Photo Round-Up: Installation of Fr. Jorge Lopez; Visit of CL President Fr. Julian Carron to Montréal

Last Sunday, I presided at the installation of Father Jorge Lopez Parra at Paroisse Sainte-Famille/Communidad Sagrada Familia.

Here are some pictures from the 10am Mass celebrated in French:

Some long-time parishioners

Father Jorge greets some of his new flock

At the reception following Mass

More pictures, from the noon Hispanic Mass:

Waiting at the presentation of the gifts

Father Jorge and Deacon Eduardo at the Great Doxology

Some parishioners enjoy refreshments and conversation

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Scenes from Evening Reflection on Charity at the McGill Faculty Club, January 18

In more than seventy countries around the world where the Communion and Liberation fraternity exists, members gather weekly or biweekly for a "School of Community" at which they share their lives through reflection and discussion of a work of CL's founder, the late Don Luigi Giussani.

One of his works which implies taking the Christian claim seriously, as a reality that corresponds to the deepest aspects of human knowing and the fullness of human desiring, is the work Is It Possible To Live This Way? Published by McGill-Queens Press, the third volume of the Faith-Hope-Charity trilogy has just appeared. Its theme of Christian self-donation in imitation of Christ Jesus was the theme of Monday's gathering.

There's energy in the room at the McGill Faculty Club

Left to right: Father Julian Carron, President of the Fraternity Communion and Liberation; John Zucchi, CL responsible of Canada and McGill professor of history; Peter Stockland, journalist, director of Ottawa's Centre for Cultural Renewal

Ready to listen to the call of charity

Preparing to welcome Father Carron to a weekly "School of Community" at the McGill Newman Centre

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Today's liturgy allows an optional memorial, that of St. Vincent, deacon and martyr, patron of vintners.

Vincent of Saragossa, also known as Vincent of Huesca or Vincent the Deacon, is the patron saint of Lisbon.

His feast day is January 22 in the Roman Catholic Church, and November 11 in the Eastern Orthodox Churches. He was born at Huesca in the third century and martyred under the Emperor Diocletian around the year 304.

My dad, named John Vincent, was born on this day in 1906.

St. Agnes, youthful virgin-martyr

Today's liturgy features a memorial of St. Agnes (c. 304), who, like St. Cecilia, is to be numbered among the most famous martyrs of Rome. When the Diocletian persecution was at its height, and when priests as well as laymen were apostatizing from the faith, Agnes, a girl of twelve, freely chose to die for Christ.

When she was commanded to offer incense to false gods, she raised her hand to Christ and made the Sign of the Cross. When the heathens threatened to bind her hand and foot, she herself hastened to the place of torture as a bride to her wedding feast. Pain had no terror for her—although the fetters slipped from her small hands while even the pagan bystanders were moved to tears.

When the son of the Roman prefect offered to marry her, she replied: "The one to whom I am betrothed is Christ Whom the angels serve." When the executioner, who was to behead her, hesitated, she encouraged him with the words: "Strike, without fear, for the bride does her Spouse an injury if she makes Him wait". The name of "Agnes" means "lamb-life," and hence the lamb is the symbol of the modesty and innocence of the virgin-martyr.

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Blessing of Lambs on the Feast of St. Agnes



"Agnes" means "lamb" and on the feast of St. Agnes each year the Holy Father blesses two lambs reared by Trappist monks [cf. photo] and afterwards handed over to sisters for shearing and for use in shaping into the pallium.

On the Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) in the Vatican Basilica these pallia will be imposed on metropolitan archbishops named since the previous year's celebration (such as Archbishop Albert LeGatt named to Saint-Boniface, MB last July or the new Archbishop of Brussels Mgr André-Mutien Léonard named on Monday).

CL and lay "Memores Domini" households - Haiti Relief: Team Rubicon - St. Fabian, pope & St. Sebastian, soldier: martyrs

En route to hear Father Julian Carron, the President of CL, Msgr. LoRusso and I were received in one of the Memores Domini, households, where small groups of men or women live their following of Christ in community and in consecration to the evangelical counsels (gospel values).

The Communion and Liberation website gives a description of this bold Christian witness in our contemporary world:

The Association known as Memores Domini ("Mindful of the Lord") unites the members of Communion and Liberation who follow a vocation of total dedication to God while living in the world.

The principal factors of the life of the Memores Domini are contemplation, understood as tending to keep one’s mind constantly trained on Christ, and mission, i.e., the passion for carrying the Christian announcement into the life of all men.

The Memor Domini "is a layperson who freely lives a life totally immersed in the world with total personal responsibility” (Memores Domini – Interview with Msgr Luigi Giussani) and commits himself to the mission by living his professional occupation as the locus of the memory of Christ, in other words, by making it an offering.

