December 25, 2020 & January 1, 2021 Vol. 120 No. 51 & Vol

December 25, 2020 & January 1, 2021 Vol. 120 No. 51 & Vol. 121 No. 1

December 25 is Christmas Day, the Feast of the Nativity of the LordDecember 30 is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

January 1 is New Year`s Day, World Day of Peace & the Feast of Mary, Mother of God

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John(Rita Pledge photo)

Voice of the Diocese of Saint John since 1900. December 25, 2020 & Janurary 1, 2021Page 2

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Christmas messageDear faithful,

This year will be a Christmas like no other!As a world, we have grown a little weary,and with good reason. We are in the midst ofa pandemic, and many are suffering as a re-sult, from contracting COVID-19, to the lossof loved ones, or from the consequences oflockdowns and restrictions, including loss ofemployment, missed medical care, a rise incases of mental health issues, drug overdoses,fear and anxiety, and separation from thoseclosest to us. The pandemic remains a con-stant concern, never far from our thoughts.In all of this, we must remember that Jesusdoes not abandon us. He is Emmanuel — Godwith us — to satisfy the deepest longings ofour hearts, lift us from our weariness, and bethe hope we so desperately need. We needhim now more than ever to illumine thesedays.

The promise of a long-awaited Messiah wasfulfilled when “the Word became flesh andlived among us” (John 1:14). When Mary gaveher “fiat” (her yes) to bear the Son of Godinto the world, our lives were changed for-ever. Let us not allow the unusual circum-stances we are enduring to take away ourwonder at the miracle of the Incarnation. Thebirth of Jesus is not confined to a moment inhistory but continues every day. Do we be-lieve this is possible? Even now during a pan-demic? Let us not allow the current disrup-tion in our lives to distract us from the truemeaning of the Christmas season. Jesus isthe reason for the season! Jesus is the Wordmade flesh! If you have difficulty encounter-ing God’s presence, then ask him to show

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Message de NoëlChers fidèles,

Cette année nous vivrons un Noël pascomme les autres! La lassitude nous gagnesur le plan mondial, et pour cause. Noussommes au milieu d’une pandémie, etbeaucoup de gens souffrent en conséquenced’avoir contracté le COVID-19, de la perted’êtres chers, ou des conséquences desverrouillages et des restrictions, y compris laperte d’emploi, le manque de soins médicaux,l’augmentation des problèmes de santémentale, les décès par surdoses de drogue, lacrainte et l’anxiété, et la séparation de nosproches. La pandémie reste une préoccupationconstante. Dans ce contexte, il est bon denous rappeler que Jésus ne nous abandonnejamais. Il est Emmanuel, c’est-à-dire « Dieuavec nous », présent pour satisfaire les désirsles plus profonds de nos cœurs, pour allégernotre lassitude et inspirer l’espérance dontnous avons si grand besoin. Nous avons plusque jamais besoin de celui qui viendra illuminercette période sombre.

La promesse du Messie tant attendu s’estréalisée lorsque « la Parole a été faite chair etelle a habité parmi nous » (Jean 1:14). LorsqueMarie a déclaré son « fiat » (son oui),acquiesçant de mettre au monde le Fils de Dieu,la vie a été changée pour nous, à tout jamais.Ne permettons pas que ces circonstancesinhabituelles que nous endurons puissentéclipser notre émerveillement face au miraclede l’Incarnation. La naissance de Jésus ne selimite pas à un moment de l’histoire, mais sepoursuit chaque jour. Est-ce que nous ycroyons? Même maintenant pendant cettepériode de pandémie? Ne permettons pas que

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SAINT JOHN — Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC celebrates mass at his installation asthe 13th bishop of the Diocese of Saint John, December 9, 2019 at the Cathedral of theImmaculate Conception in Saint John. (Joanie Marks photo)

Voice of the Diocese of Saint John since 1900.December 25, 2020 & Janurary 1, 2021 Page 3

Christmas message(continued from page 2)

you that he is real, that he is alive! How different our lives would lookif we lived from the awareness that God is with us! If nothing else,the difficulties of this pandemic should highlight even more how muchwe need Jesus. He is the one we can count on to meet us in oursufferings, and we encounter him most powerfully in the Eucharist,which is the sustenance we so desperately need. Let us return to himoften in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, so he canrenew us with his love.

The Christmas season always draws to our churches people whohave been absent for a while. As people approach mass for the firsttime in weeks, months, maybe even years, uncertainty may accom-pany them. Returning to mass, after being away, may be both physi-cally and spiritually challenging. People are longing for a sense ofcommunity and stability, and for the opportunity to encounter or re-encounter the God who cares deeply for us, speaks to us out of love,and reveals his “face” in Jesus — true God and true man. I urge ourregular churchgoers to be particularly welcoming of these brothersand sisters who will be visiting our churches for consolation andcomfort. Our pandemic protocol committees continue their nobleefforts of keeping our churches safe. I urge everyone to co-operatewith them in charity, just as I urge our selfless volunteers to trulyreflect the love and innocence of the Christ-child, adopting a wel-coming and joyful disposition before all who will be gracing thedoors of our churches this Christmas. Let us remember that hos-pitality is not a measure of what we do but a condition of theheart, as we seek to evangelize and provide consolation during adifficult time.

God is not distant but close to us in every way. As we celebrateChristmas, let us be aware that Jesus — God made flesh and dwellingamong us — is the hope we seek. He alone satisfies our deepestlonging for meaning and purpose, and is the fulfillment of all desire.God has given us so much — the greatest gift of all — his son. Thegreatest gift we can give him now in return is to let him be born in ourhearts over and over again. Let us open our hearts wide to welcomeour Saviour this Christmas so that we can truly experience the peaceand joy only he can give. Let us give God permission to transform us,our perspectives, our way of doing things so that we could becomemore and more the person he has called us to be from our baptism.Let us share that joy, peace and love with the people around us so thatall may know the true meaning of Christmas!

Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us! St. Joseph, pray forus!

Christian Riesbeck, CCBishop of Saint John

Message de Noël(continué de page 2)

les perturbations que nous vivons puissent nous distraire du vrai sensdu temps des Fêtes. Jésus est la raison de la saison! Jésus est le Verbefait chair! S’il est difficile pour vous de vous mettre en présence deDieu, demandez-lui de vous montrer qu’il est là, qu’il est bien vivant!Imaginez comment nos vies seraient différentes si nous étionspleinement conscients de la présence de Dieu! Je dirais même que lesdifficultés qui nous affligent dans cette pandémie peuvent nous montrerà quel point nous avons besoin de Jésus. Nous pouvons compter surlui pour nous accompagner dans nos souffrances, et nous savonsque notre rencontre la plus puissante avec le Seigneur a lieu dansl’Eucharistie, qui est la nourriture dont nous avons désespérémentbesoin. Il est essentiel que nous le retrouvions souvent dans lessacrements de l’Eucharistie et de la Réconciliation, afin qu’il puissenous renouveler par son amour.

Durant la saison de Noël, nous accueillons dans nos églises desgens qui se sont absentés de la messe pendant quelque temps.Parfois, lorsque ces gens assistent à la messe pour la premièrefois depuis des semaines, des mois, ou même des années, ilspeuvent se sentir un peu incertains. Revenir à la messe après unepériode d’absence, peut représenter un défi à la fois physique etspirituel. Ces gens ont un profond désir de retrouver l’esprit decommunauté et la stabilité, ainsi que de rencontrer ou de retrouver,ce Dieu qui se soucie profondément de nous, qui nous rejoint paramour et qui nous révèle son véritable « visage » en Jésus : vraiDieu et vrai homme. Je vous demande donc d’accueillirchaleureusement ces frères et sœurs qui visiteront nos églises pourse consoler et se réconforter. Nos comités de protocole depandémie poursuivent leurs nobles efforts pour assurer notresécurité dans nos églises. Je demande à chacun et à chacune d’entrevous de coopérer avec eux dans la charité, tout comme j’exhorte nosvolontaires dévoués à refléter fidèlement l’amour et l’innocence del’enfant Jésus, en accueillant chaleureusement et joyeusement tousceux et celles qui passeront par les portes de nos églises à Noël.Rappelons-nous que l’hospitalité exprime par nos gestes ce quenous ressentons dans le cœur, alors que nous cherchons àévangéliser et à offrir la consolation pendant cette période difficile.

Dieu n’est jamais loin de nous, mais proche de nous dans tousles sens. Alors que nous célébrons Noël, soyons conscients queJésus, Dieu fait chair et venu habiter parmi nous, incarnel’espérance que nous recherchons. Lui seul satisfait notre désir leplus profond d’un objet et un sens à la vie, et il représentel’accomplissement de tous nos désirs. Dieu nous a tant donné,jusqu’au plus grand don : son Fils. En retour, le plus grand donque nous pouvons lui offrir serait de lui permettre de renaîtreconstamment dans nos cœurs. Ouvrons grand nos cœurs pouraccueillir notre Sauveur à Noël, pour recevoir la paix et la joievéritables, que nous n’obtenons que par lui. Accordons à Dieu lapermission de nous transformer, dans notre façon de penser et dansce que nous faisons, afin que nous puissions devenir de plus en plusla personne qu’il nous appelle à être, depuis notre baptême. Partageonscette joie, cette paix et cet amour avec les gens qui nous entourent,afin que tous connaissent le vrai sens de Noël!

Marie, épouse du Saint-Esprit, priez pour nous! Saint-Joseph, priezpour nous!

Christian Riesbeck, CCÉvêque de Saint John

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Tom Gribbons, CIMPortfolio Manager506-637-7501www.tomgribbons.com

Merry Christmas!


Christmas — the wonder and awe ofGod’s loveI will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord forever;I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

(Ps 89:1)

How ready, how able am I to bless the Lord God, at all times?Am I able to stand in wonder and awe at the immense love of ourGod for humanity and all creation? Am I ready to recognize Christ-mas as a celebration this great love.

Wonder makes everything new. It is the gift of every small child.Watch the eyes of the little ones. Their world is ever new. It is aworld of discovery at every moment, in all they encounter. Tothem, nothing is ordinary or familiar.

Young couples manifest the same. A wedding, for all the busynessand the trappings that surround it, is essentially about a lovingcouple. They may be nervous, they may be excited, but as theylook into each other’s eyes and express their love, nothing elsematters. They stand in wonder and awe of each other.

They have embarked on a journey of discovery, standing in a worldof wonder with each other. Moved by their love, the awe in whichthey hold each other causes them to glory in their companionship.

