Full Stories - September 2011
Sakura Planting Ceremony at Scarboro Missions on June 12, 2011
As recipient and host of the Ceremony, Fr. John Carten of Scarboro Missions welcomes everyone in English and Japanese. The two large flags are held up by four young members of the TJCC Community.
A memorable day took place to celebrate the donation of 15 sakura trees to Scarboro Missions from the Sakura Project. Started in 1990, its objective is to promote friendship and goodwill between Japan and Canada by planting 3,000 flowering cherry blossom trees in public places throughout Ontario. They are now very close to reaching their goal. Scarboro Missions received these trees in recognition of over 40 Scarboro priests from Canada who served many years in Japan, some for as long as 50 years. Six of them including the founder of Scarboro Missions are buried in Japan.
Mr. Masaya Otsuka, Director of Japan Information Centre, Consul-General of Japan gives his address for the Sakura Planting Ceremony at Scarboro Missions on June 12, 2011
The trees are also in recognition of their continuing support of the Toronto Japanese Catholic Community (TJCC) who meet monthly at Scarboro Missions for Japanese Mass, now in its 32nd year of operation.
Mr. Masaya Otsuka, Director of the Japan Information Centre, represented the Consul-General whose office coordinates these donations. He spoke of the flowering of the sakura in Japan being significant this year – to encourage the victims of the terrible earthquake-tsunami that life can go on and recover just as the sakura blooms each spring even after a long winter. After the speeches, ceremonial planting and plaque unveiling, entertainment was provided by a new dance group Urara Minbu-kai with nine ladies. Some pictures are shown below but many more are posted in the Photo Gallery of the TJCC website (www.torjcc.ca) including videos of three dances. After an informal reception enjoyed by many attendees, the monthly 4 pm Japanese Mass started on this usual gathering day (the second Sunday of each month).
As chair of the Toronto Japanese Catholic Community, Roy Sakaguchi outlines the monthly gathering for Japanese Mass at Scarboro Missions, now in its 32nd year of continuous operation
The nine members of the Urara Minbu-kai dance group pose with Fr. John Carten before Ceremony started in front of the main entrance to the Scarboro Missions
The unveiling of the plaque by Fr. John Carten of Scarboro Missions and Mrs. Mariko Liliefeldt of the TJCC Community who made the initial suggestion to request for these trees. At the back are Fr. Tom O'Toole, Mr. Masaya Otsuka and Mr. Roy Sakaguchi, who did the ceremonial planting.
The ceremonial planting of one sakura tree is carried out by, from left, Fr. Tom O’Toole, Chaplain Emeritus to the Toronto Japanese Catholic Community (TJCC), Mr. Masaya Otsuka, representing the Consulate-General of Japan and Mr. Roy Sakaguchi, chair of TJCC
Centering Prayer & the Spiritual Journey — stopped for the summer but will resume on Sept. 22nd, every Thursday, 7 to 9 pm
John Main's Christian Meditation — every Friday, 11:00 to 12:00
LAY MISSION OFFICE NEWS
Where One Journey Ends, Another Begins
by Mary Olenick
Coordinator
Lay Mission Office – Scarboro Missions
I met Edmond Nyoka and taught his class English and Life Skills at the Formation Centre in Rumphi in 2003 – 2004. I knew Edmond to be a very quiet, humble young man. I returned to Canada in 2007 but have stayed in touch with him over the years and am very proud and happy for him that he has completed this part of his journey and was ordained a priest on July 16th, 2011. I wish him much happiness and my prayers go with him and his colleagues as they embark on a new journey as priests in Malawi.
by Fr. Edmond Nyoka
ordained a priest in the Mzuzu Diocese
Malawi, Central Africa
What began as a discernment process in 2003 has ended up with the ordination to priesthood on July 16, 2011. It has been a nine year long journey. It became very clear to me that one needs to accept and commit oneself to the long journey. At times I could see the road ending in abyss. At other times I was filled with all the hope and the joy of being at the peak of the mountain I was climbing. Whatever gave me that hope remains a mystery even to me. I know God knows the reason well.
People who came to witness the ordinations.
It is true that an athlete is never crowned unless he or she completes the race according to the rules. An athlete knows very well what it means to triumph after sweating and stretching one’s muscles. I am definitely happy after completing the formation and being ‘crowned’ priest on 16th July, 2011. This has been another mystery that is clearer to me now; I rarely remember the sweat and the pain of the journey thatI have experienced. It is all covered up in the joy of the ordination. I knew that I had finished my studies and that the whole group of family, friends, neighbors and even people I didn’t personally know came to witness the event. But it was not easy to believe. I weighed myself against the group and all the preparations for the liturgy, and the banquet and I saw myself not fit to gather all those people.
Fr. Edmond Nyoka receiving a gift.