Associates aim at pursuing a life of Christian perfection by practicing the Evangelical Counsels “which can be synthesized into the categories in which the Church traditionally summarizes the imitation of Christ.

Obedience, in the sense that the spiritual effort and the ascetic life are made easier and more authentic by sequela (following, discipleship).

Poverty, as detachment from individual possession of money and things.

Virginity, as giving up a family in favor of a total devotion to Christ also in a formal sense” (interview cited above).

The Memores Domini – sometimes called the “Adult Group” – practice a common life in houses whose purpose is mutual edification for memory in view of the mission, sustained by a climate of silence, common prayer, and fraternal sharing.

The Memores Domini originated in Milan in 1964, within the sphere of the experience of Gioventù Studentesca ("Student Youth").

After spreading through various dioceses, the Association was erected canonically by the Bishop of Piacenza, Msgr Enrico Manfredini, on June 14, 1981. Seven years later, on December 8, 1988, the Memores Domini were approved by the Holy See, which recognized their juridical status as a “Private Universal Ecclesial Association.”

The Memores Domini are present in 32 countries, including Canada. On a recent visit to one of the MD households:



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A SMALL RELIEF SERVICE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE

While in Montreal, which is the headquarters of the Jesuit Province of French Canada and Haiti, I learned of the organization of relief efforts there, based on the grounds of the Novitiate where the water tower collapsed in the earthquake but the building suffered minor damage. Here is a report to the Jesuit Provincial by Pere Francois Kawas, s.j. on organizing efforts, in French, followed by a report from an American blog on relief efforts called "Project Rubicon". Updates in French are available on the website:

Je te communique le rapport de la réunion de notre comité d'urgence avec l'équipe du SJRM de Ouananminthe et de Dajabon qui a lieu dans la résidence Ignace de Loyola à Canapé-Vert.

1.- Notre plan se met en place et les chose commencent à se clarifier

2.- Les Jésuites d'Haïti interviendront dans trois zones et en partenariat avec d'autres compte tenu de la fragilité de nos structures et de nos ressources humaines limitées et sous le choc

3.- Ces trois zones sont les suivantes:
- Haut Turgeau avec les Clercs de Saint-Viateur
- Bas-Turgeau avec la paroisse de Saint Louis Roi de France (les Montfortains)
- L'hôpital de Léogane avec les Missionnaires du Christ Roi

4.- La cour du Noviciat servira de lieu d'emmagasinage de l'aide d'urgence. Toutes les mesures seront prises pour assurer la sécurité (police nationale, agents de sécurité privés)

5.- Une équipe se chargera d'assurer le transport de l'aide, du Noviciat vers les zones d'intervention

6.- Nous distribuerons des médicaments, de la nourriture (riz, pois etc.), de l'eau, des détergeants, des tentes, des toilettes mobiles etc.

7.- Une équipe de médecins sera détachée dans chacune de nos zones d'intervention. Ces médecins sont des Américains (de Loyola University de Chicago), des Dominicains, des Porto-Ricains (de l'Inforedes)

8.- L'aide viendra d'une part de l'équipe du SJRM du Centre Bono et des ONG's qui travaillent en Dominicanie, d'autre part du SJRM-Haïti et du SJRM-Rép. Dom.Dajabon.

9.- Une réunion se tiendra demain matin à 8 h am entre l'équipe d'urgence et l'équipe du SJRM pour planification et à 9h30 avec deux coordonnateurs des Zones d'intervention: le P. Garraud csv pour la zone de Haut-Turgeau et le P. Kénel Alphonse, Montfortain, pour la zone de Bas-Turgeau

10.- L'équipe du SJRM se rendra sur place pour aider au renforcement des équipes dans les zones d'intervention et partager avec elles leur expérience en matière de gestion de l'aide d'urgence

11.- Notre comité d'urgence, en collaboration avec le SJRM, recrutera à Port-au-Prince des volontaires: novices jésuites, jésuites, collaborateurs et amis des Jésuites etc. en vue d'une meilleure coordination de notre action et du renforcement des équipes des zones d'intervention

12.- Le comité d'urgence et l'équipe du SJRM interviendra auprès du Nonce apostolique et de l'evêque auxiliaire de Port-au-Prince, Mgr Lafontant pour aider l'Église à prendre la parole pour demande aux instances concernées de gérer l'aide avec transparence et de facon concertée. On demandera d'écrire une lettre et de la publier dans les media.

13.- L'équipe d'urgence et l'équipe du SJRM interviendra auprès des acteurs qui distribuent l'aide pour demander des informations et une concertation dans les interventions.

