Serrapost March 2010 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________Jim Meyer Editor [email protected] ____________________________ Successful Night The 2010 Ordinandi Dinner was the largest yet. From 25 guests 20 years ago to 1,760 Tuesday March 9 attests to the popularity and support given by the laity of the Archdiocese and beyond. Following the blessing by His Excellency Archbishop Thomas Collins, guests enjoyed a meal of Penne Rigate, pan seared chicken and a medley of garden vegetables followed by dessert pastries. The Class of 2010 from St. Augustine’s Seminary and Redemptoris Mater Seminary, eleven in number, each told his vocation story. Rev. Mr. Luis Calleja Jr. 31, born in Toronto, discerned at Serra House and entered St. Augustine’s in 2005. Three uncles and three cousins from both sides of his family are priests. Rev. Mr. Kim D’Sousa, 27 was born in Nigeria. He was greatly influenced by an Irish missionary. While studying for an engineering degree he was gradually drawn to the diocesan priesthood by the example of the university chaplain. World Youth Day in Toronto also played a part in his decision. Rev. Mr. Silvio Ejuga, 41, was born in Croatia. During his youth he lived a life separated from God and church. The war raging in Croatia in the 1960’s caused him to rethink his life. He joined Neocatechumenal Way in his city, became a missionary in neighbouring countries and finally entered the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Toronto. Rev. Mr. Landorf Jose Garcia Mariona, 34, of El Salvador immigrated to Canada, with his family in 1987. After being a part of a Neocatechumenal Community and a vocational meeting at WYD in Paris and a meeting with John Paul ll in the Holy Land, God helped him affirm his call. He entered the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Toronto and will serve the Archdiocese of Toronto. Rev. Mr. Jeffery Oehring, 25, was born and raised in Walkerton, Ontario. During his high school years he began to take his prayer life seriously. Following his OAC year in 2003, he entered St. Phillip’s Seminary for philosophy and in 2005 made the transition to St. Augustine’s. Deacon Jeff will serve the Diocese of Hamilton. Rev. Mr. Bartiomiej Palczwski, 32, was born and raised in Poland. He graduated from university with an electrical engineering degree and worked as a computer programmer. He first realized his call in grade seven . His discernment process also came from the Neocatechumenal Way and the Pope’s messages during various WYDs. He joined the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Toronto in 2001. Rev. Mr. Christopher Sherren, 25, was born in and lived in Charlottetown, P.E.I. He came to St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2003. Although he grew up in a culturally Catholic family, he spent most of his high school years associated with the Baptist congregation. After a few more years of study and discernment it became clear that he should remain Catholic and the call was a call to the priesthood. He will serve his home diocese. Rev. Mr. Jerry Traveres, 28 was born in Toronto of Portuguese immigrant parents and raised in Hamilton. He attended Trent University in Peterborough studying history, french and political science in the hope of becoming a high school teacher, getting married and raising a family. While he felt the Lord’s call, he pressed the “mute” button for several years. Finally after involvement in parish and discernment, Jerry entered St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2004. He will serve Peterborough Diocese. Rev. Mr. Henery Smolenaars, 40, was born and raised in Nova Scotia on a dairy farm. He became an industrial electrician. He had thought of the priesthood as a teen and ultimately realized that being a priest would fulfill him. He studied one year at Christ the King Seminary in Mission B.C., two years at the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Toronto and then entered St. Augustines. He will serve in the Diocese of Yarmouth and Halifax. Fr. Mounir El-Rassi, 43, was born in Lebanon and arrived in Canada in1990 with his two brothers. Three years later his parents three more brothers and a sister arrived. His work provided freedom and financial rewards but left him feeling empty. More and more he turned to prayer and scripture until finally, he entered St. Augustine’s Seminary, “the best days of my life.” He was ordained in St. Michael’s Cathedral on August 15, 2009. Rev. Mr. Stephen Crowley, 57, had a most interesting journey. He was born and raised in Peterborough, attended Trent University and St. Lawrence College in Kingston where he received a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology. In1976 he married Maureen O’Gorman. After the birth of their first child she contracted multiple sclerosis. In June, 2006, Stephen was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Hamilton. They had two more children, who called him Deacon Dad. In 2008 Maureen died and Stephen retired from the medical field and returned to