Arrest of Peaceful Pro-Life Students @ Carleton University

BRAVO to these courageous students!!! It makes me sick the way the truth is supressed in our Canadian Universities. It happens time and time again. Let us show these students our support. You can e-mail them at carletonlifeline@gmail.com 

Man of Constant Sorrow performed by Dina, Andrew and the Maloney sisters

Our Little gig at Johanna and Mike's wedding.

Dina did the mighty fine singin' and Andrew did the mighty fine pickin'. The Maloney sisters hamming it up as well

A Wink And A Smile -

A few of the photos we took during our wonderful vacation in Japan in March 2010

Lyrics for background music


A WINK AND A SMILE by Harry Connick, Jr.


I remember the days
of just keeping time
of hanging around in sleepy towns, forever
Back roads empty for miles


well you cant have a dream
and cut it to fit
but when I saw you, I knew
we go together, like a wink and a smile


Leave your old jallopy
by the railroad track
we'll get a hip, double dip, tip toppy, 2 seat pontiac


So you can rev her up
don't go slow
It's only green lights and alright
let's go together with a wink and a smile


(Instrumental)


Give me a wink and a smile


(Instrumental)


We go together like a wink and a smile


Now my heart is music
such a simple song
singing again, the notes never end
this is where I belong


Just the sound of your voice
the light in your eyes
Your so far away from yesterday
Together, with a wink and a smile


We go together, like a wink and a smile.

Father Richard Siok's homily 7:00 pm Mass Saint Patrick Basilica, September 21, 2010

This is one of the best homilies I have ever heard so I transcribed it from the audio file which you can find at the forty days for life website or at this link on my website.
https://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/Home/40-days-for-life-in-ottawa-from-the-beginning/40-days-for-life-fall-2010-campaign/40-days-for-life-inaugural-mass 

Click  HERE  to listen to Father Richard's Homily

"Below is the text of the homily which I transcribed from the audio file (see link above)"

There are readings liturgies where we can chose from which are very targeted to the pro-life cause. Today, however, is the Feast of Saint Matthew, the Evangelist, the Apostle, and on the important Feasts we don’t fool around eh: we have to take the mass for that day, so I was scratching my head and worried needlessly that, what could I say? How can I tie in the readings? Until I read the readings properly and there is of course a beautiful tie-in!


Today’s gospel describes the call of St. Matthew to become an apostle of Jesus Christ, improbable choice from a human perspective. He is a man who made money his idol. He didn’t care what his people said about him. He was ostracized: he didn’t care. Money! So the Pharisees had a problem when Jesus called him. And not only did Jesus call him, Jesus, my goodness ate with Matthew and other people of the same ilk! Now remember, I remind you again, that back then, having a meal with somebody, a formal meal, was not something informal like we have in our culture; let’s do lunch sometime. Here it’s just an acquaintance : let’s do lunch and we think nothing of it. Back then having a meal with somebody, a formal meal was a big deal! It said we now share an identity together and the idea of betraying somebody who you shared a meal with was unthinkable, hence the crime of Judas. The Jews saw even a deeper aspect to it than we see from that perspective.


Matthew, of course, as I mentioned: the Pharisees looked at Jesus and then said to His disciples, “What’s wrong with your master? Doesn’t He realize who this man is? He is eating with him, sharing an identity with him! He must have flipped! Talk to the man! “ Using modern language that’s what they were saying. Now as a tax collector, it wasn’t only that Matthew was a collaborator of the Romans, there was another aspect to Matthew which the Pharisees found a problem with and it’s this: He was a tax collector in Galilee a territory of Herod Antipas, and as a tax collector in Galilee, he had a lot of business dealings: close business dealings with the Gentiles. Now the Pharisees, in their mindset, they strove, they were always striving to insulate the Jews from the pagans, from the Gentiles, from the Goyim. There was too much rapport with the Goyim that got us into trouble in the past, and falling away from God’s commandments, so they said “Because your Master ( in effect they were saying ) is dealing with a man who had a lot of dealings with the Goyim, the Gentiles, Matthew is very impure therefore, and your master, by eating with him, is also becoming very impure liturgically. I’m not sure that was the accusation they were making about Christ, that He had become impure liturgically, by eating with Matthew, because dealing with the Gentiles was a source of liturgical impurities.


Now, notice Christ’s response to the Pharisees when he sees the brouhaha they are trying to create amongst his disciples. He quotes from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the sixth chapter: interesting quote “ I desire mercy and not sacrifice” For us we read that and say “What does that mean really? Now the Pharisees had many faults but they also had some qualities and one of their qualities was that they knew the old testament scriptures inside out. They immediately identified the quote, where it came from, and they immediately understood its context. Now to understand what Christ was saying to the Pharisees and hence what He’s trying to teach us, and what Matthew is trying to give us of God’s revelation through his quoting of Christ, we have to understand what this part of the book of Hosea was all about. Jesus gave one little quote eh? Now, Hosea the prophet, he ministered to and wrote to the Jews in the northern kingdom of Israel. That’s very important to know.