There was jubilation around me, while I was deep in thought about the entire event that was about to take place. But whe n the stole and the chasuble were placed over me I knew I was a different person – a priest. When I looked at my fellow, ne wly ordained priests, Father Peter Ndolo and Father Yotam Msumba, I knew it was real. The song ‘Mwatowa’ (you look nice) and the smiles on the faces of the people made me feel great. I thought to myself, “I made the right choice in my voca tion – God has called me to be a priest”. What surprised me most is that other people seemed to be happier for me than I wa s for myself or maybe the full impact of what had just taken place hadn’t hit me yet.
Ordination to the priesthood has been a very special moment in my life and I will always remember that day – the great feast and all the celebrations but it is only the beginning of my priestly life. I now enter another journey in which I need your prayers!
Fr. Edmond holding basket and Bishop Zuza on his right.
Fr. Edmond (on right) being congratulated by people.
Celeah Shares Laughter, Adventure and Enthusiasm in Malawi
Barb Michie with student at St. Patrick’s Minor Seminary in Rumphi
Celeah Gagnon is the 16 year old granddaughter of Scarboro’s lay missioner, Barbara Michie, who is working in Malawi. Celeah will be going into Grade 11 this fall at F. J. Brennan Catholic High School in Windsor, ON. She went to visit her grandmother in Malawi for 5 weeks in June and July, 2011 and it turned out to be the trip of a lifetime for her…….full of excitement, adventure, lots of new friends, and learning a lot about a different culture.
Ann MacDonald, another Scarboro lay missioner in Malawi conducted an interview with Celeah to share some of Celeah’s experiences:
Q – What were your feelings when you heard that your Grandmother had asked your parents about you visiting Malawi and then accompanying her home to Canada for her furlough?
Celeah – I was excited to be coming and I like learning about new places and meeting new people and Grandma always had great stories and I wanted to see for myself what she meant when she talked about Malawi.
Q – When did you find out that you were actually coming?
Celeah – I found out one month before I was to fly – so I did not have a lot of time to prepare!
Q – What did your friends say?
Celeah – Some couldn’t believe it. Others said, “Why Africa?” Others told me to take lots of pictures – which I did!
Celeah at her grandmother’s house in Malawi
Q – What about exams? Did you not have to write them?
Celeah – I wrote two exams and the other two teachers exempted me since my marks were very good. My teachers told me to have a great time – wished me luck and told me to enjoy my experience!
Q – What did you think Malawi would look like?
Celeah – I thought it would be either barren land or green and lush – I wasn’t really sure.
Q – And what did you find upon your arrival?
Celeah – Lots of red soil – everywhere! The scenery changes from flat land to mountains in the distance to marsh lands – so there is a great variation between Rumphi, where Grandma lives, to Mzuzu where the other Scarboro Missioners live and other parts of the beautiful country.
Q – What about meeting the students at St. Patrick’s , where your Grandmother teaches?
Celeah – First of all, there are many kids everywhere! My favourites were the Form 1(Grade 9 but ages ranging from 12 – 15) students at St. Patrick’s because they are so small and learning to adapt to high school! Since I am going into Grade 11 (called Form 3 in Malawi) my buddies became the Form 3’s since we were the same age. I made lots of new friends that I plan to communicate with when I return to Canada. One afternoon, I went with Leslie (a Scarboro lay missioner) to Marymount to meet the students – a completely different experience since it is an all-girls boarding school. We took lots of pictures like girls do, and chatted for a while in the library where Leslie spends most of her time. I saw the girls’ hostels and the way they live and cope at an all-girls boarding school, which is not found in Windsor.
Celeah with Marymount School students
Q - Were you ever afraid while you were here?
Celeah – No, I cannot say I was ever afraid. I felt ‘at home’ right away and Rumphi became ‘my home away from home’ during the five weeks I was there. I felt as if I was part of a new family.
Q – What memories are you carrying back to Windsor?
Celeah – My time with Grandma and doing things with her that she loves and becoming part of her life in Malawi. Meeting all my new friends that I have become attached to and knowing I will never forget this place...or the people.
Q - Do you think you will return some day?
Celeah – MOST DEFINITELY! I have actually been thinking about when might be the best time to come back to Malawi; preferably as soon as possible, but we’ll have to see what’s in store for me in the future. Hopefully it will include visiting or living in Malawi – I love it that much!
Leslie (in background) and Celeah with Marymount students
On the road to Chankombi High School in Rumphi
Celeah with Chrispin riding a bike
Celeah with Marymount students
Student's Corner at Marymount
Students in the library at Marymount
By Leslie Paranuik
Scarboro Lay Missioner in Malawi
When you are surrounded by beauty, it inspires a person to do their best!
I started working as a librarian at Marymount High School in Mzuzu, Malawi over 2 years ago. One of the first things I noticed was that hardly anyone used the library – it was dirty, dusty and not very inviting.
During the past two plus years, I cleaned, painted and bought new curtains to spruce up the place. The change is undeniable. The library is now always well used and slowly but surely a reading culture is flourishing.
