Kids & Church: Another Blessing!

Kids in church. It isn't always an easy fit. Especially with the wee ones who are at what I like to call "squirmy age". Trying to get them through the service without yelling, screaming or even kicking (maybe their own way to offer a sign of peace?)

Countless parents have done their best to introduce kids to the House of God and no doubt, there are many great stories about a child uttering a classic line that won't be soon forgotten.

Some time ago, the National Post asked a number of writers to write about passing on the faith to kids. One such reflection worth repeating in these pages comes from Charles Lewis, on the gift of parenting and how it intersects with our faith journey, all in the House of God.

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Years ago I asked a close friend why she dragged her children to Mass every Sunday. Children in church always look as if they are in the midst of slow-motion fits. They squirm, they stretch, they fall over and lay down on the kneelers, then they drool when they fall into a bored stupor. They try to be quiet but you can see it is a form of torture. All their little instincts scream, “Run!” “Yell!” “Play!” and “Get me out of here!”

Then, when they get really cranky, their mothers and fathers pick them up and walk them around the church to keep them distracted.

One young boy I know used to keep track of the length of the sermon just to pass the time.

When the priest was done with his homily, the boy would whisper, “32 minutes,” and smile.

This friend of mine and her husband have demanding jobs; they take their kids to endless hockey practices and other after-school and weekend activities. So it is not like they have a ton of free time. Even God could forgive my friend for wanting to sleep in on Sunday or linger over breakfast.

At the time I asked her about this, I believed that most children would grow up to reject their faith and then revel in telling everyone how much they could not stand organized religion. I know many adults just like that today.

But what my good friend said made more sense than any other explanation I have ever heard for putting children in the pews once a week: In order for her children to lose their faith, she said, they would have to learn their faith first. You cannot be a lapsed Catholic without having been a Catholic. Same goes for Jew, Protestant and Muslim. Then she added she hoped her children would retain their faith, as she did from childhood, but if they ever did drift away they would know that the Church would always welcome them back and what they were going back to.

I now attend the same Toronto Catholic parish as this woman and I often think of her words as I look at all the different children “learning their faith.” To an outsider, or a twice-a-year Catholic, it would still seem like a waste of time. But if you really watch, you can see how parents teach their children in tiny ways.

There is one woman who during the service carries her toddler around pointing to the statues of Mary and Jesus. She is clearly telling her son little bits and pieces, almost introducing Jesus and Mary to him as friends. Some children seem distracted but then they will start saying the words to the Lord’s Prayer or the Hail Mary and look pleased when they get a line or two right. When the sun hits the stained glass just right, it looks like the holy men and women depicted have caught fire — and once in a while you will see the face of a young boy lingering on this image for a few seconds. I wonder if the image will burn into his memory.

These children are all being introduced to this larger kingdom and reality. Years from now they might reject it all but that does not really matter. If they are generous, they will look back and see those Sunday mornings not as a time of trial, but as a sincere act of love that passed along something of great value.

Charles Lewis is a religion writer with the National Post and also serves as the editor of Holy Post, an online forum for those interested in today's religious issues. Contributions, story ideas and comments are most welcome. You can reach Charles at: clewis@nationalpost.com

Photos: Diocese of Orlando

Raising our eyes to God...

(Guest blog from Emanuel Pires, Graphic & Web Designer, Archdiocese of Toronto)

The walk of faith rests entirely upon a personal relationship with Jesus. David said in Psalm 27:4; "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple."

I was fortunate enough to head to St. Michael's Cathedral a few weeks ago and photograph many of the beautiful relics, artifacts and the various vessels used during our liturgies. I was amazed at the many pieces acquired over the years showing such a rich history and tradition in the church.

Photo: Detail of chalice - St. Michael's Cathedral

During an address in the Sistine Chapel this past November, Pope Benedict stated:

“Christianity from its earliest days has recognized the value of the arts and has made wise use of their varied language to express her unvarying message of salvation. This friendship must be continually promoted and supported so that it may be authentic and fruitful, adapted to different historical periods and attentive to social and cultural variations.”

Mitre of the late Emmett Cardinal Carter

As the graphic/web designer at the Archdiocese of Toronto, I feel blessed in my job. I get to experience the beauty in our churches, people and liturgies on a daily basis, offering my gifts to the Catholic Community in Toronto and hoping that it allows people to grow closer in relationship with Christ.