I’ll explain why shortly, because as you recall there was King David, King Solomon, it was all unite, all 12 tribes were united under Kings David and Solomon. After Solomon, now the tribes of the north, the ten tribes of the North very reluctantly had accepted King David. As a matter of fact , they only accepted David as their king after a civil war which lasted for quite a number of years. They groaned under Solomon. When Soloman died they said “to heck with it, we want nothing to do with the line of kings coming from David: nothing to do with them, the Davidic line, and so they actually separated: they became a separate country. . Anyways, what Jesus is saying quoting Hosea is this: Because God in the book of Hosea wrapped their knuckles for separating because God was saying “the Davidic line is My line” and Christ in quoting Hosea was saying to the Pharisees “ You guys are rejecting me. Like the people of the north rejected the Davidic dynasty, you’re rejecting me and I am the ultimate fulfillment of all those promised to King David.” That’s one message he was giving them.


But there’s another message as well. When the Jews were in the desert, and this is where it becomes very relevant to us, here with the 40 days for Life. When the Jews were in the desert when the EXODUS under Moses, God’s intent was that they become the elder brother to all the peoples, the pagan peoples, they had come into contact with. Through their example and through their teaching they were to bring healing from the contamination of idolatry. By their example and their teachings they were to bring all the nations of the world to Yahweh: away from their idolatry and to Yahweh. What happened? In the Kingdom of the North, I won’t talk about the south, in the kingdom of the north the opposite happened when they broke away from Jerusalem and all that, what happened was that they came under the influence of the pagans and instead of them transforming the pagans, they became paganized. Yes they had their rival temple to Jerusalem, in a place called Bethel, where they adored Yahweh. But they also had on their high places, on their mountains, all these little temples and sanctuaries to the pagan gods where they would also offer sacrifices to the pagan gods including , by the way, human sacrifices: infants…….. And hence, God’s words to them through Hosea, through the people of the North “ Your sacrifices, especially those to the pagan gods, you keep, start with mercy. Start bringing Me, MY Word, My Presence, to the pagan peoples. First purify yourselves. And that’s what the meaning was “ I desire mercy and not sacrifices” And when the Pharisees heard this in the context of Jesus calling Matthew and the others, what were they thinking? What was the message they got? Christ was telling them the following. He was telling them “ Look, we have those people like Matthew who have fallen into idolatry. Matthew’s idolatry was…. money.


First of all, before we can reach out to the pagans like God wanted us to do originally in the desert, let’s first purify ourselves. I’m reaching out to MY own people and look they’re saying yes. I’m calling them: they’re saying yes. They’re changing their lives. They’re changing their lives. That’s what God wanted through Hosea. That’s what he wants us to do, and you Pharisees are fighting God’s plan. You don’t want God’s mercy to flow to those who have fallen away. And of course, that message applies to us. We know that as Christians eh, we are called to be followers of Christ. We have to follow his example. Christ didn’t shirk away from identifying evil, making himself vulnerable to evil, and confronting evil. He did it with the Pharisees, for example where they were off mark, although they were very prestigious, powerful people, the priests of His time. High Priests or not, when they deserved criticism, He criticized them. He identified where they got off the mark: the authorities in the temple. Christ identified evil and confronted it. The people were possessed. Christ didn’t shirk away from them. He confronted the evil and made himself even vulnerable to it as we will read at His passion. They only arrested Christ because he gave them permission. That’s clear in John’s Gospel. Christ had to give them permission to be arrested.


And so, it’s the same for us as followers of Christ. He’s our model. And one of the great evils of our time, I’m preaching to the choir, if not the greatest evil of our time, is abortion. Human sacrifice , really when you think of it, to an idol; the idol of human Freedom or libertinism perhaps is a better word and as an absolute, and like Christ as His followers, we are called to identify an evil for what it is, to bear witness to it, and also to do it in such a way, that God’s mercy will be offered to our society through our witness. And also, God’s mercy will be offered perhaps to the young women going for an abortion, as they see the witness , maybe some of them even haven’t thought about it. And some who have had abortions will think it over, and those who support abortion, perhaps seeing the witness, will think, and God’s Grace, if they are open to it, will start to work in them.


