Home Again

I returned late Sunday from the 2015 NHL Draft in Florida.  I stayed with my Godson's Family at the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina, but the Draft was in the BB&T Center in Sunrise Florida (next to the famous Sawgrass Mills Outlet Centre!)

The whole draft process was facinating to be a part of and witness. The first round was on Friday evening - and Starts with a roll Call of each team, and their representatives. The entire ice surface is covered with Tables for each of the 30 NHL Teams. Each table has 15+ people sitting around it - Scouts, Mangers and the like! Its a crowded floor! As each team makes a pick - the young man is comes down from the Stands after receiving congratulations from their family - then they make their way to the Stage, and greet Team representatives, then are wisked away for media interviews.
Quite a show indeed.  The next team then has 3 minutes (the count down clock pictured above) to make its pick.

On Saturday the Rounds 2-7 happen, and this process is much faster.  Teams still have 3 minutes between pick, but they announce the pick from their table. They do not always use the 3 minutes - but sometimes they ask for a time out - (5:00) and sometimes there are trades made.
When the name is announced - there is clapping and congratulations from the family and the agent and those around him. The Draftee then goes to the main ice surface receives a Jersey and goes to the table to meet the team reps, then taken away for Media interviews.  
My Godson Thomas Schemitsch, who plays for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL, was selected in the 3rd round - the 88th pick - by the Florida Panthers. Here is Thomas doing interviews after being selected.

After being drafted, an NHL rep brought wrist bands for the family members - and these wrist bands allowed us to go to a Family Lounge while waiting for the players to finish their media interviews and conversations with team officials. Since Florida was the host team for the Draft - there was a lot of buzz in the arena whe he was chosen - Here is Thomas signing autographs and taking pictures with young fans on his way to the Team Box for some refreshments:

There was another person I was following in the Draft - and that was our own parishioner Anrew Mangiapane. As I went back into the main arena to check on the draft - and Andrew - I was there as his name was called - by the Calgary Flames! Andrew was selcted in the 6th round - #166.  Andrews Mom is a Teacher at St. John Paul II School! I was able to see Anrew's Parents and Family - his sister is a Camp Counsellor with Holydays - in the Family Lounge just before we had pictures taken with Thomas.  They were very excited and relieved! Andrew had a great year with the Barrie Colts - scoring 104 points in 2014/2015.

That night we had a nice dinner at a steak house "Mortons" and toasted Thomas' success in the draft! The next morning we went for Breakfast and on the way back stopped off for a newspaper (I really enjoy reading the New York Times!) and we found Thomas' Picture in the Miami Herald! There was also a news article that mentioned him in the SunSentinel! Thomas also gave me a Florida Hat (Like his brother Geoffrey did in 2010 when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning) 

Then we went to Mass at St. Sebastians - very near the Hotel. 

Mass was in the Parish hall because there was no airconditioning in the church (was it broken?) - and the presider was 83 years old - and he barely looked 65!  Great homily with some imagery that I will steal! 
Thomas stayed down in Florida for the Panthers' Development Camp which started Sunday afternoon! They will run until Thursday afternoon - and probably come home Friday. 

This week our Holydays Counsellors are all busy with training and preparation for camp which begins next Monday - July 6th.

Peace

St. Michael Graduation

Wednesday we athe 3rd St. Michael Graduation Ceremony since the School started in 2010. There is no event location that is big enough to handle this in Bolton - so it is held at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton.  It was a wonderful afternoon - and there were many bright award winners and St. Michael's Spirit and Catholic leadership Awards handed out. 
Jennifer Sansalone won the Catholic Student of the year Award, and Katie Moretta won the Knights of Columbus - Fr. Hank Van den Berg Scholarship.  Nicholas Chroback was the Valedictorian and winner of the Governor General's Award for the Highest Academic Average! 
To all the Graduates and Award Winners: Congrats and God Bless!!!

Very Early on Friday Morning our Youth are headed to Steubenville, Ohio, for a youth conference - "Limitless". Keep them in your prayers.

