Archbishop Collins' Address at 31st Cardinal's Dinner

Thursday evening, 1,750 guests representing the world of faith, business and politics converged for the 31st annual Cardinal's Dinner in downtown Toronto. Below you'll find the text of Archbishop Collins' talk on "Brother André and the Spirit of Welcome".

On behalf of Cardinal Ambrozic, I am happy to welcome you to the 31st annual Cardinal’s Dinner. Let us all keep Cardinal Ambrozic in our thoughts and prayers, asking God’s blessing upon him in his years of retirement.

This dinner is an occasion for all of us from within the Archdiocese of Toronto, and from the wider community, to come together in fellowship, and to help raise money to support many worthy charitable organizations. Over the years, more than $5.5 million dollars has been raised to help those in need. I thank Mr Daniel Sullivan for chairing this year’s Cardinal’s Dinner.

Our dinner this year occurs shortly after the municipal elections in our province. We should all be grateful to all of those who offered their candidacy for service to the local community, and we pray that those who were elected will govern wisely in the service of the common good.

Because our dinner this year also occurs during the annual general meeting of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Cornwall, our four auxiliary bishops – Bishop Boissonneau, Bishop Hundt, Bishop McGrattan, and Bishop Nguyen - cannot attend the dinner this evening. Although guilt is a good Catholic tradition, I only feel mildly guilty at leaving them to toil away at the bishops’ meeting, while I have escaped to join in this great annual celebration.

We also welcome this evening Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, the personal representative of Pope Benedict in our country, who replaces Archbishop Luigi Ventura, who is now the nuncio to France. We wish Archbishop Lopez Quintana many blessings in his new mission amongst us.

I have just come back from Rome, where I was appointed by the Holy See to be a member of the Synod on the Middle East, a gathering of bishops and many others from that region, as well as participants from around the world, called by Pope Benedict to come together to discuss the issues confronting Christians there, and to try to find some ways to address them.

During the Synod, one of the highpoints was the opportunity to participate in the canonization of six saints, one of the most majestic and spectacular of the liturgical celebrations of the Catholic Church. On Sunday, October 17th , thousands upon thousands of people thronged the great piazza in front of St Peter’s basilica.

There were many from Australia, for the canonization of Saint Mary MacKillop, a religious sister of the 19th century who devoted her life to the service, and especially to the education, of needy people in the vast expanses of Australia.

There were, of course, many thousands of Canadians as well, in Rome to celebrate the canonization of Brother André Bessette, who radiated joyful holiness throughout his long life – over 90 years – as he offered spiritual and physical healing to the thousands upon thousands of people whom he welcomed as the doorkeeper of his religious house and college in Montreal.
Enormous pictures of him and of the five other saints hung from the front of St Peter’s basilica, and the awesome music and ritual of the pontifical Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict helped us all to become more attentive to the presence of God. Early on in the Mass, those responsible for shepherding the cases of the six saints through the complex canonization process approached the Pope, and the holy life of each saint was described.

Canonization means that a person’s name is entered into the canon or official list of saints of the universal Church. At the recent canonization, as a hush descended over the throng, the Pope, enthroned before the facade of the great basilica of St Peter, proclaimed in ancient Latin that the six were saints. This is the most solemn declaration that a Pope can make, “ex cathedra” or “from the throne”. As the choir sang Alleluia, relics of the saints were brought forward and placed before the altar, surrounded by candles and flowers.

At that awesome moment of canonization, of course, absolutely nothing happened to Brother André, or to Mother Mary MacKillop, or to the other four. The Pope does not make saints. God makes saints, and does so through the action of divine grace throughout their lives. That action was brought to completion years ago as each of the six came home to the heavenly Father.

What the Pope does at a canonization, through his apostolic authority, is to give us absolute assurance that a person is a saint. There are millions of saints, who have never been canonized, and in a few days we will be celebrating their great feast, All Saints Day. But canonization is a way of highlighting those holy people whom the Church proposes to all the faithful as much needed models of discipleship. We ask them to intercede for us in prayer before God, and we are invited to follow their example.


It is that example that I would like to reflect upon this evening, and especially the example of Brother André, Saint André Bessette. He was a humble and holy man, who died in 1937 at a great age, after many decades of simple humble service. He is famous for his devotion to another humble, hard working saint, Saint Joseph, and famous for the many miracles of healing of body and soul that accompanied his years of faithfully carrying out the mission he received from his superiors, that of being the doorkeeper at a College in Montreal. That is his first lesson to all of us, and especially to those who have made the promise of obedience in ordination or religious profession: day after day, year after year, he faithfully fulfilled the mission entrusted to him.

The mission given to him by his religious superiors was to be a doorkeeper: when people approached the door of the College, they would be welcomed by Brother André, joyfully and with an offer of whatever practical assistance they needed. Though not many have the duty of being doorkeepers, like Brother André, we are all called, whatever our faith, to be people who welcome others, and we look to him to show us how to do that with simple joy and practical effectiveness. If there is one thing that our world surely needs, it is more welcomers, in the imitation of St André Bessette.

Although I had planned anyway to attend the canonization of Brother André, my main reason for being in Rome in recent weeks was because I had been asked by the Holy See to be a member of the Synod on the Middle East, and that experience also made me think of the grace of welcome, and of its too frequent absence in our world.

The Synod was a meeting of bishops and many others that was called by Pope Benedict to look at the situation of the Middle East, and particularly at the suffering of the Christian communities there. We listened to the bishops of the region, to priests and sisters, to lay men and women, to guests from other Christian communities, to a Sunni Muslim Professor from Lebanon, to a Shiite Muslim Ayatollah from Iran, and to a Jewish Rabbi from Israel.

