came to the teachings of the Church and Social Justice. Fr. Charlie was the Rock when our lives were in Spiritual crisis or chaos. Fr. Charlie was the Rock who never wavered from assuring us B E N EFIT S that we are the beloved of God and that God holds us within the palms of his hands and that we are forgivable, redeemable and loveable.” The Mass of the Resurrection for Fr. Charlie was celebrated at St. Agatha Parish on February 4th. Interment took place at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. Fr. James (J.J.) Johnstone, CR onors to the Congregation Father James Joseph Johnstone, CR died unex- Dshare in the following Spiritual pectedly of a stroke on March 15th. He was 89 Benefits: years old, in his 71st year of religious life and 64th 1. Daily prayers said in all the year of ordained priesthood. houses of the Congregation of Fr. J.J. was born in Scotland and moved to Canada the Resurrection for living and with his family at a young age. He professed his deceased benefactors. religious vows in the Congregation on September 2. One Mass said each month in 8, 1944 and was ordained to the ministerial priest- each house of the Congregation hood on October 21, 1951 at St. Peter’s Seminary of the Resurrection for the living in London. benefactors. Rev. J.J. Johnstone, CR He began his ministry as a Catholic educator at 3. One Mass said each month in each St. Jerome’s High School in Kitchener. After two house of the Congregation of the years, he was assigned to teach at St. John’s College, Brantford, where he spent Resurrection for the deceased 23 years, 3 years as principal. Fr. J.J. then moved to North Bay College (Scollard benefactors. Hall) where he taught English and Religion. During that time he also helped 4. One Mass said annually in at St. Rita’s Parish in North Bay. After retiring from teaching, he returned to November in each house of the Brantford to St. Peter’s Residence. On weekends he celebrated the English Congregation of the Resurrection Masses at St. Joseph Parish in Brantford. He also filled in for the priests in our for the deceased benefactors. Bermuda parishes as needed. In 2012, Fr. J.J. retired to Resurrection Manor in Waterloo. “ If the faithful help even one candidate for the priesthood, they Fr. J.J. was well-loved and respected by the many people with whom he came will fully share in all the future in contact. He loved teaching and ministering to people in the parish. Fr. masses and in all the fruits of J.J. enjoyed his family and many friends and made it a point to keep in touch sanctity and apostolic works that with them (he had hundreds of names on his Christmas card list). He was will be his.” Pope Pius XII. a great conversationalist, a lover of theatre, opera, murder mysteries and the dramatic; he had an engaging sense of humour. Fr. J.J’s dying on the “Ides of Contributions to the Congregation March” is a reflection of his passion for Shakespeare. may be sent to: The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in Brantford Congregation of the Resurrection on March 19th. Interment took place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Brantford. Provincial Office, Treasurer Resurrection College 265 Westmount Road North A Message from the Provincial Superior to our Readers Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G7 Once again this year, Easter reminds us that on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1842, Peter Semenenko and Jerome Kajsiewicz, co-founders of the Congregation of Charitable receipts for income tax the Resurrection, along with five other clerics, professed their first religious purposes will be issued to all donors. vows in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian in Rome. They were inspired to dedi- cate themselves as “Brothers of the Resurrection”. They were now dead to sin and alive with the Risen Christ. Our Constitutions tell us: “As members of the Congregation of the Resurrection, we give glory to God by manifesting the presence of the Risen Resurrection Christ to the world. To accomplish this end, we will strive for our own BULLETIN • SPRING 2015 2 personal sanctification by accepting Christ as our model and by living a life of ever greater union with him. This life of union with Christ expresses itself through our union with our brothers in community, and the Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda in 1974. He served will overflow into our apostolic life, which strives to bring as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Hamilton, Ontario and St. to completion the establishment of Christ’s kingdom. Francis Parish, Kitchener, before returning to Bermuda Thus, the goal of each of us who has been called to the as Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, Flatts. Other assignments Congregation of the Resurrection is to strive for his own included Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Burford, personal resurrection with Christ in community and for Ontario; Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Paget, Bermuda; the resurrection of society (Const. art.5). Rector of Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton, Bermuda; Pastor “Convinced of God’s unconditional love for us we herald of Stella Maris Parish, St. George’s; Pastor of St. Anthony’s the liberation and salvation of each person and society as Parish, Warwick; Associate Pastor of St. Andrew’s Parish, a passage from death to life in which every situation of evil Cape Coral, Florida and Administrator of St. Mary’s Parish, and injustice will be overcome” (Mission Statement). Kitchener. In 2006, Fr. Bill retired to Ft. Myers, Florida, and in 2012, moved to Resurrection Manor, Waterloo. He The Good News of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of continues to assist at local parishes and volunteers at the our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is that it is good news Worth a Second Look store in Kitchener.