One of the parishioners at St. Brendan parish passed this on to me, so I am passing it on to readers!
St. Brendan’s Knights of Columbus Council #14693, in keeping with their strong philanthropic efforts, are starting a new fundraising campaign called Cents of Hope to raise money for the Jewish General Hospital’s AYA (Adolescent and Youth Adult) Oncology Program. By placing containers for spare change throughout the city, like schools and churches, Cents of Hope is aiming to raise funds for a program that helps support what many say are an overlooked age group of cancer patients.
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs, ages 16-30) with cancer fall into a special category of patients – they have unique epidemiology, developmental tasks and healthcare needs specific to their age group. So when cancer survivor Biagio Pagano wanted to find a way to give back, he discovered the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program (AYAOP) at the Jewish General Hospital.
“I was looking for a new program focused on youth, a program that needed help and was not funded by either government,” Pagano, who is a member of St. Brendan’s Knights of Columbus Council #14693, says. “I went searching for that special charity, and after about six months of looking at all kinds of organizations and causes, the AYAOP came to me – it was God-sent. Needless to say, I was a little biased considering I went through a cancer myself and have one more year to hit remission.”
The Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program provides medical, psychological, social, educational, nutritional, and rehabilitation support through a team of healthcare professionals (which includes everyone from oncologists to social workers, nutritionists, and fertility experts). They work together to provide comprehensive care for an age group that reports say have long been overlooked – AYAs with cancer differ from those of children and adults because specific developmental needs are not served well by health professionals, young patients often respond poorly to traditional health care interactions, and young people are generally often perceived as a ‘difficult,’ demanding and non-compliant age group.
The next step was finding a way to help raise funds for the AYAOP. Pagano decided to continue his focus on youth. “I had this idea of children helping children. [I wanted] to stimulate this special age group and to make these kids aware of other kids just like them who may be less fortunate and in need of help,” Pagano explains. So he decided to create a charity called “Cents of Hope” and collect spare change to donate to the AYAOP. “We want children to participate and contribute the best they can, [with] pennies, nickels, dimes. We want to make them feel [that] it is their small change that can make a better tomorrow and give others a sense of hope.”
Containers will be strategically placed at various points across the city, including their church and schools (if you have any suggestions on where more of these containers can be set up, please contact Biagio at biagiopagano@videotron.ca).
“The St. Brendan’s Knights of Columbus Council will be raising funds with some different activities as well,” the hopeful philanthropist says. “I have hit so many walls [with this project], however I am still standing and this project will work. I am confident of it.”
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 15,000 councils and 1.7 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, Cuba, and Guatemala. In 2008, the organization gave more than $150 million directly to charity and performed over 68 million man hours in volunteer service.
Neither Cents of Hope nor the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at the Jewish are funded by the government, which demonstrates how important it is for the public to get involved in and contribute to such a worthy cause.
For more information on the AYA program, visit http://www.jgh.ca and enter “AYA Oncology Program” in the search bar. And for more info on Cents of Hope, contact Pagano at biagiopagano@videotron.ca).
Called “Charity in truth”, it is a commentary on economic justice. A very a propos message, I would say, given the economic and financial crisis we are presently living throughout the world.
You can read it here.
I’ve been closely following the events unfolding in Iran for the past several days, but today (Saturday, June 20) I’ve been simply glued to my computer screen, refreshing every 15 minutes or so to get the latest. It is some of the most compelling news, photos and videos I have ever seen in my life. Yet, as I chat with people in and around the church, a lot of people are telling me that they haven’t really been following the events in Iran. For those just tuning in, this blog post is meant to be a quick intro to one of the most important social upheaveals of our times.
