Contents include - St. Francis of Assisi

Transcription

May 2016 Vol.14
I. From the Desk of the Archbishop
Dear Friends,
A
s we prepare for our coming Assembly of the
People of God, I am conscious of the fact that
this year again, we have chosen to gather on
the weekend when we celebrate Pentecost. For the
Church of Jesus Christ, this moment is very significant,
it not only recalls and celebrates the beginning of the
Church, it is also for us, the opportunity to be re-inspired
by the Holy Spirit. It is the chance for allowing the breath
of God (Ruach Yahweh) to
give us mouth-to-mouth
Contents include:
resuscitation, so that we
can live again with the life
I. From the Desk of
of Christ flowing through our body.
the Archbishop
II. Our Church
III. Our Journey of
Transformation
IV. Our People, Our
Parishes
V. Our Faith: Quo
Vadis and The
Word
VI. Vocations
VII. Youth / Young
Adult
This image of resuscitation comes to mind because, in this year the topic of life
and caring for the sick, particularly the aged and vulnerable, has dominated
my pastoral concern, as we move further and further into a society that is
more concerned with terminating life, than supporting it.
Pentecost this year is about supporting the life of our Church; it’s about
finding again the strength and heart for carrying on the mission entrusted by
Christ to his followers and friends.
Practically, this mission must be translated into the concrete commitments
and doable actions, which are being discovered and discussed through our
pastoral planning efforts. As you recall, this pastoral planning is focused
around three major themes: mission, community and formation.
Specifically, our Assembly of the People of God, this Pentecost, will pay
attention to the theme of community. What does this call for, in our pastoral
A Journal of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
discernment and decisions? What do you
and I mean by community?
The word is so familiar to us, that we
believe we know what it means, until we try
to define it and describe it – then we realize
that it’s not as easy or simple as we might
think.
Its root meaning comes from two Latin
words, “cum” and “unitas” – which mean
“with” and “unity”, respectively. In short, a
community is a group of people who are
united with each other, in their thinking; or
perhaps, in a shared interest or a common
project. This is why we are all members of a
variety of communities at the same time
depending on what we are passionate
about.
As applied to our Christian faith and Church,
community means being one with each
other, in matters of faith; in our
understanding of the gospel and in living
out our commitment to joyfully share the
good news of God’s love and mercy.
In reflecting upon the life and ministry being
presently experienced in our parishes, it becomes
necessary and useful to consider whether or not we
are, in fact, one with each other. Are our parishes
united in mind and heart? Is there a common
shared experience of the presence of God in all that
we do? If a stranger suddenly arrived at your
parish, what would be his/her first impression of
the people assembled in your parish? Would it be a
spirit of welcome? Would the heart of the stranger
be touched and would that person leave your
church with a desire to return?
In other words, is your parish fully alive or has it
run out of breath? How can the parishes of this
Archdiocese experience new vitality and spiritual
revival? It can only come with a fresh experience of
the Holy Spirit which will breathe new life into our
struggling parish assemblies.
Pope Francis has been challenging all of us to
become communities of Christian disciples united
in mind and heart because this is what happens
when the Holy Spirit gets hold of us. As
communities of faith, we are expected to support
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and share with those who are close to us and to
those who are far from us, the life restoring
experience of mercy, an experience which in effect
jolts us back to new life. To help our Church of
Halifax-Yarmouth appreciate the ministry to which
we are called and the life-giving power of mercy we
are expected to make available, the theme for this
year’s assembly is Pope Francis’ image of “an oasis
of mercy”. This image suggests that our parishes
must become more than buildings, or structures, or
drive-in service centers; they must be lifesupporting environments in the dessert of the
secular world. An oasis is a total ecosystem
providing a place where people can find the
conditions to quench their thirst; the time to find
rest; be restored with energy and strength to carry
on with the journey. Our parishes, as oases of
mercy and communities of living faith, must
become such environments where spiritual life is
restored and sustained; where people are given
space to heal; opportunities for questions to be
answered, doubts to be overcome; where broken
relationships are reconciled and new life in the
Spirit is encouraged and strengthened by being of
one mind and heart, as brothers and sisters of
Christ, in the redeemed family of God, our Father.
Is this vision of community realistic? Can it be
attained with our efforts to revitalize our Church? It
can with the grace of the Holy Spirit!
May the Spirit fall afresh on us this Pentecost and
may our assembly move us along the path of
becoming an oasis of mercy and a community of
faithful disciples.
†Anthony Mancini
Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth
Chères amis,
Alors que nous nous préparons pour la prochaine
rencontre de l’Assemblée du peuple de Dieu, je
suis bien conscient du fait que, cette année encore,
nous avons choisi de nous rencontrer en la fin de
semaine de la Pentecôte. Pour l’Église du Christ, ce
moment est très significatif : elle non seulement
rappelle et célèbre les débuts de l’Église, mais elle
est aussi pour nous une opportunité d’être inspirés
de nouveau par l’Esprit Saint. C’est une occasion
favorable de permettre au Souffle de Dieu (Ruach
Yahweh) de nous donner un regain de vie, un peu
comme on le fait en médecine traditionnelle, de
bouche-à-bouche. De cette manière, nous pouvons
revivre avec la vie du Christ qui inonde à nouveau
toute notre personne.
L’image de la ressuscitation me vient à l’esprit
parce que, cette année, le sujet de la vie et du soin
des malades – particulièrement les
personnes âgées en fin de vie et les plus
vulnérables – a dominé notre souci
pastoral étant donné que nous évoluons
de plus en plus vers une société qui est
plus préoccupée à terminer la vie plutôt
que de la soutenir.
Dans la vie concrète, cette mission doit être
traduite en des engagements tangibles et en des
actions faisables. C’est la démarche que nos efforts
de planification pastorale sont en train de
découvrir et de discuter. Comme vous vous
souvenez, cette planification pastorale tourne
autour de trois thèmes majeurs : la mission, la
communauté et la formation.
Notre Assemblée du peuple de Dieu, en ce jour de
la Pentecôte 2016, va toucher tout
particulièrement au thème de la communauté.
Quand nous faisons nos discernements pastoraux
et que nous prenons des décisions
d’évangélisation, qu’est-ce que le terme
‘communauté’ signifie pour nous ou exige de notre
part ? En quel sens vous et moi employons le mot
‘communauté’ ?
Le mot nous est si familier que nous croyons savoir
ce qu’il signifie. Mais sitôt que nous essayons de le
définir et le décrire... alors, nous réalisons que ce
n’est pas aussi facile et simple que nous le
pensions.
L’origine du mot vient de deux mots latins : ‘cum’
et ‘unitas’ – qui signifient ‘avec’ et ‘unité’,
respectivement. Brièvement, une communauté est
un groupe de personnes qui sont unies les unes
envers les autres par leur pensée, opinion ou
jugement. Ou encore parce qu’elles sont associées
dans un intérêt commun ou dans un projet à
responsabilité partagée. C’est la raison pour
laquelle nous sommes tous membres d’une variété
de communautés et en même temps dépendants
La Pentecôte cette année portera notre
attention au soutien que nous pouvons
apporter
à la vie de notre Église. Elle visera à
retrouver la force et le cœur de porter
la mission confiée par le Christ à ses
disciples et amis.
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de ce qui inspire un vif intérêt chez tous.
Appliqué à notre foi chrétienne et à notre Église, la
communauté signifie d’être unis les uns avec les
autres en matière de foi, dans notre
compréhension de l’évangile et dans la réalisation
de notre engagement de partager joyeusement la
Bonne Nouvelle de l’amour et de la miséricorde de
Dieu.
Dans notre réflexion sur la vie et le ministère que
nous expérimentons présentement dans nos
paroisses, il devient nécessaire et utile de
considérer si oui ou non nous sommes, en fait, unis
les uns aux autres. Est-ce que nos paroisses sont
des unités qui se rassemblent dans un même esprit
et un seul cœur ? Est-ce qu’il y a une expérience
commune partagée de la présence de Dieu dans
toutes les activités que nous entreprenons ? Si un
étranger arrivait soudainement dans notre
paroisse, quelle serait sa première impression du
peuple assemblé chez nous ? Est-ce qu’il y
trouverait un esprit d’accueil et de bienvenue ? Estce que le cœur de cet étranger serait ému ou
touché ? Est-ce que cette personne sortirait de
notre église avec un désir vif d’y retourner ?
En d’autres mots, est-ce que votre paroisse est
pleinement vivante ou bien est-elle à bout de
souffle ou moribonde ? Comment est-ce que les
paroisses de notre archidiocèse peuvent faire
l’expérience d’une nouvelle vitalité et d’un
renouveau spirituel ? Cela ne peut seulement venir
qu’avec une expérience nouvelle de l’Esprit Saint
qui va venir souffler une nouvelle vie dans nos
assemblées paroissiales, particulièrement celles qui
peinent sous le poids de l’âge.
Le pape François a mis au défi chacun de nous à
devenir des communautés de disciples chrétiens
unis selon l’esprit et le cœur, parce que c’est ce qui
arrive quand l’Esprit Saint s’empare de nous.
Comme communautés de foi, on s’attend que nous
donnions notre soutien et que nous partagions
avec ceux qui nous sont proches, comme avec ceux
qui nous sont loin, l’expérience de la miséricorde
qui restaure la vie; cette grâce de la miséricorde
qui, en fait, nous secoue et nous ébranle pour que
nous adoptions une nouvelle vie. Pour aider notre
Église d’Halifax-Yarmouth à apprécier le ministère
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auquel nous sommes
appelés et le pouvoir
revitalisant de
miséricorde dont
nous sommes appelé
d’être les
dispensateurs, le thème choisit pour l’Assemblée
de cette année, est l’image proposé par le pape
François de la communauté chrétienne comme
étant ‘une oasis de miséricorde’.
Cette image suggère que nos paroisses doivent
devenir plus que des édifices, ou des structures, ou
des centres de service de convenance. Elles doivent
devenir des milieux chaleureux qui favorisent la vie
dans les déserts d’un monde séculier. Une oasis est
un écosystème complet qui met à la disposition du
monde un lieu qui privilégie des conditions
favorables à étancher sa soif, le temps de trouver
du repos, d’être remis à neuf d’énergie et de force
pour continuer la mission. Nos paroisses, comme
oasis de miséricorde et communautés de foi
vivante, doivent devenir des milieux de vitalité où
la vie spirituelle est édifiée et soutenue, où les
personnes blessées peuvent recouvrer la santé, où
existe un climat favorable pour répondre aux
questions, où les doutes peuvent être surmontés,
où des relations brisées peuvent être réconciliées,
où une nouvelle vie dans l’Esprit est encouragée et
renforcée en étant unis par l’esprit et le cœur,
comme frères et sœurs racheté par le Christ, dans
la famille sauvée de notre Dieu et Père.
Est-ce que cette vision de la communauté est
réaliste ? Peut-elle être obtenue par nos efforts en
vue de revitaliser notre Église ? Oui, c’est possible,
avec la grâce de l’Esprit Saint !
Que l’Esprit Saint descende de nouveau et tombe
encore une fois sur nous en ce jour de la Pentecôte
et que notre assemblée poursuive le chemin tracé
par l’Esprit pour que nous devenions encore plus
une oasis de miséricorde et une communauté de
fidèles disciples.
†Anthony Mancini
Archevêque d’Halifax-Yarmouth
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II. Our Church
“L’Enfant prodigue” de
Rembrandt, symbole de
l’Année de la miséricorde
de faire s’appelle « Clair-obscur » et un autre