Now I’ll give you something perhaps very, ah………… When we are dealing with the abortion issue, we are generally dealing with people who aren’t Christians. They may be baptized, but in their souls they’re not Christians eh? We’re dealing with people who are secularized and they will say well, it’s a human right. It’s a free society. It’s a human right: the right to choose. And it’s good to be able to confront them on that level. It’s no use quoting the bible to them, they don’t believe. So to get them thinking, confront them with something which will surprise them. Make them think on a human level. In the whole aspect of human rights, first of all the Church wrote the book of human rights. It’s not for society, it’s for the Church. If it wasn’t for the Church there would be no concept of human rights out there.


In effect, it’s in the thirteenth century, eh, the thirteenth century that Thomas Aquinas in some of his writings , the idea , the reality of human rights, inalienable human rights coming from God, cause we’re human, simply because we’re human , we get them from God, that started to perculate in his writings. He never worked on it as a specific separate item, but it was there, it started to come up.


And then in the sixteenth century a Jesuit by the name of Suarez, he focused on human rights, and building on what Thomas Aquinas was developing, he expounded on it, and he wrote, if you wish, the book on human rights in his writings. And what Suarez wrote, and an English professor Hobbs took up in the seventeenth century. And Hobbs writings on human rights was then taken up by the drafters of the American Declaration of Independence eh? And you remember they said we were all created by God and all that? And we have basically three inalienable human rights given to us from God: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness or property. Americans say Pursuit of Happiness, English say Pursuit of property . These three rights, inalienable rights are not co-equal. They are Hierarchical. And when you think about it for a minute, you immediately see why. If you don’t have a right to life, then what’s the use of having the right for liberty and the right for property or happiness? If anybody can kill you at any time, the other rights become moot eh? So the right to life is fundamental. Without the right to liberty and life, then the right for property and the pursuit of happiness becomes moot. And if you’re not free, don’t have a right to eh freedom, how can you pursue your happiness or property? So, you see there is a hierarchy eh in them. Now in the nineteenth century…… you talk about Supreme Courts. In the nineteenth century, the American Supreme Court in a decision called the “Dredd Scott Decision” said the following “The property rights of Whites, of White landowners trump the liberty rights of Blacks.” That was a Supreme Court Decision. That was supposed to have settled the issue. People of conscience could not and would not accept that decision. They were considered initially “rabble rousers”, even in the North. They fought it. Eventually, after the Civil War it was overturned. You see, because again, liberty comes before property rights in the hierarchy eh?


Today we’re facing the abortion debate. What we’re saying is ( and I know there are many sad cases, but we’re not getting into that we’re talking here philosophically ) I know that many women have very difficult decisions to make, very difficult circumstances and all that, but that caveat not withstanding, ultimately the pro choice argument is that the liberty rights of the woman ( sometimes she is pushed into it, forced into it, cajoled onto it) but that right trumps the life right of the unborn baby.


LIFE COMES FIRST


So, Just as the nineteenth century decision of the Supreme Court made no sense, so the twentieth Century Supreme Court Decision also cannot hold up. And just as today we look upon those who fought the culture of their time, the nineteenth century in the United States, as being heroes, because then that spread through the world. It brought slavery down throughout the world. So I suggest to you, that barring the Second Coming of Jesus in the near future, down the road, people will recognize abortion for the evil it is and those who fought it will be recognized with pride and as being heroes.


We don’t remember those who fought for slavery eh, by the press and all that in the United States, in the nineteenth Century. We remember those who fought it.


Same with this. This is the issue which comes down to the fundamental dignity and reality of human beings. The right to life is not something which is negotiable. It’s something which comes to us from God Himself with no intermediaries

Archbishop Terrence Prendergast's Pastoral Letter, September 26, 2010

Theme of the Pastoral Year 2010-2011

Called to Holiness—the Saints among Us



Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

On October 17, the Holy Cross religious Brother André (Alfred Bessette) will be proclaimed a saint by Pope Benedict XVI, the first native-born Canadian male to reach sainthood.

Brother André will be “our saint,” as many Canadians have heard of healings through his approach to God through St. Joseph or been helped by bringing petitions to him. Such healings were not only physical, however, for many received comfort from the simple words of encouragement of this humble servant of the Lord.

My grandmother, a widow with ten children, spoke of the consolation her meeting with Brother André had given her. I have heard others speak of the impact of Brother André in the lives of those dear to them.

With others from our Archdiocese, I will attend the canonization ceremony in Rome and the Mass of Thanksgiving at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on October 30. We will hold our own evening Mass of Thanksgiving in Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica on the Feast Day of Brother André, January 6, 2011. Plan now to attend.

Four hundred years ago next month, on October 3, 1610, St. Gabriel Lalemant was born. Eighty years ago, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June 1930, he was among the eight saints canonized as the Canadian Martyrs. They were “our saints” too, having played a key role in the evangelization of the Native Peoples.