In the Middle East, where Christianity began, and where it has been an integral part of society for 2000 years, the number of Christians is diminishing rapidly because of the very difficult situation which that vulnerable minority faces. A prime goal of the Synod was to see what can be done to encourage the endangered Christian communities of the Middle East, so that they can live there in peace, and flourish once more, and indeed so that peoples of all faiths can do so in harmony with one another in that troubled region that is so precious to Jews, to Christians, and to Muslims. We in the Archdiocese of Toronto need to help in any way that we can.

One way to do that is to visit the Middle East, if possible, both to give some economic help, and to offer solidarity and encouragement to the people there. Another way which I suggested in my own talk at the Synod, would be for dioceses in the West to be twinned with those in the Middle East, to the benefit of each.

We need, as well, to encourage the media to report on the situation of the many vulnerable minorities in the region; their sufferings go unnoticed, and that is wrong.

Sometimes it might be helpful to contact governments, and to express our concern.

I commend the work of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, which makes possible the service offered in the Holy Land to people of all faiths through Catholic Educational institutions there. Another way of helping those in the Middle East is to support Bethlehem University, established by the Holy See, and offering university education to young students of all faiths. The Catholic Near Eastern Welfare Association, or CNEWA, also does good work.

As we think of the Christians in the Middle East who are especially suffering at this time, we must not forget people of other faiths, and other vulnerable minorities throughout the world who are forced to flee their homes. We cannot forget the recent sufferings of the people of Sri Lanka, and of people in so many other countries.

We must try first of all to do what we can to help people live in peace in their homelands. But despite all that we do to help people to stay, the fact is that many must flee, and cannot return home. That should lead us, like Brother André at the door, to reach out in a spirit of welcome.

We can do that by sponsoring families of refugees, and I heartily commend the great work being done by Dr Martin Mark and the Office of Refugees of the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer welcome to refugees, especially at this time to those from Iraq who cannot return home. Many other faith communities are doing similar good work. Our Archdiocese, and the whole community in this area, have long had a tradition of welcoming refugees. We think of the boat people of Vietnam, who now make such vital contributions to our community. Our country has a noble history of being a haven for refugees, and I especially want to commend the government of Canada, and in particular Minister Jason Kenney, for his leadership in welcoming refugees from the Middle East.

As we ponder the lessons of the life of Brother André, God’s doorkeeper, who was welcome incarnate for all whom he met, we in this Archdiocese, and we in this community, always need to look back to the terrible summer of 1847, shortly after this diocese was established, to find inspiration. When 40,000 refugees from the famine in Ireland arrived on the shores of this city of 20,000 people, they were welcomed by Catholics and Protestants working together, led by our saintly first bishop, Michael Power who, like many of his fellow citizens of different faiths, gave his life in the service of the refugees, a martyr of charity. I always think of him as I preside over the Archdiocese of Toronto from my cathedra which is placed directly over his tomb. Like Brother André, he speaks to us of the spirit of welcome, offered to those in need.

As Brother André offered welcome to all who came to the door, we need to look at our community and to reflect upon those who have no home. The communities of many faiths who sponsor Out of the Cold offer welcome to the homeless, in a practical way that makes the spirit of Brother André present in Toronto. Cardinal Carter invited Covenant House to come to our community to offer welcome and practical assistance to homeless young people, and the Brothers of the Good Shepherd and the organizations sponsored by ShareLife assist those who are in need of practical welcome in their desperate situation. Brother André was not just a friendly person; he offered practical, effective help to those who came to the door. A most effective and practical way for each of us to say “welcome” is by donating generously to ShareLife.
As we look at our own parish communities, we can also learn a lesson from Brother André. When people, whether visitors or parishioners, come to a parish Church in our Archdiocese, or to any parish or archdiocesan office, or when they encounter any member of our family of faith, they should experience what people found in Saint André. In each of the thousands of people, hundreds of thousands, whom he met during his long life, he saw the face of Christ, and welcomed them. So too should all who follow his saintly example.

Whatever our role, we can offer at least a kindly word and a smile. So many people came to see him that Brother André rarely spent much time with any one of them; but they knew that he had received each of them as a person to be loved, not as a thing to be used. That is a practical lesson to be applied each day. What matters is not the quantity of time spent with others, but the personal quality of the welcome.

Those who serve in the Order of St André, otherwise known as the ushers in a parish, have a particular mission to recognize and assist each person, and especially visitors and strangers, and to make them feel at home in our parishes. This is not something complicated, but it is so obvious that we can too easily forget it. But all of us should be sure that our parishes are places of welcome.

Brother André was a great man, a holy saint of God. It was not some natural talent that drew thousands to him; it was holiness. At the center of his life was prayer; the welcome he offered to others was not some superficial glad-handing, that phony substitute. He was able to offer peace to others because first of all he was at peace with himself, and at peace with God. May we ask his intercession, and imitate his life.

Brother André was canonized in front of the majestic Church built over the tomb of St Peter, keeper of the keys. I suspect that the great St Peter has a little helper now, greeting those who arrive at the pearly gates. Saint André the doorkeeper, welcome us home.

Photos: Emanuel Pires, Archdiocese of Toronto

Breaking the Chains of Abuse...

Each year, throughout our country and around the world, thousands of women are abused. In most cases, their abuser is someone they know, even someone who claims to "love" them. Recent data from Statistics Canada indicates that more than 33,000 women are abused in any given year in this country.

This silent tragedy is one that needs to be addressed - in short, it's time to break the chains that are witholding these women from being free, being loved, being in healthy relationships free of fear, anguish and pain.

Throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto, in every region of our diocese, we have Catholic Family Services, supported by ShareLife, who perform truly heroic work serving those who are desperate for help. Catholic Family Services of Toronto has taken on a special initiative related to supporting and reaching out to women abused and all those impacted by this violence.

They are inviting all those who may have been victims of abuse, those who support them and those who wish to stand up against the scourge of abuse, to come together at a special gathering that will take place on Wednesday, November 3 at St. Paul's Basilica. Mass will be held at 5 p.m. with a reception to follow for all in attendance.