As we move into the Christmas season our gaze turns to Mary(Luke 1:26-38). Her encounter with the Angel Gabriel leaves herin wonder and awe. Everything is new. Nothing can be ordinaryor familiar for her. She is now the servant of the Lord as shebrings God’s dream to fulfillment in the world. Can we have thespirit of the little child, the sense of discovery of the young lovers,the awe of Mary?

The God of our faith is an awesome God, not because of power,nor of immensity. Our wonder comes from the reality that Godhas come to us where we are — in what we so often take forgranted, God’s love for us all. God touches us in what we see asso familiar and ordinary. We stand in awe of our God who hassuch love.

Ilia Delio, a Franciscan nun, theologian and scientist expresseshow our God is so awesome and why celebrating Christmas is sosignificant for us: We can read the history of our 13.7-billion-year-old universe as the rising up of Divine Love incarnate, whichbursts forth in the person of Jesus, who reveals love’s urge toward

wholeness through reconciliation,mercy, peace, and forgiveness. Je-sus is the love of God incarnate….Christian life is a commitment to love, to give birth to God inone’s own life and to become midwives of divinity in this evolvingcosmos. We are to be wholemakers (unity builders) of love in aworld of change. (Quoted by Richard Rohr, Online Reflection 7December 20)

Somewhere in the midst of the ordinary and familiar of our liveswe discover this great gift of awe and wonder. This is what wecelebrate in Christmas — Emmanuel, God is with us.

Father John Jennings, retired priest of the Diocese of Saint Johnand St. Thomas University, reflects on the previous Sunday read-ings with the intent to be a form of on-going adult faith forma-tion. He can be reached at: [email protected]. §

Our sacred stories:God and us

Father JOHN JENNINGS

extends warm Christmas wishesto all its members, their families

& all our volunteers who assist theKnights in their activities.

Msgr. W.J. OsborneKnights of Columbus

Council #6770

Knights of Columbus4th Degree

Rev. Père Carl HickeyAssembly 1940


“Care for Our Common Home”

Wishes for a Happy and Holy Christmas.May the New Year bring

joy and peace into our lives.

New BrunswickProvincial Council of theCatholic Women’s Leagueof Canada

Opinion: Pondering the ‘I’ in Christmas: The ChosenBy FATHER JOHN RODERICK, FSCB

A few months ago I was introduced to a new television seriescalled The Chosen through a commentary on a Catholic news site. Idecided to check it out, discovering on YouTube the Christmas pilot

episode and the subsequent 8 episodes of the first season.The Chosen is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus Christ

and his followers. It is created and directed by the American film-maker Dallas Jenkins and tells the story of the life of Jesus throughthe eyes of those who encountered him. A unique fact about thisseries is that it is funded solely by its supporters through crowd-funding (with over 19 000 individuals offering financial contribu-tions) and has raised more than 10 million dollars, making it the larg-est crowd-funded project ever. The second season will be released inthe new year.

Before the pandemic, I lived and worked as a missionary priest inBogotá, Colombia. I returned home to Canada at the beginning of thepandemic for health reasons but continue my ministry (through Zoomand telephone) as a chaplain and teacher at an all-boys private school,

and by accompanying a group of young adults that meets at myparish. During these long months, I have continued to meet my stu-dents each week for catechism classes, and every Saturday night, Ijoin the young adults for a moment of catechesis called “school ofcommunity”.

Throughout these months when it had not been possible to be physi-cally present and to share daily life with those entrusted to me inBogota, I have been looking for creative ways to accompany themand to communicate the life of the Church. I wondered if it was evenstill possible when we were thousands of miles apart. My desire tocommunicate the faith is what drew me to The Chosen.

The title itself, The Chosen, is an important element to understand-ing the development of the series. What strikes me the most is howthe unique characters of the New Testament are developed in light oftheir vocations, their personal callings by Jesus. The stories of MaryMagdalene, Andrew and his brother Simon, Matthew the tax collec-tor, and in a special way Nicodemus, are told through their personalcalling and meeting with the Lord. What binds this diverse band ofcharacters together is how they were called and chosen by the Lordhimself.

The viewer is introduced to their personal journeys and the dramaand search for meaning that each of these characters lived duringtheir time with Jesus. We learn of their circumstances and difficultieswhich at times hindered their ability to recognize how the presence ofJesus corresponded to their hearts and their deepest longings. Thereis also a good element of humour and irony in the script which makesit enjoyable to watch. I will never forget when Andrew ran to hisbrother Simon telling him that he has found the Lamb of God, andSimon, the struggling fishermen, looked confusedly at his brothersaying: “Why are you speaking to me about lambs, when I can onlythink of fish?”

Why do I want to share this with the people whom I accompany inColumbia? The Chosen reminds us that we too are invited to view ourown personal faith journey in light of the humanity and experience ofthe first disciples. We are invited to place ourselves in the shoes ofSimon Peter, of Mary Magdalene and the others, and to recognizehow our personal experience and search for God is no different thantheirs. Each of us has a heart that longs for the truth and meaning andfinds its fulfilment in the encounter with Jesus Christ.

Like these historical figures, through our baptism, we have alsobeen called and chosen by God. We are invited to live our lives as“vocation”, that is, as a continual responding to the call of God whichreaches us through the sacraments and the life of the Church, as wellas through the concreteness of our daily circumstances and difficul-ties. We are called to live a relationship of familiarity with Jesus andthe Father, in the same way as the first chosen followers of Jesus did.

During this Advent and Christmas season, let us ask to be renewedby the life of the Church and its sacramental life. Let us ask to be re-awakened by Jesus’ presence that seeks to encounter and call us inthe concreteness of our daily circumstances of our personal voca-tions. As we ponder the birth of the baby Jesus this Christmas, let’snot forget that he came to seek out a personal relationship with eachone of us. Let’s ponder the “I” in Christmas.

For more information, please visit the series’ site: https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen.

Father John Roderick, FSCB is a member of Fraternidad Sacerdo-tal de los Misioneros de San Carlos Borromeo. He is from Saint John.§

Jonathan Roumie as Jesus Christ in The Chosen. ( Web imagefrom The Chosen)


Joy to the worldAt Christmas time, we celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth.Here are ways to retain that joy all year long.

By MONSIGNOR PETER J/ VAGHI

Reprinted with permission St. Anthony Messenger, December 2018

In 1975, St. Paul VI wrote in his encyclical On Christian Joy that“technological society has succeeded in multiplying the opportunitiesfor pleasure, but it has great difficulty in generating joy.” Not muchhas changed since then.

Almost 40 years later, Pope Francis took up the same topic. In hisfirst apostolic exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, issued in 2013, hewrites: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all whoencounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set freefrom sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness. With Christ, joy isconstantly born anew” (1).

Jesus is the gift of joy incarnate. That is what we celebrate everyChristmas and every day, but it is especially at the heart of our ex-pectant joy in the Advent season. Jesus is near to us in a specialfashion at this time of the year. He gives lasting joy to our hearts.

What is joy?When we speak of joy, we are not speaking of some fleeting emo-

tion or merely a good or gushy feeling. It is, for sure, much deeper.Joy, properly understood, is the source of true happiness, reflectedso often by a genuine smile. Chara, the word in Greek for “joy,” issimilar to the Greek word for “grace” (charis). So when we readabout joy in Scripture, we should think of the related concept ofgrace. There is a deeper reality to the meaning of joy. Most of uscannot adequately describe joy, but we know it when we see orexperience it.

In his apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera, Pope Francis writes:“Mercy gives rise to joy, because our hearts are opened to the hopeof a new life. . . . How meaningful in this regard are the words ofencouragement found in an early Christian text: ‘Clothe yourselves injoy, which always is agreeable and acceptable to God, and rejoice init. . . .’ The experience of mercy brings joy. May we never allow thisjoy to be robbed from us by our troubles and concerns. May it re-main rooted in our hearts and enable us to approach with serenity theevents of our daily lives” (3).

This joy gives deeper meaning to the good news. It is that whichJesus announced in the Gospel, that he lived in his very person, allthat was prophesied especially from our Advent prophet Isaiah: “Theblind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deafhear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news pro-claimed to them” (Mt 11:5).

Joy in Jesus’ timeIn Jesus’ humanity, he routinely experienced our earthly joys. St.

Paul VI wrote that “he willingly extols the joy of the sower and theharvester, the joy of the man who finds a hidden treasure, the joy ofthe shepherd who recovers his sheep or of the woman who finds herlost coin, the joy of those invited to the feast, the joy of a marriagecelebration, the joy of the father who embraces his son returningfrom a prodigal life, and the joy of the woman who has just broughther child into the world. For Jesus, these joys are real because forhim they are the signs of the spiritual joys of the kingdom of God: the

joy of people who enterthis kingdom, return thereor work there, the joy ofthe Father who welcomesthem” (“Gaudete InDomino,” 3).

Joy was integral to Je-sus’ life. On the night be-fore he suffered and died,he reminded his apostlesto remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be inyou and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: loveone another as I love you” (Jn 15:11–12).

Jesus told them that they would be sorrowful over his departure,but that “your grief will become joy,” and that “your hearts will re-joice, and no one will take your joy away from you. . . . Until now,you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, sothat your joy may be complete” (Jn 16:20–24). Despite his terriblesuffering out of love for you and me, Jesus understood it as a joy toredeem us and be our saviour.

But how do we come to the joy of Jesus in our day?

Finding joy this AdventC.S. Lewis used the phrase surprised by joy to describe the over-

whelming realization that we are extraordinarily happy. It is perhapsthe most vivid experience most of us have of the reality of the resur-rection of Jesus. This is not unlike the Risen One appearing to thedisciples and showing them his hands and feet; Luke tells us theywere “incredulous for joy” (Lk 24:41). We have instinctively experi-enced in our own lives the joy that only Jesus can give.

We need to pray for that “incredulous” gift every day. Here are fiveways we can experience the joy of Christ in our lives.

Live like Jesus. Joy is a product of being like Christ. To experiencethe joy of Christ, we are called to live like Jesus: to follow his exam-ple, to encounter him daily, and to listen actively for his voice. Wemust come to know him more deeply through the Gospels and in ourprayer lives.

Jesus’ whole life was one of sharing and of giving and manifestinga deep joy in life. We live like Jesus when we donate our coats andfood, when we share our livelihood with those in need, when we giveof ourselves to our families and friends, and when we serve others asvolunteers.