Photo: detail of a chalice from St. Michael's Cathedral

It is often said that beauty allows us to raise our eyes to God. I have always thought that to be true and enjoyed the religious art and sacred objects in our various churches but I have found a newfound respect and admiration for the many talents and gifts offered to the church by various artists throughout the years. Having this connection and experience I can truly say that my faith has been affirmed and strengthened.

Photos: Emanuel Pires, Archdiocese of Toronto

School Bells & Popsicles

Yes, I hate to say it but we're on the cusp of a new month and the beginning of a new school year. There's an air of excitement among students and teachers, classrooms being prepped and school supplies being purchased.

Many of our Catholic school boards also hold faith days in preparation for the new academic year. As part of our "spiritual prep" for the 2010/2011 roster, all those involved in Catholic Education are encouraged to take part in the annual Education Mass, put on by the Catholic Teacher's Guild. This year's celebration will be the 9th year running. As always the gathering includes a eucharistic celebration presided by Archbishop Collins followed by a dinner and talk by His Grace. This year's event takes place September 2nd - 6 p.m. at St. Paul's Basilica in Toronto.

It's a great way to start off the school year. If you're interested in attending, contact Barry White at: barry.white@tcdsb.org - tickets for the dinner are $45 each.

Let's all remember that the new school year can be a bit stressful too at many levels. New teachers, either at their first ever assignment or switching to a new school, those that are now in a leadership role as Principals or VP's - others with special milestones to look forward to this year.

Cardinal Newman High School right next door to St. Augustine's Seminary, will be celebrating in a special way this September with the beatification of their namesake, taking place during the Holy Father's Papal Visit to England. The school, with its motto, "Growing in Faith and Truth" will celebrate the beatification with mass and a special luncheon on September 22nd to commemorate this unique event.

And finally, let's not forget the support staff who help keep the schools clean and running smoothly. The custodians who have faithfully been prepping the school over the past weeks or even months. A new coat of paint, minor repairs or the buffing of the floors to be sure everything is a go for opening day.

I can still recall my first day of senior kindergarten. Now JK wasn't so traumatic but for some reason SK posed a problem. Refusing to the release the grip of my mother's hand, it was only the janitor's prodding and the promise of a cherry popsicle that got me to stay. Good ol' Mr. Drum kept a steady supply in the freezer as I was no doubt the first or last that needed a little additional incentive.

So for all that our educators and their "family" do to infuse the seeds of faith in our community, popsicles and all, we offer our prayers in a special way this time of year.

Can you still recall your first day of school? The scariest? Most exciting? How about the teachers that walked you through the math classes, science, religion, english, french? No doubt we have some strong memoires about those teachers that profoundly impacted our journey. Well a whole new cycle is about to begin once again.

To all those who are responsible for every day of learning, thank you and let the fun begin...

Photos: Archdiocese of Toronto, CNBC

A Bishop, a Chainsaw and a Bear!

Most of us refer to our local bishop as the shepherd of his flock, tending to the spiritual needs of his community. Yet the life of a bishop is certainly unique - depending on where one is assigned, the challenges can certainly be considered shall we say, diverse.

Above you'll find one of my favorite Canadian bishops brandishing a chainsaw. (I think I can safely say I've never written that line before and don't expect to ever again). Bishop Gary Gordon, diocese of Whitehorse, Yukon. Catholic Population: 8,150. Four diocesan priests and five religious priests serve 20 parishes and missions along with four religious sisters. One key point I forgot to mention: the geographic area of the diocese is the size of the entire country of France.

So let's keep this all in mind while remembering that much of the terrain is accessible only by airplane (or snowmobile in winter) and that Bishop Gordon's predecessor was killed flying his own airplane to a service in the diocese. And we sometimes complain if the local pastor is away for the week? Reality check.


We're used to seeing our bishops in their spiritual vestments but the shots above are among my faves. A bishop in action and evangelizing at the same time - using his chainsaw to boot. You see, the Diocese of Whitehorse determined that it needed a new home for the bishop and so it was decided that one would be constructed with the community playing a critical role in the "sweat" labour. Bishop Gary Gordon determined that if it was ultimately going to be his house, he needed to be part of its construction. Thus, the chainsaw cometh...

The local shepherd had to recently interrupt his construction project to tend to the spiritual needs of a family who lost a loved one with an unexpected death in the family. As the major highway was closed due to forest fires, the bishop took to the air, flying into the community of Telegraph Creek, B.C. to be with the family during this most difficult time.