First of all, Iran is an “Islamic republic”, a form of government not seen anywhere else. The day-to-day affairs of the nation are governed by a President (as the chief executive) and a parliament (called the Majilis, the legislative body). However, more powerful than these two are a series of religious bodies that, in theory, are meant to make sure that all executive and legislative decisions respect Islam. These include the Assembly of Experts, the Guardian Council, and the Supreme Leader. To put this in Canadian terms, imagine the Supreme Court was composed to priests, and the chief justice of the supreme court was also the commander in chief of the armed forces (to make sure the decisions of the supreme court were respected). The day-to-day operations would still belong to the legislature and the executive, but the overall direction of society would be set by non-elected supreme court justices (picked, one would hope, for their competence, wisdom, etc.).
So Iran is both a democracy and not a democracy. In theory, the nation is ultimately governed by God through Islam, and this is not subject to the people’s approval or disapproval. Given that God’s will must be interpreted, however, there are councils of clerics who attempt to apply this divine rule to the country, and there are also regular elections to pick those who sit in the legislature, as well as the President. 2009 was a presidential election year in Iran.
While at first people seemed apathetic, interest in the election took on a life of its own over time as a means for many to express their deep desire for change. Take, for example, this simple yet beautiful campaign video that aired on Iranian TV:
Translation of the signs:
1 (Girl in street): Defending civil rights
2 (Boy next to old? man): Counterbalancing poverty/deprivation
3 (Boy pushing away donation box): Nationalizing oil income
4 (Man standing on rooftop): Reducing tension in international affairs
5 (Boy sitting next to satellite dishes): Free access to information
6 (Girl sitting besides her mother): Supporting single mothers
7 (Girl with cast): Knock down violence against women
8 (Boy): Education for all
9 (Boy infront of man locking car): Increasing public safety
10 (Girl on rooftop): Ethnic and religious minority? rights
11 (Man on rooftop): Supporting NGOs
12 (Girl in front of wall): Public involvement
13 (Boy and girl): We have come for change
14: Change for Iran
There were four candidates in this election. In Iran, an absolute majority of votes is requred to be elected President, so if no candidate gets over 50% in the first round of voting a runoff election is held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. The election itself took place on June 12, 2009. An estimated 39 million people voted, an incredible 85% of the electorate. Normally very high voter turnout indicated dissatisfaction with the incumbent. There was general astonishment, then, when very shortly after the polls closed the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was declared the winner with 66% of the votes cast. Even more astonishing was the intervention of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameni, who declared this a “divine decision” and therefore undoable, even though the law gave the other candidates three days to lodge complaints and have them investigated.
People poured into the streets in, I must emphasize, PEACEFUL protest:
You see? We’re not talking violence or thuggery. These are citizens expressing themselves, that’s all. Day after day the protests continued. Mind you, some of the regime’s agents did get a bit excited, with some people getting shot at and killed:
Finally, Friday came. Friday is the day of prayer within Islam, so people have the day off and often go to the mosque to pray and hear the sermon. People waited for word from the Supreme Leader: what would he say in his own sermon? The protesters were bitterly disappointed. In short, he chose the hard line. In fact, it would have been difficult to draw a harder line. No compromise was offered. None. The message was clear: if you continue to protest, we will crush you.
Starting Friday night, the protests began to be noisy. People were shouting from their rooftops. Amidst the tension, one young woman made this amazingly compelling video:
Which brings us to today. Today there are no peaceful protests. There can’t be, because as soon as people protest the forces of the regime move in. In this video of Shiraz University, protesters are suddently rushed by riot police:
But while sticks and stones may break their bones, it is the bullets that are killing them. In this final video, to which I will only post a link, we see a young woman DIE. *I WARN YOU, THIS IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC* She had just been shot in the upper chest. Her lungs fill with blood, which pours from her nose and mouth. She literally chokes to death. Her picture, along with this video, is popping up all over the Internet. She is the new face of Iran. The only question is, which Iran.
I’ve created a special Google newsfeed using their online tools. It searches current news items for the following terms: Pope or church or Vatican or God or Catholic (the order does not matter).
Personally, I’m glad for Bishop Tony. He has many skills, not the least of which is a terrific ability to communicate, which can be unleashed even more as a “number one” man. That being said, the Cardinal of Montreal now has big shoes to fill. Bishop Tony was Vicar General, and this is a fairly large and complex diocese — whom the Cardinal will pick as the new VG is anyone’s guess. We need to get on our knees, for the sake of both men!