peintre célèbre de la génération précédente,
l’Italien Caravage (1571-1610) a beaucoup utilisé ce
style.
By Père Maurice LeBlanc, c.j.m.
Rembrandt, d’origine hollandaise, l’a quand même
traité un peu différemment. Alors que les peintres
de la période classique, soir du XVIe siècle, ont des
lignes et des traits précis, Rembrandt qui se situe
davantage dans la période baroque les a beaucoup
moins. Et pour cette raison
je serais porté à dire que
les œuvres de Rembrandt
sont à être admirées à une
certaine distance.
Le 8 décembre dernier, à la demande du pape
François, l’Église Catholique à travers le monde
inaugurait l’Année de la miséricorde. Dans notre
archidiocèse HalifaxYarmouth, Mgr. Anthony
Mancini fit imprimer de
petites cartes et aussi des
pancartes à l’occasion de
cette Année de la
miséricorde reproduisant
une peinture de
Rembrandt, “L’Enfant
prodigue”, un tableau
exposé au musée de
l’Hermitage à Saint
Petersbourg en Russie.
Ceux qui ne sont pas
familiers avec ce grand
peintre du XVIIe siècle,
période baroque, cette
image ne les impressionne
pas et pour certain elle est
même laide.
Disons d’abord que
l’image et la pancarte ne
reproduisent pas toute la
peinture de Rembrandt. Cette peinture, réalisée
vers les 1667, presque à la fin de la vie de
Rembrandt (1606-1669) comporte cinq
personnages : le père et l’enfant prodigue, plus à
droite deux personnages comme étant les
serviteurs de la maison du père et plus au centre
presque cachée en arrière la figure de quelqu’un
qui serait le frère ainé.
Rembrandt a son style à lui. On lui a fait le reproche
de ne réaliser que des peintures trop sombres au
point de lui donner pour un temps le surnom de
« hibou des ténèbres ». Il est vrai que souvent le
sombre domine dans ses tableaux, mais ceci a
l’avantage de faire ressortir davantage les
personnages qui sont éclairés. D’ailleurs cette façon
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Néanmoins, ce qui est
frappant dans le tableau
de L’Enfant prodigue, c’est
l’aspect pauvre, négligé,
même malpropre de
l’enfant prodigue, surtout
sur une image qui ne
reproduit que le père et le
fils. Toutefois, ça répond
au texte de l’Évangile selon
Saint Luc. L’enfant
prodigue, après avoir
dépensé tout son bien,
après avoir été gardien de
porcs (cochons), n’ayant
absolument plus rien, ne
pouvait pas être dans une
meilleure tenue. Le père
par contre est vêtu très convenablement, dans une
tenue qui répond à son rang social, un homme à
l’aise.
Tout ceci, situé dans le groupe de personnages qui
figurent sur le tableau, à mon avis, rend ce tableau
vivant et le fait répondre fidèlement au message du
texte évangélique de Saint Luc. Il s’agit de
miséricorde. Car, malgré la mauvaise conduite du
fils qui l’a conduit dans un état déplorable par sa
propre faute, le père n’hésite pas à l’accueillir et à
lui donner son pardon.
Pour conclure, permettez-moi une réflexion
personnelle. Comme professeur d’histoire de l’art
pendant plus d’une vingtaine d’années, Rembrandt
pour moi fut mon peintre préféré. Je l’aime
toujours même si j’ai ajouté d’autres noms au sien
comme celui de Caravage. J’aime bien Michelange,
Raphaël, Léonarde de Vinci et bien d’autres artistes
plus récents, mais Caravage et Rembrandt son
encore mes préférés.
Père Maurice LeBlanc, c.j.m. — Père Maurice
Leblanc est un membre de la communauté des
Eudistes ici en Nouvelle-Écosse. Il a été ordonné
prêtre le 24 avril, 1949, et a servi comme
professeur à plusieurs écoles et universités, entre
autre à l’Université Sainte-Anne. À présent il est le
prêtre responsable pour les sacrements pour la
paroisse Sainte-Famille, Buttes-Amirault, et sa
mission, Saint-Joseph.
The Prodigal Son by
Rembrandt, symbol of the Year
of Mercy
By Père Maurice LeBlanc, c.j.m.
Last December 8th at the
request of Pope Francis,
the Catholic Church
throughout the world
inaugurated the Year of
Mercy. In our Archdiocese
of Halifax-Yarmouth,
Archbishop Anthony
Mancini has had cards and
banners printed for this
Year of Mercy with a
painting on them by
Rembrandt, “The Prodigal
Son”, a painting which
hangs in the Hermitage
Museum in Saint
Petersburg in Russia. For
those who are not familiar
with this great painter
from the Baroque period
of the XVIIth century, this
image may not impress
them, and some may even
find it ugly.
Firstly, we should recognize that the image on the
cards and posters does not reproduce the whole
painting by Rembrandt. This painting, created
around the year 1667, near the end of Rembrandt’s
life (1606-1669) includes five characters: the father
and the prodigal son, then to the right two people
who appear to be servants of the household of the
father, and towards the center, nearly hidden in
the background, the figure of a man who
represents the older brother.
Rembrandt has his own style. He was criticized for
creating paintings that were too dark, to the point
that for a time he was nicknamed “the owl of the
shadows”. It is true that darkness often dominates
his paintings, but this has the advantage of brining
forth more vividly the people, who are illuminated.
This method of painting is called “clear-obscure”,
and another great painter of the previous
generation, the Italian Caravaggio (1571-1610),
used this style a great deal.
Rembrandt, with his Dutch background, used this
style a little bit differently. The painters of the
Classical period in the twilight of the XVIth century,
used precise lines and
details. Rembrandt is from
the Baroque period, and
used these much less
frequently. For this
reason, I would suggest
that Rembrandt’s
paintings are best admired
from a certain distance.
Nevertheless, the most
touching element in the
painting of the Prodigal
Son is the appearance of
the son as poor,
neglected, and grubby,
especially if we see an
image that only shows us
the father and the son.
This image corresponds to
the text of the Gospel
according to Saint Luke.
The prodigal son, after
having spent all his
inheritance, after having
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been the caretaker of pigs, having absolutely
nothing left, could not appear in a nicer outfit. The
father, in contrast, in dressed very comfortably, in
an outfit that matches his social standing, a
comfortable man.
In my opinion, all of this, situated in the middle of
the group of persons in the painting, makes this
painting lifelike, and helps it to correspond
faithfully to the message from the Gospel of Saint
Luke. The message is one of mercy. Despite the
poor behavior of the son, which led his to a
miserable state through his own fault, the father
does not hesitate to receive him and to forgive him.
To conclude, allow me a short personal reflection.
As a professor of Art History for more than twenty
years, Rembrandt was my favourite painter. I still
enjoy his paintings, even if I have added other
Page 8
names along with his to my favourites, such as
Caravaggio. I love Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo
da Vinci and many other more recent artists,
although Caravaggio and Rembrandt are still my
favourites.
Père Maurice LeBlanc, c.j.m. — Père Maurice
LeBlanc is a member of the Eudist community
here in Nova Scotia. He was ordained to the
priesthood on April 24, 1949, and served for
many years as a teacher in various universities
and colleges, including at the Université SainteAnne. He is currently serving as the priest
responsible for the sacraments at SainteFamille Parish in Buttes-Amirault and its
mission Saint-Joseph.
III. Our Journey of Transformation
“Be merciful as your father is merciful.” Luke 6.36
Everyone is invited to be a part of the 2016 Assembly of the People of God.
Join us for the fifth Assembly of the People of God!
Gather as a community of missionary disciples!
Key parish ministry leaders, clergy, and engaged parishioners will experience inspiring keynote
presentations and practical workshops. As we pray together, learn from one another, and share
our faith with each other we will help create a critical mass of engaged disciples and parish
leaders who will help carry on the work of transformation.
In this Year of Mercy Pope Francis has called the Church to be an “oasis of mercy”. He has said,
“The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love." This
year’s Assembly will focus on our diocesan pastoral theme of Community; a community of
missionary disciples ready to go out as instruments of God’s mercy.
Date:
Friday, May 13
SCHEDULE
6:00pm
Registration Opens (Glebe Courtyard or Hall)
7:00pm
Assembly Begins (Cathedral)
7:30pm
Keynote: Archbishop Anthony Mancini
(Cathedral)
Saturday, May 14
8:30pm
Prayer (Cathedral)
9:00pm
Wrap Up & Good Bye (Cathedral)
8:30am - 9:00am
Gather & Prayer (Cathedral)
9:00am
Keynote: Fr. James Mallon (Cathedral)
10:30am - 12:00pm
Morning Workshops (Various)
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Lunch (On Your Own)
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Afternoon Workshops (Various)
4:00pm
Mass (Cathedral)
7:00pm
Festival of Praise with
Deacon Keith Strohm (Cathedral)
Page 9
Make a Pilgrimage!
During this Year of Mercy Pope Francis invites everyone to make a journey to a church or shrine and
pass through a Holy Door of Mercy. As part of the Assembly, the Holy Door at St. Mary’s Cathedral
will be open for all to enter. By attending the gathering, participating in the liturgies and prayers,
and making time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation you will be undertaking a pilgrimage both in
body and spirit.
Fuel the Fire of Pentecost!
This year’s Assembly falls on the Feast of Pentecost. Just as the Apostles gathered in one place and
received the Holy Spirit we are invited to gather as the one faith community of Halifax Yarmouth to
seek the Spirit’s guidance. Large group plenary sessions will be held at Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Basilica while the workshop will be spread throughout downtown Halifax.
And since Pentecost is the birthday of our Church we’re going to have a party! Join in our Festival
of Praise on Saturday evening. Encounter that Holy Spirit through music, fellowship, and prayer.
The Festival of Praise is open to everyone, not just Assembly participants, so invite a friend or 2 or 3.
Assembly Cost: $25.00
(This great price is thanks to the generosity of our benefactors!)
KEYNOTE ADDRESSES
Archbishop Mancini
Friday Evening (Cathedral)
Archbishop Anthony Mancini, born in Italy in 1945, arrived in Canada with
his parents on December 1, 1948 at Pier 21 in Halifax. Ordained priest May
23, 1970, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop for Montreal on March 25,
1999. On November 29, 2007 he was installed as Archbishop of Halifax. On
December 8, 2011, the Archdiocese of Halifax and the Diocese of Yarmouth
were joined to create the new Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, and
Archbishop Mancini was named its first archbishop.
Archbishop Mancini holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of
Waterloo – Resurrection College, a Licentiate in Theology from l’Université
de Montréal, and a Masters in Religious Studies from McGill University. He
studied Ecumenical Theology at the University of Geneva and completed his
Ph. D. in Pastoral Theology at l’Université de Montréal.
Fr. James Mallon
Saturday Morning (Cathedral)
Father James Mallon is Pastor of Saint Benedict Parish, as well as the
Founder and Chair of the Board of the JP II Media Institute. Besides being
a speaker on the topics of Parish Renewal and the New Evangelization,
Father James has hosted two internationally acclaimed DVD Series –
Catholicism 201 and Dogmatic Theology. He is the author of the best
selling book, Divine Renovation: From A Maintenance To A Missional
Parish, an engaging guide for parishes seeking to cultivate communities of
discipleship and vibrant and dynamic faith communities.
Deacon Keith Strom
Saturday Evening (Cathedral)
Deacon Keith Strohm is the Director of the Office of the New
Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Deacon Keith served from
2008 - 2015 as Director of Evangelization and Adult Formation for Queen
of the Rosary Parish in Elk Grove, IL. He is currently studying for his
Master of Divinity degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago,
Illinois. Keith has traveled extensively as a Catherine of Sienna Institute
teacher and trainer since 2005 and authored one of the chapters in
Becoming A Parish of Intentional Disciples.
Page 10
WORKSHOP SELECTIONS:
MORNING WORKSHOPS
SaturdayMay 14, 2016