14.- Jim Boynton sera avec nous demain dans la journée. Il arrivera de Santo Domingo avec l'équipe de médecins de Loyola University. Il viendra séjourner pendant quelque temps à Port-au-Prince pour renforcer l'équipe d'urgence et aider à la coordination de l'aide qui viendra des États-Unis d'Amérique.

Je pense que tous les fonds recus devront servir à renforcer cette structure d'intervention. Un pourcentage de ces fonds sera versé au territoire pour aider les parents, collaborateurs des Jésuites et autres personnes qui sont frappés par le tremblement de terre.

Kawas Francois, sj
Délégué du Provincial pour les oeuvres et le financement

And from another Jesuit who lives at the Novitiate:

De temps a autres, la terre tremble et ça fait trembler la maison aussi. C'est effrayant.

Nous avons beaucoup de gens qui arrivent de la RD, des médecins et volontaires. Deux grands ''trailers'' viennent d'arriver de la RD. Nous avons démonté la barrière qui donne sur la grand route, les faire traverser le terrain d'en face pour pouvoir les faire entrer sur la cour du noviciat. Heureusement, que nous avons nettoyé le terrain d'en face. Nous espérons que les gardiens arrivent ce soir pour la sécurité, sinon ce sera dangereux pour nous. Mario Serrano est avec nous. Kawas vient de m'annoncer qu'il y aura une rencontre spéciale du comite et de nos partenaires prêtres et religieuses demain matin au noviciat.

Le Nonce Apostolique est venu nous visiter cet pm. Il fait ça pour toutes les communautés. un beau geste de sa part. Depuis mardi, il bouge beaucoup et essaie de consoler les gens. Il y aura des funérailles pour Mons Miot le 23 janvier.

Union de prière
Miller Lamothe, s.j.
Délégué du Provincial



The blog Blackfive has announced the launch of a collaborative rapid medical response operation of Jesuits and US Marine veterans to quickly get medical personnel and supplies into Port au Prince.

Jake Wood, a remarkable young US Marine military blooger (milblogger) and former University of Wisconsin Badgers football player, has established Team Rubicon for a joint medical relief operation with Jesuits in Port au Prince.

The operation is able to move more swiftly than larger, established aid organizations because it is privately-funded and overcomes three critical blocks in the flow of aid: security, lack of water, and organizational cumbersomeness.

Wood blogged his recent combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan as Badger Jake at Jake's Life, which has now become the home of Team Rubicon. He also served as a volunteer in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

About the impact on him of Haiti's devastating earthquake he says, “My first reaction was, ‘Jake, you're not in the Marines any more, but you have a special set of skills. You would be ashamed of yourself if you didn't try to use them to help people.'

“Security is a critical issue in the aid effort that has not drawn much attention in the mainstream media. Team Rubicon immediately identified the need and are meeting it with veteran volunteers who are "security personnel who can sub as medics and medics who can sub as security personnel."

Wood recruited some of the members of the advance team from posting on Facebook. The advance team consists of another Marine combat veteran, two firemen from Milwaukee, and an interpreter from Haiti, Corinne Joachim-Sanon. She had been studying at the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania when she learned that her home in Haiti had been destroyed.

Team Rubicon will marshal its medical aid convoys in the Dominican Republic and will provide security for them as they move to the Jesuit Volunteer Services compound in Port au Prince, which is reported to have basically collapsed.

The Jesuits have the most essential thing whose lack is hampering all relief efforts: water, which they get from a well on their property. Team Rubicon will establish its base of operations there.

The advance team is due to arrive in Port au Prince on Sunday to assess security and prepare the way for the first convoy of medical supplies and medical personnel from Chicago.

Jesuit Brother Jim Boyton, a former teacher at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, will guide the team to the Jesuit Volunteer Service compound in Port au Prince.

Blackfive writes, “The Jesuits are telling us that they need this medical team NOW.
Fellow Detroit Province Jesuit Jim Duns has posted a report from Brother Boyton on his blog A Jesuit's Journey.”

Brother Boynton stated, “At this point I will have no way to pay the teachers, and our Jesuit community has very little cash on hand, the only real currency now. The other thing is that people are now leaving Port au Prince in droves, and by the accounts, they are headed our way.

Team Rubicon is a totally privately-funded and volunteer-staffed operation of medical and military professionals working with one of the Church's most effective education and assistance organizations, Jesuit Volunteer Services. With additional funding from private citizens they will be able to do far more and respond much more quickly than larger organizations that are still gearing up.

