Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 93 No. 25 December 9, 2015 Winnipeg synod Pope opened Year of Mercy on Dec. 8 With the conclusion of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg’s By Carol Glatz give the starting signal for a fren - lished just a few days before the that condemnation is not the path,” centennial year, Archbishop zied wave of pilgrims to Rome. Dec. 8 start of the jubilee year. he said. “Because the church her - Richard Gagnon is seeking VATICAN CITY (CNS) — More than call to sign up for an Discovering God’s generous self sometimes follows a hard line, wide participation in a When Pope Francis planned the Eternal City package tour, the love kick-starts a virtuous circle, she falls into the temptation of fol - synodal process, its next Year of Mercy and the opening of pope is inviting people to strike which “leads us to acting in a way lowing a hard line, into the temp - long-term initiative. the Holy Door, he did not mean to out on a yearlong spiritual journey that’s more tolerant, patient, ten - tation of underlining only moral — page 3 to recognize a loving God who’s der” and just, he said. norms, but so many people remain 100 years already knocking on their door. Speaking with Credere , an on the outside,” he said. He says he wants the Year of Italian weekly magazine run by The pope said the thought of all Sister Helen Hoffart, an Mercy to usher in a “revolution of the Pauline Fathers, the pope gave those people — sinners, the doubt - Ursuline Sister of Prelate, tenderness.” an in-depth look at why he sees ful, the wounded and disenfran - celebrated her hundredth Once people realize “I’m such an urgent need to highlight chised — conjured up that iconic birthday in November. wretched, but God loves me the God’s mercy. image of seeing the church “as a — page 6 way I am,” then “I, too, have to “The world needs to discover field hospital after the battle.” love others the same way,” the that God is father, that there is Response to TRC pope said in an interview pub - mercy, that cruelty is not the path, — OPeN dOOrS , page 15 Campion College, a federated college with the Climate change march held in Saskatoon University of Regina, has outlined three initiatives By Kiply lukan Yaworski environment on the eve of an Roman Catholic Diocese of it intends to take in international gathering on climate Saskatoon, who also serves as chair response to the Truth and SASKATOON — Hundreds of change being held Nov. 30 - Dec. of the Justice and Peace Com - Reconciliation Commission. people of all ages walked, cycled 11 in France. mission of the Canadian Confer - — page 7 and pushed baby strollers in a The 21st Conference of Parties ence of Catholic Bishops, pointed Dystopian visions Saskatoon march Nov. 29, one of (COP21) to the United Nations to Laudato Si’ , Pope Francis’ recent many public events around the Framework Convention on Climate encyclical calling for care of the CNS/Malcolm Grear Designers The concluding episode of world calling for action on the Change involves leaders from earth and for justice for those most The Hunger around the world discussing an affected by climate change. international agreement on climate “That document was published Games: The Canadian refugee aid change, with a goal to keep global in June precisely so it could be in Mockingjay warming below two degrees centi - the public domain before Paris - Part 2 was to top $1 billion grade by limiting greenhouse gas (COP21),” Bolen said. “In that released last emissions. document Pope Francis notes that month, but By michael Swan Money spent in the region The Saskatoon march from our world is falling into serious whether it’s the Catholic register helping refugees survive the next Kiwanis Park across Broadway disrepair.” worth seeing is debatable, winter, keep their kids in school Bridge to Oskayak High School Humanity is caught in a spiral writes Gerald Schmitz. TORONTO (CCN) — Another and peacefully co-exist in their concluded with presentations by a of destruction with a way of living — page 9 $100 million in federal govern - new situation will help far more number of speakers representing that is contaminating the earth’s Opening doors ment aid to Syrian refugees flee - families and individuals than a range of concerned environ - waters, land and air, and bringing ing their nation’s civil war brings resettling refugees in Canada, he mental, justice, and faith groups. about changes to the global cli - As we begin this Jubilee Year Canada’s spending on the refugee said. Mark Bigland-Pritchard of mate, said the bishop, quoting from of Mercy, there’s been a lot crisis so far to nearly $1 billion. As a former program director Climate Action Saskatoon wel - the papal