Listen for Jesus’ voice in others. The voice of Jesus’ followers canchange our lives and make us joyful. Two good examples are Maryand our other Advent witness, John the Baptist.

As Mary greeted Elizabeth, who was with child, Elizabeth wouldsay that “at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44).

Fast-forward to the final witness of John the Baptist — no longerthe baby in the womb: “You yourselves can testify that I said [that] Iam not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him. The one who hasthe bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens forhim, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of minehas been made complete” (Jn 3:28–29).



Christmas Blessings to Residents,Families, Staff & Volunteers

fromROCMAURA NURSING HOME

Board of Directors & ManagementMay The Christ ChildFind A Home In YourHearts This Christmas

(continued from page 6)In our own prayer, does the voice of Jesus, or of Mary, who cried

out that “my spirit rejoices in God my saviour” (Lk 1:47), ever causeus to rejoice or leap for joy?

Reconcile your heart. I invite you to celebrate the Sacrament ofReconciliation during this Advent season. As Pope Francis writes,“How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost!”(“Joy of the Gospel,” 3).

The pope in a homily reminds us that we should take on the char-acter of the good thief in this sacrament. He says: “This person,simply looking at Jesus, believed in his kingdom. He was not closedin on himself, but rather — with his errors, his sins, and his troubles— he turned to Jesus. He asked to be remembered, and he experi-enced God’s mercy: ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’” (Hom-ily, Christ the King, November 20, 2016).

In the parable of the lost coin, Jesus spoke of the joy of forgive-ness: “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repentsthan over 99 righteous people who have no need of repentance” (Lk15:7). For us, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the sacrament ofmerciful joy.

Ask for consolation. In Pope Francis’ October 24, 2016, discourseto members of the Society of Jesus, he called on his brother Jesuits to“ask insistently for God’s consolation.” This approach should alsoapply to our own efforts to walk with each other spiritually, to dis-cern the grace of joy in our hearts, and to help others to make thatdiscernment as well.

One cannot give a good piece of news with a sad face. Joy is notonly decorative; it is also a clear indicator of grace. It shows that loveis active, working, and present. For this reason, in an age of instant

gratification and unabated consumption, the search for joy should notbe confused with the search for “a spiritual effect,” when our exis-tential identity is more concerned with long-lasting effects. Prayerfuldiscernment should be for us a way to live in the joy of Christ andhelp others enjoy this spiritual consolation as well.

Share the joy of Jesus. A joy shared is a joy ever new. And thathappens every time we have a new encounter with Jesus himself inthe power of the Holy Spirit, as he shares his joy with us. Sometimeswe need our joy restored.

We meet the Lord Jesus in the joy of spreading his name and hislove, of being missionary disciples. That must be our daily approach— a joyful invitation of his joy to others. It might mean taking theinitiative to invite our friends and family members to come home forChristmas this year.

Pope Francis, in The Joy of the Gospel, tells us: “The Gospel, radi-ant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. .. . ‘Rejoice!’ is the angel’s greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28). . . . In her songof praise, Mary proclaims: ‘My spirit rejoices in God my saviour’ (Lk1:47). . . . [Jesus’] message brings us joy: ‘I have said these things to

you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be com-plete’ (Jn 15:11)” (5). Each of us should enter this “great stream ofjoy”—the joy in spreading the joyful news about Jesus and encoun-tering his joy in the process.Jesus, the source of our joy

From the very beginning, Jesus gave what was most valuable —his precious time — often from early morning till late at night. Heforgave sins. He healed the sick and raised the dead to life. He ulti-mately gave his own life out of love. Jesus, the Joy who died, becamelife forever — our life, the source of our joy.

It is what each of us is challenged to do. It is our access to the joyof Jesus. To live like Jesus brings us “home for Christmas.” It bringsus into the source of his life, the deep joy that is Jesus, the cause ofour joy and the peace that our world desperately seeks. It should notbe our greatest secret.

G.K. Chesterton wrote in his book Orthodoxy: “Joy, which was thesmall publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”So often it seems to be the best-kept secret in this world of ours. Yetit is a gift that the world — especially our world in these very chal-lenging times — needs desperately to receive and hear, especiallyfrom those of us who call ourselves Christians.

Rejoice always! In so doing we meet Jesus. Allow him to stir thejoy embedded in each of us, the expectant joy of this special seasonof Advent love.

Monsignor Peter J. Vaghi is pastor of the Church of the Little Flowerin Bethesda, Maryland, and a priest of the Archdiocese of Washing-ton. The author of Meeting God in the Upper Room: Three Momentsto Change Your Life (Servant), Msgr. Vaghi has previously writtenarticles for America, Priest, and Our Sunday Visitor. §

Joy to the world

Live like Jesus.Listen for Jesus’ voice in others.

Reconcile your heart.Ask for consolation.

Share the joy of Jesus


May the spirit ofthe Christmas

seasonfill you & yourfamilies withhope & peace.

199 Chesley Drive, Suite 204, Saint John • Tel: 634-8295

Hoping all theHoping all theHoping all theHoping all theHoping all thebright days of yourbright days of yourbright days of yourbright days of yourbright days of your

ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmaswill glow with delight.will glow with delight.will glow with delight.will glow with delight.will glow with delight.

ThanksThanksThanksThanksThanks

Pandemic a chance to bring Christ into children’s worldBy WENDY-ANN CLARKEThe Catholic Register

BARRY’S BAY, ON — Catholic parents seeking to help their chil-dren make sense of world events have had their work cut out forthem in 2020.

But Patrick Sullivan believes the pandemic, political divisions, socialjustice causes and seemingly endless tragedies around the world areall opportunities for parents to build more Christ-centred children.

“Right now, as much as there are crises and difficulties and stressesand frustrations, there’s also hidden amidst all of this a great gift,”said Mr. Sullivan, a father of nine and creator of Catholic parentingblog Me & My House.

“You have the opportunity right now to kind of take the magnifying

glass to your own home and say, ‘OK, what works for us? Whatdoesn’t work? What brings joy and peace to this home? What doesn’t?’Because we know that if the family goes right, the world goes right.”

Mr. Sullivan believes the home is a microcosm of the world withdaily occasions for the entire family to practise understanding andopenness to hearing different people’s perspectives. As those skillsare effectively built as a society, through the love of God, it eventuallybubbles over into the world at large.

“For example, I teach my son to try to understand where his sis-ter’s coming from,” said Mr. Sullivan, who with his wife Kyra re-sides in Barry’s Bay, ON, where they homeschool their children rang-ing in age from 14 to two months. “As they grow in a habit with that,they look at our neighbours. Then they look at maybe other friends inthe school settings and say, ‘Can I understand where they’re comingfrom?’ If we do that well, they’ll become habits and those habits willactually spill out and help those around us.”

While raising a young family, in 2014 Mr. Sullivan left a career ineducation to become a full-time Catholic lay evangelist. He began byteaching Bible studies in coffee shops around the Greater TorontoArea before launching Catholic media company Evango. He found intalking with parents there was a great thirst for Catholic parentingsupport. He was led, along with his team, to build resources to showmothers and fathers struggling with parenting guilt that they are notalone.

“What we do as a team is we tell parents, ‘We know you love yourkids,’?” said Mr. Sullivan. “Let’s start there and see can we becomebetter parents. Most often they are already doing the right things butjust need a couple of tips here and there and a couple techniques, andto hear from like-minded parents that can say, ‘I’ve been there tooand there’s help. There’s friendship. We are all on the same journey.’”

With the Christmas season upon us, Mr. Sullivan sees an(continued on page 9)

WILNO, ON — Patrick Sullivan with wife and eight of ninechildren. (Photo courtesy Sullivan family)


May the miracle ofMay the miracle ofMay the miracle ofMay the miracle ofMay the miracle ofChristmas fill your spiritChristmas fill your spiritChristmas fill your spiritChristmas fill your spiritChristmas fill your spirit

with peace & joywith peace & joywith peace & joywith peace & joywith peace & joythroughoutthroughoutthroughoutthroughoutthroughout

the holiday seasonthe holiday seasonthe holiday seasonthe holiday seasonthe holiday season& coming year& coming year& coming year& coming year& coming year.....

Grand Knight Sandy BastaracheKnights of ColumbusFarher Eugene O’LearyCouncil #6595

(continued from page 8)opportunity for families to builda home culture conducive to theneeds of their children by rein-forcing faith in the face of masscommercialization.

“Love it or hate, you’re goingto hear the (Christmas) stories,you’re going to see lights com-ing up in your neighbourhoodand for me, that is a great op-

portunity to kind of refocusthings with our kids and ourown family culture,” said Mr.Sullivan, a parishioner at St.Mary’s Church in Wilno, ON.“We ask, ‘Can you remember atime maybe from the Bible, ormaybe something from whatfather said at mass where lightsmattered, and really pointed to-wards something?’ Of course,for the earliest Christians, the starjust appeared. We call them backto experience the reason for theseason.”

With all that is happening glo-bally, Mr. Sullivan encouragesparents as they look at the stateof the world to not allow anxietyto fill their hearts. Instead, hesays, allow it to engender a senseof hope that as parents they areraising children who will be ableto one day change the world.

“I don’t think we should beworried,” said Mr. Sullivan. “Atthe end of the day, you and I, asparents, are being called to sendout missionaries into the world.We’re raising real weapons thatcan bring grace. In my case I’msending nine weapons into theworld that can really help to healand bring this world back togetheragain.”§

Children’s world

Nuns gave lives in testimony to GospelBy MICHAEL SWANThe Catholic Register

A Canadian missionary who,just an hour before the soldierscommitted their crime, cameface-to-face with men who rapedand murdered four U.S. church-women in El Salvador in 1980, isurging Canadians to remember themartyrdom of both the Americanmissionaries and the Salvadoranpeople.

“The importance of remember-ing these men and women, andmany of them were children bythe way, who gave their lives asliving testimony to the Gospel —it’s really important now,” FatherGreg Chisholm told The Catho-lic Register. “In 2020, especiallywith the pandemic, remembermany of those people who in dif-ficult times were willing to crea-tively respond and go against thegrain, if you would, putting their

SAN SALVADOR — The tomb of Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford andMaura Clarke, December 1, 2020, the eve of the 40th anniversaryof their assassination in the Central American nation. (CNS photo/Rhina Guidos)

lives on the line.”On the 40th anniversary of the

killing of Maryknoll Sisters ItaFord and Marua Clarke, UrsulineSister Dorothy Kazel and lay mis-sionary Jean Donovan, CanadianCardinal Michael Czerny relied onChisholm’s testimony aboutevents of December 2, 1980 inhis homily for a Mass in Rome inmemory of the American martyrs.