If you know someone in your family or circle of friends who is a victim of abuse, know that Catholic Family Services of Toronto is just a phone call away. Their website has extensive information on the vast array of programs offered not only for those who have experienced abuse in their life but also for those who need someone to talk to, those who may be dealing with anger issues, crisis in the family or a host of other challenges.

So many people go through these situations alone but organizations like Catholic Family Services are here to help through the pain and anguish.

It's not a happy or pleasant topic but it is our pastoral duty to reach out to all those who may turn to our faith community. Let's hold their hand and welcome them with open arms when they do.

Photo: Freefoto.com

Canadian Bishops Land in Cornwall...

Every October, the bishops of Canada get together in Cornwall for their annual plenary, organized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). Close to 90 of Canada's shepherds gather at a campus that is most often used to train air traffic controllers. Perhaps that's fitting as it's their job to help steer the direction of the faithful in our country and navigate the many challenges that are presented along the way.

To give you a sense of what's in store for the bishops as they meet October 25-29, we look to the official CCCB media release:

Relations with Muslims are at the heart of this first session. Ms. Alia Hogben, Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, will share interfaith greetings and reflections with the Bishops of Canada. The Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue, in collaboration with the National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee will also conduct pastoral animation and facilitate discussions on this theme.

In addition to reviewing the work carried out over the past year by CCCB councils, commission and committees, the Bishops will discuss a number of pastoral issues. Topics to be discussed during the working sessions include the CCCB restructuring process; the role of Bishops in life issues, and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP). The working sessions of the Plenary will also include presentations, reflections and workshops on the theme: “Principles of evangelization in contemporary culture”.

This year’s keynote speaker, the Most Reverend Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, will deliver two presentations.

The Canadian bishops are fortunate in that they will be among the first to hear Archbishop Ravasi or should we say Cardinal-designate Ravasi since his big day. The Cardinal-designate was among the 24 new cardinals named to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict October 20.

There are many, in church circles, who have even suggested that Cardinal-designate Ravasi could be considered papabile (strong candidate for Pope). Here's what John Allen said just last week of the keynote speaker for Canada's bishops:

"Handicappers tend to scrutinize a consistory with one key question in mind: Is there a new papabile in the bunch, i.e., a strong candidate to become the next pope?

The consensus answer this time around is “yes,” and it’s Italian Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture....The sound-bite version is this: Ravasi is a prelate with the mind of Ratzinger and the heart of Roncalli. At his best, he blends the intellectual acumen of Benedict XVI and the pastoral heart of John XXIII."

Pretty lofty words! We'll have to ask our bishops for the full review after his talks in Cornwall.

Oh and speaking of papal predictions, while we all know that the successor to St. Peter is inspired by the Holy Spirit, the October 20 consistory didn't stop the wild fury of speculation about potential papal successors to begin. A well known online establishment in Ireland even posted odds, factoring in the recent additions to the College of Cardinals. In case you were wondering, Africa's Cardinal Arinze is the favourite at 2-1, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada - 40 - 1 and Bono, frontman for Irish rock bank U2 coming in at 1,000 - 1.

Yes, we can smile at these lighter moments but on a serious note, let's pray for good health and long life for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. We also pray for the Canadian bishops as they dialogue about the church in our country, tackle the challenges that face them and most importantly, serve as shepherds for our family of faith!

May the turbulence this week in Cornwall be light and nothing but blue skies ahead!

Photos: CNN, Archbishop Terry Prendergast

Vote October 25 - A Final Push from the Archbishop

As part of our ongoing efforts to encourage all Catholics in the GTA to get out and vote on October 25, municipal election day, the Archbishop has released a 2nd pastoral letter on the eve of the election. The message is to be shared in all parishes of the Archdiocese the weekend of October 23/24 and is a final push to ensure that Catholics are engaged in their local municipal elections, which include the very critical selection of Catholic School Trustees.

The Archbishop issued a pastoral letter in September and allowed candidates for Catholic School Trustee to distribute information outside catholic churches in the Archdiocese over the last month+. It is not the role of the Archdiocese to endorse candidates but, rather, to encourage Catholic voters to learn more about those who are seeking office, to discern what qualities they bring to the table (see below) and, most importantly, to get out and vote.

The Archbishop's latest message can be found below. The communication has also been translated into six other languages and is available online along with numerous other resources in preparation for voting day.

We thank all those who have put their name forward for public office, for their tireless efforts over the last several months and, in a special way, to the 146 candidates throughout the Archdiocese who have let their name stand for the office of Catholic School Trustee.

Now it is up to us to do our part, to get out and vote on October 25 and ensure that this final act of engagement in the electoral process is exercised!

October 24, 2010

Dear Faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto,

I strongly urge you to vote Monday in the municipal elections. The political leaders who serve at the municipal level have an immediate, practical, and profound influence on the well-being of the whole community; it is vital that each citizen vote for the candidate he or she considers most qualified to serve the common good.

As I mentioned in my pastoral letter of September 12th, it is especially important that Catholics vote, and vote wisely, in the election of Catholic School Board Trustees. I stated in that letter:

A Catholic School Trustee should be a faithful practicing Catholic.

A Catholic School Trustee should be exemplary in personal integrity and conduct, always striving to foster the good of the children, and not personal interest. We need to elect trustees who will represent us with honour and dignity, as worthy stewards of Catholic Education, so that we may all be proud of their stewardship.

A Catholic School Trustee should have a well developed understanding of Catholic Education, and of the role of the board of trustees in setting the policy that advances the common good of the whole Catholic School District, and of all of the children entrusted to it. Competence, wisdom, maturity, fiscal responsibility, respect for the law, and the capacity to work effectively with fellow trustees for the common good of Catholic Education - these are essential qualities in a Catholic School Trustee.

I urge each eligible parishioner to assess rigorously the candidates for the vitally important position of Catholic School Board trustee, holding them accountable to the highest standards, and to vote conscientiously on Monday, October 25th.