Amener les jeunes (15 - 30 ans) à vivre l'Église, dans la communauté,
aujourd'hui ! (en français)
Location: Cathedral - Hall Currie Room (1)
La vie a changé depuis 2000 ans. Ainsi, les communautés chrétiennes sont invitées à vivre
dans l'Église autrement. Comment inclure les jeunes qui souhaitent entendre parler de Jésus
Christ en mots et en gestes d’aujourd’hui, c’est quoi l’avenir de l’Église. Comment amener les
jeunes à vivre l’expérience de la communauté, à goûter à l’Église dans l'espérance et la
fraternité ?
10:30am –
12:00pm
Animatrice: S. Hélene Allain, Archdiocèse of Moncton
Hélène Allain, soeur chez les Religieuses de Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur
depuis plus de 25 ans. Elle a travaillé en Pastorale Jeunesse diocésaine
pendant plus de 20 ans, incluant cinq années, comme animatrice de
Pastorale à la paroisse Notre-Dame d'Acadie, sur le campus de l'Université
de Moncton. Depuis 2004, Hélène anime des camps de jeunes au Village
des Sources en Acadie, ce qu'elle fait a temps pleins depuis plusieurs
années, tout en assumant le poste de direction générale. Elle donne aussi
des conférences, des retraites et des animations surtout auprès des jeunes
et avec les adultes qui travaillent avec les jeunes.