We received a donation on behalf of a former Scarboro lay missioner who taught at Marymount. This donor wanted something done in gratitude of her service. As I looked around Marymount, I noticed that the study lounge could use a face lift and I wanted the donation to make a lasting impression.
Leslie Paranuik, librarian at Marymount
I started by cutting back the bushes outside the windows to bring in more light. The holes in the iron sheets on the roof were fixed to keep the rain out and the roof beams were painted. The next step was to plaster the walls with cement and later we would paint them. We then broke up the floor so we could put a nice new smooth top on it and extended it. After the cement had dried on the walls, I had a local artist come and paint the walls to make them bright and colorful. A privacy wall was erected. Everything started coming together and the transformation was exciting to me. I couldn’t wait for the students to experience it.
While all of this was going on, four picnic tables received new tops and were varnished. A pin board was placed in the middle for the students to put up information. To inspire the students in everything they do, a quote by Helen Keller was put on the wall saying, ‘What I am looking for is not out there; it is in me’. Educating a girl child in Malawi is important and it gives the girls more choices in life.
The students now love to study in this new space. It was given the name ‘Student’s Corner’ because it is just for them. The proof is in the use – with beauty surrounding you, there is no telling where your life can lead you.
Bush to be cleared to let light in
After bush is cleared away
Artist at work
Leslie painting privacy wall
Finished Student’s Corner
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
“A Presentation on Jewish–Christian Dialogue, An International Conference” – Oct. 19 (Wed), 7:00 pm
“The Power of Good” – The story of Nicholas Winton, Oct. 26 (Wed), 7 – 9 pm
Scarboro’s Katie Flaherty in Wichita on Golden Rule Ministry Trip (March 2011)
Katie Marshall Flaherty facilitated several Golden Rule Adult Retreats in Wichita, Kansas – something that could be integrated to their home, work and community environments. Read the article with 7 short video clips in the “Global Faith in Action” website - http://globalfaithinaction.org/?p=1299.
Golden Rule Art Exercise & Lesson Plan
What would the world be like if every person lived according to the Golden Rule? In this art exercise, young people are invited to envision a world in which every person lives according to the Golden Rule. Next, they are asked to depict what they have imagined or envisioned by creating a piece of art. We at Scarboro Missions have found this exercise to be very helpful in supporting young people to imagine and create a world characterized by cooperation, social justice, non-violence and a sustainable environment.
Proceed to the Lesson Plan
Golden Rule scholar lectures at Scarboro Missions on May 11th – listen to lecture
Dr. Harry Gensler S.J., a renowned Golden Rule scholar and a Jesuit priest, visited Scarboro Missions in May to learn about Scarboro's Golden Rule ministry. Scarboro's multifaith Golden Rule poster has inspired a number of programs including Golden Rule curriculum, workshops and educational resources on the Scarboro website. Every week, two or three Golden Rule retreats for high school students are conducted at Scarboro Missions Center. The purpose of these retreats is to engender character education in young people using the methods of creativity, play, fun and the arts.
While at Scarboro, Dr. Gensler, a professor of philosophy and ethics at John Carroll University in Cleveland, delivered a lecture on May 11th entitled, "The Golden Rule: Using it wisely and avoiding fallacies". Gensler’s homepage in the John Carroll University is http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/ and the Golden Rule specifically is http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm
In a preview to his next book, Ethics and the Golden Rule, Gensler laid out four steps for applying the Golden Rule in any situation: Know, imagine, test and act. Gensler’s own formulation of the Golden Rule says, “Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation”.
"The heart of morality is the golden rule. And the heart of the golden rule is perspective-switching," said Gensler. "You step into another's shoes. What you do to Grandpa, you imagine being done to you. You ask, 'Am I willing that if I were in the same situation then I'd be treated that same way?'"
Listen to Gensler’s 50-min talk including a 5-min introduction by Paul McKenna of the Interfaith Department. But allow some time to download the fairly large audio file.
Catholicism and Other Faiths
International Conference of Muslims, Christians and Jews in Turkey
In this article, Canadian multifaith educator, JW Windland, argues that a sensitive use of interfaith language expresses our common humanity, builds relationships of respect and trust, and pursues peace. Click here to read article...
Golden Rule curriculum for schools and youth groups
Scarboro Missions is proud to announce the publication of this comprehensive Golden Rule curriculum. This version complements another curriculum on our website, authored by two Chicago teachers in 2005. Using the logic of circles, rules, moral modeling and the Golden Rule, this newly-published curriculum unit inspires young people to become global citizens. The students' learning experience is enriched through drama, art, music, group reflection, journaling and rap. The curriculum can be used in public schools, religious schools and youth organizations. To view or download the new curriculum, click here…
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.
JUSTICE AND PEACE OFFICE NEWS
Development and Peace fall campaign focuses on Ecological Justice and Climate Change
