Exciting Arrival - Celebrating Accomplishments

Wednesday afternoon a number of us from Bolton made our way down Hwy 50 to the Airport to greet our Iraqi Refugee family.  While the plane they were travelling on arrived in Toronto at 3:25, it was after 5:00 before they made their way through the landing process with Immigration officials and came through the customs clearance area.  There was anticipation as we waited with flowers, candies, and refreshments in the arrivals area at terminal 3.  With the 7 of us from Bolton, there was Evelyn`s Sister Eileen (and husband and 3 children) who live in Hamilton. It was quite an emotional and tearful welcome  for this family whose journey began years ago when they experienced persecution in Iraq, and so, after some time fled to the refugee camp in Syria.


Madeline (Sister), Sant (13), Mirna (10), Maryana (4), Evelyn (Mom)



Welcome To Canada!

After some words of greeting and a few pictures, the family was hustled on to transportation to the COSTI Refugee welcome centre in Downtown Toronto. Thursday afternoon we will meet with the Resettlement Officer and the Family, discussing the plan for the next few weeks, and having the first of many orientation sessions. Our hope is that the family will spend some time in Bolton during Canada Day weekend, looking at possible housing alternatives!

 

Congratulations Class of 2011!

From the Airport I made my way - through crazy traffic - to the Powerade Centre in Brampton - not for a hockey game - but for the Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School Graduation ceremonies.  With over 500 students to graduate - there are not many facilities where you can host at minimum 2000 people! I figure there were over 3,000 in attendance, with proud parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters and staff.  It was a grand evening celebrating accomplishements and at the same time looking forward to the future.

I guess in many ways Wednesday was all about looking to the future - whether a future in the workplace or academics - or a future in a new country, free from persecution!

Peace

Caledon Community Services

In the last year I have become more and more involved in Caledon Community Services (CCS) and the work that they do.  While I was aware of the immediate support / Santa Fund / food / crisis / and employment work with Jobs Ontario - I was not aware of all the other work that CCS does - including Transportation, Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada, etc.  I was asked to be part of the Caledon Homelessness Partnership Strategy Committee and look at ways of raising awareness of this issue in our community. One of the products of this Committee's work was the Homelessness Forum in February 2011, and recently a report on the picture of Homelessness was released.  We have a link - on the Quick links tab on the Parish Website "Homelessness in Caledon" - check it out!
As part of this monthly involvement - I was asked to consider being on the Board for CCS.  After some thoughts on this matter - I agreed and tonight I will be "elected as a member of the Board of CCS at the Annual General Meeting (which I will miss most of - due to graduation for Pope John Paul II Catholic Elementary School!)
Peace

LifeTeen - End of Semester

With Exams over and High School Teens looking forward to summer - we had our end of Semester LifeTeen social Saturday evening with a relaxed time of food - Sports and time for good fellowship among the teens.  As is our custom - we had a special prayer of blessing upon the grade 12's who are moving out of LifeTeen and going to College or University. This Saturday was also a time for Grade 8's to come and check out LifeTeen and see how it is different from Edge...  In the picture below can you see some of the Edgers who are looking forward to being part of LifeTeen??? 

The best part is that the teens realize that this is not an end - Mass continues through the summer - and many of the teens also come out for Monday night Ultimate Frisbee. I think we will have some more gatherings - including the Ultimate Frisbee Tournament - with other LifeTeen parishes on August 7th in Orangeville.


Yesterday afternoon I also had the opportunity to spend some time with "SoJust" the Social Justice Committee from St. Michael's Secondary School.  They are a wonderful bunch of students - who are joyful and hope-filled, meeting under the leadership of Urszula Cybulko - their High School Chaplain.  It was neat to hear how they have come together in this first year of St. Michael's and have a strong desire to make real change in our world - for the better!


Peace.

Edge Semester End BBQ

Each Friday night throughout the School year (and a few times during the Summer months) our Edge Youth Ministry meets in the Church.  This ministry - directed at the grade 6, 7, and 8 youth of our parish aims to provide catechesis, support formation in a Catholic way of life, and allow for good healthy fellowship with like minded Catholic young people.  

BBQ Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns 

Yesterday we celebrated the end of another EDGE semester with a BBQ and the "Cross Signing" by the grade 8's who are moving on to LifeTeen.  This past semester has looked at Church History - from the time of Jesus and the apostles, and moved through time looking at important people like the Emperor Constantine, St. Augustine, and events like the Schism of East and West, the Crusades, and the Reformation, and the Second Vatican Council.  Interspersed in these nights are Issue nights that looked at Poverty, the Golden Rule, Modesty in language and an outing to see the one man Play "Vianney" in May.  
We have also welcomed grade 5's for the last few weeks for a "preview" of Edge.  The Grade 8's who signed the cross each spoke for a short time and remembered how important it was to be able to come on Friday nights to a place where they were accepted, and cared for. Where they could be with friends and be real about the ways God was present in their lives...