Since Team Rubicon is working in collaboration with Jesuits, they deserve the support of Catholics everywhere and particularly those who are veterans and those grateful for the service of wonderful young men and women in the military in countries around the world.

Of the name of Team Rubicon, Jake Wood writes, “What's with the name? Simple. The Rubicon was a small stream that separated Gaul (France) and ancient Rome. On January 11th, Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and it marked the point of no return.

“This Sunday, January 17th, our 4 man team will cross the Artibonite River, separating the Dominican Republic and Haiti, carrying crucial medicine and supplies to the people of Haiti. Once across, we will be irrevocably committed to our task.”

Our prayers go with Team Rubicon, Jesuits in Port au Prince, and the suffering people of Haiti.

TWO MARTYR SAINTS

Today, the liturgical ordo allows optional memorials of two martyr saints from the third century. As they have been joined on this day for centuries, there are occasionally paintings of them together, as in this medieval painting. There is also a whole painting tradition devoted to Saint Sebastian.

Saint Fabian was elected bishop of the Church of Rome in 236. In 250, at the beginning of the persecution of Decius, he won the crown of martyrdom, as Cyprian bears witness. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Callixtus.

Saint Sebastian was originally from Milan. He traveled to Rome where the persecutions under the emperor Diocletian were taking place. St. Sebastian was martyred in 288 A.D. He is buried along the Appian way Ad Catacumbas. St. Sebastian is the Patron Saint of archers, armorers, athletes, ironmongers and soldiers.

The painting of these two martyr-saints is in the National Gallery (London). The website offers the following remarks on this painting (c. 1475) by Giovanni di Paolo:

Fabian, the sainted Pope on the left, and Saint Sebastian on the right, were both martyrs and they share the same feast day. Saint Sebastian was a Roman centurion who was discovered to be a Christian and sentenced to death. He was shot with arrows, but these did not kill him and he was eventually stoned to death.

Recent cleaning revealed the original upraised position of Sebastian's hand and forearm and some twenty arrows piercing his body, most of which had been painted out.

At the bottom in each corner is a kneeling Brother of the Confraternity of the Misericordia, a lay brotherhood which was devoted to the Seven Works of Mercy. The brothers, dressed in black with white veils, are holding what may be spoons used for collecting alms.

This is a complete votive picture - one promised and offered in thanks for the favourable answer to a prayer - and is probably one of Giovanni di Paolo's late works (born c. 1399, Siena; active 1417; died 1482).

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Episcopal Heraldry

One of the challenges of those named to episcopal office is to arrange in rather short order for a coat of arms with motto to express something of themselves and the spirit of their ministry. This is done with the help of specialists, in my case Gordon Macpherson of Burlington, ON.

The current version of my coat of arms (originally crafted for myself as an auxiliary bishop in Toronto and modified when I was transferred to Halifax in 1998 and to Ottawa in 2007 may be seen at the right top of this blogsite; an explanation is on the website of the Archdiocese of Ottawa.

The external symbols of a processional cross and a green ecclesiastical hat with two green cords each ending in six green tassels are the insignia appropriate to a Roman Catholic Bishop as assigned by Pope Paul VI in his special Instruction of 31 March 1969.

Here from the website of the Archdiocese of Toronto are the coats of arms and explanations of Bishop William McGrattan and Bishop Vincent Nguyen, ordained last week:

The field of the shield is divided into sections by a heraldic division called a saltire enhanced. This reflects the form of the traditional arms of the name McGrattan. In the “X” one also sees the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter in the Greek for Christ.

The gold (yellow) and red from the shield represents those used by St. Peter’s Seminary, London, Ont., while the red and blue from the shield represent the City of London. The charges on the shield symbolize the following:

Keys

Keys are found in the coats of arms of the Bishop's home diocese of London and in the shield used by St Peter's Seminary where he ministered as an educator and served as rector for many years. A key opens a lock and so is a fitting symbol for education and here celebrates the Bishop's role in the training of priests at St Peter's Seminary. Keys are also an attribute of St Peter (Matthew 16.19) and so may be taken to represent the papacy and the Roman Catholic Church. In this instance the wards and the bows have been embellished with the traditional emblem of Ireland, the trefoil or shamrock, and indicates the Bishop's ancestry and heritage. The trefoil is also a symbol for the Holy Trinity.

Shell

The lower section is in blue a colour associated with theology and bears a shell. The shell is significant in that it is an emblem of Holy Baptism the sacrament which incorporates one into Christ and his Church and which is the basis of all ministry. As a baptismal symbol it represents the Church's mission. Here it is also a reference to the Bishop's mother as shells are found in many arms associated with the name Power in Ireland. A shell is the main feature of the shield of Pope Benedict XVI who appointed the Bishop to the episcopate. The shell is also the badge of pilgrims and here speaks of the Christian's life journey in faith.

