The Exchange - Silent Auction

Last Friday evening Caledon Community Services had a Gala - "The Lounge" for the new community hub called The Exchange.  Holy Family Parish was a key Sponsor for this event - and Deacon Robert, Lydia and I had our picture taken with Monty Laskin (CCS-CEO) and Fionna Ott (CCS Dircector of Fundraising).

There is still time to bid on items for the "online auction" Click on the image below:

 Peace

My own Crazy Train

While I still have to tell my friends and relatives from outside of Canada that I am near Toronto - not in Toronto - and he is not my Mayor, I have been living my own crazy week or so!

The news that everyone knows now - Fr. Damian is leaving to be Pastor of St. Monica's Parish - was weighing on my mind as I went up to the Ontario Liturgical Conference from Tuesday to Thursday last week.  It was held in Sudbury, and I was on the Organizing Committee for the conference portion of the event - which was on the topic of "Changing Trends and the Order of Christian Funerals."  I was also a presenter for one section of the agenda - The Art of the Presider and relationships with Funeral Homes.

On the way home - I was pondering how utterly exhausted I was - when my car broke down on Highway 400 & Hwy 12 - near Wabashene. The vehicle lost power, was sluggish, and the check engine light was on.  I spoke with Fr. Damian - my go to guy for car stuff, and saw that my heat gauge was on H so he said not to drive it, to have it towed.  So thankfully the passenger in my car had CAA Gold - and I was able to get a tow to Barrie, to a Ford Dealer.  
I rented a car in Barrie to continue my trip home, where Fr. Damian said there was no hot water nor heat in the rectory! I was home around 7 pm (only 3.5 hours later than I expected!)

We called for a hot water repair (We did have issues with the tank's Gas valve in the summer) and that repair man inspected the Gas Meter - where the Gas was turned off.  The meter was replaced on Wednesday, and no one was home - so they could not restart / inspect the Gas appliances... so they left the Gas off!
I now had to wait for an inspector from the Gas Meter replacement Company to come... that was within 1 hour thankfully, and he checked the water tank pressure release valve, which leaked for a short time but eventually stopped before he left and all was well.

I got a call from the Ford dealership Friday Morning that it was the Radiator which had a hole - and there was no coolant.  So $700.00 later there is a new rad and I go back to Barrie to drop off the rental, and pick up my repaired vehicle.

Friday night, after the Edge, I came home - and the entire carpet was soaked in the basement - where my room is!  The pressure release valve from the hot water tank seems to have released!  It took some time mopping, and squeezing and lifting the carpet to get things cleaned up... but now everything has reset!

So far this week is going much better!

Look forward to seeing many people at the farewell for Fr. Damian on Sunday Nov. 24 at 3-5 PM.
Peace

The Exchange

One of the most exciting things to happen in Caledon this year is the opening of "The Exchange" this month.  For well over a year the Board of Directors of Caledon Community Services (of which I am a member) has been supporting the lead work in preparing for the opening of this new Community Hub.  Not simply a food bank, The Exchange will offer services from a number of groups and agencies to all segments of the Caledon population. You could think of The Exchange as a destination with a focus on nutritious food and community programs. With access to healthy, fresh food, and information on how plant, prepare, preserve, and enjoy it - this "communal kitchen" is set to transform the way our community is engaged in these matters.

Holy Family - as a Parish - is committed to The Exchange and its mission of improving the health and wellness of hungry families in the Bolton Area!  I encourage you to help The Exchange by supporting the Annual CCS Gala's ONLINE Auction! Click on the image below and see if you can figure out which Items I donated!

