Led by the Spirit

At its 12th general chapter, Scarboro Missions affirms the extent and variety of its outreach and witness and looks to the future with hope

By Fr. Mike Traher, S.F.M.
September/October 2007

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This past June, Scarboro Missions held its 12th General Chapter. Every five years, delegates from Scarboro's overseas missions and its ministries here in Canada gather to report on their activities, to elect a new General Council, and to plan for the future.

Chapter delegates at work: L-R: Fr. Charlie Gervais, Kate O'Donnell, Frs. Ron MacDonell, Jack Lynch, Jim McGuire and Gerald Curry. Chapter delegates at work: L-R: Fr. Charlie Gervais, Kate O'Donnell, Frs. Ron MacDonell, Jack Lynch, Jim McGuire and Gerald Curry.

At the Pre-Chapter retreat, Basilian Father Jim Carruthers, invited us to prepare for this important event by being attentive to the Holy Spirit among us. The prophetic dimension of the missionary charism, he said, calls us to discover God's presence in "the signs of the times." He urged us to look with fresh eyes and hearts at the suffering world.

The Chapter opened with the celebration of Eucharist. Superior General Fr. Jack Lynch spoke on the Gospel reading of the Samaritan woman at the well. Her encounter with Jesus transformed and liberated her, so that she became a missionary to her village. Fr. Jack suggested that we, too, despite our smallness and vulnerability, would be transformed to better serve the reign of God through encountering Christ in the Chapter.

Following Mass, Chapter facilitator Sr. Virginia Varley of the Sisters of St. Joseph invited the 28 Scarboro priests and four lay missioners to move through the Chapter process with openness, with deep listening, and with trust in each other.

As each mission and department reported on its activities and plans and responded to questions from delegates, the extent and variety of our outreach and witness became evident:

12th General Chapter 2007: Back row, L-R: Fathers Lionel Walsh, Dave Warren, Ron MacFarlane, Jim Gauthier, Gerry Sherry, Linus Wall, Alex McDonald, Vince Heffernan, Ron MacDonell, Ken MacAulay, Jim McGuire; Middle row, L-R: Russ Sampson, Terry Gallagher, Ambrose MacKinnon, Pat Kelly, Tom O'Toole, lay missioners Louise Malnachuk and Mary Olenick, Fathers Charlie Gervais, Roger Brennan, Gerald Stock, Frank Hegel, Tim Ryan, lay missioner Kate O'Donnell, Fathers Brian Swords and Gerald Curry; Front row, seated L-R: Kathy VanLoon, lay missioner Karen Van Loon, Fathers Mike Traher, Jack Lynch, John Carten, facilitator Sr. Virginia Varley, and Eula Fernando.

12th General Chapter 2007:

Back row, L-R: Fathers Lionel Walsh, Dave Warren, Ron MacFarlane, Jim Gauthier, Gerry Sherry, Linus Wall, Alex McDonald, Vince Heffernan, Ron MacDonell, Ken MacAulay, Jim McGuire;

Middle row, L-R: Russ Sampson, Terry Gallagher, Ambrose MacKinnon, Pat Kelly, Tom O'Toole, lay missioners Louise Malnachuk and Mary Olenick, Fathers Charlie Gervais, Roger Brennan, Gerald Stock, Frank Hegel, Tim Ryan, lay missioner Kate O'Donnell, Fathers Brian Swords and Gerald Curry;

Front row, seated L-R: Kathy VanLoon, lay missioner Karen Van Loon, Fathers Mike Traher, Jack Lynch, John Carten, facilitator Sr. Virginia Varley, and Eula Fernando.

  • in China, a quiet faith-filled presence, teaching English and working with the Asian bishops;
  • in Thailand, ministry to children with HIV/AIDS and to refugees, and participating with a microcredit project for hill tribes;
  • in Malawi, Africa, mental health education, construction of a prison rehabilitation facility, teaching and pastoral ministry;
  • in Guyana, lay leadership development, pastoral ministry, and teaching women skills in handicrafts;
  • in Ecuador, supportive pastoral ministry, assisting indigenous peoples in their development efforts, and assisting refugees from natural disasters;
  • in Brazil, social work with youth and women, training teachers to teach indigenous languages, pastoral ministry;
  • in the Dominican Republic, ongoing pastoral ministry and community development work;
  • in the Bahamas, continuing parish ministry and promotion of vocations.

Here in Canada, we recognized the great gift and commitment of the Lay Mission Office; the Society's efforts to promote priestly vocations; the work of general administration, which keeps everything going; the steadfast, helpful service of the Justice and Peace Office; the Interfaith Desk's expansion and contribution to dialogue among many faith groups in Canada, and globally; the Mission Information Department's extensive work of communications and outreach; the continuing excellence of Scarboro Missions magazine; and the creative development of the Mission Centre with its student retreats and variety of evening series on spirituality encompassing Christian traditions as well as other faith traditions.

After extensive discussion in light of the reality of our aging members and smaller numbers, Chapter delegates voted confidently "to continue to actively recruit for priestly vocations."

The Chapter also reaffirmed our commitment "to continue to do all that is permitted as a canonical Society to support and promote the vocation of lay missioners and their participation in God's mission and in the Church."

Delegates voted to raise the status of the Interfaith Desk to that of a department in recognition of the importance of this ministry. As well, the proposal from our Justice and Peace Office to make "ecological justice and climate change the first priority for the JPO" was accepted.

Jesuit Bishop Francisco Claver Jesuit Bishop Francisco Claver

***Jesuit Bishop Francisco Claver (inset), a long-time friend, spoke to us of the Church in the Philippines, which is working to change unjust situations and to bring the Gospel into the lives of the people and into all areas of society. Following his address, Chapter delegates unanimously voted to support the Philippine Bishops in their plea to have the Canadian mining corporation TVI cease their operations in Western Mindanao.

After a week of reporting and deliberations, the Chapter body entered a time of prayer and reflection. One of the delegates offered a short reflection paper inviting us "to accept our poverty and vulnerability as a source of grace." Sr. Virginia, our facilitator, presented two questions for reflection: Where are we with Christ? and Where is Christ with us?

At Mass on Sunday, we were joined by many Scarboro alumni. Homilist Fr. Ken MacAulay recalled the spirit of our founder John Mary Fraser and affirmed Scarboro priests and laity in their courage and faith to walk in Monsignor Fraser's footsteps.

At the conclusion of the Eucharist, the Society thanked John and Jean MacInnis, outgoing coordinators of the Lay Mission Office, for their great commitment and energy in service for the past four years. Succeeding John and Jean are lay missioners Kate O'Donnell (Guyana) and Mary Olenick (Malawi).

At the 12th General Chapter, (L-R) Frs. John Carten, Jack Lynch and Mike Traher were all re-elected to the General Council. At the 12th General Chapter, (L-R) Frs. John Carten, Jack Lynch and Mike Traher were all re-elected to the General Council.

Monday morning, Chapter delegates began the process of electing the General Council. Fr. Jack Lynch was re-elected for a third term as Superior General, and Frs. Mike Traher and John Carten were also re-elected as counselors.

Following the elections and after nine days of meetings, Chapter closed with the delegates' signing of the minutes. Fr. Lynch expressed the gratitude of all to Sr. Virginia, and to Kathy VanLoon and Eula Fernando who worked diligently in transcribing Chapter notes and deliberations.

The spirit of this 12th Chapter can perhaps be best expressed by the words of St. Paul as quoted in the Scarboro Constitutions: "Glory be to him whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever." (Ephesians 3: 3:20-21)

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