document. “Pope Francis of talk about opening doors, But a dollar-for-dollar matching for Oxfam-Quebec working in the comed participants to the event. draws attention to the human di - writes Gertrude Rompré. fund open until Dec. 31 with Palestinian refugee camps of “We want strong targets set in mension of the crisis as well. The How do we as Christians approved charities is certain to Lebanon, Leduc is familiar with Paris and we want strong policies same tendencies and structures about to celebrate Christmas push Canada’s aid to the region the challenges of refugee life in that can actually meet those tar - which lead to environmental disas - open the doors to both our well past that mark. the region. gets and we want justice in the ters also contribute to increasing hearts and our homes? The Canadian Catholic Or - world,” he said. — page 10 ganization for Development and — PeaCe , page 5 Bishop Donald Bolen of the — eNVirONmeNtal , page 6 Peace is among the organizations Wired for eligible for matching funds. Its pro - violence? grams and partner organizations in the region deliver such basic neces - Given the terrorist attacks sities as food and warm clothing of the last few weeks, one but also are involved in education, might be forgiven for feel - trauma counselling and community ing a bit bleak about the organizing. Development and human species, writes Peace has so far raised $1.1 million Marcia Pally. “It turns out, to be matched by the government. Between January 2013 and Sept. however, that we’re evolu - 12 this year, when Ottawa an - tionarily wired not for vio - nounced its Syria Emergency lence but for co-operation.” Relief Fund, Development and — page 11 Peace had raised another $3 million Welcoming outside the matching fund pro - gram. refugees Aid to the vast majority of Syria’s 4.2 million refugees in It is heartening to see Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Canadians rallying to wel - Egypt, as well as the country’s 6.5 come Syrian refugees, but million internally displaced peo - before we congratulate our - ple, is the right thing to do, said selves too heartily we Development and Peace executive should acknowledge that director David Leduc. our contributions are modest “Absolutely it’s important and and the need is great, writes I would say in some ways more Dennis Gruending. important (than resettling refugees Yaworski — page 12 in Canada),” Leduc told The Climate marCh — hundreds of people gathered in Saskatoon Nov. 29 to call for action on the envi - Catholic Register. ronment. 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS December 9, 2015 Missionary spirit means witness, not proselytizing By Junno arocho esteves The early opening of the Holy Door at the cathedral of VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Bangui, he said, was done as “a Missionary spirit is manifested by sign of faith and hope for that preaching love, humanity and people, and symbolically for the faith through one’s witness and whole African population who not through proselytism, Pope are most in need of rescue and Francis said. comfort.” Faith in Jesus Christ is shared Pope Francis said that the final first through “witness then with mass at the Bangui stadium was words,” the pope said Dec. 2 at “wonderful” and marvelled at the his weekly general audience. sight of so many young people. The pope dedicated his audi - He also expressed his admira - ence to reflecting on his trip to tion for the work of missionaries Africa Nov. 25 - 30 when he vis - in Africa, men and women “who ited Kenya, Uganda and the have left everything” for the Central African Republic. Gospel. Speaking off-the-cuff, the He said that his first stop, pope recalled meeting an 81-year- Kenya, was a country “that repre - old Italian nun along with a three- sented the global challenge of our year-old girl who called her time” in presenting a “model of “nonna ” (“grandma”). Both made development” that cares for cre - a harrowing trip to Bangui for the ation in a “balanced, inclusive papal visit via canoe. and sustainable” way. However, The nun, he said, told him that he said, there also is a noticeable she works as a nurse in the Congo situation of “wealth and misery” and went on to become an obste - existing side by side. trician, helping to deliver over “This is a scandal, not only in 3,000 babies. Africa but also here, every - “That is how missionaries are, where,” the pope said. “Co - CNS/Paul Haring they are courageous,” the pope existence between wealth and ChildreN Greet POPe FraNCiS — Children sing and wave flags before Pope Francis’ meeting with said. “Like this nun there are misery is a scandal, a shame for priests, religious and seminarians at the cathedral in Kampala, Uganda.