Thomas Collins
Archbishop of Toronto

Pope Names 24 New Cardinals...

Early Wednesday (Toronto time) following his weekly General Audience, the Holy Father announced the newest members of the College of Cardinals. 24 new "red hats" will join the College, 20 of whom are under 80 years of age and will be eligible to vote in a future conclave, including two Americans: Archbishop Donald Wuerl (Washington) and Archbishop Raymond Burke, former Archbishop of St. Louis and currently working at the Vatican as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura (some refer to the office as the Vatican Supreme Court).

The Italian presence in the college has risen significantly with 10 of the newest cardinals (8 with voting privileges) coming from that country. There had been many who predicted that our own Archbishop Thomas Collins would be on the list but it wasn't God's plan at this time.

While most readers are familiar with the term cardinal, a little background never hurts:

Rooted in the Latin word “cardo”, meaning hinge, cardinals are created by a decree (order) of the Holy Father. They are senior church officials of the Roman Catholic Faith who assist the Pope, consulting with the Holy Father on important church matters. When a Pope dies, cardinals from around the world are also called upon to elect a new Pontiff, in a gathering referrred to as a conclave.

In recent years, the Holy Father has typically announced the appointment of new cardinals approximately one month before the actual ceremony, called a consistory. This holds true for the October 20 announcement with a consistory in Rome taking place November 20/21 where delegations from around the world will come together in a massive celebration of all things Catholic.

From the moment they are announced, each cardinal enjoys full membership rights in of the College of Cardinals. For example, if the pope dies in this time period the newly named cardinal is eligible to vote in a papal election.

Cardinals wear red (some would argue scarlet), a custom that began in a formal sense in 1245 when Pope Innocent IV bestowed the famed red hat upon the cardinals. Since that time, red has been the color worn by the members of the College. The color reminds the cardinals that they must be willing to give of themselves for the church, even to the point of shedding their blood.

Here's the full list of the newest members of the College of Cardinals, as announced by the Holy Father (date of birth of each new cardinal in parentheses - thanks to Catholic News Service):

– Italian Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints Causes, a Salesian, 72. (DOB 6/8/1938)

– Coptic Patriarch Antonios Naguib of Alexandria, Egypt, 75. (DOB 3/7/1935)

– Guinean Archbishop Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, 65. (DOB 6/15/1945)

– Italian Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, archpriest of Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, 76. (DOB 5/28/1934)

– Italian Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 75. (DOB 8/6/1935)

– U.S. Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, head of Apostolic Signature, 62. (DOB 6/30/1948)

– Swiss Archbishop Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, 60. (DOB 3/15/1950)

– Italian Archbishop Paolo Sardi, pro-patron of Knights of Malta, 76. (DOB 9/1/1934)

– Italian Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, 66. (DOB 9/15/1944)

– Italian Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, a Scalabrinian, 75. (DOB 9/19/1935)

– Italian Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, 68. (DOB 10/18/1942)

– Zambian Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, retired archbishop of Lusaka, 79. (DOB 9/24/1931)

– Ecuadorean Archbishop Raul Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, retired archbishop of Quito, 76. (DOB 1/1/1934)

– Congolese Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, 71. (DOB 10/7/1939)

– Italian Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo, 72. (DOB 2/20/1938)

– U.S. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, 69. (DOB 11/12/1940)

– Brazilian Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, 73. (DOB 2/15/1937)

– Polish Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw, 60. (DOB 2/1/1950)

– Sri Lankan Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don of Colombo, 62. (DOB 11/15/1947)

– German Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, 57. (DOB 9/21/1953)

– Spanish Archbishop Jose Manuel Estepa Llaurens, former military ordinary of Spain, 84. (DOB 1/1/1926)

– Italian Bishop Elio Sgreccia, retired president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, 82. (DOB 6/6/1928)

– German Msgr. Walter Brandmuller, retired president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, 81. (DOB 1/26/1929)

– Italian Msgr. Domenico Bartolucci, retired director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, 93. (DOB 5/7/1917)

Our prayers and best wishes go out to the newest flock of shepherds from around the world.

Photos: CNN

Our Priests in Rome...

With St. André the latest "gold medal" for Canada's family of saints, it was a wonderful week to celebrate both here at home, in Quebec and in Rome. The secular media came out in full force in recent days, highlighting the "Rocket Richard" of Quebec's Catholic Church. For the most part, the coverage was thoughtful, accurate and respectful.

As part of her ongoing coverage in Rome, the Toronto Star's Rosie DiManno had a chance to catch up with some of our clergy currently engaged in studies in Rome. It's a thoughtful and insightful read. When you read some of the quotes from these wise men, you are reminded just how much we miss them here in the Archdiocese. We look forward to welcoming them back for ministry soon!

***

They're in St. Peter's Square and at the Spanish Steps, sipping cappuccino in cafes and riding the trams, chatting on cell phones and texting deftly.

Sometimes in swishing cassocks or cowl habits, more often in tidy black suits with white clerical collars — the fraternal uni.

Whatever their shrinking numbers elsewhere, Rome has no shortage of Catholic priests. This city is the mother ship, welcoming in and sending forth legions of pastoral troops, the Jedi of Jesus.

For many priests from around the globe, Rome is a place of scholarly pilgrimage, men selected by their bishops to pursue advanced degrees at the Vatican's many pontifical universities.

And, just as a side perk, to enjoy the splendours of the Eternal City.

“I think this speaks for itself,'' laughs Father Seamus Hogan, two fingers of each hand bracketing his plump belly. “Quote unquote right here. Next question?''

It comes with the territory, an indulgence in Italian cuisine. “You go into a restaurant and they always want to give you extra food. That's the Roman way.''

Most especially for priests, who are widely treated with proprietary fondness, as if they all were all starving mendicants, or maybe it's just a way of depositing pennies in heaven.