“They witnessed to a lovingGod whose preferential love is forthe poor and marginalized,” Car-dinal Czerny said after reading Fr.Chisholm’s account of events thatled to the discovery of the wom-en’s beaten and desecrated bod-ies in a shallow grave near El Sal-vador’s main airport. “They didso, not so much with words as

by re-enacting and indeed re-in-carnating what today’s Gospelrecounts: ‘The lame, the crippled,the blind, the dumb and manyothers’ were ‘put down at hisfeet and Jesus cured them.’ ”

Cardinal Czerny himself livedand worked in El Salvador 30years ago, taking the place of oneof six Jesuits murdered at theUniversity of Central America in1989 along with their housekeeper and her daughter.

In December of 1980, Fr.Chisholm had arrived in San Sal-vador just an hour before the fourU.S. churchwomen were to ar-rive from Managua, Nicaragua.He was there representing Cana-da’s Interchurch Committee on



Show the world the joy of faith, pope saysBy CINDY WOODENCatholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Joy shouldbe the hallmark of a Christian'slife, a reflection of knowing thatone is loved by God, saved byJesus Christ and committed toleading others to him, PopeFrancis said.

"The closer the Lord is to us,the more joy we feel; the fartheraway he is, the more sadness wefeel. This is a rule for Christians,"the pope said December 13,Gaudete Sunday.

Speaking to visitors in St. Pe-ter's Square for the noon recita-tion of the Angelus prayer, PopeFrancis told them, "Once a phi-losopher said something more or

less like this: 'I do not understandhow one can believe today, be-cause those who say they believehave a face from a funeral wake.'"

"Many Christians have that face— yes, a face from a funeralwake, a face of sadness," thepope said. "But Christ is risen!Christ loves you! And you haveno joy?"

As the celebration of Christmasapproached, Pope Francis askedChristians to think about how theycommunicate the joy of beingloved and saved.

"Think well today: how do Ibehave? Am I a joyful personwho knows how to transmit thejoy of being Christian, or am Ialways like those sad people, as Isaid before, who seem to be at a

funeral wake?" the pope said. "IfI do not have the joy of my faith,I cannot bear witness and otherswill say, 'But if faith is so sad, itis better not to have it.'"

Mary, Joseph and John theBaptist knew joyful expectationand the happiness of seeing theSaviour arrive, the pope said.

And all three of them, he said,always pointed to Jesus, never tothemselves.

"The Lord is always at the cen-tre," and the saints point to him,the pope said. "One who does notindicate the Lord is not holy."

John the Baptist is a model forall those in the church who arecalled to proclaim Christ to oth-ers," he said. They must do so"only by detaching from them-

selves and from worldliness, by notattracting people to themselves butdirecting them toward Jesus."

After reciting the Angelus, PopeFrancis spoke directly to a fewchildren in the square and manyothers watching the Angelus ontheir computers or on television.

Gaudete Sunday usually is theday that Rome children bring thebaby Jesus figurines from the Na-tivity scenes they are preparing tothe Vatican for the pope's blessing.

After blessing the figurines, thepope told the children, "When youpray at home, before the Nativityscene with your families, allowyourselves to be drawn by thetenderness of baby Jesus, bornpoor and frail among us, in orderto give us his love." §

Pope says Vatican City will aim for net-zero carbon emissionsBy CAROL GLATZCatholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- PopeFrancis pledged Vatican City Statewould achieve net-zero carbonemissions before the year 2050,and he urged everyone in theworld to be part of a new cultureof care for others and the planet.

"The time has come for achange in direction. Let us not robthe new generations of their hopein a better future," he said in avideo message for a global sum-mit.

Pope Francis was one of about75 leaders who contributed tothe Climate Ambition Summit,which was held online mid-De-cember. Co-hosted by the UnitedNations, the United Kingdom andFrance, and in partnership withChile and Italy, the meetingmarked the fifth anniversary ofthe Paris Agreement on climatechange.

During the meeting, the lead-ers renewed or strengthened in-vestment pledges and commit-ments to cut greenhouse gasemissions and achieve carbonneutrality.

Some 24 leaders announced atthe summit their commitment for

VATICAN CITY — Solar panels are seen on the roof of the PaulVI audience hall at the Vatican in this Dec. 1, 2010, file photo. Ina videomessage, Pope Francis told the Virtual Climate AmbitionSummit that Vatican City is aiming for net zero carbonemissions. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

net-zero emissions, which wouldbe achieving a balance betweengreenhouse gas emissions pro-duced and greenhouse gas emis-sions taken out of the atmos-phere, for example by switchingto "green" energy and sustainableagriculture, increasing energy ef-ficiency and reforestation.

In his message, Pope Francissaid everyone has a responsibil-ity "to promote, with a collectivecommitment and solidarity, a cul-ture of care, which places humandignity and the common good atthe centre."

That means there are somemeasures that can no longer bepostponed, he said, including im-plementing strategies to reducenet emissions to zero.

The Holy See is committed tothis objective, he said.

Vatican City State will work toreduce net emissions to zero by2050, he said, and it will continueto strengthen and expand its ef-forts toward greater energy effi-ciency, improved resource man-agement, sustainable transporta-tion and waste management, andreforestation.

The Holy See also is commit-ted to promoting a greater under-standing of integral ecology, he said.

"Politics and technology mustunite behind an educational proc-ess which favours a culturalmodel of development andsustainability focused on frater-nity and an alliance between hu-man beings and the environment,"he said.

In a written message for thesummit, Cardinal Peter Turkson,prefect of the Vatican Dicasteryfor Promoting Integral HumanDevelopment, said more must bedone to help the poor and theplanet.

"God has entrusted us with thisplanet and its wonderful re-sources," he wrote, appealing toworld leaders to look at earth'sassets as a common good for allpeople and to focus much moreon those who are the poorest andmost vulnerable.

Governments should also stopinvesting in fossil fuels and helppoor communities who need sus-tainable and "green" energy.

"We are one human family andwe can only count on each otherfor taking care of our commonhome," he added.§


By NATASHA MAZEROLLECorrespondent

SAINT JOHN — As Catholicsacross the diocese prepare to cel-ebrate Christmas, every person iswell aware that things will be dif-ferent this year. As faithful thereare many ways in which we willneed to be patient and flexible aswe come to mass over the Christ-mas season.

In a December 15 interviewwith Terri Wallace for her radioshow Town Talk on Oldies 96.1FM in Saint John, Bishop Chris-tian Riesbeck, CC, of the Dioceseof Saint John, spoke about wel-coming people into the churchesover the Christmas season, sothey can encounter the love ofJesus. “People really want to par-ticipate, they’re finding consola-tion coming to church and wewant to make them feel wel-come,” he said. “We’ve been fol-lowing the direction of the gov-ernment, and we have some ro-bust protocols in place — wewant people to feel safe and to besafe.”

A Christmas like no otherWhile the diocese remains in

the less restrictive yellow level ofrecovery, faith gatherings mustrestrict the number of partici-pants to the amount that can beaccommodated with physicaldistancing. To accommodate asmany possible, special permis-sion has been granted to begincelebrating vigil masses at 2:00pm on Christmas eve. Whileeach parish has its own sched-ule — people are encouraged tocontact their local parishes formass times and to register —Bishop Riesbeck said that extramasses have been added at theCathedral of the ImmaculateConception in Saint John to af-ford the opportunity to attendChristmas mass to as many faith-ful as possible.

Bishop Riesbeck is encouragedby the number of people whohave already registered forChristmas masses at the Cathe-dral. “We’ve been surprised bythe response, we’re already fill-ing up with the different masses,”he said. “We’re not at capacity,but already some of the early

masses especially, we’re up to 50after just the first day of registra-tion, so that bodes well,” he said.

Asked about his message topeople during this unusual Christ-mas season, Bishop Riesbeck re-sponded that, “we’ve been endur-ing lockdowns and restrictions,and a lot of people have suffered.So I thank them for their patience,and I would tell them that Jesusdoesn’t abandon us. He’sEmmanuel — God with us, and

he comes to satisfy the deepestlongings of our hearts.” He wenton to say, “this is an opportunityto really embrace our missionaryidentity as a church, to reach outto those in need. Especially to notforget those that are sufferingfrom loneliness and isolation.”

Natasha Mazerolle is a corre-spondent for The New Freeman.She can be reached [email protected]. §

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John

Nativity scene is reminder of hope amid suffering, pope saysBy JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVESCatholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The imageof baby Jesus nestled in the man-ger is a much-needed reminder dur-ing the pandemic that God gives the

ter's Square — the pope said thatChristmas "reminds us that Jesusis our peace, our joy, our strength,our comfort."

"But, to receive these gifts ofgrace, we need to feel small, poorand humble like the characters ofthe Nativity scene. Even in thisChristmas, amid the suffering of thepandemic, Jesus — small and de-fenceless — is the 'sign' that Godgives to the world," he said.

The Nativity scene featured sev-eral life-sized ceramic statues in acontemporary art style that "has itsroots in the traditional working ofCastelli's ceramics," said a statementfrom the commission.

The cylindrical ceramic statuessurrounding Joseph, Mary and babyJesus included a bagpiper, a shep-herdess holding a jug and even anastronaut, meant to reference thehistory of ancient art and scientificachievements in the world.

VATICAN CITY — The Nativity scene is pictured in St. Peter'sSquare after a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the VaticanDecember. 11, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

world the gift of hope in troubledtimes, Pope Francis said.

Meeting with delegations fromCastelli in Italy's Abruzzo region andfrom Kocevje, Slovenia — respon-sible, respectively, for the Nativityscene and Christmas tree in St. Pe-

The Christmas tree in St. Peter'sSquare was a 98-foot-tall redspruce tree, which hails from oneof the "most intact" forest reservesin Slovenia, the statement added.

Thanking the delegations for theirgifts, the pope said that "this year,more than ever, they are a sign ofhope for the Roman people and forthose pilgrims who will have theopportunity to come and admirethem."

Both the tree and the Nativityscene, Pope Francis said, create "afavourable Christmas atmosphere"that helps Christians "live the mys-tery of the Redeemer's birth withfaith."

