Earlier this week, the Priests of Ottawa gathered at the conference rooms of the Museum of Science and Technology. It was a day to celebrate priesthood by reflecting on Evangelization, a theme closely associated with priestly life, with input from Mgr Gérald Lacroix, auxiliary bishop of Quebec.
Reared in a francophone family that had emigrated from rural Québec to Manchester, New Hampshire, Bishop Lacroix spoke of the experience of a remarkable change that took place in his parents as the result of a spiritual encounter that brought joy to his whole family and sparked his interest in sharing his faith. He suggested that to renew our parishes, we need to facilitate lay-clergy collaboration and faith-sharing groups based on the Word of God.
Reminding his listeners of the ongoing significance of Pope Paul VI's Post-synodal exhortation on evangelization (Evangelium nuntiandi), Bishop Lacroix noted that many people who are distant from the Church would find it hard to enter directly into Sunday Mass. So, "vestibules" (programs where they come to share their faith) to help them get used to the joyful themes of our life in Christ need to be established.
Some photos of the gathering:
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CENTENNIAL OF THE SACRED HEART FATHERS IN CANADA
Last Friday, I joined the Sacred Heart Fathers and many of their collaborators and friends who came together for a Mass of Thanksgiving in observance of the Centennial of the arrival of their forebears who came initially to Western Canada (northern Alberta).
The celebration at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, which is under the spiritual care of Sacred Heart Priests, was a joyful occasion.
Father John Van den Hengel, who has recently joined the congregation's generalate in Rome after many years involved in Catholic education in the Ottawa area, gave the homily.
A lively and cordial reception followed in the parish hall.
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