Thinking about these “saints among us” leads me to share with you a few thoughts on the call to holiness, the theme for our 2010-2011 Pastoral Year. Since the call to be holy calls us to be saints, they offer important clues on how to give ourselves over to God’s will in our lives.



…/2

In the 21st century we may hear more about celebrities such as movie stars, athletes and even some religious leaders. Veneration of the saints is something different. We recognize in them something unique and extraordinary, a dimension different from worldly heroes and idols.

God makes us feel His presence in the saints; in them He speaks to us and shows us how to continue the mission of His Son. And the Church’s devotion to the saints reminds us to follow their example, to follow their whole-hearted response to the grace of their calling.

The Second Vatican Council explained that the Church recognizes people as saints because they have been perfectly transformed into the image of Christ.

The transparent holiness of the saints is hard to define but easy to recognize. When we look at them, we catch a glimpse of God. We sense the same qualities, attitudes and behaviour that God first made manifest in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man.

People of faith admire saints for reminding them of God's promises and presence. Those without faith, or with a seldom-used faith, sometimes feel uneasy when the saints remind them how they ought to be living their lives.

An important aspect of our call to be holy is facing our own weaknesses and sins and, following a long church tradition, making reparation for them and for those of other members of the Church.

Because I have been asked by the Holy See to lead an apostolic visitation to the Archdiocese of Tuam as part of the Church in Ireland’s healing from the terrible scandal of clerical abuse, I am going to devote the First Friday of each month from October 2010 to June 2011 as a special day of prayer and fasting. I invite you all to join me in this penitential exercise, in whatever form of prayer and penance you choose.

I will be praying not only for the Church in Ireland but at home as well, praying for healing in solidarity with all victims of abuse, and asking God to give perpetrators of abuse the grace to repent and to accept the course of justice along with His mercy.

Let us support one another in prayer that each of us may heed God’s call to answer—each in his or her unique way—the universal call to holiness.

God bless you all.





Terrence Prendergast, S.J.

Archbishop of Ottawa



September 26, 2010

Feast Day of the Canadian Martyrs

Forty Days for Life Ottawa, Fall 2010 Campaign

40 Days for Life Inaugural Mass 7:00 pm Tuesday September 21


The 40 Days for Life inaugural Mass took  place on Tuesday evening September 21st at 7:00 pm at Saint Patrick’s Basilica (220 Kent St. Ottawa). It is paramount that we start off the campaign on the right spiritual footing. Our struggle against abortion is, after all, mainly a spiritual battle. Father Richard Siok gave an excellent homily on the right to Life as being the most important and basic human right. Without the right to life all other rights are moot. The Mass was followed by a candlelight procession of about 200 people from the Basilica to abortion site at 65 Bank Street on Bank Street for a rally.

Vigil Signup

As of today, 12 days of the campaign’s 40 Days of the prayer vigil across from the abortuary have been reserved. Parishes have taken ten days; Couples for Christ and a Council of the Knights of Columbus have taken one day each.  We remain very hopeful that other parishes, and parish groups such as other Knights of Columbus Councils, Catholic Womens’ Leagues, prayer groups, etc will get involved in this life-changing/ culture-transforming initiative. As a member of the legion of Mary in Ottawa, I hope and pray that we partcipate as well.


The calendar also reveals that we have many vacancies between September 22nd and September 27th inclusively, just prior to our first parish commitment. We are encouraging everyone to consider registering for one of these vacant shifts early in the campaign .  It is important that we start the campaign with a strong presence.


Key dates:

September 21st: Kick-off Mass St. Patrick's Basilica at 7:00 pm followed by a candle-light procession to the Abortion facility at 65 Bank Street (Ground Zero).


October 14th: Mid Point Rally at Ground Zero
starting at 7:00 pm.


October 31st: Closing Rally - Celebrate another successful 40 Days for Life Campaign…. starts 07:00 pm at Ground Zero - more details to follow.


Resources:

Online info: http://www.40daysforlife.com/ottawa/

International Website: http://www.40daysforlife.com/

More info see your Parish Rep, or Campaign Life Coalition: 613-729-0379

or Email: Stan Siok 40daysottawa@gmail.com  English Parish Coordinator, 40 Days for Life


For information on Past Campaigns go to this link on my website
https://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/Home/40-days-for-life-in-ottawa-from-the-beginning

Tokyo Street Scenes

Monthly Pro Life Masses

Monthly Pro Life Masses to be held

to pray for the opening of a Pro-Life Centre in Ottawa,

In obedience to Pope John Paul ll’s writing in Evangelium Vitae, para 88, in which he stated that “Centres for Natural methods of regulating fertility should be promoted as a valuable help to responsible parenthood”, a series of Masses to pray for the opening of a Pro-Life Centre in Ottawa, and for an end to Abortion,will begin on Saturday, September 18th, 2010. for more information click here
https://sites.google.com/site/legionofmarysenatusofontario/Home/monthly-pro-life-mass

Run With Life: A thought of God

Run With Life: A thought of God: "'Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.'

