Full Stories - September 2010
Mission Sunday Message - Oct. 6, 13 and 20
Doors to the Sacred - Earth, Air, Fire and Water - Oct. 18 to Nov. 15
Come join us for a 5-week interacive prayerful series exploring the elements as doors to the Sacred.
Interfaith Education Series - Oct. 27 to Nov. 24
Bishop Vincent Nguyen's talk "My Spiritual Journey from a Boat Refugee to a Catholic Bishop" - Oct. 31
Come to hear the amazing story of this first Asian-born Catholic Bishop in Canada who was ordained in January 2010. This event is organized by the Toronto Japanese Christian Churches including the Toronto Japanese Catholic Community (www.torjcc.ca) who meets for monthly Japanese mass at the Scarboro Missions.
Advent - Catholic sources of prayer and meditaion, Nov. 23 (Tues) and Dec. 1, 8 & 15 (Wed)
Milestones in Recent Catholic-Jewish Relations
This document chronicles, on a year-by-year basis, the dramatic advances in Catholic-Jewish dialogue since the Second Vatican Council. This detailed profile of significant changes and developments in Catholic-Jewish relations will be very useful to teachers, students, researchers, historians, interfaith practicioners and others. This document can be downloaded free of charge and is available in English and French. Connection is also available to a Hebrew Version.
LAY MISSION OFFICE NEWS
Celebrating with Leis at the Songkran Festival in Thailand
by Glenn and Anne Harty
Scarboro Lay Missioners in Thailand
Thailand has many celebrations that occur throughout the year. Probably the most popular is the Songkran Festival which is an occasion to give thanks for water and the new and continued life that it provides. The official dates for this festival are April 13-15 however it is not uncommon for people to extend it by two days.
Mass of Thanksgiving
Yesterday morning we were asked to attend a Mass in the village at one of the homes. It was followed by a water blessing service and a luncheon. This specific occasion was in recognition of the village seniors and considering I (Glenn) officially turned 60 yesterday, I fit right in.
People were selected to do the washing or blessing. Each of us who were blessed were presented with a lei and a hand towel. Some of us were also blessed with a mixture of water and rice flower as in the case of Anne.
The leis we were presented with were made from jasmine flowers, which happen to be the National flower of some Asian countries. In Thailand the jasmine flower is used as the symbol for Mother.
The flowers are picked early in the morning, stored and then early in the evening when the temperature lowers they begin to open up and display their beauty of sight and fragrance. In Thailand these specific leis are quite frequently used to adorn Religious Images, Buddha’s and other objects.
The village where the party was held is next to our Centre. Many years ago it was a village for lepers, therefore not a prime piece of real-estate. The land costs were low and the Camillian Order purchased the land we are now on. The stigma and cures of the disease have changed greatly in the past few years.
On our way home Sr. Anita introduced us to a family of four generations who currently live together. It was uplifting to witness such joy amidst what I would class as terrible suffering. We never have to look far in order to recognize the blessings we have been given and to be thankful. It was a perfect ending to the Songkran Festival.
Blessing with water
Four generation family
Leis and hand towels being handed out
Blessing with water
Leis are handed out and placed around people's necks
Anne Harty (L) with rice flour on her face
Glenn and Anne Harty in Thailand
Hello Guyana
Girls at St. Ann's doing art with Sylvia
by Sylvia Wilvert
Scarboro Lay Missioner
The first weeks of mission are a time of learning and discovery
Well, it's been five weeks since my arrival in Georgetown, Guyana. God has presented me with new challenges, but I take each day as it comes and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit every step of the way.
I have started working with the girls at St. Ann’s Orphanage, all 50 of them, ages three to 17 years. Many of them have no family; for those who do, the family has insurmountable problems and are unable to care for the children.
My first challenge was to get to know their names. Each of these young people were excited to share their name with me, which may be the only thing they feel is theirs. I am trying to remember, for example, Zelina, Sheneeza, Avella, Makeba, Shemena, Lashonda, Aishonna, and Jamacy. Of course, the list goes on.