I got to know Archbishop Collins when I was in the seminary and he was a newly-appointed bishop in a small diocese out west. Later, when I was the treasurer of the Canadian Theological Students Conference, he was the Archbishop of Edmonton (where the conference was being held). He offered his generous support to the conference, both moral and monetary, and I learned that he had once been a conference organizer back in his student days.
I remember meeting Archbishop Collins at the home of an Edmonton family we both knew. I was struck by the humble way he had about him. In particular, I recall when the mother of the family gave him a small gift – a copy of a book on Aramaic (the language Jesus would likely have spoken). His eyes just lit up, and later he told me how he missed teaching Scripture (he had taught in a seminary for years).
Archbishop Collins will have his hands full in Toronto, but he has guided Edmonton with a steady hand for several years now. May God grant him a faithful and fruitful ministry.
I’ve been asked by a colleague in the Theology department to pass on the following information:
Biblical Hebrew I (Theo 498H) will be offered this summer on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. THEO 498H is the first of two introductory courses to Biblical Hebrew. It is designed for students with no prior knowledge of the Hebrew language. In this first introductory course students will learn the rudiments of Biblical Hebrew from the alphabet, vocabulary and the basic grammar. By the end of this course students will be able to read and comprehend simple biblical narratives. (Hebrew speaking students may not take this course)
Biblical Hebrew II will be offered in the Fall semester on Thursday evenings. This second introductory course to Biblical Hebrew continues to pursue the objectives of THEO 498H but with a focus on problematic verb forms, grammatical constructions and some elements of text linguistics. By the end of this course students will be able to read, analyze and translate biblical narratives.
Who knows, I may wind up taking this course….I’ve always wanted to read the scriptures in the ancient languages. Perhaps we’ll see one another there!
Cosmas and Damian Society for Medical Ethics & The Ottawa Catholic Physician’s Guild
presents an evening talk with
Dr. Pia de Solenni
The True Meaning of Human Sexuality: Being vs. Doing
Saturday December 9th, 2006, 7 PM
Location:
Council Chamber, Main Floor, BEN FRANKLIN PLACE,
101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa, Ontario.
Tickets in advance, $10, Limited seating
For more information or to purchase tickets:
Barbara Gay 613-729-2247or Dr. Lau at email address: drtimothylau@yahoo.ca
Dr. Pia de Solenni is an ethicist and moral theologian, former Director of Life
and Women’s Issues at the Family Research Council, in Washington, DC and winner
of the 2001 Pontifical Academies Award. She received her doctorate in Sacred
Theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. She is an
adjunct professor at the Notre Dame Graduate School in Virginia. Dr. de
Solenni’s expertise covers issues relating to women’s health, life issues,
stem cell research, the new feminism, and culture. She is often quoted in
newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and with the
Associated Press. She has appeared on Hardball, MSNBC, CNN, ABC News Now, and
the Michael Coren Show.
Just a little heads up for my readers: new versions of both Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer have been released (versions 2.0 and 7, respectively). I have both, and I must say that, while IE7 is a huge improvement over IE6, I still prefer Firefox.
Still, Firefox 2.0 does appear to have some problems. Personally, I do have one major beef with the new software: support for downloaded documents is very inconsistent. I tried to download a PDF file that was an attachment to a Hotmail email, and the browser forced me to have to save it rather than just opening it directly in Adobe Reader (unlike Word documents, for example, which it offers to load directly). I can’t figure out why this might be, and it is very annoying, as the previous version did not do this.
Nevertheless, Firefox 2.0 does have some nice new features, including a spellcheck-as-you-type function (very useful for a blogger like myself), and better control over the tabbed browsing. The real test for me, though, will be the HTML/CSS support. The bottom line is, a browser should be a browser, i.e. it should read web pages and display them according to the standard. This was the idea of Firefox in the first place: a stripped-down, no-nonsense browser that did was a browser was supposed to do, and did it best. I hope someone will put IE7 and FF2 head-to-head to check for standards compliance, and whichever wins that contest gets my vote of confidence.