- Pope Benedict XVI"

Our Lady of the Cape / Notre Dame du Cap in Cap de la Madeleine Quebec

Photos I took at the beautiful and peaceful Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape in Cap de la Madeleine Quebec, during our August 2010 Legion of Mary Pilgrimage. This holy place is a source of God's Grace, His Mercy and His Love. Mother Mary is truly present to her children here, and she assures each one of us that she is always with us: in our sorrows and in our joys. I just regret that I didn't take more pictures of the beautiful grounds where heaven and earth meet. Thank you Jesus and Mary, and thank you Father Yoland Ouellet, o.m.i. for the beautiful background hymns to Jesus and Mary.


The hymns "Ave Maria a Notre-Dame du Cap / Ave Maria of our Lady of the Cape" and " Magnificat Traditionnel, Francais - English" were used with permission and were taken from the CD "PROCESSION AUX FLAMBEAUX / CANDELIGHT PROCESSION - Notre Dame Dame du Cap"

Our Lady of the Cape Pilgrimage

I spent the past weekend at the beautiful Shrine of Our lady of the Cape in Trois Rivieres Quebec. I attended the yearly Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Our lady of the Cape and Saint Anne de Beaupre. I took oodles of pictures and made a slide show above with some of the better ones. Included are some photos I took at two other Shrines we visited as well, Sacred Heart Shrine in Montreal and Our lady of Lourdes Shrine in Rigaud.  It was a beautiful peaceful weekend and the weather was perfect to boot.

Saint Joseph's Oratory, Photos

Another slide show.

Saint Joseph's Oratory

Above is a slide show I made of some of my sister's  photos that she took during our visit last weekend to Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.  The oratory was founded by Brother Andre who will be canonized in Rome  later on this year. For more on Saint Brother Andre please visit my web page at this link
http://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/Home/saints-and-blesseds/blessed-brother-andre

Don't take the O-Train in Ottawa on a hot day

Here is a copy of a letter I wrote to Oc Transpo regarding the very uncomfortable and I might add unhealthy conditions aboard the OTrain here in Ottawa during the summer heat. All aboard???? Not me any more!!!! I sent a copy to Mayor Larry Obrien and Councillor Alex Cullen. I'll let you know if I get a reply.

Good morning,


Yesterday afternoon I took my 12 year old grandson Matthew for a bus ride to introduce him to Ottawa’s bus system. He had never ridden the O Train and I thought he might like to take a ride on it and so we headed from Beacon Hill North to the Bayview stop. Unfortunately we must have just missed a train because we waited almost half an hour for another one. As you know It was very hot yesterday. Actually it registered 32 degrees celsius at Uplands. When we boarded the train we found it very warm and uncomfortable but we managed to open 1 small window in the front. There was no air conditioning and the one window didn’t help at all, so Matthew and I headed towards the back of the train and tried to open a few more windows but we were unable to do so. The hinges seemed broken but a young man told us they were all locked. All we could do was take a seat until we arrived at the Greenborough Station. This was without a doubt one of the most unpleasant rides I have ever taken with OC Transpo. One woman looked sick. I could see that she had perspiration dripping down her face. Could you please explain to me why on such a hot day the windows on the train are locked and there is no air conditioning? Thank you.

My sister's 50th Birthday Celebration with her three sisters

Daily Quote from Thomas Merton

Daily Quote from Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following Your Will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing... - Thomas Merton

Photos I took at the Mass to celebrate the 72nd Year of Novena Devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

These devotions hold a special place in my heart. As a child I remember so vividly attending the Novena Devotions every Tuesday evening with my parents and brothers and sisters at 7:00PM in our Parish of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church on Saint Joseph Boulevard in Hull. I remember Father Fogarty and Father Allen leading the devotions and there was always a large crowd. We didn't have a car so we walked the distance each week which was at least a mile one way.  My parents had such terrific faith and I remember my dad telling us that Tuesday was a special day for us and invariably God picked that day to shower us with many blessings. I miss you mom and dad and I thank you !