"In the creche, everything speaksof the 'good' poverty, the evangeli-cal poverty, that makes us blessed,"he said. "By contemplating the HolyFamily and the various characters,we are attracted by their disarminghumility."§


SAINT JOHN — Judy Burnham (left), principal of Divine MercyCatholic School in Saint John, and Bishop Christian Riesbeck,CC of the Diocese of Saint John hold up an image of the Nativityscene while physically distancing themselves. The image is agift from the bishop to the school. (Natasha Mazerolle photo)

Joy of Christmas resoundsBy NATASHA MAZEROLLECorrespondent

SAINT JOHN — Students ofDivine Mercy Catholic School(DMCS) were doubly blessed onWednesday, December 16. Notonly was it the last day of classesbefore Christmas break, but theywere visited by their bishop, whocame to celebrate mass andpresent them with a special gift.

There was a tangible joy as thestudents filed one by one into theschool’s chapel for mass withBishop Christian Riesbeck, CC ofthe Diocese of Saint John. An airof enthusiasm was evident in thelively responses that came toevery question he asked, seem-ingly fueling an energy and pas-sion in the bishop as he respondedto them with corresponding joy.“Jesus is God and he fulfills hispromises — that’s why we’re soexcited for Christmas, and aboutwhat he’s done for us, and whathe continues to do for us,” the

bishop said.Just before the closing prayer

Bishop Riesbeck made a specialpresentation. A chorus of “ooohs”and “aaaahs” filled the chapel asprincipal Judy Burnham openeda festive bag, containing a beau-tiful image of the Nativity. Not-ing that Christmas is celebrateduntil the feast of the Baptism ofthe Lord (second week of Janu-ary), the bishop told the childrenthey would be able to enjoy theirgift even after they returned fromChristmas break. The wholeschool was delighted as Ms.Burnham said, “every year whenwe celebrate Christmas, we’llremember this is a gift fromBishop Christian, that he’s think-ing about us and that he loves us.”

The impact of DMCS on thelives of its students and the widercommunity cannot be under-stated. As a guest to the school,one immediately notes the familyatmosphere and sense of love thatexists among the teachers and the

students, overflowing even tovisitors. Like many non-profitorganizations, the pandemic hasgreatly impacted their ability toraise funds, most notably result-ing in the cancelling of the

school’s biggest annual fund-raiser, the Spiritus Dinner, usu-ally held in November and whichtypically raises $30,000. BoardTreasurer Jeff Scammell shared that



2020 Christmas Drawing contest winner Grades 1-3: Charlotte, Grade 1 2020 Christmas Drawing contest winner Grades 4-6: Mitzi, Grade 5

2020 Christmas Drawing contest winner Grades 7-8: Leah, Grade 8

(continued from page 12)because of this, DMCS is relyingeven more on the generous sup-port of donors. “There is nodoubt that the school brings valueto the community,” he said. “Weare working on a five-yearsustainability plan that would en-sure the school can remain partof the community, and donationswill be the biggest determiningfactor in this plan.”

Please consider supportingDMCS. Your generosity will helpto ensure that the joy of Christcan be proclaimed, fostered andlived out within its walls for manyyears to come. Visitwww.divinemercycatholicschool.ca/makedonation to donate.

Natasha Mazerolle is a corre-spondent for The New Freeman.She can be reached [email protected].§

Joy of Christmas


Merry Christmas fromWhelly & Company

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Father Ho Lung’s people of hopeBy WENDY-ANN CLARKEThe Catholic Register

If you’ve never heard theLord’s Prayer set to Caribbeanrhythm, with all the colourful vi-brancy and distinctness of reg-gae percussion and vocals, thenyou’ve never heard the ministryof Father Richard Ho Lung.

Founder of Missionaries of thePoor (MOP), a pontifical orderthat began in Kingston, Jamaica,in 1981, the now 81-year-oldpriest seamlessly melds theweight and tradition of Catholicservice with the relaxed vibe andcoolness of the Jamaican cultureinto which he was born and bred.

After 40 years of feeding theworld’s most destitute whileperforming in plays and record-ing Catholic reggae albums toinvite people to Christ, all thewhile raising financial supportfor the missions, Fr. Ho Lungsays he has put his trust and con-fidence in the Lord for his con-

tinued guidance and provision.With many people sufferingacross the world in a year ofunprecedented challenges, hecontinues to stand in the faith,hope and positivity that has car-ried him through decades ofministry leadership across the

globe.“I want people to raise their

hearts to God even in this time ofdifficulty,” said Fr. Ho Lung viaZoom in his signature Jamaicanaccent. “They must be a peopleof hope. We’ve got to be moreand more focused on the life of

Christ and the great, great prom-ises that have been given to all ofus.”

Since its inception, MOP hassupported the elderly, mentallychallenged, disabled, HIV-infectedand now coronavirus patients.


KINGSTON, JAMAICA — Father Richard Ho Lung is surrounded by dancers in one of the theatricalproductions he performs to invite people to Christ. (Missionaries of the Poor photo)


Merry Christmas& Happy New Year

from

Trevor HolderMinister

Post-Secondary Education,Training & Labour

(continued from page 14)The ministry, maintained throughdonations and the work of vol-unteers and benefactors, has ex-panded to 10 impoverished na-tions, including Haiti, Indonesia,Uganda, India, the Philippines andKenya.

With MOP offices located inCanada, the United States andUnited Kingdom, a large portionof the ministry’s funding over theyears has come from the gener-ous support of North Americans.

Canada was the first nation out-side Jamaica to welcome con-certs and plays to raise funds, saidFr. Ho Lung.

“The evangelization and the cul-tural exchange have been tremen-dous. We’ve received every pos-sible type of help you can imag-ine from Canadians. We’ve gottenfunding, food, educational sup-plies, clothing and volunteershave come to us.”

Like many charities, Fr. HoLung says MOP has seen a sig-nificant dip in funding this yeardue to uncertainties surroundingthe coronavirus. An outbreak atthe homes in Kingston has inten-sified the situation there for theroughly 500 individuals in need.

Thankfully, he says of the 75 cli-ents who tested positive forCOVID-19, all have recovered orare asymptotic and doing well. Ofthe brothers staffing the minis-try, 22 have also tested positivewith one remaining in seriouscondition.

Currently in the Philippines,what was supposed to be a shortvisit to the mission there early thisyear has turned into severalmonths for Fr. Ho Lung who hasnot been able to return to Jamaicadue to COVID-19 border clo-sures. He has been staying closelyconnected with updates from theMOP team currently working onthe ground in Jamaica. Thoughhe longs to be back home, he’sconfident that the faith and resil-ient spirit that has carried MOPall these years as an organizationand as a people will help it throughthis crisis.

“I was telling the brothers herethat in Jamaica when we cry, weend up singing a song as we cryand that spirit never, ever leavesus,” said Fr. Ho Lung, who hasbrought the songs of Jamaica tothe missions in the Philippines aswell. “I’ve heard of a number ofvery good friends who have suf-

fered (from COVID-19), somein cases of death too. They arepeople of faith so there’s a sensethat somehow God is going tocarry us to a much, much betterplace, and we’re going to beshocked and surprised at howwonderful it is.”

Despite the challenges, Fr. HoLung has made the best of histime in the Philippines, training theyoung brothers in the ministryand writing 30 new songs and anew theatrical production. Theteam hopes that as the situationimproves globally and restrictionsare lifted to be able to bring theproduction around the world, in-cluding to the Greater TorontoArea with its large Jamaicandiaspora who have supportedMOP productions in the past.

“We have a lot of Jamaicans inour city and a lot of them are veryaware of Fr. Ho Lung because Ithink he would be considered tomany a national hero,” said SeraRossi, president of MOP Canadaand a former educator with theToronto Catholic District SchoolBoard. “When he comes up hereand he does a show, many peo-ple (in the Jamaican community)find out and come to watch. It’s

absolutely beautiful to see. It’s allabout helping (MOP) to do thework of helping the poor.”

Due to demands of the minis-try and the various physical andcognitive conditions suffered bythe population living at the Jamai-can missions, it has been diffi-cult to get residents to adhere tocertain health protocols such aswearing masks, hand washingand social distancing. Despitechallenges Fr. Ho Lung says heis grateful not to have lost anylives to date and is confident theywill have the faith and the strengthof character to get to the otherside of this.

“Jamaican people are a differ-ent kind of people,” said Fr. HoLung. “They, they just keep ongoing.”

As MOP prepares to celebrate40 years of ministry in 2021, Fr.Ho Lung says seeing God’s handthrough the missions’ service tothose in need has been and willcontinue to be the delight of hisheart.

“What I glory in the Lord in isthe amazing work that He has al-lowed us to do,” said Fr. Ho Lung.“We have hundreds and hundredsof people that we care for. To seedaily these people rising and hav-ing a breakfast prayer and justbeing joyful and peaceful havingwater and people to help to takecare of them, that gives me ab-solutely the greatest joy. And thenthere are the brothers who givetheir lives over to the service ofthe poorest of people and that’sbeautiful.

“Also, I can’t deny that the mu-sic has been a source of won-der.”

In addition to funding, Fr. HoLung says the greatest need forthe mission in Jamaica and aroundthe world is volunteers as manyhave been unable to serve due toconcerns around transmitting thevirus to vulnerable family mem-bers.

For information on MOP seecanadahelps.org/en/charities/mis-sionaries-of-the-poor-canada-inc.§

Father Ho Lung’s people of hope


541 Rothesay Avenue,Unit 203, Saint John, NB

E2J 2C6Phone: 506-634-1282

[email protected]

Change continues in Ottawa as pope’s representative to Canada leaves at end of the yearBy BRIAN DRYDENCanadian Catholic News

OTTAWA — If there is one wordto describe 2020 and the CatholicChurch in Canada’s capital city —that word would be change.

The year 2020 has seen majorchanges within the CatholicChurch in Ottawa as the Dioceseof Alexandria-Cornwall mergedwith Ottawa to create the newArchdiocese of Ottawa-Corn-wall, Ottawa ArchbishopTerrence Prendergast retired inDecember and ArchbishopMarcel Damphousse held his firstmass as the new spiritual leaderof Ottawa’s Catholics on Decem-ber 8, and now there is anothermajor change within the churchthat will take place just before theend of year.

The Holy See’s official repre-sentative to Canada who is basedin Ottawa is leaving after PopeFrancis announced on December10 that Archbishop Luigi Bonazziis being transferred to a new post-ing in Albania. ArchbishopBonazzi, 72, was appointed asnuncio to Canada back in Decem-ber 2013 and has represented theHoly See in Ottawa as, in essence,the pope’s ambassador to Canadafor seven years, a relatively longtime for such a posting.