Basket with Loaves

The basket filled with loaves speaks of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Church's highest offering. Bread has ever been a symbol of the means of sustaining life and in the Old Testament it was a symbol of God's providence, care and nurture of his people.(Exodus 16.15) Jesus gave new meaning to this symbolism when he said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6.35) and again at the Last Supper as a reference to his sacrifice.(Luke 22.19). It is also used here as a reflection of the feeding of the great throng of people (Matthew 14.15-21) and so represents the call to compassion, hospitality, outreach, caring, and to what Pope John Paul II spoke of in terms of what the significance of Jesus' action in this instance should mean to bishops and their ministry.

Mascules

The upper section is coloured red, the colour of the Holy Spirit, of love and zeal. Upon this is set a pattern formed of seven heraldic charges called mascules [ a diamond shape with the centre omitted ]. This symbol is the emblem attributed to a medieval bishop of York, England, Saint William of York (William Fitzherbert) and hence is a reference to the Bishop's baptismal name. The seven mascules may represent the seven gifts of the Spirit.

The Motto

The motto HABE FIDUCIAM IN DOMINO placed below the shield is from Proverbs 3.5: “Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo et ne innitaris prudentiae tuae.” (Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight).

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The shield of Bishop Vincent Nguyen’s coat of arms is on a standard bearing a cross with the five wounds of Christ.

The shield is divided into two main sections. The top section is based on the Book of Revelation 7:9, where the multitude of martyrs, with palm branches in their hands, stand before the throne of the Lamb. The drop of blood flanked by two palm branches has special family significance for Nguyen as his great-great-grandfather is one of the Vietnamese Martyrs.

The bottom half symbolizes not only the mandate given to the Apostles to be fishers of men, but also recognizes the bishop as one of the boat people who came to Canada from Vietnam.

His motto “Ego Vobiscum Sum” (I am with you) are the words of Jesus at the end of Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 28:20). It is a reminder to the bishop that the Triune God is with him as he responds to his episcopal call to be present and involved with the People of God as they together bear witness to Christ.

"You Are Witnesses of These Things" - When Is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity?

The above is the winning poster of the competition conducted by the Canadian Council of Churches for the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 17-24). It is by Kevin Combe, who has been working as a graphic designer/illustrator for the past eight years.

Kevin and his wife Diana are parishioners at the joint parishes of Mary Queen of Peace and St-David in Pierrefonds, Quebec. Both have been Parish Catechetical Leaders of the Faith First program at Mary Queen of Peace for the past two years.

The poster's symbolism is straight-forward: Dove = The Holy Spirit and the Light of the World. People = Christians rejoicing as children of light and witnesses for the Lord. Shadows = Reflection of our own cross and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Here is another expression of the theme taken from the closing verses [especially 24:48] of St. Luke's Gospel:



CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF THE CAPITAL AREA (CCCA)

To prepare for the upcoming Week of Christian Unity (see details below), I hosted a meeting with members of the CCCA on Saturday evening over dessert and coffee. There were representatives of some of the mainline Christian bodies present: Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Mennonite,Presbyterian, United churches.

During our time together, we prayed, exchanged on issues of common concern and strove to be together witnesses to the Good News made manifest in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Excellent material, excerpts of which are reproduced below, is found on the website of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism at http://ecumenism.net/wpcu/ - which I am happy to recommend. Interspersed with this information are some pictures from our recent ecumenical gathering.



Eight days of prayer The traditional period in the northern hemisphere for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is 18-25 January. Those dates were proposed in 1908 by Paul Wattson to cover the days between the feasts of the Chair of St. Peter at Antioch (January 18) and the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25), and therefore have a symbolic significance.

In the southern hemisphere where January is a vacation time, churches often find other days to celebrate the Week of Prayer, for example around Pentecost (which was suggested by the Faith and Order movement in 1926), which is also a symbolic date for the unity of the church.

Mindful of this flexibility concerning the date, we encourage you to understand the material available on websites and from church denominations/bodies as an invitation to find opportunities throughout the year to express the degree of communion which the churches have already received, and to pray together for that full unity which is Christ’s will.

Huit jours de prière La période traditionnelle de l'hémisphère Nord pour la Semaine de Prière pour l'Unité Chrétienne est 18 à 25 Janvier. Ces dates furent proposées en 1908 par Paul Wattson de manière à couvrir la période entre les fêtes de saint Pierre et saint Paul, et ont donc une signification symbolique.