The jolly 37-year-old Hogan, studying church history, is a resident at the Pontifical Canadian College, elegant home dorm for about 20 diocesan priests — as opposed to those attached to an order with a generalate house here, such as the Franciscans or Dominicans. Diocesans are also known as secular priests, which sounds like an oxymoron.

Five of them from the Toronto archdiocese met with the Star this past week to talk about their vocation, the challenges and benefits of obedience, chastity, poverty, in a world where such virtues are often perceived as anachronisms.

We've gathered in the pretty courtyard of their coral-painted college, not far distant from the Vatican, on a sun-burnished afternoon. It does feel like a bit of paradise in the tourist-congested city.

After completing their academic degrees and returning to Toronto, these five will likely not be sent abroad to do classical missionary work, assigned to specialized duties in the archdiocese, instead perhaps, teaching in a seminary or employed in the chancery, perhaps sitting on a marriage tribunal to consider annulment applications. All have already served as associate pastors in GTA parishes.

Father Fred Chung, 42, immersed in Old Testament biblical studies, grew up without any religion and embraced Catholicism at age 12, his own choice. His father originally opposed a son joining the clergy, but eventually came around.

“A lot of us struggle with the question, is this for me? Maybe we even fight it for years. I was in my early 20s when I realized I really did want to become a priest. My mother said she'd always sensed it but didn't want to tell me so that the realization would come from within.''

Father Thomas Lim put in a decade as a financial adviser and had drifted from his faith before listening to a homily by the rector of St. Michael's Cathedral and hearing his own calling.

“I'm what you'd call a revert. I thought I would find happiness in my career and personal relationships. I reached a point in my life where I had all those things but still felt an emptiness, so I started to reevaluate things.

“If someone had told me earlier, ‘you'll leave the business world, become a priest and end up studying canon law,' I'd say — that's crazy.''

It is, in fact, becoming more common, particularly in the West, for men to become ordained later in life, after having successful careers.

Hogan recalls playing priest as a child. “I celebrated mass with Wonderbread and Coke for the Eucharist.'' But it wasn't till his mid-20s that he felt the genuine stirring in his breast to serve.

“For me, it wasn't so much sowing wild oats and living life to the fullest because, whoa, soon I'm going to be working for The Man, I'll have no freedom left, I have to accept chastity. It was more like falling in love with God.''

Yes, well, we do have to inquire about that whole chastity vow. It's what everybody wonders about — how can they do it? Why would anybody want to?

“I don't think that celibacy is necessarily self-denial,'' says Hogan. “It's a choice, just like marriage. When you decide on that one person you want to marry, you're excluding everybody else, right? I've chosen this one good thing and closed myself off from other good things. It's a joyous decision, to be honest. I'm more satisfied in my relationship with God than I've ever been in a relationship with any woman before I entered the seminary.

“Celibacy has real value, which is something Pope John Paul II talked about a lot. It's maybe not going to be the utilitarian value that most people gauge things by. But it has a value of being prophetic because it reminds us that there's a world beyond this world, a world beyond our day-to-day lives of having to eat and drink and do the things we do. When you consecrate yourself to that world in that way, that's a powerful sign to our culture, especially our materialistic society, to say, I dedicate myself.''

There have been times, in the past, when the Catholic clergy did marry, as in fact deacons, who can perform marriage and baptisms, still do. Many have strongly advocated the Church allow priests to marry again.

These guys don't wish it.

Father Kevin Belgrave, 34 — he's studying ethics — suggests that the wider public doesn't know what's best for priests, what they want.

“I'm only going by my own experiences and the priests I know, but I don't think there are a large number who want things to change. We've all had so many years in seminary to really understand what we're doing here, what is this thing called priesthood, what are our lives going to be all about?

“So, you start to understand celibacy more deeply and love — love — it more deeply, and see its life-giving nature, absolutely. It gives life to us as we interact with families, with people going through their happiest moments, their saddest moments, and you're there in this special way with them as a priest.

“More than anything, people want to know that they're loved, that they're lovable. I enjoy that. And I just enjoy being a priest, the reality of knowing that I'm intimately united with Christ in a way that's unique and beautiful.''

If celibacy, as a demand, is costing the church younger generations of capable priest candidates in the West, so be it. There's certainly no dearth emerging from Africa and South America. It really is a geographical imbalance more than anything else.

“I really believe that, as goes marriage, so goes the priesthood,'' Belgrave continues, referring to waning popularity of the clergy as an endangered vocation. “If there are troubles in society's understanding of families and marriage, there will be troubles in the priesthood. There will be troubles in anything that requires commitment.''

Among the men here, only Father Giuseppe Scollo, a Sicilian now with the Toronto diocese, went directly from high school to the seminary. The scriptures scholar, 32, has not an iota of regret.

“It's not a prison, you know.''

On his cell phone, Scollo keeps a photo of cloistered nuns. “They're full of joy and peace. I just like to look at their faces sometimes.''

With mention of nuns, the discussion moves towards the exclusion of women from ordination.

For Scollo, the reasons are obvious. “The catechism says that the Church has no power to do what Jesus did not do. Jesus did many things with women that, in his day, were scandalous. He had women touch his feet, he had women disciples. If he had wanted women to be priests, he would have done it.”

He offers an analogy. “Why didn't Christ choose pizza or spaghetti to make the Eucharist and say, ‘this is my body?' He chose bread. Why was it wine and not beer?

“The reason why Jesus chose only men to be priests, I don't know. Maybe some day I'll ask him.''

Photo: Toronto Star

Archdiocese Releases Updated Procedures on Misconduct

Earlier this year, there was an abundance of global media attention regarding abuse and the Catholic Church. The discussion also dominated gatherings of the faithful, trying to make sense of it all, asking questions and wondering just how the church is responding to allegations of abuse in 2010?

Archbishop Collins spoke publicly about the issue on numerous occasions: in media interviews, at public events like the Chrism Mass and Good Friday, and through a pastoral letter recorded on video and read or shown in every parish of the Archdiocese of Toronto the weekend of April 17/18, 2010.