Monsignor Matjaz Roter, whois first secretary of the ApostolicNunciature in Canada, said thechange to the Holy See’s diplo-matic representative in Canadawill officially take place on De-cember 27 when ArchbishopBonazzi leaves Canada. So far,who will take ArchbishopBonazzi’s place as the nuncio toCanada has not been announced.

“That is the big question,” saidMsgr. Roter in an interview withthe Canadian Catholic News.

As the highest ranking diplo-matic staff member of the Apos-tolic Nunciature in Canada, Msgr.Roter will be the senior Holy Seediplomat in Canada as of Decem-ber 27 until Pope Francis namesArchbishop Bonazzi’s successor.

Msgr. Roter said ArchbishopBonazzi did not ask to change hispost, but that the change is notnecessarily unexpected.

“Is it sudden, yes, but was itexpected, maybe yes because thenuncio has been here for sevenyears and that is a long time,”Msgr. Roter said, adding thatArchbishop Bonazzi has writtenpersonal letters to all Catholicbishops in Canada and to allCatholic organizations in Canadaonce he learned that he would beleaving before the end of the year.

The news that ArchbishopBonazzi would be leaving Canadaat this time came as a surprise tosome of those in the CatholicChurch in Ottawa who haveworked most closely with Arch-bishop Bonazzi during his time asnuncio.

“His appointment to Albaniawas a surprise,” said ArchbishopPrendergast, who worked closelywith Archbishop Bonazzi when hewas Ottawa’s archbishop.

“The Holy Father has just giventhem a wonderful Christmaspresent,” said ArchbishopPrendergast of ArchbishopBonazzi’s move to Albania.

Earlier this month when Arch-bishop Prendergast held his finalmass as Ottawa-Cornwall arch-bishop on December 3, Arch-bishop Bonazzi attended andspoke at the service at Ottawa’sNotre-Dame Cathedral.

Archbishop Prendergast toldthe Canadian Catholic News thathe always appreciated Arch-bishop Bonazzi’s support duringhis time as nuncio to Canada.

“When I wrote my Christmasgreetings to Archbishop BonazziI said I would miss him, that is

his joy, his positive outlook on life— amid the difficulties for theChurch — and his enthusiasticsupport of the pope and hisbrother bishops,” ArchbishopPrendergast said, adding that asthe pope’s representative to


OTTAWA — Nuncio to Canada Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi speaksat Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral on December 3. Pope Francishas just appointed Bonazzi as the new Nuncio to Albania. Heleaves Canada on December 27 for his new diplomatic post.(Brian Dryden photo)


(continued from page 16)Canada Archbishop Bonazzi always respected other people's opinions.

“The outcome of my views on certain issues were not always ac-cording to my recommendations or preferences, but I always feltheard and my opinions respected,” Archbishop Prendergast said.

“That’s important in the Church. Invariably I have come away fromour exchanges lifted up in consolation,” Archbishop Prendergast said,adding that one of Archbishop Bonazzi’s favourite scripture passagesis Romans 8.28, "We know that all things work together for good forthose who love God.”

Before his appointment as nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Bonazzi,who is from Italy and was first ordained as a priest in 1973, served atdifferent times as the apostolic nuncio to Haiti, Cuba, Lithuania, Esto-nia and Latvia. He joined the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1980and has also been involved in diplomatic missions in Cameroon, Trini-dad and Tobago, Malta, Mozambique, Spain and the United States.

Archbishop Bonazzi was Canada’s eighth apostolic nuncio, replac-ing Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana when he was appointed asnuncio to Canada in 2013.

With files from the Canadian Catholic News

Pope’s representative leaving Canada

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A father’s heart – men’s group journeys together in Consecration to St. JosephBy NATASHA MAZEROLLECorrespondent

Pope Francis has proclaimeda year of St. Joseph beginningDecember 8, 2020, through De-cember 8, 2021. He also wrotean apostolic letter with personalreflections on the life of St.Joseph entitled, Patris corde(With a Father’s Heart). St.Joseph, as patron of the Univer-

sal Church, this is significant aswe journey through these uncer-tain times. The Holy Father tellsus, “Joseph, then, teaches us thatfaith in God includes believing thathe can work even through ourfears, our frailties and our weak-nesses. He also teaches us thatamid the tempests of life, we mustnever be afraid to let the Lord steerour course.”

Many find comfort in the in-

tercession of St. Joseph, and de-votion to him has always beenpopular. In his book Consecra-tion to St. Joseph: The Wondersof our Spiritual Father, FatherDonald Galloway guides peoplethrough a 33-day retreat meditat-ing on the life of St. Joseph aspresented in biblical accounts andteachings of the Church fathersand the saints. A group of men inSaint John recently completedthis consecration under the guid-ance of Father Owen Burns, pas-tor of St. Mark’s Parish inQuispamsis and episcopal vicarfor Evangelization and ParishRenewal.

“As part of an informal men’sgroup that meets once a month,we decided to take up Fr.Calloway’s book on the Conse-cration to St. Joseph,” Fr. Burnssaid. “About 18 of us met eachSaturday morning to review theweek’s readings, pray together,and share personal experiencesof St. Joseph. In early Novem-ber we concluded with mass andmade our personal consecrationsto St. Joseph.”

The consecration to St. Josephbecame an opportunity for thesemen to learn more about the hid-den life of this great saint.“Many of us arrived the first daywith little formal knowledge ofSt. Joseph. I was extremelyhonest in saying that I knewvery little about St. Joseph, butwas open to learning what Godhad to offer me in this,” Fr.Burns said. Noting that St.Joseph is completely silent inHoly Scripture and that very littleabout him is even mentioned,Fr. Burns said, “In our readingswe discovered so many writingsabout St. Joseph, saints who havehad devotions to him, popes whohave written about him on an of-ficial level, miracles attributed tohim.”

Readers are instructed to prayThe Litany of St. Joseph at theend of each day’s reading, andFr. Burns shared that this wasextremely powerful for the

group. “The individual titles of St.Joseph: Mirror of Patience, Pillarof Families, Terror of Demons,Protector of the Holy Church,etc., were new for a lot of us.Reflecting on the reasons St.Joseph bears these titles inspiredus to imitate these virtues in our

lives, to become another St.Joseph to our families, our com-munity.”

Their 33 days completed, Fr.Burns shared that journeyingthrough the Consecration to St.Joseph as a group has deepenedtheir desire to grow together infaith. “The preparation for theConsecration to St. Josephchallenged each of us to strivefor the virtues exhibited by thisgreat saint,” he said. “Not onlyhas my devotion to St. Josephincreased, I have also experi-enced a group of men deepen-ing their faith as brothers, and infraternity.”

“We need only ask St. Josephfor the grace of graces: our con-version,” Pope Francis writes.May this year be an opportunityto grow close St. Joseph; in con-templating the riches of his fa-therly heart, may we be led todeeper union with Jesus.

Natasha Mazerolle is a corre-spondent for The New Freeman.She can be reached [email protected].§


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December 27, 2020The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & JosephFirst Reading: Sirach 3.2-6, 12-14

Those who respect the Lord honour their parents.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128.1-2, 3, 4-5 (R.1)R. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord.

OR R. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,who walks in his ways.

Second Reading: Colossians 3.12-21Family life in the Lord.

Gospel: Luke 2.22-40 (longer)OR Luke 2.22, 25-27, 34-35, 39-40++ (shorter)

The child grew, filled with wisdom.

January 3, 2021 Epiphany of the LordFirst Reading: Isaiah 60.1-6

The glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72.1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13(R. see 11b+ Ps98.3c)

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you..

Second Reading: Ephesians 3.2-3a, 5-6Now the mystery has been revealed:

now the Gentiles have become fellow heirs of the promise.

Gospel: Matthew 2.1-12We have come from the East to pay homage to the king.

Sunday’s Liturgy

Celebration for the soulChristmas doesn’t have to be all about money and materialism.We can allow our inner child to show us a new celebration.

By THOMAS MOORE

Reprinted with permission St. Anthony Messenger, December 2017This article is an excerpt from The Soul of Christmas by ThomasMoore. Published by Fransican Media. Available from FransicanMedia and Amazon.ca.

In the Gospels, Jesus points out that the kingdom is really for chil-dren. They aren’t fully adjusted to the rules of society and so, likemad people, they, too, live by a different logic. A child might well paythe same amount to people who work longer or shorter hours (see Mt20:1–16).

You could think of Christmas in this way, as a festival for childrenwho live more by a gift economy than by a structure based on work.At Christmas, we could all restore some of the enchanted, open,unspoiled otherworldliness of the child.

Christmas is the time to focus on the child: your childhood, per-

haps your children, the world’s chil-dren, your child spirit, fragile begin-nings, or an innocent rejection of theworld’s adult ways. It’s the seasonto be unreasonably generous, inter-ested in toys, and given to playinggames and giving attention to dollsand puppets and electric trains.

The positive, affirming, and hope-ful teaching of Jesus is not only fore-seen in the infant of the Nativity; itis also symbolized by that child.When any child is born, we have noidea what he or she will become.The possibilities are infinite, andtherefore the child represents a newbeing. He or she is not a copy, butan original.

Life and loveChristmas, whether it commemorates the birth of the infant at Beth-

lehem or the return of sunshine, is about the hope for new and abun-dant life. Christmas is a celebration for the soul, because the soul isthe principle of life and vitality. The Greek word for soul (psyche)means “breath”; and the Latin anima leads to our English word ani-mate, which means “come to life” or be “full of life.” The child re-minds us of the infinite possibilities of life available to us, and wecelebrate that vitality in the season of good cheer, gift-giving, andcommunity.

When I was a child, I felt the magic of Christmas in my very being.If there is such a thing as a resurrected body, that is who I was onChristmas Day. My whole family together evoked that magic and laidan important foundation for me as a religious person and someoneopen to enchantment.

I didn’t know at that time that 70 years later I’d be writing aboutChristmas having a depth of meaning I have never read about else-where. My early experience of Christmas is now fulfilled in a way Iwould never have anticipated, and now I feel that this article comesout of my enchantment with the solstice, the Jesus philosophy, andmy parents’ goodwill.

When I mention the Jesus philosophy, I want to emphasize the roleof Jesus in giving us a worldview that differs from the one we live bytoday. For him, human interactions are based on the model of friend-ship; love is the main dynamic, but it is not so personal or sentimental;and rather than go around being productive, he teaches and modelsan approach based on healing.This is a different way of beingin the world, a new philosophy.