1:41 pm: My office is just down the street from Dawson College (2 min walking distance). I can hear sirens after sirens. Apparently shots have been fired at the College, with several wounded. Get the news from CBC, CTV, or Global. More as it develops.
UPDATE: The police cordoned off the college in a several block radius, and shut down the subway system because the were worried that the shooter(s) might flee there from the college (which has a connecting tunnel to the subway station). No one was allowed anywhere near the school, but an emergency shelter was set up on the Concordia University campus (about 10 blocks away). I headed over there to see if I could offer a pastoral presence, but what I discovered was that there were actually very few students there — I suspect most gathered in small groups with their friends to support one another (as I have seen before in cases of tragic death involving young people).
Things were pretty crazy for awhile, I must say, as conflicting news reports were coming in fast and furious from all kinds of sources (I was even contacted, believe it or not, by SkyNews of London, who tracked me down via my blog and who invited me to phone in live to give a “play-by-play” of what was happening — it didn’t happen, though). I have to commend the police, as by all accounts they were on the scene and took charge of matters extremely quickly. Unfortunately, firing a weapon can happen even more quickly, so several people were wounded (and at least one died) before a police officer shot the gunman in the chest, killing him. Please pray for all the victims and their families.
The debate within Canada on same-sex marriage has been launched once again, this time by none other than Pope Benedict XVI. Get the scoop here, even before it appears on the CBC web site:
Pope calls gay marriage “folly,” warns politicians
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict said on Friday Catholic politicians could not be swayed by opinion polls and social trends into supporting practices such as abortion and the “folly” of gay marriage.
The Pope repeated his opposition to abortion and gay marriage in a toughly worded address to visiting bishops from Canada.
“In the name of tolerance’ your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of spouse, and in the name of freedom of choice’ it is confronted with the daily destruction of unborn children,” the Pope said.
“When the Creator’s divine plan is ignored the truth of human nature is lost,” he said.
Canada legalized gay marriage last year but its parliament will hold a vote later this year on whether to start the process of scrapping the law, which is opposed by conservatives.
Since his election last year, the Pope has often condemned gay marriage and last June a Vatican document called it one sign of “the eclipse of God” in modern times.
In his address to the bishops, the Pope also touched on the highly sensitive issue of whether Catholic politicians can back legislation allowing practices such as gay marriage and abortion even if they are personally opposed to them.
The Pope condemned such behavior by politicians as “false dichotomies.”
“They are particularly damaging when Christian civic leaders sacrifice the unity of faith and sanction the disintegration of reason and the principles of natural ethics, by yielding to ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls,” he said.
“They are particularly damaging when Christian civic leaders sacrifice the unity of faith and sanction the disintegration of reason and the principles of natural ethics, by yielding to ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls,” he said.
“Democracy succeeds only to the extent that it is based on truth and a correct understanding of the human person. Catholic involvement in political life cannot compromise on this principle…,” he said.
The Church, particularly in developed countries such as the United States, has been divided over the issue of whether Catholic politicians who support abortion should be allowed to receive communion.
The issue divided U.S. Catholics and their bishops during the 2004 presidential campaign of John Kerry, a Democrat and a Catholic who supports abortion rights.
Some Catholic politicians say they are personally opposed to abortion but, in pluralistic societies such as the United States, feel obliged to support a woman’s right to choose.
Last June, a task force of the U.S. Catholic bishops conference left the decision of whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should be denied communion with local bishops.
President George W. Bush, a Protestant and a Republican, opposes abortion and gay marriage.
Gay marriage is expected to be an issue in November elections when control of the Republican-led U.S. Congress will be at stake.
Here is a brief version in French:
Le pape Benoît XVI critique le mariage homosexuel et l’avortement au Canada
This blog is getting closer and closer to “hitting the big time” — this time by appearing in an article in Toronto’s Catholic Register. The article is called From sacred space to cyberspace. I thought it was pretty good, actually — check it out and let me know what you think!