You see there are no parish priests or pastoral workers at the mission in Telegraph Creek, British Columbia (the diocese extends through two provinces). The bishop and another priest do their best to make it to the community once a month to celebrate spiritual services.

On reaching the grieving relatives, Bishop Gordon realized that the only way to get to the graveyard would be by boat. And so it went, the bishop and his flock traveling by boat to say goodbye to a loved one.

Commenting on the graveside service, in one of the more unique quotes from a bishop I can recall, His Excellency remarked:

"The whole graveside service was held under the watchful gaze of the Lord and a large black bear perched up a tree right above the grave."

Priceless.

Now I like to think in my time with the Archdiocese we've faced our own share of unique challenges but then I am humbled by the stories from places like Whitehorse that remind us all that our little patch of salvation is a mere blip on God's ever expanding canvas.

God bless Bishop Gary Gordon and the wonderful people of the Diocese of Whitehorse. If you are ever so inclined to make your way to his diocese, he'll be more than happy to welcome you, provide a pair of gloves, hard-hat and put you to work, maybe even with a power tool of choice.

The folks at Catholic Missions in Canada continue to support dioceses like Whitehorse, Yukon, spots in our own country that are considered mission dioceses. If you'd like to support this missionary work or learn more about all that they do, visit them online.

So just a final reminder that if you're ever at a graveside prayer service and a black bear happens to show up, pray that there's a bishop nearby...with a chainsaw. And who said that God doesn't work in wondrous ways?

Photos: Diocese of Whitehorse, Yukon

The Hands of Christ In Action...

Some of the most powerful work in the Catholic Church is often conducted quietly, without fanfare. That's the way it should be - our faith isn't about earning points or stars next to our name. We're called to be ambassadors for Christ, the hands and feet of Jesus at work in our community, and to do so humbly.

However it doesn't hurt once in a while to take a look at example of our faith in action, work that can motivate and inspire us along the way.

The Knights of Columbus held their annual convention in Washington in early August, announcing an initiative to assist every Haitian child who lost a limb in the January 12 earthquake. With a price tag of $1 million, the Knights are partnering with the University of Miami's Project Medishare for Haiti to make prosthetic devices available to the children in need. This effort is in addition to the more than 1,000 wheelchairs donated by the KOC earlier this year as part of of their outreach to victims of the devastating storm in Haiti.

In his annual report to members, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson also pointed out that in 2009, the KOC donated more than $151 million to charity, a truly remarkable result. As important was the additional contribution of 69 million volunteer hours. Ontario Knights were among the leaders in this area with 2.9 million volunteer hours donated in 2009.

Kudos to the KOC for reaching out to support our brothers and sisters both locally and around the world.

While not garnering the same sorts of headlines as Haiti, the situation in Pakistan this summer can only be described as horrific. The country will need billions of dollars to recover from its worst floods in history. An estimated 15 million people have been impacted with at least 1,500 losing their lives. It gives us all reason to pause when we hear these stories - while it's easy to turn the pages and consider the numbers on the page just another stat, each number represents a life, a story, a journey dramatically interrupted and displaced forever.


ShareLife has opened an account to accept funds which will be channelled through Caritas International, the church's humanitarian relief arm worldwide. You can always track the work of Caritas by visiting their website, where you'll find extensive reports on the outreach their partners are providing worldwide.

Non-governmental organizations (NGO's) like Caritas show us the true meaning of faith in action. NGO's inspired by their beliefs are most often the first in and last out when disaster strikes. Long after the stories of peril move beyond the pages of our newspapers, these dedicated workers maintain their presence. May God bless them for their selfless commitment to the most vulnerable among us.

Speaking of the ShareLife appeal, the 2010 campaign has officially wrapped up. The last few dollars are still being tallied but it appears that this will be the largest campaign in its 34 year history. All reports indicate the parish campaign will come very close to the $12 million mark, a huge result when one considers an additional $4 million was raised for humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti and Poland. A special thanks to all those who have given of their time, talent and treasure to support this year's appeal.

Finally, if you're looking for a hands-on experience of service, consider the Street Patrol, run by organizer Lucio Abbruzzesse for the last 15 years. Every Wednesday during the summer months and at other times during the year, volunteers (many of whom are teens) prepare food to distribute to Toronto's homeless. In addition to the nourishment, participants also try to feed the soul of those they meet, offering friendship for those who call the street home. The ministry runs out of St. Pat's Church downtown and you can check out their website for more details.

