Visites aux paroisses de St. Isidore de Prescott et St. Bernard, Fournier

Ce weekend, Mgr Berniquez m’accompagné et nous avons visité deux paroisses dans l’Est ontarien: St. Isidore de Prescott et St. Bernard de Fournier ou m. l’abbé Marcel Leger est curé dans son village d’origine.

Samedi soir il y avait une réunion des comités de pastorale et finance.

A chaque paroisse je suis allé aux cimetières prier pour les défunts de chaque communauté.

En quittant, on a visité une cabane à sucre.

Voici quelques photos.

ST. ISIDORE

ST. BERNARD

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COLLECT FOR MONDAY

IN HOLY WEEK

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, though in our weakness we fail, we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Passion [or Palm] Sunday (Year C) - My Easter / Message / de Pâques

Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Saviour to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Message de Pâques 2013

de l’Archevêque d’Ottawa

Chers frères et sœurs dans le Christ,

Plusieurs des tableaux et des fresques qui portent sur des événements qui ont marqué la Passion du Christ comptent parmi les œuvres les plus importantes de l'art occidental; ces scènes éveillent en nous des sentiments qui vont droit au cœur.

La foi que nous partageons explique pourquoi il en est ainsi : nous pouvons voir comment les souffrances du Christ sont semblables aux nôtres et à celles des personnes que nous aimons. En effet, chacun, chacune d’entre nous porte sa croix, tout comme Jésus a porté la sienne.

Dans la première homélie qu’il a prononcé après son élection, le pape François nous livra ce message : « Quand nous cheminons sans la Croix, quand nous édifions sans la Croix et quand nous confessons un Christ sans la Croix nous sommes mondains : nous sommes des prêtres, des évêques, des cardinaux, des papes, mais pas des disciples du Seigneur. »
Même les évêques ont besoin d’un Sauveur ! Pas d’un Jésus bien gentil et tout doux qui se serait tenu à l’écart de toute souffrance et qui aurait refusé de s’impliquer dans notre monde. Non, mais un Jésus discipliné, qui accepte le sacrifice et qui n’a pas refusé de porter sa Croix.

Pâques – la résurrection de Jésus – nous invite à porter notre regard au-delà de la Croix et à vivre de cette joie et de cette espérance qui vient de notre rencontre avec le Seigneur, le Vivant ! Dieu nous donne de nous émerveiller devant la splendeur de ce grand amour incommensurable que notre Seigneur a pour le monde entier, un grand amour miséricordieux qui l’a amené jusqu’à accepter de donner sa vie pour la conversion des pécheurs que nous sommes. Nous pouvons nous imaginer le corps du Christ ressuscité - sans taches de sang, sans sueur et sans toute cette poussière - mais portant toujours ses plaies aux mains, aux pieds et dans son côté.

Nous croyons en ce Jésus ressuscité qui, dès sa victoire sur la mort, se met en marche pour rencontrer ses disciples, ainsi que chacun de nous – homme, femme, enfant de tous les temps, y compris le nôtre. Il vient vers nous pour nous partager sa joie, sa paix et se donner à nous ‘dans la fraction du pain’ – la Sainte Eucharistie.

Les textes des évangiles nous permettent de voir comment Jésus s’est révélé aux siens après sa mort. Lors de la Veillée pascale, Luc nous parle de la découverte du tombeau vide et, le matin de Pâques, Jean, dans son évangile, de la rencontre avec Marie Madeleine.

Tous les témoignages sur la résurrection font allusion au renversement de situation qui a suivi la mort tragique de Jésus. La situation parut d’abord perplexe aux femmes restées fidèles qui étaient venues accomplir les gestes rituels prévus pour les défunts et embaumer le corps de Jésus, et qui ont trouvé un tombeau vide. Elles furent grandement étonnées lorsqu’elles entendirent le message des anges. Par la suite, c’est avec grande joie qu’elles réalisèrent que Jésus était vraiment ressuscité.

Dans le récit de Luc le message des anges prend un ton réprobateur : « Pourquoi cherchez- vous parmi les morts celui qui est vivant ? » Il y a maintenant incompatibilité entre Jésus et la mort. Il partage la vie éternelle avec Dieu et l’offre à ceux et celles qui croient en lui.

Jésus chargea Marie Madeleine de la mission d’aller annoncer la bonne nouvelle de la résurrection aux apôtres et au monde; elle devint ainsi « l’apôtre (l’envoyée) auprès des Apôtres. » Il nous demande de faire la même chose aujourd’hui.