In his April address, the Archbishop announced that it was an appropriate time to review our Policy & Procedure for Cases of Alleged Misconduct. This document was first put together in 1989 and has since been revised in 1991 and 2003 before the latest revision.

Post-Easter, His Grace invited a group of qualified lay experts to participate in a review committee to examine the procedures that have served us well since 1989 and to amend accordingly. That work has been completed and the lastest version of the policy has been officially released and becomes the Procedure of record as of October 15, 2010.

Some background for those who may not be aware: our safe environment policies have been online and accessible for years. If you want to learn more about our volunteer screening program, screening for candidates to the seminary and the procedures followed when dealing with misconduct, they're just a click away.

As for the newly released document? A few observations from someone who's spent a fair amount of time looking at the Procedure in recent weeks:

1) The lay committee reviewing the document, from the outset, all agreed that a revised communication should be an "easier read". With most readers unfamiliar with canon law and church terms and practices, it was important to produce a document that was understandable to the person in the pew. In this way, the new version is definitely more "user friendly". By providing a preamble along with definitions for terms used throughout the policy, the flow of the document is one of the most significant improvements in this edition. Most importantly, it allows the reader to understand from start to finish the procedure that is followed should an allegation be made.

2) There is an extensive section included in the revised document on the "Care for Complainants", outlining how the church deals with those who come forward, the assistance the Archdiocese offers and recognition of the pain that comes with discussing any historical case of abuse.

3) A Review Board of lay people with relevant expertise in particular areas (psychology, counselling, parents, those who work with victims of abuse, etc.) is called upon early in the "complaint" process to provide insight and recommendations as part of the investigation.

4) Transparency - the very first section of the Procedure provides clear direction on how to confidentially contact the Archdiocese to make an allegation. We also continue with our policy of reporting to Children's Aid, within one hour, any reasonable grounds to suspect that a person currently under the age of sixteen is or may be suffering from abuse. We also provide contact numbers for every Children's Aid jurisdiction in the Archdiocese of Toronto as part of the policy.

The Procedure reminds adult complainants that, if they have not chosen to approach the civil authorities, they have every right to do so and we will assist them in that regard should they wish to pursue this option.

5) Education - over the past six weeks, seven meetings were held throughout the Archdiocese to help educate our partners in ministry on this revised policy. The Archbishop personally met on four occasions with the priests of the Archdiocese, attended a gathering for all deacons in addition to holding two meetings with lay employees of our family of faith. Father Brian Clough, Judicial Vicar (priest appointed to investigate cases of misconduct) was present at these meetings and has spent countless hours working with the lay committee on the Procedure over the past six months.

Having attended 5 of the 7 meetings, I can attest that the policy was reviewed thoroughly with time provided for questions or clarification at the end of each session. We also consulted with a victim of clergy abuse and other experts, getting their feedback and input on the revised document, before the final draft was approved.

In short, the Archdiocese is committed to providing a safe environment for all with whom we interact. We must also remember that a vulnerable person isn't just a young person. It includes seniors, those with disabilities and anyone else in a susceptible state.

Special thanks goes out to the lay review committee members who devoted their energy and resources to this review, working on an ambitious timeline that meant consultation through the summer on revision after revision to have everything prepared for the fall release of the revised protocol.

We pray that we never have to utilize this policy yet we must be prepared to demonstrate to our family of faith, the media and all those who look to the church for leadership, that abuse is sinful, it is wrong, it is never acceptable and the church will take the lead in ensuring that is dealt with swiftly, pastorally and transparently. To quote Archbishop Collins from his homily at the 2010 Chrism Mass:

“People expect that one who is consecrated with the holy oil of Chrism, will act in an exemplary manner, and never betray the trust which people know they should be able to place in a Catholic priest. And yet to our shame some have used the awesome gift of the holy priesthood for base personal gratification, betraying the innocent and devastating their lives. When that happens, our first concern must be for those innocent young people who have been abused, to help them overcome their suffering, and to resolve to take whatever steps are needed to be as sure as is possible that this does not happen again.”

It's been my own personal experience that there is no one more committed to safe-guarding the vulnerable than those who love and serve the church. Have some failed in this mission? Absolutely. Even one gone wrong is unacceptable. Yet the clergy I encounter day to day, parish volunteers, lay staff - they remain committed to fostering an environment that is safe for one and for all. May we be ever mindful of the awesome responsibility entrusted to each member of the body of Christ to be faithful to that commitment.

We offer our prayers for all victims of abuse in society. Yet along with these prayers must come an ongoing pledge to the most vulnerable among us - we must never let you down, ever.

Photos: Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Oh When the Saint Comes Marching In!

The anticipation is building in this country and especially in Quebec with the canonization of Brother André around the corner. This Sunday, the Holy Father will welcome the humble servant of God to the communion of saints, holy men and women who inspire us to set the bar higher in our own faith journey.

I can still recall being one of two million at the final mass for World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, Italy. Pope John Paul II challenged those gathered to be the "saints of the new millennium". I looked behind me and around me, wondering if there were a few future saints among the crowd (not the least of which being the Holy Father himself). But yet I was struck in reflecting on his homily after the emotional experience of WYD had passed. The Holy Father reminded us all - myself included, that we were all called on to be saints of this global family of faith. Not the person beside me, the one 2 km away or anybody else - this was a direct challenge from the Holy Father to me personally, to step it up and set the bar high.

As previously outlined in this space, the humble Brother André faced adversity from his first moments of life, so weak at birth that his family had him baptized when he was a day old, afraid that he wouldn't make it past the first week of life. Not only did he beat the odds, he went on to give a life of service to the church and others, a life that included stops as a millworker in the United States and a porter at Notre-Dame college in Montreal. He once remarked, "'When I entered community, my superiors showed me the door, and I remained there for 40 years without leaving."