Yes, you read that correctly: George Weigel is coming to town! The internationally-known Catholic author is going to be speaking on Transforming Your Life/ Transforming Your World: A Catholic Faith that Makes a Difference. If you’d like to go, here are the details:
Where: Loyola High School new Centre for the Performing Arts, 2477 West Broadway, Montreal
When: October 5 2006, @ 19 h 00
Please e-mail escc@bellnet.ca by Thu Sept 28, 2006 to indicate that you plan to attend (admission is free), thus ensuring that a seat will be available for you (and your guests). Hope to see many people there!
The Theology Department of Concordia University will be hosting the following conference on October 11-13, 2006: The Reception and Interpretation of the Bible in Late Antiquity. Taking a look at the conference pamphlet, it looks pretty interesting! I just thought I’d pass the message along for those who might be interested in attending — I hope to catch a bit of the conference myself. Maybe we’ll see each other there!
I was contacted recently by the Catholic Register (a Toronto-based Catholic newspaper) for an interview regarding my blog. They also asked me to publicize a most interesting program that they have in place, in particular because they are looking for participants from Quebec. I’m just passing the word along.
Youth Speak News — Now Recruiting
Are you curious about the world around you?
Do you like to ask questions of strangers?
Do you want to learn more about your faith?
Do you like to write?
If you answered yes to these questions than The Catholic Register wants you.
Here at The Catholic Register we are assembling our new team of young writers from across Canada for the 2006-07 season.
Now in its seventh year, Youth Speak News continues to help young people with an interest in media to develop their skills in a faith context. YSN offers its team members regular online workshops in different aspects of journalism and a weekly forum to display their work in the pages of The Catholic Register and this web site. This team has become an important outreach for The Catholic Register and has helped create a greater awareness of youth issues within the church in Canada.
Through the YSN program, youth will:
receive hands-on training in Catholic news media
Monthly newsletters, online discussion groups and internet-based activities will provide information on news, feature and opinion writing, photography and newspaper design, as well as the issues of Catholic journalism;
gain an understanding of news production for newspapers, television and the web
YSN stories will be published both in paper and online. And in collaboration with Salt + Light Television, Canada’s only Catholic television station, YSN members may even have the opportunity to assist in the broadcast and editing process;
produce high quality articles and opinion pieces suitable for portfolios
With the help on professional coaching, YSN members provide stories (one per month) and columns (on a rotational basis) based on events, issues, people and places that affect and influence their faith;
meet in Toronto for fellowship and fun
A weekend retreat in Toronto offers YSN members a chance to meet fellow journalists, participate in seminars, pray together and visit the offices of both The Catholic Register and Salt + Light Television;
help people in youth ministry by sharing their own stories or ministry practices, either through the pages of The Register or online discussion groups.
If you are in senior high school or university we invite you to apply for our program.
How to apply:
nomination letter
resume
application form
We ask each applicant to submit a nomination letter by a youth minister, pastor, teacher who can vouch that the applicant has a demonstrated interest in media and communications and is a committed Catholic.
Submit a resume indicating journalism experience eg. school or campus newspaper, yearbook, photography, relevant courses.
Please contact Sara Loftson, Youth Editor for an application form. Fax or mail the completed form along with your resume and nomination letter to:
Sara Loftson, Youth Editor
1155 Yonge St. Suite 401
Toronto, Ont. M4T 1W2
saral@catholicregister.org
tel: (416) 943-3400 ext. 403
fax: (416) 934-3409
Voyages Inter-Missions is a travel company here in Montreal that specialized in promoting spirituality through tourism. I know one of the agents quite well, and I know she sees her work really as an offering to the Lord. She has invited me to be the spiritual director on a 10-day trip next year to Greece called In the footsteps of St. Paul. Feel free to download the information package, as we need at least 30 people to make the trip viable at the quoted price.