En ce jour de Pâques, puissions- nous tous vivre de cette joie que nous apporte la foi en la résurrection du Christ et découvrir, en cette Année de la foi, des façons nouvelles de porter cette Bonne Nouvelle au monde entier.

Que le Seigneur vous bénisse tous et toutes !

L’archevêque d’Ottawa,
+Terrence Prendergast, s.j.

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Archbishop Prendergast’s
Easter Message 2013

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Some of the greatest works of Western art are images of the Passion of Jesus; those scenes have an extraordinary hold on the human imagination.

Faith tells us why this is so: we can identify our own sufferings and those of our loved ones with his. Just as Jesus carried his Cross, so we carry ours.

In the homily after his election, Pope Francis said, “When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly; we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.”

Clearly, even bishops need a saviour! Not a bloodless Jesus, “meek and mild.” Not a nice guy Jesus. No. The Jesus of discipline, the Jesus of sacrifice, the Jesus of the Cross.

Easter—the resurrection of Jesus—takes us beyond the Cross to the joy and hope that come from knowing the Risen Lord. God moves us to marvel at the love Our Lord had for the entire world, as he gave himself out of love to redeem sinners. We can imagine the Lord’s risen body cleansed of the blood, sweat and dust but still bearing wounds in his hands, feet and side.

In our Easter faith, Jesus goes forth to encounter his disciples together with every man, woman and child throughout the ages, including our own. He comes and shares with us his joy, his peace, and the special gift of himself “in the breaking of the bread”— Holy Communion.

With this in mind, again we read this Eastertide how Jesus revealed himself to the disciples in many touching ways. At the Easter Vigil we hear Luke’s account of the discovery of the empty tomb and on Easter morning of the meeting with Mary Magdalene.

All the resurrection accounts hint at the reversal of the tragedy of Jesus' death. The rituals of mourning and respect toward the body of Jesus by the faithful women are followed by perplexity when they discover the empty tomb, then amazement at the angelic message and, finally, overwhelming joy when at last Jesus comes to meet them.

In Luke's account, the angels ask a challenging question: “why do you look for the living among the dead?” Jesus and death are incompatible. He shares eternal life with God and offers it to those who believe.

Jesus commissions Mary Magdalene as the “apostle”—that is, one who is sent— to the apostles, to bring the good news of the resurrection to the world. He asks us to do the same today.

May we all experience anew the joy of Easter and discover fresh ways to share the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection in this Year of Faith.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Archbishop of Ottawa

Saint Turibio di Mongrovejo, Holy Patron of Bishops in Latin America

O God, who gave increase to your Church through the apostolic labors and zeal for truth of the Bishop Saint Turibius, grant that the people consecrated to you may always receive new growth in faith and holiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

St. Turibio de Mogrovejo

St. Turibio, a Spaniard, served God from his infancy. Appointed Archbishop of Lima, he landed in South America in 1581. He died March 23, 1606, having, by his indefatigable zeal and by the boundlessness of his charity, literally renewed the face of the Church of Peru.

Together with Rose of Lima, Turibio is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for twenty-six years.

Born in Spain and educated for the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca and eventually became chief judge of the Inquisition at Granada. He succeeded too well. But he was not sharp enough a lawyer to prevent a surprising sequence of events.

When the archbishopric of Lima in Spain's Peruvian colony became vacant, it was decided that Turibio was the man needed to fill the post: He was the one person with the strength of character and holiness of spirit to heal the scandals that had infected that area.

He cited all the canons that forbade giving laymen ecclesiastical dignities, but he was overruled. He was ordained priest and bishop and sent to Peru, where he found colonialism at its worst. The Spanish conquerors were guilty of every sort of oppression of the native population. Abuses among the clergy were flagrant, and he devoted his energies (and suffering) to this area first.

He began the long and arduous visitation of an immense archdiocese, studying the language, staying two or three days in each place, often with neither bed nor food. He confessed every morning to his chaplain, and celebrated Mass with intense fervor. Among those to whom he gave the Sacrament of Confirmation was Saint Rose of Lima, and possibly Saint Martin de Porres. After 1590 he had the help of another great missionary, Saint Francis Solanus.

His people, though very poor, were sensitive, dreading to accept public charity from others. Turibio solved the problem by helping them anonymously.

When Turibio undertook the reform of the clergy as well as unjust officials, he naturally suffered opposition. Some tried, in human fashion, to "explain" God's law in such a way as to sanction their accustomed way of life. He answered them in the words of Tertullian, "Christ said, 'I am the truth'; he did not say, 'I am the custom."'