Who knows what blessings await with the arrival of our newest saint but even before the official canonization ceremony, it's heartening to see some secular newspapers devote some positive space to covering the story. The Toronto Star's Rosie DiManno is spending the week in Rome writing about the experience, The Globe & Mail devoted a good piece of Monday's paper to the upcoming celebration and, no doubt, other articles will appear as the day draws closer.

If you're looking to catch all the excitement live, Salt & Light Television will be on the scene, both in Rome and Montreal, to capture the spirit of the canonization celebration as we welcome "God's Doorkeeper" as our newest saint. You can find a complete schedule of Salt & Light coverage here.

Among the most excited for this weekend are a group of 18 staff and students from Brother André Catholic Secondary School in Markham, who are making the trek to Rome to be part of the historic gathering. No doubt the experience will bring new meaning and reflection to their school's namesake. The school also unveiled a commemorative portrait this past weekend as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the school.

If you're interested in taking part in the prayer and celebration (with a trip to Montreal to boot), the Archdiocese of Montreal is hosting a huge event at the end of October to commemorate the canonization of Brother André at the Big O. Yes, the Olympic Stadium will be the setting for a mass in honour of Canada's newest saint with up to 50,000 expected to attend, among them two bishops from our Archdiocese. A $5 ticket reservation fee will get you into the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m. For more information on how to reserve your space and to find out more about all the events at St. Joseph's Oratory this weekend and for the rest of the month, visit them online.

All in all, there's plenty of reasons for us to celebrate the contributions of a man who continues to inspire us on our faith journey. Get ready Canada - another saint is ready to come on marching in! Saint André, pray for us!

Photos: St. Joseph's Oratory

Giving Thanks...

Thanksgiving. There aren't many holidays that double up as words we use in our day to day conversations. I'd say that thanksgiving pretty much sums it up - the opportunity to reflect, pause, shift our focus away from the day to day distractions and say thank you: to God, our family, our colleagues, for all that we've been blessed with.

I think of the phone calls and conversations that took place this past week. Speaking with excited Catholics about the opening of a new parish in our Archdiocese (Padre Pio), the anxiety and nervousness about the impending arrival of relics for the friends of Don Bosco, exciting preparation in the dioceses of Hamilton and St. Catharines as they eagerly anticipate the arrival of their new bishops. I heard Ontario's Health Minister speak about the impact of Catholic Health Care in her own life, wished the Archbishop well on his travels overseas and reflected on a ShareLife humanitarian relief campaign that raised more than $460,000 for the people of Pakistan.

Yes, indeed, there is much to be thankful for and we are blessed with so many generous stewards within our family of faith.

Then, later in the week, I traveled to Bolton to coordinate media relations at Holy Family Parish, where a family came to bury a loved one. It was a very different scene. Sonia Varaschin, an innocent 42 year old nurse had been murdered, her life taken away in an instant. Close to 1,000 family and friends came to say goodbye, to pray, to look for answers and, in a very different way, to give thanks.



I couldn't help but reflect on the way up to Bolton how the Varaschin family would "celebrate" Thanksgiving this year. The pain, anguish, senselessness of it all. Where could they find hope? How could they be thankful after what had just happened to their family? It's in these types of situations that I personally can't picture a life without faith.

Now I can't begin to imagine what the Varaschin family has been through these last days but I hope in my heart of hearts that their experience with the church on Thursday somehow eased their pain, gave them hope and reminded them, that even in the darkest of days, we can find comfort in our faith.

We saw the hands and face of Christ at work this week in the pastoral team at Holy Family Parish. Every staff member set aside their projects to ensure that the faith community was there to care for the needs of the family, to arrange every detail, to compassionately open the doors and hearts of the community to this grieving family.

Fr. Larry Leger, Pastor at Holy Family, has had his share of difficult funerals this year. But each time he presides over our sacred rituals, he seems to bring a calm peacefulness to a congregation looking for answers. While no one can fully explain such a tragedy, he was a shepherd - he gathered the flock and helped remind all those gathered that, in our grief, we can find hope. An excerpt from his homily:

"When you feel the sorrow that comes with death, I beg you to remember also the bond and love that lies behind that pain...Someone once wrote that mourning is the price we pay for having loved. If we mourn, it is a sign that we have loved. And if we have loved - and been loved - then we are truly blessed. Your mourning is not only reasonable but it is to be expected."

Fr. Larry's poignant sermon wrapped up with imagery that, for me, was a fitting reflection on our belief that "life has changed not ended" as heard at every Catholic funeral:

"Imagine you are sitting on a dock. Watching a great sailing ship lying silently and quietly waiting for a wind to fill its sails and set it in motion. A wind comes up finally, and the ship begins to move over the water. By and by, the ship gets smaller and smaller, and finally it is a speck. Someone yells, "There she goes!" Goes where? The ship still exists, with its cargo and crew, arrives on the foreign shore, and people on that dock are shouting, "Here she comes!"

Right now we are like people stuck on our dock. We have seen Sonia go. In this Eucharist, with sadness and grief we remark, "There she goes."

But it is our confident prayer that Jesus is standing on the other shore with all of Sonia's relatives and friends...and together they shout "Here she comes!"

So this Thanksgiving wherever we may be, perhaps it's worth taking a moment to not only reflect on the many blessings we have in our life but also to step back and give thanks for those who have gone before us, to recall the special moments with them.

Whether they were with us for a few months to almost a century, each have made an indelible impact on our journey. And somehow, we know that they are guests at the ultimate banquet, the table where all are welcome, where love is served in abundance. This is a place where our ships will dock together one day - when we pray that we will meet at the port of eternal life.

Our prayers and thoughts go to the Varashin family and all who mourn the loss of loved ones this Thanksgiving. May their joyful memories live on. As we share special moments with family, let us never cease to appreciate the beauty of God's creation and the abundance of blessings showered on each one of us. Just as the leaves will change with the season, may our sorrow turn to hope, darkness to light, our pain to joy.

