Proud GodFather!

I was so proud this week to learn that my Godson - Geoffrey Schemitsch was named as one of 8 Academic All-Canadian University Atheletes for the 2015-2016 season: 

TORONTO (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly announced Wednesday the student-athletes selected as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2015-2016 season. Acadia's Geoff Schemitsch, a fourth year hockey player, was named to the Top 8. It is the fourth year in a row for Acadia to be honoured with a CIS Top 8.

The elite group will be honoured in Ottawa on November 8, when His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presents the fourth annual Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation to the eight recipients during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, his official residence.

Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized as Academic All-Canadians, having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one - or more - of their university's varsity teams. 

Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually to make up the Top Eight. 

The 2015-16 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are Elenor Henry (Toronto), a soccer player and biochemistry student from Mount Allison University, and Geoff Schemitsch (Thornhill, Ont.), a hockey player and kinesiology student from Acadia University.

"The number of Academic All-Canadians speaks volume about the quality of our student-athletes, but also our coaches, support staff and our universities," said Graham Brown, chief executive officer of CIS. "To be selected among 12,000 of their peers is an achievement these exceptional student-athletes should be extremely proud of. They represent the very best of what university sport is all about." 

Here is the Bio that is provided by Acadia University:

Geoffrey Schemitsch joined the Axemen for the 2013-2014 season, and made an immediate impact. Named to the All-Rookie team in his first season, the blueliner helped Acadia win the 2014 AUS title before posting a career-best three goals and 22 points – good for fifth in the conference – en route to Second-Team All-Star honours this past season. 

Studying Kinesiology, Schemitsch is a three-time Academic All-Canadian (2014-2016) and was named to the Dean's List from 2013-2016. He has also received numerous academic awards since arriving studying at Acadia, including the Sully Ashfield and Barbara Bill Ashfield Award, the Acadia Sports Therapy Clinic Award, and the Kirton Scholarship. The 24-year-old is also prominent in the community, volunteering at various fundraisers, group activities and team functions with minor hockey players affiliated with Acadia University's minor hockey program.

"Geoff is arguably one of the most committed, intelligent and hardest working individuals I have coached," said Acadia men's hockey head coach Darren Burns. "(He) is now a captain on our team and is doing exactly what I envisioned he would accomplish on our campus, in the local community and on the ice. I marvel at his accountability and responsibility in leading others."

They neglect to say that when he was 1 year old he brought up the gifts at the Mass of Thanksgiving that I celebrated at my home parish the day after I was Ordained a priest!

I am ecited to be going to mOttawa on the 7th-8th to see Geoffrey receive this Award!

Peace

Dedication of Two Altars

On Thursday I celebrated the dedication of the Altar at St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School and attended the re-dedication of St. Michael's Cathedral! Two Altar Consecrations in 1 day! I suspect that I was the only person in the world who has done this - certainly in the Archdiocese. Many priests said it was the first one they has seen in person (It was my 3rd - I saw St. Jerome's Church dedicated in 1998) 
The Cathedral is now honoured as a Minor Basilica! Henceforth it is known as:

St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica.

The Umbraculum - a symbol of a Basilica - with the Archdiocese Crest and the Papal Coat of Arms.

Tintinnabulum - A bell that is used in processions with the Holy Father at a Basilica.  
In the Middle Ages it served the practical function of alerting the people of Rome 
to the approach of the Pope during papal processions.

The new Casavant Pipe Organ in the Cathedral Basilica.

A view of the Cathedral from the Balcony. You can see the new floor in marble around the altar area.

This is Mike Di Domizio - a parishioner of Holy Family - who has been a member of
the Team of craftsmen working on the Electrical amd Mechanichal parts
of the restoration at the Cathdral. Mike works for Royal Mechanical.

This is the Altar at St. Michael Secondary School which  Cardinal Thomas Collins deleggated me
to Consecrate on the afternoon of September 29, 2016.

 Peace