HOLY FAMILY EDGE - June 2011 BBQ

We are looking for more Core Team Leaders - particularly Adults who can support this ministry with their time and presence.  Training and formation are provided (EDGE has great resources we use to operate the weekly sessions!) and the satisfaction of the respect and appreciation of young people who choose to be here is compelling.  Call Stephanie - our Youth Minister - if you see yourself being part of this picture in the future.

Refugee Family Coming SOON!

Well folks - We are in for a quick ride!
We received word on Monday that our Refugee Family will be arriving in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon - June 29!  After months of planning, having one family "Taken" out from under us so to speak, we now have received word that our Refugee Family is on their way - so to speak.  Because this is a JAS (Joint Assisted Sponsorship) case - it is believed that the case has moved so quickly. Before next week - our Refugee committee will be meeting again - and making ready for this family:
   Mom - in her late 30's with work experience as a Nurse
   Son - will turn 13 1 week after arriving in Canada!
   Daughter - 10 years old
   Daughter - will turn 4 1 day after her brother turns 13
Accompanying them is the Mom's Sister - who is 3 years younger than the Mom.  We have spoken with Caledon Community Services about supportive services, and I know we have a number of volunteers - who are ready to help - now is the time to respond! 


Our biggest need - is to find rental accommodations that would be suitable.  We will need a 2 or 3  bedroom house / apartment. We only have $1,000 or so for rent !!!  Contact me by email/phone or comment in the blog to offer your assistance...


I am really looking forward to the family being here for Canada Day!!! 
Peace

Father's Day Blessings

As we celebrate Father's Day, I include the Blessing prayer from The CCCB Publication "Blessings and Prayers for home and family".
We keep all the Fathers of our parish in our prayers at this time. We remember those who are near, and those who are far away.  Those who are healthy and those who are ill, or failing health.


God our Father,
we praise you and bless you
for the life you have given us
through your saving love,
revealed in Jesus your Son.
Through Christ you have revealed yourself
as a loving father who provides for us all.


Look with love upon our father
and bless him with your love.
Deepen his love for his wife and family
and make us one in love 
with all your holy people 
as we proclaim your mighty deeds 
and sing your praises.
We offer praise and glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Amen.


Peace

New Roman Missal coming...

On November 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, our Mass will sound a little different. We will be using a newly revised Roman Missal during the Mass. The Roman Missal contains the Order of the Mass, or the way we celebrate Holy Eucharist, with all its accompanying prayers and responses. During the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope John Paul II promulgated a third edition of the Roman Missal.

Anyone who owns a house knows that any building needs to be repaired and renovated after a decade or two, so that the beauty of the original structure can be maintained or even enhanced. We give the walls a new coat of paint, strip and refinish the hardwood floors, put in more insulation, and perhaps include an addition or two to meet the needs of a growing family. Something similar is happening with our Roman Missal.

The upcoming third edition of the Roman Missal contains the same Order of the Mass that was promulgated after the Second Vatican Council. This Order of the Mass follows the Council Father’s mandate for liturgical renewal and reform. But many things have happened since the new Order of the Mass was promulgated in 1969, and even since the second edition was implemented for use in Canada in 1983. For example: we have received from the Holy See additional Eucharistic Prayers; many saints were canonised and their feast days were added to the liturgical calendar of the Church; and the rules for the way we translate the Church’s ritual texts from the original Latin into the vernacular have changed. All of these factors have required a new edition of the Roman Missal. Roman Catholic episcopal conferences, international committees, and the Holy See are working on implementation throughout the world.

One of the most noticeable adjustments that will affect all of us is the way the original Latin texts have been translated into the English language. In the earlier editions of the Roman Missal, the method of translation laid heavy emphasis on the way the receiving community would hear and understand the text. As a result, many of the prayers were substantially simplified to reflect contemporary English usage. Some texts were added which were not found in the original Latin editions. In 2001, the Holy See changed the manner in which liturgical texts are to be translated. Now, translators have to give particular attention to maintaining biblical references, employ inclusive language where possible, avoid simplifying the words and phrases into contemporary terms, and ensure as much continuity as possible between the original text promulgated in Latin and the translated text in English. In other words, the Holy See has a great desire to guarantee that translated texts in the English language mirror, as much as possible, the original texts found in the newest edition of the Missal promulgated in Latin.

This Sunday I am preaching the first of a series of Homilies which Fr. Sherwin and I will use to unpack this process as it unfolds in the coming months and to help our parish know what is "coming down the pipe" so to speak!

Peace