See the Archbishop's blog for information about the celebration which took place - Wednesday June 23, 2010 – 12th Wednesday in Ordinary Time - St. Patrick’s Basilica, Ottawa, Ontario
http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2010/06/g8-in-huntsville-recalling-australia.html

For more on the Anniversary Celebrations please see the Archbishop's Blog

http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2010/06/g8-in-huntsville-recalling-australia.html

Celebrating 72 Years of Novena Devotions To Our Lady of Perpetual Help , OC Transpo bus passes and the Ottawa Earthquake Yesterday

I was on the bus heading downtown when the 5 magnitude earthquake hit Ottawa yesterday, so I didn't feel a thing. Actually, I was on my way to Saint Patrick;s Basilica to attend the Holy Hour at Three and the Anniversay Celebration afterwards.

On my way I decided to take the time to purchase a July bus pass at the Rideau Centre, but when I arrived at the OC Transpo counter I was told I needed some kind of photo ID in order for them to take my photograph for the pass. I didn't have any on me as I wasn't expecting I needed photo ID to buy a bus pass. That certainly wasn't the case when I had my last picture taken for them about ten years ago. You don't need photo ID when you get a bus transfer or when you purchase a day pass. What a bunch of jerks. The purpose of the photo attached to the pass you buy is just proof that the picture of the person on the pass is the same person who is using it. Total bureaucratic nonsense. We bought train and subway passes in Japan and never needed photo ID when we purchased them. What a stupid bureaucy OC Transpo has become.  Anyways, after wasting my time on this nonsense, I bought a coffee at Tim Horton's and did a sudoko puzzle in the food court to blow off steam. Fifteen minutes later I headed back to the bus stop on Mackenzie King Bridge heading west.

After I boarded the bus, the driver announced over the loudspeaker "For those riders who plan to take the O Train, it isn't running because of the earthquake" Duh? What earthquake? Anyways, I guess that explains why there were so many people on all the sidewalks dowtown.  Funny thing, I never felt or heard a thing.

I got off at Kent and  headed over to the Church and saw that there were dozens of people mulling around the church and sitting on the front steps. Oh great I thought  "Now the Church will be closed for the Anniversary Celebrations and I will be told not to go in." That wasn't the case. I was allowed in ( thank God because I really had to go to the bathroom by now.) All those people were from the Government Office buildings from across the street. Whew! I was on time for the Holy Hour but I thought I should phone Mike to see what was up and I phoned from the Church basement.  I wasn't able to get through so I went outside again and eventually after about 10 minutes I managed to reach him.  He said that the quake struck about 1:45 and yes, everything was ok. The walls shook and a few pictures on the wall are now crooked but that's about all.  Just the same, I was glad we have earthquake insurance ( just in case)

So by now I was a bit late for the Holy Hour which is at three every day at the Basilica. Afterwards, I stayed in the Church until mass and the Novena to our Lady of Perpetual Help at 4:30.  My sister Barbara arrived around 4:00 and joined me near the front of the Church.  The mass was celebrated by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast who, incidentally, didn't feel the eqrthquake either because he was on a plane returning from Ireland when it struck.  All in all, it was a very beautiful celebration although the Church was very hot.  I took a few pictures which I will add later. There was a reception afterwards in the Parish Hall which is situated in the nice cool basement, but Barb and I didn't stay because she had to go to work. We did however find a restaurant on the Spark Street Mall where we stopped to eat. 

After that I went home, and Barb went to work at her office in the West Block. I hope she was allowed in by then.  When I talked to Mike earlier, he thought that some of the government buildings were to remain closed until they had been checked out. Anyways, it was an interesting afternoon and I managed to get home before it started to rain very heavily. I still haven't straightened the pictures.

Trolling on Facebook: an ugly pastime

I joined Father Frank Pavone's  Pro Life Group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=683416425&ref=mf#!/ProLifePage and I can't get over the very many ugly remarks made in this site which are directed at Christians in general and Catholics in particular. There are people who join groups for the sole reason of spewing hatred every chance they get.  I think they call  this pastime trolling but I am not sure. Correct me if I am wrong but Is it not a crime to promote hatred of individuals or a group of individuals based on religious beliefs? Why would individuals even make such publicly outrageous comments anyways? Employers now use facebook to see what their employees are up to. Oftentimes an employer will check facebook before hiring someone. It is common knowledge that the police also use facebook . So what gives? Are people stupid. It seems that some are very stupid.

Closing of Year for Priests: Annunciation Parish, Ottawa Ontario

 Yesterday evening, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Janet Warren of the Catholic Women's League of the Annunciation of the Lord Parish organized a rosary for all priests but especially for the intentions of our two priests, pastor  Monsignor Robert Latour and Father Johathon Blake.  Most of the Parish's Groups participated by taking turns leading a decade. It was beautiful, the Church was full and it was a  beautiful ending to the year for Priests proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. Of course we will continue praying for the Pope and all our clergy.