Dans l'hémisphère sud où Janvier est un temps de vacances, les églises ont souvent d'autres jours pour célébrer la Semaine de Prière, par exemple autour de la Pentecôte (ce qui était suggéré par le mouvement Foi et Constitution en 1926), qui est également une date symbolique pour l'unité de l'église.

En gardant cette flexibilité concernant la date, nous vous encourageons à comprendre le matériel présenté ici comme une invitation à trouver des opportunités tout au long de l'année, pour exprimer le degré de communion que les églises ont déjà reçu, et à prier ensemble pour que l'unité complète qui est volonté du Christ.



Canadian observances In Canada, the Week of Prayer is normally observed in January on dates that include the two Sundays between which January 25 falls. Churches are always encouraged to pray for Christian unity at whatever time is most appropriate for local circumstances. Some groups have celebrated a Week between Ascension and Pentecost, and others have chosen an autumn date. Whatever you choose, the resources are available to support your planning.

A note about the dates for the Week of Prayer in 2010 As many people have noticed, there is some confusion about the Canadian dates for the Week in 2010. This is the result of a decision made last fall. The normal international dates are January 18th to 25th.

In Canada the week is normally shifted to span from Sunday to Sunday, with January 25th falling somewhere in the Week. This year, it was decided to shift the dates to January 17th to 24th to be closer to the international observances. However, this decision was apparently made too late to be included in some national church calendars. Local communities celebrating the Week of Prayer are encouraged to select dates that maximize opportunities for participation.

Finallly, the Ordo for the Roman Catholic dioceses of Canada indicates January 24th-31st as the dates for the observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

January 17 - 96th MIGRANT AND REFUGEE DAY - The Wedding Feast of Cana - CL Gathering in Montreal

"Jesus Himself Experienced Migration"
[excerpts from the papal message for the 96th World Day of Migrants and Refugees celebrated today January 17, 2010]:

The celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees once again gives me the opportunity to express the Church's constant concern for those who, in different ways, experience a life of emigration.

This is a phenomenon which, as I wrote in the Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, upsets us due to the number of people involved and the social, economic, political, cultural and religious problems it raises on account of the dramatic challenges it poses to both national and international communities.

The migrant is a human person who possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance (cf. n. 62).

This year's theme -- "Minor migrants and refugees" -- touches an aspect that Christians view with great attention, remembering the warning of Christ who at the Last Judgment will consider as directed to himself everything that has been done or denied "to one of the least of these" (cf. Mt 25:40, 45).

And how can one fail to consider migrant and refugee minors as also being among the "least"? As a child, Jesus himself experienced migration for, as the Gospel recounts, in order to flee the threats of Herod, he had to seek refuge in Egypt together with Joseph and Mary (cf. Mt 2:14).

While the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that the best interests of the minor shall always be safeguarded (cf. Art. 3, 1), recognizing his or her fundamental human rights as equal to the rights of adults, unfortunately this does not always happen in practice....

A typical aspect of the migration of minors is the situation of children born in the host country or of those who do not live with their parents, who emigrated after their birth, but join them later.

These adolescents belong to two cultures with all the advantages and problems attached to their dual background, a condition that can nevertheless offer them the opportunity to experience the wealth of an encounter between different cultural traditions.

It is important that these young people be given the possibility of attending school and subsequently of being integrated into the world of work, and that their social integration be facilitated by appropriate educational and social structures. It should never be forgotten that adolescence constitutes a fundamental phase for the formation of human beings....

I now turn in particular to parishes and to the many Catholic associations which, imbued with a spirit of faith and charity, take pains to meet the needs of these brothers and sisters of ours. While I express gratitude for all that is being done with great generosity, I would like to invite all Christians to become aware of the social and pastoral challenges posed by migrant and refugee minors.

Jesus' words resound in our hearts: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Mt 25:35), as, likewise, the central commandment he left us: to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind, but together with love of neighbour (cf. Mt 22:37-39)....

May the Blessed Virgin Mary watch over us all and help us to understand the difficulties faced by those who are far from their homeland. I assure all those who are involved in the vast world of migrants and refugees of my prayers and cordially impart to them the Apostolic Blessing.

* * * * * *

Paroisse Sainte-Famille – Ottawa, ON - Installation de l’Abbé Jorge Lopez Parra, Deuxième dimanche du Temps ordinaire (‘C’) – 17 janvier 2010



LA JOIE DE LA PRÉSENCE DE JÉSUS [Textes : Isaïe 62, 1-5 [Psaume 95/96]; 1 Corinthiens 12, 4-11; Jean 2, 1-11]

Aujourd’hui, les Écritures nous parlent de la joie qu’apporte la présence de Dieu parmi nous, dans la personne de Jésus, comme la joie des noces. La joie de l’union dans le mariage d’un homme et d’une femme, selon le plan de Dieu, devient nôtre lorsque nous nous rassemblons pour l’Eucharistie du Jour du Seigneur.