Fr. Russ Sampson, who served in Guyana for many years and is now in Canada assisting with the preparation of new mission candidates, confessed to me that he had a difficult time pronouncing the names when it came time to baptize the children.
Sylvia Wilvert with girls from St. Ann's Orphanage
This week I made the biggest faux pas when I was sitting with a table of eight girls at supper. I take turns sitting at different tables as they all clamour for me to sit with them. During the meal, I asked them what would be the consequence if they did not finish all the food on their plate. All eight girls stared at me in disbelief. There is no such thing as not wanting your food, they said. In fact, the staff served me first and heaped my plate. So I took the opportunity to give most of my food to the girls at my table and they readily accepted it. If they are lucky and there is food remaining, they get to have seconds.
Tea is served at 4:00 p.m. each day, a hangover from the time when Guyana was a British colony I suppose. This meal usually consists of a sweet drink, cake, or a small sandwich. The girls’ favorite cake is a sponge cake.
I still have the vision of their sleeping quarters, consisting of one large dormitory for all 50 girls. The cots sit side by side, row after row, with a night stand between each. The teens have their area partitioned off by a curtain. There is a long trough with a tap at both ends of the room where all the girls have a "foot bath" before getting into bed.
On my last visit, six year old Angelique greeted me with "You did come back!" Maybe just being with these young women is all I need to do right now. It certainly is rewarding.
As I get to know them and they teach me about Guyana, I hope in turn to share my life experiences with these beautiful children.
Sylvia Wilvert with girls at St. Ann's
Girls at St. Ann's dancing to music
Welcome new lay missioners!
by Kate O'Donnell & Mary Olenick
Coordinators
Lay Mission Office
We are pleased to introduce our two newest lay missioners, after completing their three-month preparation program for overseas mission. On December 3, 2009, during the Feast of St. Francis Xavier celebration, they made their 3 year commitment to serve as Scarboro lay missioners. We are delighted to acknowledge Sylvia Wilvert who will be serving in Guyana and Mark Driediger who will be serving in Malawi.
We extend a special thanks to Fr. Russ Sampson,sfm who so graciously facilitated the spiritual component of the Formation Program. Special thanks to Scarboro priests and lay missioners along with Sharon Willan who continue to be our great support and facilitated some of the workshops.
Missioner's Commitment Statements
Mark Driediger's commitment statement .....
It is with gratitude to God, to Scarboro Missions and to you my friends and family that I make this commitment. I, Mark Driediger, commit myself to God and to Scarboro to journey with the people of Malawi for the next three years. My hope is, together with you and the people I will work with and encounter to serve our Lord Jesus diligently, to grow in faith in God, to delight in the fellowship of His Holy Spirit, and to allow the Light of the World each day to shine ever more brightly and beautifully in the hearts of people and in His world.
Sylvia Wilvert's commitment statement .....
I, Sylvia Wilvert with the Grace of God, in the presence of my family and friends who are here and away and this community, I commit myself for three years to serve as a lay missioner with Scarboro Missions in Guyana.
May my compass remain steadfast on the needs of the people of Guyana through dialogue, sharing, witness and service.
Lord, as in the prayer of St. Theresa of Avila, may I be your hands, eyes, ears, feet and heart .... May your will be done.
I ask my family, friends and new Scarboro family to pray for me as I journey into mission to follow Christ's call.
Feast of St Francis Xavier
By Fr. Mike Traher sfm
It is always a joy to celebrate the feast of St Francis Xavier who is traditionally one of four missionary patrons for Scarboro. The others are, St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of missions, St. Theophane Venard, a young missionary martyred in Vietnam 1800's, Mary, Queen of Apostles. Each year we invite other mission societies from the Toronto area to join us and some of them do, like Our Lady's Missionaries, the Jesuits, the Spiritans, and others.