Just so you know, while this is a “tourism” trip, it really will be a pilgrimmage as well. I’m going to bring my portable mass kit so that we can have mass every day, and I’ll be giving small talks here and there (as well as responding to questions or discussing personal issues with people) as the trip progresses. I’m hoping to explore the spiritual landscape a bit myself, perhaps making some contacts with the local Greek Orthodox Church, so I’m very excited by the possibilities. And of course, what a great blogging opportunity this will be! So please do consider coming for these 10 days — I’m sure they’ll be unforgettable.
Then I’m pleased to pass on this information regarding Duc in altum, the diocesan program for life discernment. There is an info night coming up in September, so pass on the word to anyone you think might benefit.
I received this in my inbox today, and I thought I’d pass the word regarding the many opportunities coming up for youth ministry. More info at the Montreal diocesan youth ministry website.
My good friend Silvain Cloutier, the French-Canadian blogger over at Thessaloniciens 1:1, was ordained a deacon last night. It is his final step on the path to priesthood. We are all very proud of him! And I think he’ll make an excellent deacon: the word deacon means “servant”, and Silvain is the type of guy who is always ready to lend others a helping hand. Just don’t stay a deacon too long, Silvain! We want you as a brother priest, too!
I can’t wait! Maybe finally I’ll get to ask my own personal cosmological question: if the large-scale structure of the universe resembles an interference pattern. I just can’t find any research on the question, but I’m too much of a layman to really know where to look.
I got a fax recently from Fr. Peter Sabbath, regarding this year’s diocesan Corpus Christi procession. It will take place on June 15.
The evening starts with the celebration of the Eucharist at 7:30 p.m., presided by Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, at Notre-Dame Basilica. This is followed by the procession to St. Patrick’s Basilica.
Prior to the Mass, Bishop Anthony Mancini will give a special catechesis for young people in the parish hall of Notre-Dame, starting at 5:00 p.m. Priests who want to concelebrate should arrive with alb and stole at the sacristy of Notre-Dame by 7:00 p.m.
A special highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the travelling Ark of the New Covenant, which was just blessed yesterday (May 11) by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome.
Got this in the mailbox today from Prof. Douglas Farrow:
The Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University
presents a special lecture in Jewish legal and political thought
and secular public policy
The Jewish Social Contract
by
David Novak
J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Professor of Jewish Studies
University of Toronto
8 May 2006, 5 pm
Birks Building, 3520 University Street, Montreal
For more information visit www.mcgill.ca/prpp
Pluralism, Religion & Public Policy
Note from Fr. Tom: David Novak is an important participant in Jewish-Christian dialogue. He was one of the principal architects of the Dabru Emet statement on Christians and Christianity, and is a frequent contributor to First Things. He’s a speaker worth a listen.
If you’ve ever heard Sonia sing, you heart has been moved. There is a rare purity to her voice that is without tricks or rough edges. You just get the impression the music sounds exactly the way it should. I can’t make it to her concert, but I encourage others to go!
What: works from Schubert to Mozart to Contemporary Musical Pieces When: Saturday May 6, 2006 at 8pm Where: The church of St. Andrew and St. Mark, 865 Lakeshore Drive, Dorval, Quebec. Cost: Adults $15, Students $10, Families $25.
Please call (514) 626-4190 or email sonia.castiglione@sympatico.ca for tickets.
Proceeds to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation
This past week I’ve been a very busy bee, trying to get things ready for the GRAND OPENING of the new chapel at the Lakeshore General Hospital (where I minister). We are having a press conference on Monday to launch the thing, and then two days of open house for the neighbourhood clergy on the Thursday and Friday. We are hoping they will talk things up in their parishes etc. so that the two major days of open house, those for the public, will be an equivalent success.
Of course, another good way to get the word out is to blog about it! So please take note of my new banner at the top of the blog, and if you have a chance to pop over for the open house at any point, come on down! You are most welcome.
I got a notice in my faculty mailbox that a set of intensive courses is going to be offered this summer in English and French for Latin and Ancient Greek. These courses are offered by the Fondation Humanitas pour les humanités gréco-latines au Québec.