Peace

More on Cardinal Zen

A model of human rights — and of holiness

By: Father Raymond J. de Souza 
in the National Post
From Rob Ford to Mike Duffy, it has been a surreal period in Canadian public life: A cure for cancer would have been hard-pressed to get press coverage. Nonetheless, it was a shame that no attention was paid to the awarding of the Diefenbaker prize to Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kuin last week in Vancouver.
Formally called the John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award, it was instituted by Canada’s department of foreign affairs and first awarded by foreign minister Lawrence Cannon in 2011. The decision to offer an international prize for human rights, with a strong emphasis on religious liberty, is part of the government’s commitment to raising the importance of human rights in Canada’s foreign policy.
Naming the award after the Conservative John Diefenbaker was partly a partisan balancing of the ubiquity of the Liberal Lester Pearson in foreign policy lore, but also a good reminder of Diefenbaker’s Bill of Rights, the first Canadian statutory protection for human rights. The constitutional protections offered by the Charter of Rights in 1982 were not the beginning of human rights in this country.
Last year, the current foreign minister, John Baird, gave the prize posthumously to Shabbaz Bhatti, the Pakistani minister for minorities who was assassinated for his opposition to Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws, often used to persecute Pakistan’s Christian minority. The Diefenbaker award is thus a concrete sign of Canadian solidarity with those persecuted for their faith.
For Canada to give potential offense to the Pakistani government is one thing; to do the same in regard to China requires rather more foreign-policy courage. And so John Baird ought to be congratulated for giving the award to Cardinal Zen, the retired Catholic bishop of Hong Kong and a leading global advocate for religious liberty in China. China does not permit Cardinal Zen to enter the mainland anymore, but they cannot silence his voice in Hong Kong. Thanks to his status as a cardinal and recognition from governments such as Canada’s, his voice is amplified throughout the world.
The importance of his voice was made clear in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI chose Zen to write the meditations for the Good Friday stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome. At one of the most dramatic Holy Week ceremonies, an event broadcast worldwide, Benedict wanted Cardinal Zen to bring the voice of China’s Christians to the whole world.
“Obviously, we are not alone at the Colosseum this evening,” wrote Cardinal Zen in his introduction. “Present in our own hearts are all the ‘living martyrs’ of the twenty-first century. When we think of persecution, let us also remember the persecutors. As I was drafting the text of these meditations, it frightened me to realize how un-Christian I am. I had to make a great effort to purify myself of uncharitable sentiments towards those who caused Jesus to suffer and those who are causing our brothers and sisters to suffer in the world today. Only when I confronted my sins and my own lack of faithfulness, did I succeed in seeing myself among the persecutors, and then I was moved to repentance and gratitude for the forgiveness of our merciful Master.”
Cardinal Zen is known for his courageous honesty in denouncing the Chinese regime. Here, though, was another kind of honesty: acknowledging that the persecution of the body can lead to a corruption in the soul of the persecuted. Purification is necessary, as difficult as it is to extend charity and mercy to one’s persecutors. In that, Cardinal Zen, is a model not only of human rights but holiness.
“Pilate appeared powerful, he was in a position to determine the life or death of Jesus,” wrote Zen in 2008. “He enjoyed that ironic reference to the ‘King of the Jews,’ but in truth he was weak, wretched and servile. He was afraid of the Emperor Tiberius, he was afraid of the people, he was afraid of the chief priests, while nevertheless despising them in his heart. He handed Jesus over to be crucified, knowing that he was innocent. In his vain attempt to save Jesus, he ended up granting freedom to a dangerous murderer. To no avail he sought to wash those hands, dripping with innocent blood. Pilate is the image of all those who wield authority as an instrument of power, having no regard for justice.”
So it is in China, and Cardinal Zen is one of those willing to say so. It is a matter of pride for Canadians that our government is willing to stand with him.

Peace

Cardinal Zen

With all of the news stories about the Mayor of Toronto, and the Senate in Ottawa - this news story has probably been missed by many people: 
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, accompanied by Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, presented this year’s John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award to His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong on October 31, 2013.  
“With this award, Canada honours Cardinal Zen for his unwavering commitment to human rights, democracy and religious freedom in China. Cardinal Zen has remained steadfast in his defence and promotion of human dignity,” said Baird. “His calls for justice, human rights and reform have earned him international acclaim and a reputation as the ‘new conscience of Hong Kong.’

“I am deeply impressed by this man and his belief that ‘a path will appear when enough people walk on it.’
“Canada stands with the defenders of human rights for all—people who courageously seek to promote and protect fundamental freedoms around the world.”

“Freedom of religion is a universal right,” said Ambassador Bennett. “Cardinal Zen has defended that freedom both in Hong Kong and in mainland China. He has been vigilant against violations of religious freedom on the mainland and has criticized the unilateral ordinations of Catholic bishops by government officials.”
Peace

4 Mondays in a Row

Today marks 4 Mondays in a row that I have not had a regular day off! I am not complaining - even though it sounds like it! This came to mind when one of the staff that asked me about this - as I was asking him to put the Paschal Candle in the centre of the church - in front of the Altar, preparing for the Funeral of Maria Grguric on  Monday Morning. Fr. Damian takes so little time off - I am glad he is enjoying a small amount of time off.  It also expalins why I don't worry about the extra day or two often tacked on to a holiday - before returning home. 

Less than two weeks ago I was at St. Michael's Secondary School for the Awards night - and I neglected to write up some of the awards here!  Our Holy Family Parish Award went to Asia Grzesiuk who not only attends LifeTeen weekly - but also is involved as a CORE team member for our EDGE program! 
The Catholic Leadership Award was given to Lexi Hesketh-Pavilons who went on the Dominican Mission Trip last year.  
Nicholas Chrobok won the grade 10 Highest average award, as well as taking subject awards in 8 different courses! Impressive!


The Religion department head seemed genuinely surprised when I told her that I never went to an awards night when I was in High School.  I was no where close to being on the Honour Roll!

Congrats to all the winners!

Many Items

The carpet replacement is now complete in the church,  and the sacristy.  There are a few detail points that the installer is working on - but things are looking really good! The Sacristy also was repainted by Josef Schweighofer and Rob Gordon. 

The facing for the steps was also installed this week - and they look terrific! Thanks to Joseph Steko and John Florian for working on that.  Vince Limina is working on the very last pieces - that will go along the bottom edge of each facing piece.

Finally for this update - I have a picture of the 3 Servers who were recognized at the Altar Server awards with Bishop John Boissonneau in October. As the picture was being taken - the Bishop asked the servers if this photo would be on Fr. Larry's Blog! They said yes - and so here it is!

Congratulations Colleen, James and Daniel!

Peace