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SATURDAY IN THE 5TH WEEK OF LENT

O God, who have made all those reborn in Christ a chosen race and a royal priesthood, grant us, we pray, the grace to will and to do what you command, that the people called to eternal life may be one in the faith of their hearts and the homage of their deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Visitation of Ottawa's German-speaking Parish: Saint Albertus

Last Sunday, Father Kerslake and I took part in the faith life of St. Albertus Pfarrgemeinde, Ottawa's parish for German-speaking Catholics.

Father Ernst Schoenhammer, OMI has served the parish for forty years and has been pastor over thirty years and is much appreciated by his parishioners.

Following Mass and greeting parishioners, in the parish hall there was a Lenten poverty meal to benefit the needy and, following that, a meeting with representatives of the parish to explore its strengths, concerns and future.  A delightful occasion!

Visit to St. Albertus Pfarrgemeinde—Ottawa, ON

Liebe Brüder und Schwestern, ich freue mich sehr, heute mit Ihnen und P. Schönhammer hier in St. Albertus Gottesdienst feiern zu können. Mit diesem Sonntag begann früher die sogenannte "Passionszeit". Die letzten beiden Wochen vor Ostern erkannte man in der ganzen katholischen Welt daran, dass die Kreuze verhüllt waren, meist mit violetten Tüchern. In den Ländern deutscher Sprache ist dieser Brauch bis heute lebendig (auch hier in ihrer Kirche?).

“Damit sollen wir hingeführt werden auf die Feier des Leidens, Sterbens und dann der Auferstehung Christi. Insbesondere werden wir vorbereitet auf den Karfreitag, an dem wir das Kreuz feierlich enthüllen, mit neuen Augen anschauen und verehren.

“Jede Heilige Messe ist freilich eine Verehrung des Kreuzes, denn sie macht das Kreuzesopfer gegenwärtig. Wir empfangen den Herrn selbst, seinen Leib und sein Blut, unter den Gestalten von Brot und Wein, damit wir mit ihm und für ihn leben können, der für uns gestorben und auferstanden ist.

Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year “C”) March 17, 2013

“I AM ABOUT TO DO A NEW THING”

[Texts: Isaiah 43.16-21 [Psalm 126]; Philippians 3.8-14; John 8.1-11]

Diese Woche sind wir Zeugen dafür geworden, dass Gott in unserer Kirche etwas Neues tut: Er gibt uns Papst Franziskus, einen Mann der Einfachheit, der Demut und der Liebe zu den Armen; zugleich aber einen Menschen voller Energie und Visionen, jemanden, der von jener Freiheit lebt, die Gott uns in Christus schenkt. Neuheit und Freiheit sind gleichsam die beiden Leitmotive der Liturgie dieses Sonntags.

[This week we are aware that God is doing a new thing in our Church by giving us Pope Francis, a person of simplicity, humility and love of the poor. But also someone who shows great energy and vision, one who is alive with the freedom that God offers us in Christ. Newness and freedom, you might say, are the leitmotifs of this Sunday’s liturgy.]

Among all God's saving actions in Israel’s favour during the Exodus, the passage through the Red Sea held pride of place. It was celebrated in the Song of Moses (Exodus 15.1-18). This song of praise holds a central place in the prayer of Christians in the Great Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday night. In fact, of the nine scriptural lessons appointed for proclamation at the Vigil, it is the only one which may not be omitted.....

Photos: courtesy of Heribert Riesbeck

 

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FRIDAY OF THE

5TH WEEK OF LENT

Pardon the offenses of your peoples, we pray, O Lord, and in your goodness set us free from the bonds of the sins we have committed in our weakness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Visite à Saint Isidore de Prescott

Hier en entrant a l’école Saint Isidore, je pensais que j’avais retrouvé la Saint Patrick : il y avait tant de vert! Mais c’était la journée de la francophonie et on avait suggéré au personnel et aux écoliers de porter des vêtements verts et blancs (comme le drapeau franco-ontarien).

Voici quelques photos prises à l’occasion dans le gymnase et avec les jeunes de la maternelle.

Avec l’abbé Marcel Leger, nous sommes allés visiter le Manoir Champlain, ou on a célébré la messe, et a la résidence L’Escale ou nous avons pris le diner avec les résidents.

On a fêté aussi l’anniversaire de Mgr Daniel Berniquez, vicaire episcopal.