Intro to Latin: 11:00 am — 1:00 pm (July 3 to July 21)
Intro to Ancient Greek: 11:00 am — 1:00 pm (July 3 to July 21)
Advanced Latin: 3:00 pm — 6:00 pm (July 3 to July 12)
Advanced Ancient Greek: 3:00 pm — to 6:00 pm (July 3 to July 12)
The courses cost $100 each and are open to all who are at least of high school age, although one would expect that it is mainly adults who will take these courses. The courses will be offered at Loyola High School in NDG. Registration before June 19. Call 450-445-8897 for information and registration details.
Concordia, the university where I teach (also an alma-mater), is entering a team for the annual Montreal Bike Fest (a.k.a. Tour de l’Ile). I was invited to be a part of the event, but as it takes place on a Sunday morning I had to refuse — you know, that whole presiding-the-miracle-of-the-Eucharist thing. Still, for those who would be able to make it, here is the information.
It’s a shame they misspelled “colours”, though. University education isn’t what it used to be, I guess.
Newman Centre, MQUP, and Catholic Studies are co-sponsoring a book launch on Michael Gauvreau’s, Catholic Origins of Quebec’s Quiet Revolution 1931-1970. This fascinating historical study uncovers the complex religious dimensions of the process of modernization and liberalization in Quebec society. It debunks a number of very common stereotypes and underscores the critical importance of a number of influential modernistic Catholic movements in the various waves of secularization that have shaped modern Quebec culture. Gauvreau’s presentation of the book will be followed by a response by Bishop Anthony Mancini, Vicar General of Montreal.
Please join us on April 11th, 5pm, Newman Centre. Bishop Anthony Mancini will be responding to Michael Gauvreau’s Presentation of Catholic Origins of Quebec’s Quiet Revolution.
A link to the Newman Centre can be found in the column on the left. Copies of the book will be available for sale.
It seems that the “Theology on Tap” concept has caught on in Ottawa. Check it out if you are in the Nation’s Capital: you can catch up on your spirituality while sampling the, errr, spirits!
Speaker #1: John Allen, who will speak on “Getting to Know Benedict” (his journey in interpreting and understanding Benedict XVI).
Speaker #2: Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who will speak on “Benedict: Shepherd, Colleague, and Friend” (his reflections on his intellectual and personal dialogue with Benedict XVI).
Like I said: WOW. Two heavy-hitters.
Date, time, & location: March 2, 6:00 – 8:30 pm, Stewart Biology Building, S 1/4, 1205 Wilder Penfield. Phone ahead to the McGill Newman Centre @ 398-4106 for info & reservations.
In addition, there will be two other events with John Allen at the Newman Centre itself:
March 1, John Allen on Opus Dei, a presentation of his new book on Opus Dei, 12 – 1:00 pm
March 2, Seminar: “Benedict XVI and the North American Church”, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
I know both men. Fr. Gendron was one of my teachers in the seminary, and we kept in contact quite a bit afterwards. Fr. Gazaille I know a bit less, but as he is the pastor of my good friend Fr. Benoit Morrier we would run into each other from time to time.
What is interesting about these appointments is how different these two men are. Fr. Gendron is an intellectual: he has advanced degrees, and as a Sulpician he was worked in seminary formation for most of his priesthood. Fr. Gazaille, on the other hand, is an experienced pastor: most of his priesthood has been spent in parishes, “on the ground” as it were. I see these two sets of experiences as complementary, and I think our Cardinal Archbishop is getting some fine help.
As a final note: special thanks to Bishop Jude St-Antoine for the many years of devoted service to the diocese. As part of this round of appointments that Pope also accepted Bishop St-Antoine’s resignation, which he offered when he turned 75 as per canon law. Bishop St-Antoine presided my ordination to the deaconate, and still refers to me affectionately as “one of his deacons”. He has a well-known reputation for prayer and general holiness, and he has always been kind to me. May his retirement be a period of continued fruitfulness!
So please do consider coming for these 10 days — I’m sure they’ll be unforgettable.