Photos: Toronto Star, Freefoto.com

Getting to Know Your Catholic School Trustee Candidates...

Over the last number of weeks, the Archdiocese has taken great strides to engage the Catholic community in preparing for the upcoming October 25 municipal elections.

The Archbishop's pastoral letter of September 12 encouraged all Catholics in the Archdiocese to learn more about the candidates, especially those seeking the office of Catholic School Trustee. His Grace also announced that candidates for Catholic School Trustee would have permission to distribute campaign literature outside churches leading up to the election, an unprecedented initiative.

In the next couple of weeks, our Toronto family of faith will have additional opportunities to hear from the candidates themselves through a series of all-candidate meetings being held in each Ward of the City of Toronto.

All but two of these meetings have been organized by the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). All candidate meetings provide an opportunity for voters to hear from the candidates in a moderated forum, ask questions and hear first hand how those seeking election intend to serve as stewards of the resources entrusted to them. Thanks to the Toronto Catholic District School Board CPIC members for their hard work in pulling together these meetings in short order.

Here's a list of upcoming all candidate meetings in the Toronto Wards - note all meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

Ward 1 October 13, 2010 Msgr. Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School, 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke

Ward 2 October 5, 2010 – Nativity of Our Lord Parish – 480 Rathburn Road., Etobicoke (7:30 P.M. MEETING)

Ward 2 October 12, 2010 Holy Angels Catholic School, 65 Jutland Road, Etobicoke

Ward 2 October 18, 2010 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church - 3055 Bloor St. W., Etobicoke (7:30 P.M. MEETING )

Ward 3 October 13, 2010 St. Basil-the-Great College School, 20 Starview Lane, North York

Ward 4 October 14, 2010 James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic S.S, 1440 Finch Ave. W, North York

Ward 5 October 6, 2010 Blessed Sacrament Parish, 24 Cheritan Ave. Toronto

Ward 5 October 7, 2010 St. Gabriel Catholic School, 396 Spring Garden Avenue, North York

Ward 5 October 14, 2010 Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School, 1107 Avenue Road, Toronto

Ward 6 October 12, 2010 Loretto College School, 151 Rosemount Avenue, Toronto

Ward 7 October 13, 2010 Holy Spirit Catholic School, 3530 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough

Ward 8 October 5, 2010 Cardinal Leger Catholic School, 600 Morrish Road, Scarborough

Ward 8 October 14, 2010 Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School, 40 Sewells Road, Scarborough

Ward 9 October 7, 2010 St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, 80 Clinton Street, Toronto

Ward 10 October 14, 2010 Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic S.S., 1515 Bloor Street W., Toronto

Ward 11 October 6, 2010 Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, 12 Malvern Avenue, Toronto

Ward 12 October 6, 2010 Cardinal Newman High School, 100 Brimley Road South, Scarborough

Remember, our website has a section with numerous resources on the election, both pastoral and practical, to help assist you, along the way. You can also find an electronic version of the calendar of Catholic School Trustee all candidate meetings in the TCDSB here.

All Catholics are strongly encouraged to attend an all candidate meeting in your area, whether it be for the office of Catholic School Trustee, Councillor or Mayor. Who knows? It may just be the first step in getting you a little more involved in local issues and even a run for office down the road. Let's do all that we can to educate and inform ourselves leading up to October 25.

Photos: Freefoto.com

Don Bosco Relics - 1,800 Pound Display on the Way

Whenever a relic makes its way through our Archdiocese, it draws a sizeable crowd of Catholics who recognize the importance and historic nature of such stops on the faith journey. For the Salesian community both here in Toronto and around the world, the "Don Bosco" tour has been especially meaningful. Months of hard work and planning will come to fruition locally when the relics of Don Bosco make their way to St. Benedict's Parish in Etobicoke on October 5.

This particular journey of the relics of St. John Bosco began on January 31, 2009, the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Congregation. The North American leg of the tour began last month and has included stops in California, New York, Louisiana and British Columbia. If you've never had a chance to view or pray among relics, the Toronto stop at St. Benedicts should be added to your calendar.

A full description of the display and relic, courtesy the official website of the visit:

The relics of Don Bosco have been recomposed from the urn that contained his remains since 1929 when the body was exhumed for his beatification and canonization. The bones and tissues of the right hand and arm have been taken and placed within a wax replica of St. John Bosco's body, which in turn is enclosed in a large urn.The urn was contructed specially for this pilgrimage. It is composed of a large glass box in which the wax replica is placed, and easily viewed. The box is mounted atop a large wood and metal cart. Among the urn's decorations are the words, "Da mihi animas, ceatera tolle," which translates to, "Give me souls, take away the rest," one of Don Bosco's many quotes that guided his ministry from its earliest stages through today.

Images of young faces also surround the urn, as well as maps showing where the Salesian Family is present today. Finally, the years 1815 and 2015 are placed near the base, serving as a reminder of the purpose of this Relic Pilgrimage: in 2015, the Salesian Family, and the Church as a whole, will celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Don Bosco's birth in 1815. The urn weighs 820 kilograms (over 1,800 pounds!). The glass box, containing the relic, is 253 centimeters long (almost 100 inches), 108.3 centimeters wide (over 40 inches), and 132 centimeters tall (over 50 inches). The full urn is tranported via two specially designed and built trucks.

Relics remind us of the life of the saints, they allow us to feel a sense of communion with a holy man or woman who may have lived hundreds of years prior to our own faith journey. They also give us a chance to learn more about the lives of the saints, meditate on their tremendous contributions to our church and raise the bar on our own faith journey.

A full day's schedule is planned for October 5 and can be found above and on the St. Benedict website here.

For a teacher who had a passion for educating and working with impoverished young people, Don Bosco sets the bar high for us. Let us celebrate his contributions and also give thanks for the Salesians, who continue to evaneglize and minister faithfully throughout the world.

Saint Don Bosco, pray for us!

Photos: St. Benedict Parish