All these projects help remind us that we are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ. There are so many in our Archdiocese and around the world doing this work day in and day out. Thanks to all who do heed the call not for the accolades but for the love of service. You continue to inspire...

Photos: Catholic News Service, Knights of Columbus

Lack of Abortion Restrictions News to Canadians

An Angus Reid poll released in the last week provides some disturbing observations about Canadians with respect to the issue of abortion. Politically, the issue is seen by most as taboo, so divisive that it will tear apart the country. In social circles, it's not something that often gets discussed - no one really wants to rock the boat. Well maybe it needs some rocking...

The reality is that in our country we have no law on abortion. In short, a woman can have an abortion at any time during her pregnancy, with no restrictions whatsoever. The fact that only 21% of Canadians are aware of this is cause for real concern. 41% of Canadians believe that abortions are only restricted to the first trimester of a pregnancy.

What the poll shows us is that there is a lack of understanding around the issue. The perception is not reality for most whether they support abortion or are against it. To have an informed discussion on the topic, one would think that an understanding of the current law be an appropriate starting point.

It is estimated that there are close to 120,000 abortions in Canada each year. That's a statistic everyone should be aware of. To put things in perspective that's about the population (according to 2006 census records) of Barrie, Ontario (128,000), Kingston (117,000), Whitby (111,000) or St. John's, Newfoundland (100,000). Consider any of these communities literally wiped out. That's the gravity of the situation. Every year, just that many lives are lost.

Let's equate the number of lives lost with the number of private adoptions in Canada. In 2007 just over 100 babies were adopted in Ontario with hundreds of couples traveling out of country to expand their family (Kazakhstan orphanage pictured above).

As those who advocate for life, we need to have a respectful dialogue with those who do not share our views but it can be challenging at times when you start to digest these numbers. High number of women aborting children vs. families who desperately want to welcome a child into their lives. It seems like a no brainer - we find ways to connect those in crisis to help assist them through their pregnancy and facilitate adoption to a loving family.

There are plenty of groups out there doing this type of work just in the boundaries of our own Archdiocese: Sisters of Life, Rosalie Hall, Rose of Sharon, Rose of Durham, Vita Manor, Aid to Women, Birthright, Project Rachel, to name just a few. We need to do all that we can to promote these important initiatives. It's safe to say that most of us have met someone who has experienced an unplanned pregnancy. Yes, it's a very personal decision for those who are going through the experience - we must be compassionate, loving, supportive and prayerful.

That said, we also need to let these people know that there are families everywhere ready to embrace the gift of life, individuals prepared to assist pregnant women through the crisis, to help them understand they are not alone.

But for the grace of God and our own mothers choosing life for us, you wouldn't be reading this post and I wouldn't be writing it. We were all at that vulnerable state at one time in the journey. To suggest that life hadn't started until we were "delivered" well I have a hard time wrapping my head around that one.

I would respectfully suggest that even the most hard line abortion advocates don't attend a "fetus shower" for a pregnant friend. No, it's a baby shower, recognizing that new life is already in progress and the delivery of that baby is just another stage where we all now get to share in the joy of the new arrival.

So before we jump into a heated debate, let's ensure that people are informed. Events like the annual March for Life help raise the profile on the issue - maybe we've been too naive to think that people understand that we have no current abortion law in this country. Perhaps that's the starting point.

In the meantime, let's do our own bit to educate those in our own social circles. It doesn't have to be arrogant or self-serving, just a discussion that could open some doors.

So the next time you're sitting with friends from Barrie, Whitby, Kingston or St. John's Newfoundland, ask them, "How would you feel if your entire city was wiped out in an instant?"

That may just get the conversation rolling...

Photos: CNN, Freefoto

God at work in Bradford!

Last week I spent three days in Bradford, Ontario. It reminded me what the Catholic church is all about. Pastoral care, outreach, support, faith in action. It's a good reminder for us all.

Sapper Brian Collier is the latest Canadian soldier to perish in Afghanistan. Just 24 years old, Brian's life-journey ended much too soon. He was raised in Bradford where his family still resides. Holy Martyrs of Japan Parish, a place where he stood on the altar so many times serving mass would be home to the church's farewell to Brian.