Archbishop Terrence Prendergast CJOH Interview on Abortion

Ottawa's Archbishop, Terrence Prendergast was interviewed by CJOH's Graham Richardson earlier this week on the topic abortion". See my sister's blog at this link for the transcript of the interview
http://run-with-life.blogspot.com/2010/06/choj-interview-04-june-2010-of.html

Press Conference in Quebec

 I was so delighted that Archbishop Terrence Prendergast joined Cardinal Ouellet this week calling for our Government to reopen the Abortion Debate.  I encourage you to check out the Archbishop's Blog. I only hope that more of our Canadian Bishops will follow their lead.
The Journey of a Bishop: St. Augustine of Canterbury - Press Conference in Quebec

Also, check out Pat Maloney's article Bishop's Confirm Abortion Debate Is On
http://run-with-life.blogspot.com/2010/05/bishops-confirm-abortion-debate-is-on.html

Run With Life: The Best of: Ottawa's Pro-Life March for Life

Run With Life: The Best of: Ottawa's Pro-Life March for Life: "The Best of: Ottawa's Pro-Life March for Life"

March for Life, May 13 2010

Photos by Pat Maloney, Ottawa 

 

 

News Coverage

The Interim
http://www.theinterim.com/events/record-breaking-national-march-for-life/
Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Black+hole/3021151/story.html

The Globe
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/anti-abortion-activists-praise-harpers-maternal-health-stand/article1568191/
praise-harpers-maternal-health-stand/article1568191/

From the National Post
http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/05/13/john-ivison-anti-abortion-forces-enjoy-their-moment-in-the-sun.aspx#ixzz0nuaSiyDd

From the Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/808856--huge-anti-abortion-rally-hails-canada-s-new-foreign-aid-stand?bn=1

Get A Life In Christ

Fr. Benedict Groeschel
(A Catholic Capuchin priest and psychologist)
speaks about the current troubles in the Catholic Church. About media bias against Catholics. About Catholic Faith and Theology. There are four segments in this series. There are also numerous other audio files. As Fr. Groeschel says, the Church will survive. The Church has already experienced the worst that could happen, back on the first Holy Thursday when the men Jesus had chosen Himself, deserted Him and one betrayed Him.

I recommend these talks of Father Groeschel to everybody. They are excellent. I have just listened to the segment on courage and have to say it is probably one of the most uplifting talks I have ever listened to.

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=32&pgnu=

The Silent Scream - Full Complete Version

Another video that everyone should watch

Lia's Pro-Life Speech on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

The Annual March for Life is two weeks away. Last year's event was a huge success with about 12,000 in attendance despite the rainy weather. One of the highlights of last years event was this terrific speech by Lia Mills, a 12 year old Toronto Student.

Press Release-Chair of pro-life caucus introduces bill to protect women from abortion coercion

Release Date: April 15, 2010
News Release
Chair of pro-life caucus introduces bill to protect women from abortion coercion
(Ottawa) - Chair of the multi-party Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus, Rod Bruinooge, introduced “Roxanne’s Law” in the House of Commons yesterday. The Private Members Bill would make it a criminal offence to coerce a woman into having an abortion.
“There are many stories of women being threatened and coerced into having abortions against their will,” said Bruinooge, the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South. “If a woman resists, such coercion may escalate into violence, and even murder. That‟s what happened to Roxanne Fernando, in whose memory I have named this bill.”
Roxanne Fernando was a young woman from Winnipeg who was murdered by Nathanael Plourde (the father of her unborn child) after he failed to convince her to end her pregnancy. In February 2007, Plourde and two friends beat Roxanne brutally and dumped her in a snow bank to die.
“This bill would help protect a pregnant woman who does not want to terminate her pregnancy,” said Bruinooge. “No woman should ever feel intimidated to have an unwanted abortion. Anyone who attempts to force a woman to abort her wanted fetus should face consequences.”
This legislation would not affect abortion access in Canada. Abortion would still be legal throughout a woman‟s entire pregnancy.
The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized, „Pregnancy represents not only the hope of future generations but also the continuation of the species. It is difficult to imagine a human condition that is more important to society.‟ Canadian law, however, provides no specific protection for pregnant women.
“A compassionate society like Canada cannot ignore the dangerous situations many pregnant women find themselves in when they choose to continue a pregnancy,” said Bruinooge.

Private Members' Bill introduced to protect women coerced to have an abortion

Conservative Member of Parliament Rod Bruinooge tabled a bill yesterday called “Roxanne’s Law.” This bill would amend the Criminal Code to make it an offense for someone to coerce or attempt to coerce a female person to have an abortion.The bill is named in memory of Roxanne Fernando a pregnant Winnipeg woman who was murdered by her partner after she refused to have an abortion,

Mary Talbot wants justice for Olivia - renew bill C-484

Below is Mary Talbot's message of April 9, 2010 she sent to the members of the Olivia's Justice Group on facebook.