Aging: Our Ongoing Sacred Journey
Location: Cathedral - Hall Main Area (1)
Archbishop Mancini has stated the need to turn to wisdom and giftedness of the elders in our
parishes. In this Year of Mercy, how are we showing compassion and care to our seasoned
disciples who are advanced not only in age but also in experience and faith?
This workshop will explore some of the individual and spiritual dimensions of aging and the
impact of aging on the family. Through reflection on the Word of God and personal
experience, participants will explore ways our parishes might honour the aging and minister
to their needs.
Dr. Beverly Musgrave, Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Dr. Musgrave has done extensive work in the areas of pastoral studies
and pastoral psychology. She has training in Retreat and Spiritual
Direction and held a private practice as a mental health counsellor for 20
years. Dr. Musgrave is a former professor of Mental Health Counseling
and Spiritual Care in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious
Education, Fordham University, New York. She is the co-editor of two
books, Spiritual and Psychological Aspects of Illness and Partners in
Healing: Bringing Compassion to People With Illness and Loss. Paulist
Press, 2003.

The Liturgy: Our Sunday Experience
Location: Park Lane, Theatre 6 (3)
Mass, or the Celebration of the Eucharist, is often referred to as the Source and Summit of
our faith. Do we truly understand how the Mass is an encounter with Christ that calls us to
go out to share his love and mercy? How do we allow this sacrament and others transform
our hearts and minds?
In this workshop participants will look at the liturgy and how we can celebrate it in a way
that fuels the fire of the Holy Spirit in us and help us truly become a
community of missionary disciples.
Fr. Simon Lobo, CC, Saint Benedict Parish
Fr. Simon is a member of the Companions of the Cross. Before being
assigned to Halifax he ministered as an Associate Pastor at St. Maurice
Parish, in Ottawa and served as the campus minister at Wayne State
University in Detroit, Michigan. He is currently serving as an assistant
pastor at Saint Benedict parish in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Page 11

Becoming a Community of Intentional Disciples
Pope Francis has said “Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the
complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way’. I invite everyone to be bold
and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of
evangelization in their respective communities.”
In this workshop we reflect on the “personalistic shift in thinking” that has emerged in
magisterial teaching since Vatican II; and propose some strategies for fostering more
favorable conditions in our parishes for personal conversion, discipleship, and outreach.
Dr. Carole Brown, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Since 2013, Dr. Carole Brown has served as the Director of the Office of
New Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. She grew up in a
Catholic family on a South Dakota cattle ranch. She experienced a personal
conversion to Jesus Christ as a teenager, and has been involved in various
aspects of evangelization ever since. Dr. Brown has a Master’s Degree in
Theology and Christian Ministry, with a specialization in Catechetics, from
Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1997. Dr. Brown completed her
PhD in Systematic Theology at the Milltown Institute of Theology and
Philosophy in Dublin in 2010.

The Parish as a Community of Charisms
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Apostles. They received the gifts that
would enable them to share Christ’s message and take on the mission he gave them. Through
Baptism and Confirmation you too received an outpouring of God’s gifts through the Holy
Spirit. How are you using your gifts to enrich your parish? How as parish leadership are you
identifying, using, and nurturing the richness of gifts in your community? In this workshop,
explore with Deacon Keith the ways to create opportunities to identify, grow, and share the
many gifts in your community.
Deacon Keith Strohm, Archdiocese of Chicago

NEW: Communities Built For Mission: Our Pastoral Planning Template
Explained
Location: Dal Tech-Sexton Campus - J051 Room B229 (4)
(Please note: this is a repeat of the morning workshop)
Part of the transformation of our local church includes developing pastoral plans for each
community. This involves looking at our programs, practices, and processes from a
missionary perspective and developing a plan that will help your parish become more
mission-oriented. How will this be done? The diocese is developing a workbook and template
for pastoral planning that provides a step by step process for creating a parish pastoral plan.
This workshop is for pastoral planning teams and will focus on what these tools are and how
to use them. Not every member of a parish pastoral planning team needs to attend, but
having one or two people well versed in the process will help a great deal as we strive to
become communities that “vary based on location, population, and charism,” but who are
“united in our fulfillment of Christ’s mission for us on earth”.
Workshop Presenter: Mr. John Stevens, Office of
Pastoral Life & New Evangelization
John joined the diocese in 2004, after a brief career in banking, and has
worked in the areas of youth ministry and evangelization. He holds an
undergraduate degree in Commerce from Saint Mary's University and a
Master’s Degree in Theology & Religious Studies from the Atlantic
School of Theology. John and his wife Sheri have been married for 10
years and have two daughters Faith (9) and Hope (5).
Page 12
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
Saturday
May 14, 2016

Restructuring our Communities of Faith
Location: Cathedral - Hall Currie Room (1)
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Apostles took on the mission entrusted to them by Jesus.
They formed the beginnings of faith communities throughout the nations. This very same
mission is ours. Are we organized for mission? In this workshop we explore the way in which
we are currently structured as a diocese/parish and explore new ways of organization that
will enable faith communities to focus on the mission and take steps to becoming the oasis of
mercy that Pope Francis calls all parishes to become.
2:00pm –
3:30pm
Presenter: Deacon Bob Britton, Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
Deacon Bob Britton is the Chancellor as well as the Director of Archdiocesan
Policy and Strategic Planning for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. He
came to work for the archdiocese in 1999 after many years working in public
service with the City of Halifax. He was ordained a deacon in December of
1989 and has served in the parish communities of St. Joseph’s, St. Patrick’s
and St. Stephen’s Currently he serves as part of the ministry team at Saint
Mary’s Cathedral Basilica. Bob was born and raised in Montreal and has
called Halifax home for that past 50 years. He and his wife, Paulette, and
have six children and two grandchildren.

Leadership Teams and Charisms
In St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he tells us that all are equipped with gifts for the building
up of our Church. (Eph 4. 11-14). All of these are necessary to accomplish the mission of
mercy entrusted to us. In this workshop participants will learn how leadership teams can
identify and call forth the charisms of fellow team members and the wider community in
order to accomplish the “work of ministry”.
Presenter: Deacon Keith Strohm, Archdiocese of Chicago

Becoming a Community of Intentional Disciples
Pope Francis has said “Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the
complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way’. I invite everyone to be bold
and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of
evangelization in their respective communities.”
In this workshop we reflect on the “personalistic shift in thinking” that has emerged in
magisterial teaching since Vatican II; and propose some strategies for fostering more
favorable conditions in our parishes for personal conversion, discipleship, and outreach.
Presenter: Dr. Carole Brown, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Since 2013, Dr. Carole Brown has served as the Director of the Office of
New Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Originally from
Faith, South Dakota, she grew up on a cattle ranch was raised catholic and
she experienced a personal conversion to Jesus Christ as a teenager. She
has been involved in various aspects of evangelization ever since. Dr.
Brown has a Master’s Degree in Theology and Christian Ministry, with a
specialization in Catechetics, from Franciscan University of Steubenville in
1997. In 2010, Dr. Brown completed her PhD in Systematic Theology at the
Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Dublin in 2010.
Page 13

Effective Parish Communications
The lack of effective communications can cause much frustration in a community. We live in
a world where people are bombarded with messages from all angles: advertising, media and
technology. How can parishes make Christ’s voice heard more clearly by parishioners and
non-parishioners in the midst of it all the voices? In this workshop, learn the communication
strategy of Saint Benedict Parish that ensures the community is informed about the church's
activities and mission. Explore ways to turn communication frustration into fruitful service
towards mission.
Presenter: Kate Robinson, Saint Benedict Parish
From website, to social media, to e-magazines and direct emails, Kate as
Director of Communications, oversees it all. She ensures that parishioners
know not only what’s going on in the parish but how they can become the
joy filled disciples of Christ we are all called to be. As a woman of great
faith, an avid soccer player, reader, and dog-lover, Kate uses her media
know how to witness Christ’s great love.
Kate is a graduate of the diocesan adult faith formation program, Koinonia
and is currently completing the new Diploma in New Evangelization
offered at the Atlantic School of Theology.