La joie dont parle Jésus a une teinte particulière aujourd’hui à l’occasion de l’installation de votre nouveau pasteur, l’Abbé Jorge Lopez Parra. Il nous est prêté par l’Archidiocèse de Toronto pour une première période de trois ans. Et je suis très reconnaissant pour la générosité de son Archevêque, Monseigneur Collins.

L’Église comprend la nature solennelle et sacramentelle du mariage, et elle a noté avec joie qu’au seuil de son ministère public, à la demande de sa Mère, Jésus a accompli son premier « signe » au cours d’un repas de noces.

Aujourd’hui nous accueillons formellement l’Abbé Jorge; la semaine prochaine commencera le schéma régulier des messes du dimanche qu’il présidera, et au cours desquelles il vous offrira des homélies sur les enseignements de l’Église. Il partagera vos peines et vos joies communautaires, vos échecs et vos réussites, vos peurs et vos espoirs.

L’Abbé Jorge n’est pas l’Abbé Gratien et, après un quart de siècle sous la conduite d’un seul prêtre, vous devrez prendre le temps de faire connaissance, d’apprécier ses dons et ses talents; de son côté, il fera de même, il apprendra à vous connaître.

Assez tôt, vous vous rendrez compte de ses défauts et de ses limites, et il connaîtra les vôtres. La seule façon de vivre ensemble et d’accepter cette réalité est de le faire dans l’amour. À lui et à vous tous, je dis : aimez-vous et acceptez-vous mutuellement, et grandissez ensemble dans la sainteté et la joie.

Vous êtes appelés à vivre selon votre modèle, la Sainte Famille. Je vous invite de façon spéciale, dans l’esprit de l’intervention de Marie de l’évangile du jour, de vous adresser à elle, de faire appel à son intercession pour votre avenir ensemble.

Le quatrième évangéliste donne au lecteur très peu de détails sur le miracle de l’eau changée en vin : le moment (le « troisième jour » – une référence voilée de la foi en la résurrection); les personnes (la « Mère de Jésus » – dans son évangile, Jean ne l’appelle jamais Marie; Jésus, les disciples, les serviteurs); le lieu (« Cana en Galilée » – lieu qui n’est pas confirmé dans les traditions évangéliques, mais Jean nous dit que Jésus a également guéri le fils du centurion à cet endroit [voir 4, 46-54].

Jésus intervient pour les tirer d’embarras : le vin manque, et c’est sa Mère qui en informe Jésus. Marie suppose que son Fils s’occupera de la situation.

L’abondance de « bon vin » a apporté joie et honneur à un couple au bord des larmes et du déshonneur. Cependant, et de façon plus appropriée, ce premier signe de Jésus suscite la foi chez ses premiers disciples (« et ses disciples crurent en lui »).

Isaïe a utilisé un joyeux festin de noces pour annoncer à Israël que sa honte d’avoir été exilé sera enlevée. L’amour de Dieu pour son peuple a été exprimé dans une image nuptiale, « comme la jeune mariée est la joie de son mari, ainsi tu seras la joie de ton Dieu ».

La grande joie que Dieu prend dans l’Église apparaît dans les abondants dons spirituels à l’œuvre dans l’Église – que l’on soit marié ou célibataire – « les activités sont variées, mais c’est partout le même Dieu qui agit en tous ».

Puissiez-vous vous réjouir de la diversité des dons accordés par Dieu, et que chacun mette ses talents à la disposition des autres pour le plus grand bien de tous et pour la plus grande gloire de Dieu!

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OFF TO MONTREAL

The homily above is for today's 10 o'clock Mass and installation of Father Jorge Lopez Parra as priest-in-charge of Paroisse Sainte-Famille and the noon Spanish language Eucharist with Sagrada Familia the Hispanic community that worships there.

This afternoon, I will celebrate Mass at 2PM with the Slovak-speaking congregation guided by Father Radoslav Lojan (resident at St. Patrick's Basilica while doing his doctorate at St. Paul's University), which meets two Sundays a month at St. Hyacinth Church.

As it's good to get away for one's day off (Monday in my case), I will go to Montreal to attend, tomorrow evening at McGill University's Faculty Club, a discussion by Father Julian Carron, President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation and Peter Stockland, head of the Ottawa-based Canadian Centre for Cultural Renewal on the third volume of CL Founder Don Luigi Giusanni's book Is It Possible to Live This Way? which treats of Charity (the theme of Pope Benedict XVI's recent encyclical).