A vision forhumanity

But my sense of Christmas isalso different now. I understandbetter that Jesus was addressingall people on the planet, not want-ing them to join his organization



(continued from page 18)but to adopt his vision for a better human race. I now see how Christ-mas and Jesus’ vision line up, and I see that the enchantment ofChristmas is a taste of what would be possible if human beings couldreally love each other. Given all of that, I understand how the infant inthe manger symbolizes the new life in me, the potential I have to be anew kind of being, dedicated to agape, “love of the other” — who-ever he or she is.

This is a remarkable mystery worthy of celebration and suitable in anysetting on earth. It makes no sense to see it exclusively as a ritual forChristians. It has meaning only as a plan for the entire human race. There-fore, Christmas is a celebration that belongs to every one of us.

It’s easy to be profoundly cynical about the possibility of a worldliving by love. So many find the idea of utopia and of Jesus’ proposalabout loving your enemies not only preposterous but also naive and fan-tastical. It will never happen, they think, and if you expect it, you are notacquainted with the ways of the world. To these people, utopia is a won-derful, wishful fantasy — and an unrealistic, childish illusion.

A somewhat easier approach to utopia is to see it as a way ofimagining an ideal future, and you strive toward it knowing that youwill never fully achieve it. This kind of utopia keeps you on track. You

hope for a perfect life, and that hope allows you to steadily improve.Your ideal motivates you.

But I don’t get the impression that this is the kind of world Jesuswas recommending. In an important set of words, he frequently saidthat the “kingdom of the sky” or “the kingdom of God” is drawingnear. Then he made two key points about this situation: 1) Be pre-pared. Don’t be left out in the cold. There will be two kinds of people:those in this utopia and those outside it. You don’t want to be in theold arrangement. 2) Don’t presume that you will be part of the newregime simply because you are Jewish or Christian or virtuous, be-lieving that, of course, you will be “in.” Just the opposite: many peo-ple who for external reasons think they’re automatically part of it willbe left out.

Small scale, big impactYou have to live this new way to be a member of the new commu-

nity. You have to get the point that it’s all about a reversal of values.Financial success in this utopia could be an obstacle, not a measure ofsuccess. So, give up that idea.

That’s why the small-scale, experimental gift economy of Christ-mas is so important. It’s a tiny example of a new way of life, a one-day utopia, when we don’t demand a quid pro quo financial economy.Generosity is the thing, not financial shrewdness.

Thomas Moore is the author of The New York Times best sellerCare of the Soul (Harper Perennial) as well as 20 other books ondeepening spirituality. He has been a monk, a musician, a universityprofessor, and a psychotherapist. Today he lectures widely on holisticmedicine, spirituality, and psychotherapy.§

Celebration for the soul


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Elders’ presence missed in Fort McMurray schoolsBy WENDY-ANN CLARKEThe Catholic Register

FORT McMURRAY — Uniquecircumstances are part and par-cel of Indigenous learning atCatholic schools in FortMcMurray, AB, in a year whereeducation has already been any-thing but normal.

Protecting the vulnerable popu-lation of Indigenous elders has

been the primary concern foreducators accustomed to leaningon elders’ traditional teachings inthe classroom. From sharing ex-periences in residential schools tofacilitating land-based learning,the aging cohort has been an in-valuable resource in Indigenouseducation in past years. But eldershave had to sit out due to safetyconcerns around the pandemic.

Indigenous learning has notbeen left behind though. Likeschools nationwide, there hasbeen an adjustment to a more vir-tual curriculum in light ofCOVID-19. It was seen in the

celebration of 19th-century Metisleader Louis Riel and Métis week,where in mid-NovemberMcMurray Métis released a half-hour video aimed at educatingstudents and fostering Indigenouspride despite not being able tocome together for assemblies,elder talks and other celebrations.

“Teachers here in FortMcMurray, as a part of recon-ciliation, try to incorporate more

Indigenous teaching and tradi-tional knowledge into the class-room,” said Melanie Walsh, so-cial media and event co-ordinator

at McMurray Métis and part ofthe team that spearheaded thevideo project. “To do that most


FORT McMURRAY — Lou Ann Demers-Noble, principal of ElsieYanik Catholic School in Fort McMurray, Alta., beside a muralof Elsie Yanik, an elder who has spent most of her 97 yearsspreading kindness, preserving Indigenous heritage andpromoting health and education in her community.. (FortMcMurray Catholic Schools photo)


(continued from page 20)accurately is to bring elders inwho are traditionally knowledgekeepers. Due to COVID-19 andthe pandemic, that’s not safe thisyear so we kind of went back tothe drawing board and came upwith the idea to produce a videoon Louis Riel.”

The video was viewed by morethan 70 Grade 5 and 7 classroomsacross the region, who have beendoing in-person learning this fallwith measures in place to miti-gate the spread of COVID-19. Inaddition to stories about Métishistory, the video showcased ar-tifacts and introduced the Creelanguage to the diverse studentbody throughout Fort McMurrayCatholic Schools.

“Some of our bigger functions(in previous years) have beenMétis Fest where we bring in upto 2,000 students in the youngergrades who get to participate in abunch of events which has beenvery good for the youth that are

Métis,” said Bill Loutitt, CEO ofthe McMurray Métis and a cham-pion for Métis education in theregion. “A lot of the times weused to have to hide our (Indig-enous) nationalities here inCanada. (The celebrations) playa big part in our youth as it’s veryimportant for them to be proudof who they are in order for themto achieve.”

Of the 600 members ofMcMurray Métis, Mr. Loutitt ishappy to report that so far no onehas contracted COVID-19. Indig-enous elders have remainedlargely in “bubbles” where theyhave been able to come togetherto some degree, under safety re-strictions, to continue to build andfoster community.

Due to age and challenges, uti-lizing, and in some cases, access-ing technology, the board has notyet been able to incorporate eldertalks and lessons virtually in theclassroom, though that is likelyto change soon as schools in part-

nership with the community con-tinue to build capacity in the com-ing weeks and months.

“An elder brings a sense ofcalmness when they’re aroundus,” said Lou Ann Demers-No-ble, principal of Elsie Yanik Catho-lic School and Indigenous lead forFort McMurray CatholicSchools. “I know even if we dogo virtually, it will be OK becauseof the ability of their presence tode-escalate a lot of our anxieties.(Bringing them in virtually) is defi-nitely something that we look for-ward to being able to start do-ing.”

Indigenous liaisons generallydraw on their own personal rela-tionships and community of eldersto facilitate learning in the district.Most schools have displays setup in celebration of Métis culturethis month. Ms. Demers-Noble’sschool and many others have uti-lized resources from RupertslandInstitute and the Alberta Teach-ers’ Association to support Indig-

enous learning objectives whichare now mandated in the prov-ince.

In her own school, she saysstaff have also incorporated funactivities such as Rock YourMocks (moccasins) Day andDrop Everything and Jig dancelessons.

A Métis Cultural Centre projectin Fort McMurray is currentlyunderway and is projected to becomplete in three years. The com-munity hopes as the region getspast COVID-19, it will be a placewhere the entire community, re-gardless of ethnicity, can cometogether to learn history, share inknowledge and glean from therich experience and irreplaceabletradition of the elders.

“They offer an experience thatyou can’t get from just a book orfrom YouTube,” said Ms.Demers-Noble.

“Not having our elders in theschools has definitely impacted usand we are missing them a lot.”§

Elders’ presence missed in Fort McMurray schools

Christmas GreetingsOn behalf of the New Brunswick Knights of

Columbus, we wish all Knights and their Families and allcitizens of New Brunswick, a very Joyful and BlessedChristmas season and a Healthy and Prosperous NewYear.

May the blessing of St. Teresa of Calcutta continuouslybring the light of love to those on earth, especially thosemost unloved and unwanted.

Gerald P. White, State DeputyReverend Stanislas Paulin, State ChamplainGilles Pelletier, State SecretaryJames A, Whelly, State TreasurerAlain Pelletier, State AdvocateTony Benoit, State WardenCharles Edouard Lirette, Immediate Past State Deputy

Joyeux Noël Le Conseil D’État des Chevaliers de Colomb du Nouveau-Brunswick desire souhaiter à tous les Chevaliers, leurs familleset à tous les citoyens du Nouveau-Brunswick un Joyeux et SaintNoël et une Bonne Heureuse et Sainte Année remplie de Santé etde Prospérité. Que la bénédiction de Ste. Teresa de Calcutta apportecontinuellement la lumière de l’amour à ceux qui sont sur laterre spécialement ceux qui sont les plus mal aimés et les plusrejetés.

Gerard P. White, Député d’étatReverend Stanislas Paulin, Aumônier d’étatGilles Pelletier, Secrétaire d’étatJames A. Whelly Trésorier d’étatAlain Pelletier, Avocat d’étatTony Benoit, Cérémoniaire d’étatCharles Edouard Lirette, Ex-Député d’état Immédiat


ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasis a time for pausing to appreciateis a time for pausing to appreciateis a time for pausing to appreciateis a time for pausing to appreciateis a time for pausing to appreciate

the goodwill of others. We would likethe goodwill of others. We would likethe goodwill of others. We would likethe goodwill of others. We would likethe goodwill of others. We would liketo extend our warmest wishesto extend our warmest wishesto extend our warmest wishesto extend our warmest wishesto extend our warmest wishes

to you and your family throughoutto you and your family throughoutto you and your family throughoutto you and your family throughoutto you and your family throughoutthis joyous season.this joyous season.this joyous season.this joyous season.this joyous season.

Mayor LordonMayor LordonMayor LordonMayor LordonMayor Lordon& Councillors& Councillors& Councillors& Councillors& CouncillorsCity of MiramichiCity of MiramichiCity of MiramichiCity of MiramichiCity of Miramichi

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For more information and application contactDon Bangay at 506-847-2357

Nuns gave lives in testimony to Gospel(continued from page 9)

Human Rights in Latin America, to attend the funeral of five mur-dered opposition politicians. In an atmosphere of fear and tension, Fr.Chisholm and the other Canadians took a van from the airport into the city. They were stopped at a dark, secluded bend in theroad and interrogated by men in uniform. After a tense confrontation,their Canadian passports got them through the roadblock.

After the funeral the next day, the American women were discov-ered in a shallow grave very close to the place where Fr. Chisholmand his group had been stopped.