Entering the Passion with Jesus - Parliament Hill St Joseph Novena

Passion [Palm] Sunday (Year “C”)—March 24, 2013

“INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT”

[Texts: Luke 19.28-40; Isaiah 50.4-7 [Psalm 22]; Philippians 2.6-11; Luke 22.14-23.56]

All of Lent is oriented to the Paschal Triduum, the three-day solemn observance of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Passion or Palm Sunday anticipates the pathos of Jesus' suffering and death, while the triumphal entry into Jerusalem in the processional entrance to the liturgy foretells the glorification of Christ's resurrection.

One of Isaiah's 'suffering servant' poems and Psalm 22, with their eerie evocations of the Passion, illustrate the overarching Lukan theme that “it was necessary [that is, was the divine will] that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into His glory” (24.26).

Paul's letter to the Philippians likely quotes an early Christian hymn about Christ Jesus' act of emptying Himself of equality with God by His obedience to God's plan that led to a shameful death on the cross. This, Paul claims, merited God's response of raising Him from the dead, highly exalting Him above all creation.

The consequence of this earth-shattering event is the world's coming to know, through proclamation of the gospel, of God's design that, at every mention of the name of Jesus, “every knee should bend, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

Each evangelist, while making use of ancient Christian traditions concerning the last hours of Jesus, quotes the Scriptures to give to these moments his own reflections on these pivotal moments of salvation history.

For example, Mark gives a stark picture of the brokenness Jesus suffered on the cross (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? [15.34]), while Matthew, as he did with Jesus' infancy, shows how all that happened was “so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled” (26.56). John shows that, for the eyes of faith and despite appearances to the contrary, Jesus was in charge of all that transpired in the Passion which was the supreme moment of His glorification (“when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said [in order to fulfil the scripture], ‘I am thirsty’” [19.28]).

Luke's account of the closing days of Jesus' ministry and his Passion draw out emphases given to the Lord's life earlier. At the time of Peter's confession, Luke emphasized that Jesus' messianic status was not political but religious (“the Messiah of God” [9.20]).

During the messianic act of entering Jerusalem, Luke shows this is not an act of political messianism. Rather he notes that those who acclaimed Jesus were not the citizens of Jerusalem but “the whole multitude of the disciples”. Their acclamations sought to praise God “for all the deeds of power that they had seen” in the healings that characterized Jesus' ministry. This is not simply the glorification of Jesus, but praise of God for Jesus.

In the Passion, Luke takes pains to show that the Roman authorities have no cause to fear the followers of Jesus. The accusation against Jesus, that he was “perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king” (23.2) is judged unfounded by Pilate (“I have examined him in your presence and have not this man guilty of any of your charges against him” [23.14]). To underline this point, at Jesus' death, the centurion declares, “certainly this man was innocent”.

Just as Luke depicted Jesus at prayer at all the high points of His ministry (before the choice of the Twelve, at the Transfiguration, prior to Peter's confession), so, too, during the Passion. Jesus' reassured Peter, when foretelling his coming denials, that “I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail”.

The prayer of Jesus on the Mount of Olives becomes an agony which leads him to pray more intensively, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done”.

With the comforting brought by the angel, Jesus regains his serenity and invokes the Father's pardon of those who crucify him (“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”). Likewise, on the Cross, Jesus’ final prayer is one of confidently entrusting Himself to God, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” with words that echo those of the psalmist (Psalm 31.5).

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PRAYER FOR CANADA

ON PARLIAMENT HILL

From March 11-19, a faithful group gathers each year at 6:15AM to pray the Novena to St. Joseph (and other prayers) for Canada and for the intentions of the Holy Father(s) and the Archbishop of Ottawa.

I was unable to attend this year until yesterday when a late winter was developing. Some photos after the devotions to mark the occasion (courtesy of Paul Lauzon),

Setting up...the statue is carried around the perimeter of the Hill on two men's shoulders....

St. Joseph Day & Thanksgiving Mass for Election of Pope Francis - Photos of St. Patrick's Day Feast

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph's intercession your Church may constantly watch over the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation, whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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SAINT PATRICK'S CELEBRATION

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Primary Patron of the Archdiocese of Ottawa (St. Joseph is also the patron of the Universal Church and of Canada). 

The festive Eucharist at Notre Dame Cathedral at 5:15PM this afternoon will be offered as a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Election of the new Bishop of Rome and Pope Francis of the Universal Church.

On Saturday, Solemnity of St. Patrick, the Secondary Patron of the Archdiocese was honoured at a Solemn Mass at St. Patrick's Basilica, followed by a brunch in the Scavi.

Many of those attending also took place in the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Some photos of all of these events are courtesy of Paul Lauzon, Campaign Life Coalition.