St. Augustine’s Seminary for priestly formation. He told his adult children they could soon go back to calling him “Father”. Gifts to Ordinandi: A Pastoral Sick Call Kit, gift certificates from Broughton’s Church Supply and Di Carlo Religious Supply Centre, $150.00 honarium from the Dinner Committee, 500 Prayer Cards bearing Group picture of Ordinandi, 7 dozen olivewood rosaries made in Bethlehem and a special olivewood “Jesus” cross. Shared Spiritual Bouquet: 117,938 Masses, 97,818 reception of the Eucharist, 12,412 Eucharistic Adorations, 529,818 rosaries & prayers,17,374 visits to Blessed Sacrament, 5,664 Stations of the Cross, 23,701 Sacrifices and Novenas = total 804,320 prayers. Sister Jocelyn Monette, our guest on St. Patrick’s Day, was born in Gravelbourg Saskatchewan. She entered the Congregation of Sisters of Sion in 1962 in Saskatoon. She has a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from the University of Alberta, Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan and Masters in Religious Education from the University of Toronto. Sister speaks English, French, Italian, Hebrew, Modern and Biblical, as well as New Testament Greek. Sister is the Executive Director of the Catholic Biblical Association of Canada. She is responsible for administering and programming Biblical Spirituality Lectures for parishes and Children’s Summer Program Workshops. Having lived six years in Jerusalem and three years in Rome she is well qualified to lead pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Europe. An excellent speaker, Sister presented one of the best power-point presentations on the Holy Land most of us have seen. Sister was proud to mention that last year, the Congregation of the Sisters of Sion was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for their work world-wide. Coming Events: Confessions by Phone April 7 Marylyn Elphick, Director of Chaplaincy for The Bishops of France are warning the faithful that a St. Michael’s College private initiative to offer confessions over the phone is not April 21 Scott Birchall – Seminarian sponsored by the Catholic Church. “With the Lord’s Line, April 24-25 Vocation Fair – St Pascal Baylon Church Confess Over the Phone” wa s launched at the beginning April 27 Celebration of Priesthood and Religious Life of lent. Msgr. Bernard Podvin explained that while the Dinner – Hamilton phone service could be beneficial to relieve the loneliness May 7 Priesthood and Religious Life Dinner – St. of the elderly and people with handicaps, it causes Catharine’s confusion on the notion of confession. For the faithful, Sept. 2-5 International Convention, Anchorage, Alaska Catholic confession requires the presence of a priest. Anglican Group to Enter Catholic Church For Catholic Gadget Geeks The Anglican Church in America, the U.S. branch of the Ave Maria Press announced the launch of a new Traditional Anglican Communion announced March 4 iTunes application giving busy people a way of praying that they will seek communion with the Roman Catholic the Stations of the Cross any time, anywhere. Church under the new Vatican guidelines. This application is offered as a free download for The TAC branch in the UK with approximately 20 iPhone and iPod touch. parishes was the first to accept the Vatican’s offer. In the The program employs paintings by Michael O’Brian middle of February the Australian branch of Forward in and combines a beautiful interface with rich Catholic Faith, another group of traditional Anglicans called for reflections that encourage prayer anytime, anywhere. the establishment of an ordinate in Australia. An increasing number of Catholic applications have The leaders of the Anglican Catholic Church in already been developed for iPhone and iPod users, such as Canada sent a petition to the Vatican March 12, 2010, a Catholic calendar, guides to praying the rosary and requesting full communion with Rome. The Anglican confessions and a directory of parish Mass times in Church of America announced on March 3, their decision various countries. to do likewise. Muslims Descrate the Host Evidence Says Pius Xll Helped Jews Last May two Muslim journalists in Kuala Lumpur, The president of New York based Pave the Way Malaysia, attended Mass and posing as Christians, took Foundation, a Jew, reported documents from the years 1940- Communion. They spat out the hosts and one took a 1945, found in a monastery in Avellino, Italy, “strongly photograph. They later criticised and ridiculed Christian support the argument that Pope Pius XII worked diligently to beliefs in an article published in al-Islam magazine. save Jews from Nazi tyranny.” The incident was reported to police, who accused the Gary Krupp said “A personal disappointment two of “having caused disharmony, feelings of enmity and resulting from our research was the realization that we all have hatred and undermining religious harmony in the country.” been let down by many who represent themselves as Penalties for this offence include imprisonment for two to five historians.” years.