In 1984 four members of El Salvador’s National Guard were con-victed of the murders.

“These four women were quite unusually happy women,” said Fr.Chisholm. “They were very alive and creative women with the poor.”

The Cold War politics of the time overlaid events. When news ofthe murders reached the U.S., Fr. Chisholm recalled that President-elect Ronald Regan’s nominee for Secretary of State, Alexander Haig,dismissed the killings as likely the result of the sisters running a road-block and then being killed in an exchange of fire. Jeane Kirkpatrick,the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, called the martyred women “morepolitical activists than religious sisters.”

“In the name of anti-communism we killed a lot of innocent peo-ple,” Fr. Chisholm recalled.

In his 42 years as a priest in Peru, first as a member of the ScarboroForeign Missions then later as a parish priest, Fr. Chisholm has alwaysfound the accusations of communism levelled at the Church bizarre.

“My experience of living with people on the ground has absolutelynothing to do with communism,” he said. “I’ve been in the refugeecamps. You meet people who are common people, who are farmersand who have never been involved in any type of political activities. Theyfind themselves basically under fire, crossing the rivers and the frontiers toescape from probable death. We’re talking about a Church that should beaccompanying people who are in trouble, who are under fire.”

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In his own visits to refugee camps in Central America, Fr. Chisholmsaw the same people Sr. Ford, Sr. Clarke, Sr. Kazel and Ms. Donovancame to serve in the Diocese of Chalatenango. The diocese saw morethan 50 mass killings in the early 1980s. More than 70,000 Salvadoransdied during their nation’s long civil war and hundreds of thousandswere either internally displaced or became refugees in neighbouringcountries.

“To see the people in the refugee camps, saying mass and prayingthe rosary in the traditional, strong Catholic practice of the faith — itwas an inspiring thing,” Fr. Chisholm said.

As Fr. Chisholm read Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis’ latest encyclical,he was reminded of the martyrdom he has seen in Latin America.“The Church of martyrdom continues to be Christ’s Church,” hesaid.

Forty years on, the Canadian Church should not turn its back on itshistory of ecumenical engagement with Latin America, said Fr.Chisholm.

“I don’t know if it has ever been repeated since then. It was a kindof watershed of ecumenical activity in theology, on the struggle fortruth and solidarity,” he said.§


Capturing thenorthern spiritBy WENDY-ANN CLARKEThe Catholic Register

Situated in one of Canada’scoldest and most geographicallyisolated regions, the area encom-passed by the Diocese ofMacKenzie-Fort Smith in theNorthwest Territories is a naturelover’s dream.

Bishop Jon Hansen has beencapturing that beauty with hisphotographic lens for the pastfive years he’s been living in theterritory. A selection of those im-ages has been curated into Mis-sions in this Northern Land, a2021 calendar raising funds forCatholic Missions In Canada(CMIC) and helping to engenderhope in this winter season wheremany find themselves in isolation.

“I think pictures that are beau-tiful and that show our serenelandscapes and beautiful wildlifestir our imaginations and help usto daydream,” said BishopHansen. “They keep in our mindsthese places that maybe wewould like to be but are not ableto be there right now (due toCOVID-19).

“Keeping that imagination alive,at the heart of it, that’s what hopeis all about. We have a promiseof something beautiful. We justhave to cling to the good memo-ries that we’ve had before andknow that we will share thosememories with loved ones again.”

The MacKenzie-Fort Smith dio-cese is home to an estimated36,000 Catholics and covers overone million square kilometresacross the Northwest Territories.Unassuming when it comes to hisartistic abilities, Bishop Hansen,who says he doesn’t considerhimself a photographer, was in-spired by other priests such asBern Will Brown and RenéFumoleau who are well knownfor their images of the region.

Among the many featured im-ages, the calendar includes animage of an igloo Catholic church

TSIIGEHTCHIC, NWT — The old Holy Name of Mary Mission in Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., is bathed inthe northern lights. The church is side by side with the new church. (Photo by Bishop Jon Hansen)

along the MacKenzie River and aphotograph of the Holy Name ofMary mission in Tsiigehtchic cap-tured amid the northern lights(above). Bishop Hansen saysthough it’s hard to choose, aphoto he took of a curled-up foxtaken outside a retreat house onTrappers Lake in Yellowknifemight be his personal favourite.

“It was a warm March day, andhe was just basking in the sun,soaking in the heat,” recalledBishop Hansen of the day he cap-tured the fox. “He wasn’t too dis-turbed by me. As long as Ididn’t get too close, he let metake pictures of him.”

Bishop Hansen began the cal-endar project when he firstmoved to the territory in 2015in order to raise funds for hisparish which was struggling tomake ends meet. Working withCMIC for the calendar projectfor the first time this year, 100per cent of the proceeds will begoing towards efforts to help thechurches and missions acrossthe diocese.

Father David Reilander, presi-dent of CMIC, says manyCatholics in the more denselypopulated Canadian regionsmight be surprised to learn there

are still missions in a developednation as this one. Primarily in-habited by Indigenous peoples,Fr. Reilander says the smallpopulation covering a large ex-panse of land in the NorthwestTerritories has been challengedby high unemployment ratesdue to limited opportunities andunfarmable land, making it dif-ficult to generate funds for themissions.

“Recently, you’ve been hear-ing about water problemsamong the Indigenous who livein extreme climates where un-employment is high,” said Fr.Reilander. “They need help be-cause they can’t generate fundsnecessary to send a priest in be-cause the priest may be havingto fly in or travel very long dis-tances and maybe is only thereonce a month. The calendar ishelping to show (these chal-lenges) and raise support.”

With a shortage of clergy dueto COVID-19 regulations whichmandate a two-week quarantinefor anyone entering into theNorthwest Territories from anyother province or territory in thecountry, the Christmas season isprojected to be a challenge forstaffing. This Christmas Eve,

Bishop Hansen will have his handsfull ministering at St. Patrick’s Ca-thedral where they will be hold-ing a half dozen or more servicesto make up for the limited capac-ity due to social distancing re-quirements. For Christmas day hewill make his way to one of theremote missions to offer support.

Despite the challenges, BishopHansen says there’s no place hewould rather be and hopes thatthrough the calendar, many Cana-dians who haven’t had the advan-tage of visiting the region will get ataste of it.

“It’s great people, beautiful cul-tures with lots of hunting, fish-ing and trapping, and many of thecommunities are still able to speaktheir first language, which arevarious dialects of the Dene lan-guage,” said Bishop Hansen.

“It’s an exotic wonderland ofpeople. Down in the south I thinkmost Canadians don’t realize whata beautiful gift we have in theFirst Nations people up here inthe North. It’s just a beautifulpeaceful place to live and work.”For more information on how tosupport the calendar initiative visitcmic.info/product/2021-calendar,e-mail [email protected] or call(866) 937-2642.§


Magi: men of mysteryBy MICKEY CONLONThe Catholic Register

As mysterious to the three wisemen as the light that appeared inthe western heavens, so too is themystery surrounding these magiwho followed that star to Bethle-hem and bore gifts for the new-born Jesus.

The story of the Christ child’sbirth is so well known, yet theback story of the magi bearinggifts of gold, frankincense and

myrrh remains threadbare to thefaithful who have followed Christfor the past 2,000 years. Everyschool child has seen images ofthese three wise men, accompa-nied by their camels, making theirway to the manger. They are goodmen: as is told on the Bibleinfowebsite, “The wise men whocame seeking the Christ childwere not idolaters; they were up-right men of integrity.”

The story of the magi is onethat has always fascinated Catho-lic Register columnist and Scrip-ture scholar Father Scott Lewis.

“The significance is that Jesusis recognized and welcomed bythose outside the established reli-gion of Israel, just as today Jesusis often honoured by non-Chris-tians,” said Fr. Lewis. “It keys into the theme of universality in theGospels, and reflects Isaiah 60:6,”

which prophesied that “all thosefrom Sheba will come; They willbring gold and frankincense, Andwill bear good news of thepraises of the Lord.”

Most legends surrounding thewise men come from beyond theBible. Often called kings in com-mon folklore and Christmas car-ols, the Bible never refers to themen as such, nor does it specifyhow many there were. Fr. Lewisnotes that they are mentioned onlyin Matthew, and never does he

say there were three. There aresuggestions that the number threearises from the three gifts thatwere bestowed upon Jesus,though Fr. Lewis notes that oneof the catacombs in Rome de-picts four.

They are known as the magi,

from the Greek word magos(from which the word magiccomes from as well), a title givento priests in a sect of Persian re-ligions, most often thought to beZoroastrianism. Today, accord-ing to the website whychristmas.com, society wouldcall them astrologers. They arebelieved to have come from thebanks of the Tigris and Euphra-tes Rivers — in what could havebeen modern-day Iraq, Iran,Saudi Arabia or Yemen — whereastronomy was cultivated by the

Chaldeans.Their names are not given in

the Bible either, but over the yearsretellings of the story have at-tached names to the magi ofMelchior from Persia, Gaspar (alsocalled Caspar or Jaspar) from Indiaand Balthazar from Arabia.

Three wise men followed a star to find baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in amanger. They presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Web image)

Most Nativity scenes depict thewise men in the manger uponJesus’ birth. But traditional cel-ebrations pinpoint their visitationto 12 days after Christmas,which we celebrate as theEpiphany, though many scholarsbelieve Christ may have been be-yond his first year by the time themagi arrived. It makes sense. Abright star emerged on the dayof his birth and it would havetaken some time for the wise mento discern what this meant anddecide to make the journey.

It strikes Fr. Lewis as to “howvigilant they were, scanning theheavens and the holy books for theslightest sign of God’s activity.”

“They went where the lightguided them, out of their com-fort zone and to a distant land,along with many dangers on theway,” said Fr. Lewis. “They sawthe big picture, and that is whatis lacking in our own time. Godis much bigger than we can im-agine, and God works constantlyin new and surprising ways.”

Fr. Lewis relates one lastinglegacy of the magi. It came in theseventh century as the Persiansinvaded and sacked Judea, lay-ing waste to Jerusalem. But asthey were set to do the same tothe Basilica of the Nativity in Beth-lehem, they discovered mosaicsdepicting the magi and saw “theywere clearly in Persian dress andwith Persian hats,” said Fr. Lewis.It influenced their next actions.

“The marauding army left thechurch in peace,” he said. §

From the Board of Directors & Staffof The New Freeman Ltd.

Documents

December 25, 2020 & January 1, 2021 Vol. 120 No. 51 & Vol