St. Francis Xavier has an amazing record of accomplishments in his ten years of evangelizing (1542-1552) in South Asia, India, and Japan. As a young missionary priest, from the Basque region of Spain, he sent many letters back home to Ignatius, founder of their Jesuit order. They were filled with stories of heroic sacrifice, long hours of ministry, joy among people eager to hear the Good News, as well as the challenges of bringing the Gospel to new cultures and peoples. Francis Xavier was undaunted. He spoke enthusiastically about the need for more missioners to come to Asia, musing that if he were back in Europe he would visit the all the universities and challenge students to come and give their lives to Christ's mission for the salvation of the world. While planning in 1552 to enter China, Francis Xavier became ill seriously and died on the island of Sancian, just off the coast off China.
Francis Xavier has been the inspiration of many missionary societies, and he continues to fulfill that role with us in Scarboro. At our community Eucharist for December 3rd, our Superior General, Fr. Jack Lynch presided, and a very inspiring homily was given by Fr Russ on the theme of our Baptism, and the call to be missionary. The missioning of two new lay missioners really capped our celebration. It is for this reason that Scarboro exists, to give a global witness to the Good News. In past years as seminarians, we used to sing a traditional missionary hymn, "Ad Multos Annos" , ('For many years to come'!) May we see many more ready and willing vocations come to join us in our future missionary endeavours.
Are you interested in becoming a Scarboro Missioner?
Lay Mission work in December 2007 Magazine Issue
To read about the current Lay Mission work in the latest magazine issue, click here
INTERFAITH DESK NEWS
Interfaith Education Series - Oct. 27 to Nov. 24
The Seven Stages of Interfaith Deep-Dialogue
Interfaith dialogue is a journey involving challenge, change and an awakening to global consciousness. This article outlines seven stages that many people experience in their dialogue with other religions and cultures. Read more…
John Paul II–Interfaith Giant
John Paul II was one of the most influential interfaith figures of the twentieth century. His commitment to dialogue, his extensive global travel and his acute awareness of our interdependent lives in the global village made him a significant force in the international interfaith movement. This article offers a chronological profile of the interfaith journey of Pope John Paul II from his election to the papacy in 1978 until his death in 2005. To read article, click here.
Review of Scarboro Golden Rule Movie
Earlier this year, Scarboro Missions released its Golden Rule video entitled, Animating the Golden Rule. The movie features Grade 11 students embodying Golden Rule values by way of skits, artwork, song, dance, rap and interviews. An exciting review of the DVD has been published in the Toronto Interfaith Unity newsletter. To read the review, click here.
Guidelines for designing a multifaith prayer service
A do-it-yourself interfaith workshop outline for chaplains and spiritual care-givers
JUSTICE AND PEACE OFFICE NEWS
September 17-19 STAND UP and TAKE ACTION: Join millions worldwide calling to end poverty
For the fifth year in a row millions of people around the world will STAND UP and TAKE ACTION in a call to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This worldwide call to action is led by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the United Nations Millennium Campaign. Last year more than 173 million people participated at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries,
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by 2015 were drawn from the Millennium Declaration adopted by 189 countries, including Canada, at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. The eight goals are:
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Reduce child mortality
- Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria, and other diseases
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Develop a global partnership for development
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2010 from the United Nations considers the MDGs to be achievable but points out that although “progress has been made, it is uneven. And without a major push forward, many of the MDG targets are likely to be missed in most regions.” According to Make Poverty History Canada “every three seconds, a child dies from extreme poverty, and more than a billion people go to bed hungry every night. In Canada more than 3.5 million people, including 1 in 10 children, still live in poverty.”
This year STAND UP and TAKE ACTION is taking place September 17-19 due to the important opportunity for getting the MDGs back on track by influencing the United Nations MDG Review Summit being held in New York from September 20-22. This is a critical time to pressure countries to develop and implement five year action plans to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
To learn more about this global movement or to register an event go here…
To learn more about and participate in the Canadian campaign visit the Make Poverty History Canada website here…
To read The Millennium Development Goals Report 2010 from the United Nations go here…