At the same time (after seeing them off) I will be headed to the Airport to fly to Fort Lauderdale, for the 2015 NHL Draft. My Godson (Thomas Schemitsch #91) and our Parishioner (Andrew Mangiapanne #85) are both eligable to be drafted this year, and they both were part of the NHL Combine at the beginning of June in Buffalo. You may remember me talking a lot about Geoffery who is Thomas' older brother and was drafted in 2010 by the Tampa Bay Lightning.  He currently attends Acadia University and plays on their varsity team! I'll report back to the parish when there are updates!

Peace!

Important Week

This has been an important week in the archdiocese of Toronto! Wednesday we learned that the Cathedral - originally scheduled to be closed next spring / summer has been closed this week - because of saftey concerns during the current renovations.

St. Michael’s Cathedral, mother church of the Archdiocese of Toronto, is temporarily closing its doors as part of its extensive restoration efforts. Since the mid-1800s, local and global pilgrims have visited St. Michael’s Cathedral and work has been underway for the past three years to restore the historic church, one of Toronto’s greatest landmarks and home parish of Cardinal Thomas Collins. Until this point in the restoration, the cathedral has remained open for Mass each weekend and special celebrations. However, the next phase of restoration will require its closure full-time to allow for work that will preserve the cathedral for years to come.  A timeline has been forecast as follows:

• June 17, 2015 – mid-December 2015 - full closure of St. Michael’s Cathedral.
• Mid-December 2015 – January 2016 - cathedral will open around Christmas.
• January 2016 – March 2016 - full closure of St. Michael’s Cathedral again.
• March 2016 – September 2016 - cathedral will open prior to Holy Week and Easter, remaining open while work continues through September 2016.
• September 29, 2016 - goal to complete this phase of restoration. This date is also the Feast of St. Michael, patron saint of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

The other big news this week is the much anticipated release of an Encyclical by Pope Francis on the environment: 

Laudato Si’ - "Praised Be"

Here is a power video on our call to care for creation - It was published by Salt and Light before Pope Francis was elected. (In a sense this shows how much Pope Francis' Encyclical is the fruit of comments by both John Paul II and Benedict XVI)

James Axford - Rest in Peace

I have no recollection that I ever had a class mate die when I was in Secondary School. Yet I felt like I was back in High School this week as our community - St. Michael's Secondary School Graduates and staff, and friends in the parish mourned the loss of James Axford. Here is the obituary published in the Toronto Star this week:

JAMES THOMAS AXFORD Grade 12 student at St. Michael CSS Peacefully in his sleep, at his home, Bolton, on Saturday, June 6, 2015, James Thomas Axford, at the age of 18 years, adored son of Darryl and Delia. Magnificent brother of Cameron. Cherished grandson of Floyd and Sharon Axford, Roy and Rose McCormick. Survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. Special friend of Carly. Fondly remembered by his many friends.

James was remembered as a Kind, good hearted, generous young man. Bright - not just academically - but also one to brighten up a room.  He once remarked to his Dad - while cutting sandwiches for lunches - that he felt Triangular food tastes better. I agree, said his dad - Doritos are better than pringles!

Sandwich on James - Sandwich On!

Peace

Answers to Questions

Since I asked the Questions last Sunday:

3 Essential Questions that we as Church need to help people answer:

Why do you believe in God?  

• VS Atheism – where people say that there are "No absolute truths!" and yet that itself is offered as an absolute!

Why do you Believe in Jesus Christ?

• VS a different religion – Muslim / Jewish / Hindu etc.

Why do you believe in the Catholic Church?

• VS another Christian Denomination - or a non denominational church.

Some answers I have received are:
#1 stars, northern lights dancing, oceans even on cold rainy days, a deep peace during times of pain;

# 2 the incarnation of God with us, the resurrection;

#3 I believe in the one holy catholic apostolic church because it is our roots,  I choose to be RC because it is home - not perfect but definitely home.
"The only possible answer to this question is that I believe in its golden ribbon of truth weaving through ages of my life and spanning back throughout the ages  to the time of the Apostles.  I am rooted in this faith and I will abide in the teaching of God and as a sinner I am still a proud Catholic and I believe in our faith and I believe in our Pope and I wake up every morning and try to live in closeness to Christ."

Feel free to send me your answers! 
Peace