From time to time, when we know there will be a strong media presence at a funeral or other event at a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto, our department (Public Relations & Communications) extends an offer to parishes to assist with the media relations that come with such gatherings. This allows the parish to take care of the pastoral needs of the family while we can liaise with the media.

Father Boniface Perri, pastor at the church, along with Deacon David Langley were a calm, pastoral presence throughout the week, as were the compassionate, dedicated and cooperative parish staff. The funeral was that much more emotional in that the office staff knew the Collier family personally. The staff weren't just assisting at a sacramental celebration - they were grieving alongside the Collier family.

My time was spent, along with colleague Bill Steinburg, coordinating the media relations for the funeral. Rogers Television in York Region graciously offered to televise the funeral live, so that the service could be transmitted to Canadian Forces around the world. They also provided an audio feed for the hundreds of attendees who stood outside throughout the funeral, the 900 places inside the church having filled up an hour before the funeral procession arrived. Along with a couple of live satellite trucks and a dozen media outlets, we wanted to ensure the service would be covered respectfully.

I've been to enough church meetings to hear the word "parish" literally thousands of times. Some clergy, bishops and lay people often envision what the ideal parish would look like. Throughout the week, I saw it: people coming together to support one another, prayer, selfless giving, emotion, the hands and face of Christ alive and at work.

Catholic Women's League members from the area were out in full force, preparing refreshments and making sure that family were cared for and had a space to rest and recharge whenever necessary. Father Boniface, Deacon David and former pastor Fr. Larry Leger made their way to the repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton and travelled along the Highway of Heroes as Brian and the family travelled back to Toronto, a moving experience they won't soon forget.

At the visitation (held at the church due to size restrictions at the funeral home) hundreds waited outside to pay their respects. The church is alive when we pastorally respond to the needs of those around us, we strengthen the community, we open our arms to those in pain. The arms of the church were literally bursting at the seams last week.

I also have a new respect for the military. The same sort of respect and honour we pay to the rich traditions of our faith, the military embrace in a similar way. Soliders, many of whom travelled from Edmonton and other parts of Ontario, rehearsed faithfully the day before in the pouring rain, honour guard standing at attention, pallbearers preparing for a task that is no doubt a reminder of their own frailty. They came to honour one of their own, while always respectful of the traditions of the Catholic Church, working instead to ensure that the blend of the two groups worked in tandem.

It was interesting speaking with the military public relations officials as they discussed the challenges of translating the protocol of certain ceremonies to the media. My response: ditto. Trying to explain transubstantiation, the sacraments or symbolic vestments in ten second soundbites can be a daunting task at times.

Thus the reason for our presence - to give the media access while still being respectful. To help with the little things - the name of a family member, the capacity of the church, the reference to host instead of wafer, the little things that to us make a big difference. We can't criticize the media for not getting things right if we don't help educate them.

The community of Bradford also embraced the family in the midst of this tragedy. Residents bringing food to the church throughout the week, police services offering their assistance, local firefighters bringing two retired ladder trucks draped with a Canadian flag to pay their respects, flags at half staff throughout the area - you might say it was as though Brian represented everyone's son, brother, cousin or friend.

Who can offer words to explain the death of a 24 year old? As Fr. Boniface said in his homily:

"What do you tell his friends and his family of faith when they ask why now? Why this way? And all you really want to say is, I don't know. But here's one thing I know: Brian's life mattered, it mattered a lot...I know something else too. I know that Jesus died and rose again opening up the gates of heaven and that this same Christ, does not abandon those who love Him and hoped in Him."

So last week was a moving experience. In a very indirect way, I got to know Sapper Brian Collier, his family and experienced a hint of the grief they are feeling. I was blessed to come to appreciate the sacrifices of our military, the great respect they pay for a fallen solider. And most importantly, I got a spiritual reboot - a reminder of what a parish looks like when it comes together to show us what it means to be Catholic. Not on Christmas or Easter but during the darkest moments for a community. Holy Martyrs of Japan was that beacon of light on a hill surrounded by darkness.

As I reflected on the experience, I couldn't help but think - thank God for our faith. I can't imagine going through the loss of a loved one without a supportive faith community, a belief that while our hearts were hurting, for Brian, the best is yet to come.

May Brian Collier rest in peace as we continue to pray for all those who serve our country and those who await their safe return home.

Last week I spent three days in Bradford. God was there too. You couldn't miss him.

Photos: Canadian Forces, Archdiocese of Toronto