The Rural Experience
Location: Cathedral - Hall Main Area (1)
Much of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth is concentrated in the rural areas of our
province, from the North Shore to the French South Shore, Liverpool to Truro and everything
in between! These communities of faith are called just to witness the great mercy of God in
the communities quite different from city centres. How are missionary disciples of Christ
made in the areas of our province that are shrinking?
In this moderated panel discussion, representatives from the various regions of our diocese
will share their best practices for rural ministry.
Panel Discussion
Join a group of rural parish leaders as they share the joys and challenges of ministering to
the faithful in the rural areas of our archdiocese. The panel will be moderated and will
include a question and answer period.

NEW: Communities Built For Mission: Our Pastoral Planning Template
Explained
Location: Dal Tech-Sexton Campus - J051 Room B229 (4)
(Please note: this is a repeat of the morning workshop)
Part of the transformation of our local church includes developing pastoral plans for each
community. This involves looking at our programs, practices, and processes from a
missionary perspective and developing a plan that will help your parish become more
mission-oriented. How will this be done? The diocese is developing a workbook and template
for pastoral planning that provides a step by step process for creating a parish pastoral plan.
This workshop is for pastoral planning teams and will focus on what these tools are and how
to use them. Not every member of a parish pastoral planning team needs to attend, but
having one or two people well versed in the process will help a great deal as we strive to
become communities that “vary based on location, population, and charism,” but who are
“united in our fulfillment of Christ’s mission for us on earth”.
Workshop Presenter: Mr. John Stevens, Office of Pastoral Life & New
Evangelization
John joined the diocese in 2004, after a brief career in banking, and
has worked in the areas of youth ministry and evangelization. He holds
an undergraduate degree in Commerce from Saint Mary's University
and a Master’s Degree in Theology & Religious Studies from the
Atlantic School of Theology. John and his wife Sheri have been married
for 10 years and have two daughters Faith (9) and Hope (5).
Page 14
Page 15
IV. Our People, Our Parishes
Various Catholic organizations and movements
make an important impact on the life of a diocese.
In the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth we are
blessed to have several such groups that support
the mission, community, and formation of the
faithful in our local Church.
Please read their stories and consider the ways in
which you might be able to support their ministry.
CHALICE
Alleviating the effects of poverty by providing
nutritious food, clothing, medical care and the
chance to go to school, Chalice is improving the
lives of nearly 50,000 children and elderly in the
developing world.
Founded in 1994 by Fr. Patrick Cosgrove, the
organization began as an extension of the Christian
Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) in the
United States. Today, Chalice works in 15
countries, spanning three continents creating and
nurturing relationships of life and love wherever
they serve.
Chalice commits over 90 per cent of its spending is
in support of programs that offer nutrition, housing
and education to those living in poverty. Rooted in
Catholic social teachings, Chalice’s work affirms the
sacredness of life, and the dignity of all people,
regardless of colour, nationality or creed.
Centered on the core values of faith, integrity,
commitment, compassion and respect - the charity
aims to share Christ with all in need.
The following impact story was submitted by Randy
Spaulding, International Manager for Haiti and was
published in their 2016 spring newsletter and
expresses the way in which Chalice’s ministry
affects not only the children they strive to help but
also the many volunteers that make that aid
happen.
Following the Call
In November, the Homes for Haiti Mission Team
collected over $84,000 and found sponsors for 36
children. For one special boy, a chance encounter
happened. Frankel, 16, lives in Previle, Haiti. He
suffers from epilepsy and frequently injures himself
during seizures.
Page 16
Fr. Pat Cosgrove with school children in Haiti
Near the church in Previle, Frankel came across the
Chalice Mission Team. The meeting was not
planned, but touched the hearts of many. Amanda
Hagel, the team nurse, immediately provided first
aid for Frankel’s injuries. The team pooled their
spending money to buy food for him. Hagel only
expected to use her nursing skills to treat minor
cuts and scrapes of other team members, “To be
honest, that’s all I hoped for.” She says, “I looked
forward to getting away from the ‘nursing side of
things’ for a while and participating in the very
physical nature of the mission trip.”
God had other plans.
Hagel says, “I heard the infamous call for help: ‘We
need a nurse.’ I felt a feeling of dread, as I set to
work dressing Frankel’s wounds.” Hagel says God’s
grace was at work throughout that encounter, “He
beckoned me to open my heart, in order to show
mercy in a way I had never done before.” She says,
“God gave me the grace to kneel on hard cement
steps for an hour or more; something I could do at
home for barely 30 minutes on a cushion.”
Hagel says she cried after the stress of the
experience finally bubbled over. “I broke.” She says,
“I learned I take my nursing background for
granted; and that I truly do have the power to
change lives.” Josh Everson, a Mission Team
member, is now Frankel’s sponsor.
While Chalice’s work internationally is somewhat
familiar to many people, their work locally in the
Archdiocese may be less familiar. The organization
focuses on ways to partner with parishes and
local Catholic organizations like the CWL , the
Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Christian
Outreach to further the awareness of
Chalice’s work while at the same time
supporting the ministry of their partners. For
example, last year Chalice hosted its first
Step Up Walk. This 3km community
fundraising walk began a Blessed Mother
Teresa Parish and ended at Hope Cottage. A
celebration with music, barbecue, ice cream,
and bouncy castles was held at Hope Cottage
to conclude the walk. 793 participants took
part in the event. They worked in partnership
with Halifax Councils of the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul to advertise the walk in
parishes. The funds raised, $59,900 to be
exact, were donated to the Halifax and
Dartmouth councils of St. Vincent de Paul as well as
to the Sisters of Saint Martha street ministry.
Building these relationships locally helps everyone
spread the good news of Christ wherever they may
be.
Chalice relies on deacons and priests who speak at
parish appeals, word of mouth recommendations
from supporters and strategic low-cost
advertisements to promote their work.
Elementary School Children Learn About Chalice
Chalice has been rated as a top International Aid
Organization in Canada by MoneySense Magazine
for the past six years, with a current A+ rating. In
2015, it was also recognized for being a Best
Christian Workplace by the Best Christian
Workplaces Institute (BCW).
For more information about Chalice please visit
www.chalice.ca or call 1-800-776-6855.
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE
(CWL)
Some Chalice facts:

Chalice was founded in 1994 by Fr.
Patrick Cosgrove

1,953 people that sponsor 5,489 children

3,054 gifts were bought from our gift
catalogues

223 people use and support our prayer
ministry

293 supporters have helped to build
Community Projects and Programmes in
our sponsor sites

569 supporters have donated towards
helping families in the communities we
work in through our Natural Disaster
Fund.
The Catholic Women’s League (CWL) in Nova Scotia
stands strong at 4,200 members. The HalifaxYarmouth Diocesan CWL council spans 33 councils
across four regions of the Archdiocese. The
councils range in size from as small as 8 -10
members to over 100 members. No matter how
small or large, you will find the “League” members
working for the good of “God and Canada”. Of
paramount concern for all councils is service to
their church and community through acts of faith,
love and charity. Following are short vignettes
shared by the presidents of four parish CWL
councils across the Archdiocese. Each
demonstrates the beautiful aspects of the work of
our members of the Catholic Women’s League.
The CWL council at St. Bernard, Enfield has a
special focus on youth and young families. They
Page 17
vacation. Last year he was a year
older than the specified age
range but hoped to attend as a
leader. The organization felt that
he was not quite mature or
experienced enough to be a
leader but waived the age
requirement so he could attend
again. Another young man
became a Catholic several years
ago and applied for our
Education Award to attend
university and we were also able
to send him to Steubenville and
throughout his university he has
been discerning what vocation the
CWL ladies at the 2016 Memorial Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica
Lord is calling him to. During the
year of New Evangelization we were able to help
lead a program called “Little Treasurer” which is a
fund three others to go to Steubenville. Since we
young mothers and babies support group with
live in an area where there are so few Catholic
babies up to 2 years. In addition they provided
youth, two of the young men were quite impressed
monetary donations for a Syrian family residing in
to see that there were so many Catholic youth and
Elmsdale, support a young girl in Bolivia through
to be among them. The convert youth was very
Chalice, provide a monetary donation for a student
moved by the time of Adoration at Steubenville. It
going to Steubenville, and have provided a
is strange that the stories I am sharing are about
donation to a local family whose father was going
youth since we have so few in our parish. These
through a medical crisis. They have also focused
may not be dramatic stories but it is dramatic that
on their more basic parish needs by hosting First
we can be instrumental in some small way for the
Communion and Confirmation receptions and
Lord to touch their hearts and minds.”
installing two heat pumps in their parish hall for
From Kentville , the following reflection
the comfort of parishioners’ use.
demonstrates how their council supports bereaved
St. Monica's shared their story of the wonderful
families within their community. “The members of
experience and influence they have had while
our Church Community who experience the death
supporting young people in their parish:
of a loved one are very appreciative that the
members of our Council host a funeral reception
“Our CWL supports several charitable efforts
regionally, nationally and internationally. One of
the projects supported is St. Ambrose Catholic
Summer Camp. In the last number of years we
have paid the enrollment fee for one youth in our
parish to attend. One youth in particular has
attended for several years. He expressed to one of
our members after his first summer at the camp,
that he had been given the opportunity to be an
altar server at camp and it seems that he had a
spiritual experience there. He then became an altar
server in our parish and has continued to serve
although he is now in his teens. He continued to
attend camp although it meant forfeiting a travel
Page 18
Some CWL facts:

The Catholic Women’s League was
established in June 1920 in Montreal

4,200 members across Nova Scotia

33 councils in the Archdiocese of
Halifax-Yarmouth

Membership in each council ranges
from 8 to over 100 women

Halifax will host the 2016 National
Convention in August
following the Funeral Mass. We also have a Mass
celebrated for the deceased person. As a follow up
the deceased person is remembered at the All
Souls Memorial Mass held that year as well as
having their name written in the Memorial Book
that is on display for the month of November. The
family is notified by mail and they are invited to
attend the Mass. They are also invited to take along
a photo of the deceased to be placed on a table at
the reception hosted by the CWL following the
Mass. At Mass, as the deceased person's name is
called, family members are invited to come
forward to light a candle in memory of the
deceased. The family is then presented with a rose
by a CWL member before returning to their seat.”
Much of the energy spent by CWL members in
supporting others often is focused on those
outside the circle of the CWL. However, the
well being of members is also a significant
concern. Members of the St Vincent de Paul
Catholic Women’s League hosted for their
members a lovely Spring Tea Social. “Even
though we woke up to a morning snowfall, the
day was absolutely amazing. The ladies, wearing
brightly decorated hats were treated to a light
lunch served by the Knights of Columbus. The
afternoon provided a great opportunity for our
members to come together to share food,
laughter, and prayer. Our guest speaker
captivated us with her talk titled Hearts Afire.
We had a sing along and prayed together.
Toiletry articles were collected at the door and
donated to the Elizabeth Fry Society. CWL
members are always doing God’s work and
helping others. Even when we come together
for fellowship we are providing service to the
people of God.”
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a
parish priest Father Michael J. McGivney. Since
then, 124 years later, we have grown into the
largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world,
with more than 1.9 million members in nearly
15,000 councils located in 17 countries.
The Patriotic arm of the Order has more than 2,500
assemblies.
Together Knights have made their communities
better places and have worked tirelessly to
strengthen their parishes.
This past fraternal year Knights around the world
have contributed 72 million hours of volunteer
If you multiply the stories above by all the parish
CWL councils across the Archdiocese, you can
start to realize the magnitude of the work and
influence the Catholic Women’s League has in
our church and communities. I am so very
proud and appreciative to be part of this
amazing organization.
Glenda Carson
President, Halifax-Yarmouth Catholic Women’s
League
Knights at a 2015 Cemetery Mass
Page 19
Some Knight of Columbus facts:

Founded in 1882 in the United
States

Worldwide there are 1.9 million
members spread over 15,000
councils in 17 countries who
contributed 72 million hours of
service

4,000 Knights of Columbus in
Nova Scotia

49 councils in the Archdiocese of
Halifax-Yarmouth who donated
over $700,000 to parishes,
community
groups,
youth
initiatives and other projects

Contributed
over
315,000
volunteer hours to their parishes
and community
service and have donated more than $174 million
dollars in charitable giving. Our insurance program
are the stewards of 100 billion dollars of in force
insurance protecting the financial future of
hundreds of thousands of catholic families.
Through our service program we continue to have
a dynamic presence in our parishes and
communities. Knights throughout Nova Scotia
make a difference in the day to day lives of people,
be it through our support for seminarians,
scholarship programs, serving in food kitchens,
driving seniors to and from medical appointments,
volunteering at food banks, blood donor clinics,
clothing banks, volunteer fire departments, visiting
the sick and dying in veteran homes and hospitals,
advocating for the poor and marginalized, standing
for the traditional family, upholding the value of
life, protecting the right to freedom of religion or
through the many visible and invisible good works
of our members.
This past Fraternal year the 49 Councils throughout
Nova Scotia have donated more than $132,000.00
in support of various Church projects throughout
our parishes. Another $120,000.00 went to
Page 20
community projects, $87,000.00 in Youth activities
and $18,000.00 in support of Culture of Life for a
total of more than $357,000.00 in direct
disbursements.
In addition to direct financial donations they have
contributed 315,338 volunteer hours doing
charitable work in our communities and parish
ministries. Over 4,000 Knights of Columbus in
Nova Scotia contribute more than 315,000 hours
volunteering their time and talent doing charitable
works. The estimated market value of this gift
based on an hourly rate of $10.60 per hour is
$3,339,000.00.
We as Knights of Columbus are committed to
Charity, the first principle of our Order. We do this
not in a boastful way, rather, as a response to a call
to action by our Founder. It is a calling to reach out
in an apostolic way, to serve others, to live the
gospel as St. John Paul II has described us, “...the
strong right hand of the Church”. This is who we
are. This call was as valid in 1882 as it is today.
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN
OUTREACH (CCO)
Stephanie Dresch, a current CCO Missionary in
Halifax shares the impact of CCO in her life and in
the lives of others.
I’m sure many of you are aware of the situation our
church faces today. Would you believe me if I told
you that 2 out of 3 young adults, who attended
church as children, no longer do so today?
I know many young adults who have fallen away
from the faith while at university, as I’m sure you
do too. Perhaps people in your own family. This is
the reality our church faces today.
The opportunity to help young adults fill the
spiritual void in their lives has never been greater.
Catholic Christian Outreach is responding to this
opportunity. CCO desires for students who have
fallen away to be brought back to their faith.
CCO did this for me. I fell away from my faith in the
beginning of my university degree. I believed that
God existed but only in a far-off, distant way. I
didn’t believe that He knew me or loved me
personally. During a night of
Eucharistic adoration at a CCO
event, I encountered Jesus in a
powerful and personal way.
Never before did I feel so loved
by Jesus and I knew then that He
was real and wanted to be
personally present in my life –
that He wanted above all to be in
a relationship with me.
This encounter with Jesus has
formed in me the desire to share
this experience with others. Now
all I want is for other young
adults to experience God’s love
and begin their relationship with
Him. This desire has led me to my
career with CCO. It is the same
desire that all of CCO has to see
young adults come into a relationship with Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
For the past two years, I have worked here in
Halifax at Dalhousie and St. Mary’s University as a
CCO missionary. I have seen, firsthand, how the
Lord has transformed the lives of our students from
beginning a personal relationship with Him to even
having two of our students join staff!
Through CCO, God is transforming the hearts and
lives of young adults on campus everywhere not
only in Halifax but also throughout all of Canada!
Stephanie Mrad, a student at Saint Mary’s
University, shares her experience with CCO…
My life before knowing Jesus personally was - in all
honesty- a mess. Deep inside my heart ached. On
the outside no one knew anything was wrong. Even
though I went to church every Sunday and taught
religion class to children, my relationship with God
was distant and vague. I always felt as if there was
something missing. I felt alone. This distance
greatly affected my relationship with my parents,
sister and close friends. I often questioned God’s
existence. I didn’t understand why He let me suffer
so much; I was continually being hurt by close
friends and it affected me on a very deep personal
level. My life was filled with so much hatred and
hurt.
Young people at a Chaplaincy/CCO retreat
I first became involved with CCO a year ago by
taking the Discovery faith study. During discovery I
felt frustrated. The material was interesting, but I
still felt stuck and confused. Why didn’t God speak
to me personally? By the end of this study, I gave
up on CCO. I couldn’t even walk by, let alone go in
the chaplaincy because I felt so ashamed that I
gave up on God, so I intentionally avoided Him.
When this past fall semester began, I met a new
CCO missionary and she asked if I’d like to take the
Source faith study. For some reason, I heard myself
saying YES. When she walked away I thought wait
a minute… why did I just say that?! Now I have to
do it… As the first week of the semester went on, I
secretly hoped it would get cancelled or that CCO
would forget about me completely.
The first few lessons were interesting, but I still did
not feel a personal connection to the Lord. Lesson
3 was about living in the spirit. We learnt about
“the choose and ask” model and this changed my
life. “Choosing”, simply put, is to choose God first;
“Ask” means that we pray in confidence to the Holy
Spirit for His help. For the first time, I did just this; I
intentionally CHOSE to ask the Holy Spirit in
confidence for help and guidance after being hurt
by a close friend. The next day in class I recieved an
email (of all things) from my friend apologizing. In
this moment I knew that the Holy Spirit answered
Page 21
Some CCO stats

over 900 students from across Canada
completed CCO faith studies

750 young adults from across Canada
attended the annual Rise Up
Conference; including 25 from Halifax