Death of Archbishop in Haiti Earthquake - Ordinations of Toronto Auxiliary Bishops

Haitian Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot was known as a humble man who was close to the poor in the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince.

Archbishop Miot, 63, was among tens of thousands of Haitians who died in the Jan. 12 earthquake.

For years he served as president of the Haitian bishops' justice and peace commission, and he often spoke of the need to help the citizens of the Western Hemisphere's most-impoverished nation.

"The misery is so great," Archbishop Miot told Catholic News Service in New York in May 1998. "Things have never been as bad as they are now. People who could not make a living in the rural areas have moved to the cities, and they are piling up in the slums."

Papal Nuncio to Haiti Archbishop Bernardito Auza said the archbishop "was hurled from the balcony outside his room while he was waiting for another person on their way to a ceremony. The force of the earthquake threw him headfirst off the balcony and he died, it seems, from the impact."

Because there was no electricity in the city, church officials took Archbishop Miot's body to the coastal city of St. Marc, said the nuncio. He said he asked that the body be buried immediately, which is not the normal Haitian tradition.

Haitian Holy Cross Father Rodolphe Arty, associate pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Naperville, Ill., described Archbishop Miot as "a man of prayer" with a "great devotion to the Blessed Mother."

Father Arty, who said the archbishop taught him philosophy at the major seminary in Port-au-Prince noted that his friend would welcome anyone into his home.

He was "humble" and "very close to poor people in Port-au-Prince," said Father Arty, a former provincial of the Holy Cross Fathers in Haiti. The priest, who has been at the Illinois parish for three months, also said he crossed paths with the archbishop at youth and pastoral ministries meetings.

Joseph Serge Miot was born in Jeremie, Haiti, Nov. 23, 1946. He was ordained July 4, 1975.

As a priest, he taught and served as rector at the seminary in Port-au-Prince until he became rector of the newly established University of Notre Dame of Haiti in 1996.



In July 1997, Pope John Paul II named him coadjutor archbishop of Port-au-Prince in an effort to resolve a difficult situation that arose after a failed presidential coup in 1991. Many city residents held Port-au-Prince Archbishop Francois-Wolff Ligonde responsible for encouraging the coup, and crowds burned his residence as well as the headquarters of the Haitian bishops' conference, a historic church that formerly served as the cathedral and the Vatican nunciature.

Archbishop Miot was administratively in charge of the archdiocese as coadjutor; he succeeded as archbishop March 1, 2008. (CNS News Service)

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ORDINATION CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON (ON JANUARY 12), TORONTO (ON JANUARY 13)

On arrival for the ordination ceremony in St. Peter's Cathedral: Toronto Auxiliary Bishop William Terrence McGrattan; Salt and Light TV CEO Father Thomas Rosica, CSB; Nunciature Charge d'Affaires Msgr. Luca LoRusso (with bulla of appointment in hand)

Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Nguyen and Peterborough Bishop Nicola de Angelis, CFIC

Bishops process in snow and cold from the vesting area to the cathedral

London Bishop Ronald Fabbro, CSB prepares to place the mitre on Bishop McGrattan's head during the ordination ceremony

From Archbishop Collins' homily: Pope John Paul, in his letter on the mission of the bishop, writes: “As pastor of the flock and servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in hope, the Bishop must become as it were a transparent reflection of the very person of Christ, the Supreme Pastor. In the Roman Pontifical this requirement is specifically mentioned: “Receive the mitre, and may the splendour of holiness shine forth in you, so that when the Chief Shepherd appears, you may deserve to receive from him an unfading crown of glory.”” (Pastores Gregis 13)

Clergy relax at festive dinner in London Convention Centre hall

Antigonish Bishop-elect Brian Dunn counts on Precious Blood Sisters for spiritual support

A cross-section of the friends and supporters celebrating Bishop McGrattan

Bishop Nguyen acknowledges the support of the congregation following his ordination, while fellow Auxiliary Bishop John Boissonneau and Archbishop Thomas Collins look on approvingly

Archbishop Collins blesses the episcopal paraphernalia in St. John's Chapel prior to the ordination ritual

My fellow blogger Regina Archbishop Daniel Bohan [www.archbishopdanielsblog.blogspot.com] and Montreal-based Melkite Eparch Ibrahim Ibrahim, OBS

Concelebrating bishops rejoice in their new confreres

Congratulations!

Ottawa seminarians dressed to the nines for the occasion

A cross-section of dinner guests at the Toronto Eaton Centre Marriott Hotel

Redemptoris Mater seminarians at the reception