75 students completed faith studies at
Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s universities

Nightfever (an evening of prayer) in
October 2015 saw over 1000 people
walk in from the street into the
cathedral

CCO is officially on 14 campuses across
Canada CCO; newly expanded to
Memorial University, St. John’s this
2015 and will expand to Concordia
University in Montreal in 2016

65 students from across Canada will/or
have attended CCO missions this year in
Mexico, Ireland and World Youth Day in
Poland
my prayer. My mindset immediately shifted; for
the first time I gained perspective on prayer and
actually understood what it felt like to be
personally connected to God. I couldn't believe
that Jesus cared about me so much to answer this
little- seemingly insignificant-prayer.
After Source, I met with a CCO missionary. We
prayed together and she invited me to make the
commitment to invite Jesus to be at the center of
my life. I accepted her invitation and man am I glad
I did!
forgiveness and how amazing it felt to finally give
myself to Jesus. The next day, I can truly say that I
had a spiritual hangover; I was feeling the effects
of the night before! I was smiling, I felt free. I felt
as though something VERY heavy was lifted off of
my heart. I could breathe again! I was truly,
genuinely overwhelmed with joy and happiness.
Since Rise Up I am filled with energy! I desire to be
a leader. I desire to bring my friends to Christ. I
desire other people to experience what I have
encountered. I want everybody to know how much
more fulfilling life can be by choosing to ask the
Holy Spirit for help and by choosing to commit to
Jesus by placing him at the centre of everything.
God loves us and desires to have a personal
relationship with us!
As Pope Benedict XVI said:
"If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing,
nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free,
beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are
the doors of life opened wide. Only in this
friendship is the great potential of human existence
truly revealed... Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes
nothing away and he gives you everything. When
we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold
in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ and you will find true life"
Maybe, like me, you're feeling distant from God, or
perhaps you've turned away from Him and you just
don’t know how to face Him again. Today I want to
encourage you - give God another chance. Today
you have the opportunity to change your life.
Soon after I learnt about Rise Up, CCO’s annual
national conference and I decided to go. Attending
Rise Up sealed the commitment I made to Jesus.
During a night of adoration- not unlike tonight’s
summit- I had the courage to go to Confession for
the first time in 6 years. After Confession I began
crying, but not just crying... I was messy crying: the
type of crying where you absolutely do not want
anybody to see you… I was a mess, but a good kind
of mess! For the first time I felt the Mercy of Jesus,
I was crying because I was so overwhelmed by his
Page 22
V. Our Faith: Quo Vadis
Strengthening the Culture of
Personal Discipleship in the
Parish
By Dr. Carole Brown
The Catholic Church should be the easiest place in
the world to get to know Jesus and to grow in
relationship with him. Yet, for various reasons,
historical and otherwise, this is often not the case.
One factor in addressing this is the need for a more
strategic way of supporting people through the
various stages of spiritual growth.
In Catechesis in Our Times, Pope John Paul II
pointed out the problem that arises when “initial
evangelization” has not taken place. Many children
who were baptized as infants come to the parish
for catechesis, without any other initiation into the
faith, and still without any explicit personal
attachment to Jesus Christ. They remain hesitant,
he said, to commit their whole life to Christ.
Catechesis, therefore, has to concern itself with
arousing faith, opening the heart, and fostering
conversion (CT 19). Otherwise, children with no
explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ grow
up to be adults who have no explicit personal
attachment to Jesus Christ.
first base, which is the conscious decision to put
Jesus at the center of one’s life-- becoming a
disciple. Having entrusted himself to Jesus, the
person turns the corner and heads for second base.
This phase of the journey is called “initiatory
catechesis”, which the General Directory for
Catechesis refers to as “an apprenticeship of the
entire Christian life… which promotes an authentic
following of Christ, focused on his Person; it implies
education in knowledge of the faith and in the life
of faith, in such a manner that the entire person, at
his deepest levels, feels enriched by the word of
God; it helps the disciple of Christ to transform the
old man in order to assume his baptismal responsibilities and to profess the faith from the
‘heart’” (GDC, 67). During this process a person is
formed in the “heart and habits” of a disciple. They
take their “Yes to Jesus” to a new level, learning to
share their life with Christ every day, through daily
dedicated prayer time. They learn to listen and
take in his words in the Scriptures. They let themselves be nourished by contact with Jesus through
the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and
reconciliation. They learn to discern his will, and to
do it. They learn to negotiate the ups and downs of
the spiritual life.
To picture the steps to spiritual
maturity, think of a baseball
diamond as a framework. What
happens between home plate and
first base is called “initial
evangelization”. Some of the most
important tools and skills to help
people in this phase are the
kerygma (the initial ardent
proclamation by which a person is
one day overwhelmed and brought
to the decision to entrust himself to
Jesus Christ by faith) and personal,
Christ-centered testimony.
Threshold conversations, as
described by Sherry Weddell in her
book Forming Intentional Disciples,
are also essential in this phase. If
initial evangelization is successful,
the baptized “beginner” makes it to
Page 23
imagined for couples with no
explicit personal attachment to
Jesus Christ who arrive at the
parish to arrange for a wedding?
Or parents with no explicit
personal attachment to Jesus
Christ who arrive to arrange for a
child’s baptism? Or children
whose parents had no explicit
personal attachment to Jesus
Christ who present themselves for
catechesis or sacramental prep?
If we wish to strengthen the
culture of discipleship in the
parish, let’s re-imagine and
strategically coordinate those
steps which prepare for
catechesis, and those that flow
from it (GDC 276, 277).
2015 Assembly of the People of God
Having been apprenticed as a disciple, the disciple
is now ready for second base--ongoing, lifelong
catechesis (GDC 69). One will need to go by second
base many times over a lifetime—learning the
deeper meaning of the sacraments, the Church’s
moral teaching, learning about the liturgy, the
Bible, Church history, ecclesiology, Theology of the
Body, the varieties of Christian spirituality, and so
forth. However, none of these things makes much
sense if you haven’t yet rounded the corner of first
base, or developed the heart of a disciple.
Dr. Carole Brown –Carole is the Director
of the Office of New Evangelization in the
Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. She grew
up in a Catholic family on a South Dakota
cattle ranch. She experienced a personal
conversion to Jesus Christ as a teenager,
and has been involved in various aspects
of evangelization ever since. She will
present a workshop titled: Becoming a
Community of Intentional Disciples at this
year’s Assembly of the People of God
Third base has to do with learning the skills to “Go
Make Disciples”—to share the Gospel with others,
through the discernment and manifestation of each
of our own particular charisms and giftings. We get
a home run when we are ready to put these skills
and charisms into practice, reaching out to others
and helping direct their steps to first, second and
third base.
Each of these phases is a step towards spiritual
maturity. Unfortunately, too often we have
concentrated most of our attention and energy
primarily on second base—the doctrinal content of
our faith. But this is too much of a leap for most
people, and hence they drop out. If we were to put
first things first, what opportunities might be
Page 24
The Word
Holy Spirit as Fairy Godmother
By Deacon Keith Strohm
Feast of Pentecost
First Reading: Acts 2.1-11
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12.3-7, 12-13
Gospel: John 20.19-23
like to tell people that I'm a child of the 60's--as
my birthday is October 31, 1969. (Yes, my
Summer of Love was much different than everyone
else's.) That's usually my lead in to talk about my
own religious formation. I went through much of
my foundational catechesis in the 70's. Despite well
-intentioned teachers and books that worked
mightily at being relevant to the age, I would not
classify my experience of Sunday School/religious
education as rigorous. I did learn something
absolutely essential--that God is Love and that this
God loved me to His death on the Cross. But
beyond that, we spent a great deal of time cutting
out pictures in magazines and making mobiles of
doves. To this day, if someone mentions Sunday
School, I start to smell glue!
I
Because of that reality, I had a very challenging
time figuring out this Holy Spirit thing. On some
level, I could grasp God as Father, because I had an
earthly father of my own. I could kind of
understand Jesus as the Son of God, because I was
a son to my Father. The Holy Spirit, however, just
didn't compute. It was as if the Holy
Spirit were the Fairy Godmother of
the Trinity, flitting down from
heaven in some winged form and
sprinkling God-dust on believers so
that they could do things that I
would never be able to do in a
million years. For all intents and
purposes, the Bible was like a
Disney movie.
from, yet united with, the Father & the Son. Saint
John Paul II helped me see this reality clearly. He
described the Holy Spirit as "God giving Himself as
Gift." The Father, out of love, offers everything to
the Son, even the depths of His own Being. The
Son, out of love and obedience, offers everything
back to the Father, even His own life. In that
eternal moment of mutual divine self gift, which so
dynamic that from it proceeds another Person, the
Holy Spirit is present.
The Spirit as Teacher
As I searched the Scriptures and the Tradition of
the Church, I discovered that the Spirit had a
particular undeniable and irreplaceable role to play
in the life of the baptized. The Spirit teaches the
people of God. Scripture says that it is the Spirit
who reveals the deep and hidden things of God,
sharing them with us (1Cor 2:10). God discloses
Himself to His creatures in many ways. For
example, scientists are able to penetrate the
complexity of life at the atomic and sub-atomic
level, and they are finding that in the midst of the
chaos of the universe there is a certain
mathematical precision without which there would
be no life, no human person to explore the
wonders of the world. The Church calls this Natural
Revelation--namely, we can come to know, at a
certain level, the Creator by study and observation
of created reality.
It wasn't until much later in life,
after personal study of the Church's
teaching and my own undeniable
experiences of the Power and
Presence of the Holy Spirit, that I
began to recognize that the Holy
Spirit was an actual Person, distinct
Page 25
And yet, while we might come to know that there
is a Creator through study, observation, and the
use of reason, we would never know that this
Creator is a Trinity of Persons who created and
fashioned us for communion with Him--unless the
revealed it to us through His Spirit.
If we are to truly understand who we are and why
we are here, then we must be attentive to the
voice of the Spirit who speaks to us the Truth of
our own nature.
The Spirit as Sanctifier
To sanctify something is to make it holy, and the
reality is that our sanctification, our growth in
holiness comes to us through Jesus, united to the
Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit. The goal of
our existence is to cooperate with the grace God is
pouring out to us through the Holy Spirit and
become like Jesus, uniting our will to the Divine
Will so that we can be restored to eternal
relationship with the Father.
This can only happen if we receive the gift of the
Spirit which comes to us through baptism, and is
sealed and completed in Confirmation, and
strengthened with frequent reception of the Body
and Blood of Jesus Christ. Paul exhorts the faithful
to not "conform yourselves to this age but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind (Romans
12:2). This renewal of mind is the action of the
Holy Spirit who, because of the life, death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ
regenerates, sanctifies, and renews man so that we
may truly put on the mind of Christ, seeing and
understanding things from the perspective of the
Kingdom of God.
The living out of the Christian life, which is both an
experience of deliverance from sin (and its by
products), as well as growth in virtue and holiness,
is only possible because we have received the Holy
Spirit. To become more like Christ means by
necessity living an ever-deeper and ever-richer life
in the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit as Governator
The Holy Spirit plays a very real role in governing
the People of God. Governing first means calling us
together and making us part of one Body, the
Church. When we receive the Holy Spirit at
baptism, we are made members of God's family
and grafted to His Body. We are united to each
other and to our Head, Jesus, in such a profound
way that Scripture says "Anyone who does not
have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to
him." (Romans 8:9)
The Church isn't simply gathered so that her
members can admire one another's halos. Rather,
the Holy Spirit gathers the Church so that He can
send the Church out to fulfill Her mission in the
name of Jesus Christ--which is to preach the Good
News of Jesus and make the Kingdom present on
earth so that all men and women might attain to
eternal salvation. It is the Spirit who gives the
charisms (spiritual gifts) to the
baptized and then directs us to the
work of love (vocation) that God
has ordained for us before the
beginning of the world.
What If All This Were True?
If the Holy Spirit really had such a
role to play in my life, then it
became clear to me that it was
necessary to cultivate a
relationship with the Holy Spirit
that was every bit as personal and
intentional as the one I was
working on with Jesus! Several
years ago, I suggested such a thing
to a group that was journeying
Page 26
during your prayer time and ask
Him to help you hear His voice
more clearly.
2. Take some time in prayer this
week and highlight areas in your
life where you struggle with
temptation or habitual sin. Ask for
the grace to surrender these areas
of your life to Jesus, and then be
sure to lift these up to God in
Confession. In your prayer, ask also
for the Holy Spirit to help you grow
in the particular virtue applicable
to that area of your life.
2016 Rite of Election
through the Rite of Christian Initiation (though
many of them were cradle Catholics who attended
RCIA sessions to grow in their faith--don't tell the
liturgists). Most were puzzled and one brave soul
raised his hand and asked "Isn't that kind of going
behind Jesus' back?". I gently explained to Him why
that wasn't so, and silently vowed to spend more
time on the Trinity in subsequent years!
The point is that Catholics who have often never
received instruction on how to cultivate a
relationship with Jesus, will find that establishing
an intentional relationship with the Holy Spirit at
least as equally puzzling. Recognizing this, I include
some practical ideas on how to intentionally invite
the Spirit in to our prayer lives and how to cultivate
this relationship:
Another powerful way to invite the
Holy Spirit intentionally to be part
of our lives is by praying a Novena
to the Holy Spirit. You can find one by visiting
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/
prayers/view.cfm?id=1046 and you might want to
time it so the last day of the novena coincides with
the Feast of Pentecost!
Deacon Keith Strohm – Deacon Keith is the
Director of the Office of the New
Evangelization for the Archdiocese of
Chicago. He is currently studying for his
Master of Divinity degree at Catholic
Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois. Keith
has traveled extensively as a Catherine of
Sienna Institute teacher and trainer since 2005
and authored one of the chapters in Becoming
A Parish of Intentional Disciples.
1. Although the Spirit is a Person and an equal
member of the Trinity, many of us don’t foster
an intimate, personal relationship with Him.
During your Daily prayer time this week, take
some time to do the following:

Specifically invite the Holy Spirit in to your
prayer time

During your prayer time, ask the Holy Spirit
to open your heart more to Christ, to give
you the grace to become more of an
intentional disciple of the Son!

Thank the Holy Spirit for His presence
Page 27
VI. Vocations
Father James Mallon pastor at Saint
Benedict, Halifax has written a
bestselling book entitled Divine
Renovation, in which he shares
insights from his experience of
moving his parish “from
maintenance to mission”. According
to Fr James, we have lost our
urgency to go out and spread the
Gospel: “We have forgotten that we
don’t have a mission,
we are mission! We are a missionary
Church. Our encounter with Jesus
should turn us into missionary
disciples, into people who go out
and share the good news with
others. Because the mission of Jesus
is not to go and be disciples, it is to
go and make disciples.”
Building on a solid theological
analysis, Fr. James moves to pastoral
application in his book looking at
how the parish can become what
Pope Francis describes as a
‘community of missionary disciples’.
If you want to be part of transforming your parish to one of "making disciples", read this
book. www.divinerenovation.net/the_book
Divine Renovation Conference!
Limited space still available for the first ever Divine Renovation Conference! This
conference is specifically for pastors and parish leadership teams wanting to help their
communities of faith more boldly become missionary disciples of Christ. For more
information visit: www.divinerenovation.net
Page 28
Page 28
VII. Youth and Young Adult
There is only one month
left to register for Steubenville Atlantic!
Join hundreds of teens from across
Atlantic Canada as they encounter
Christ through the sacraments.
Let this be the summer that
changes your life.
Register Today!
Page 29
Back issues can be found on the
archdiocesan website

Contents include - St. Francis of Assisi

Transcription

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