Dear Friends, I'm sorry to have taken so long to say how truly grateful I am for all your support leading up to the appeal March 19th. I hope you all got the message that the appeal was dismissed and that the appellant will now have to serve his life sentence. I felt Olivia's presence in the court room and I know that she is comforted with these results.
I am going to ask more from you now. It is the effort to renew the Bill C-484. I still strongly believe that Olivia's beautiful baby boy was also murdered. Though there will not be justice here on earth, we need to see our justice system recognize that Baby Lane's life was also taken and that the killer deserves to deal with the consequences. We have to do this for our future Mom's and their babies. We will be working now towards that end.
I will post more information as it becomes available.
With my heartfelt appreciation to all.
Mary Talbot

Anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo

This Wednesday, March 31, marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo. Father Frank Pavone will be at Ave Maria in Naples, FL and will be the celebrant and homilist at the Annual National Mass for “Terri’s Day.” Please make “Terri’s Day” a day of prayer and remembrance for Terri and a day of prayer for all whose lives are threatened in the same way that hers was. for more information.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/terri/terris-day.htm

Saint Patrick

Happy Saint Patrick's Day one and all!!!

Brother Andre Canonized Today

CANONIZATION OF BLESSED ANDRE BESSETTE:

VATICAN CITY, 12 FEB 2010 (VIS) - In the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace at 11 a .m. on Friday 19 February, an ordinary public consistory will be held for the canonization of Blessed Andre Bessette (nee Alfred), Canadian professed religious of the Congregation of the Holy Cross (1845-1937)

Some Limits Needed

My sister's letter in the Ottawa Citizen today


http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Some+limits+needed/2560671/story.html

The Ottawa Citizen February 13, 2010

Re: Don't ignore reproductive rights, Feb. 11.
Columnist Elizabeth Payne writes that "This government can't talk about improving global maternal health without talking about access to contraception and abortion." I think that she assumes our sad Canadian reality of no abortion law is a good thing and should now be exported to Third World countries, too.
Most Canadians, including many who call themselves pro-choice, believe that there should be some limits on abortion. As did the Supreme Court justices in their Morgentaler decision in 1988 when they said it was up to Parliament to provide protection for the unborn. Parliament, sadly, continues to not heed the Supreme Court's advice.
Then in an astonishing display of irony, Payne writes that "For Canada to lead a G8 campaign promoting maternal and child health in the poorest parts of the world that ignores reproductive rights would be both counterproductive and paternalistic."
For Canadians to impose our any-time, any-reason, or no-reason, abortion realities to Third World countries, takes the notion of being paternalistic to new lows.Patricia Maloney,

Ottawa
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Pat's Article on Lifenews January 19, 2010: Supporting Women in Canada Means Educating That Abortion Hurts Women

Recently the Pro-Choice Action Network (Pro-Can), decided to go on the offensive against Crises Pregnancy Centres , resulting in a scathing report condemning these centres in British Columbia, Canada.
My sister Patricia Maloney responded to their report with this excellent Article Supporting Women in Canada Means Educating That Abortion Hurts Women LifeNews January 19, 2010
which is posted at http://www.LifeNews.com/int1440.html
I urge you to take the time to read Pat's terrific editorial

Maureen

Mon Cher Oncle Andre

BESSETTE, ALFRED, named Brother André, lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross was born . 9 Aug. 1845 in the parish of Saint-Grégoire (Mont-Saint-Grégoire), Lower Canada, son of Isaac Bessette and Clothilde Foisy; died. 6 Jan. 1937 in Notre-Dame-de-l'Espérance hospital in Ville Saint-Laurent, Que.


Today January 6th we celebrate the life of one of Canada’s truly inspiring people, Alfred Bessette whom most Canadians know as Brother Andre. I remember many years ago my mother telling me that we were indirect descendants of Brother Andre and from a very early age I have always addressed him in my prayers as “mon cher oncle Andre”. Today I know that brother Andre was more likely a very distant cousin but I love to call him “mon cher oncle Andre” just the same and so when I ask him to pray for me and for my family and others I continue to address him in this manner. Through the years I have seen answers to many of my prayers which I credit to the intervention of my dear cousin. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of Brother Andre’s relatives living in Ottawa today: i.e. the Maloney, Brousseau, Guillet, Toomey, and McCann families just to name a few. The way mom explained the connection is like this.

Mom’s grandfather Modeste Guillet’s mother’s maiden name was Marie Bessette. This is a small photo I have of my great grandfather on the left. What I was told many years ago was that Marie Bessette was the sister of Brother Andre’s Father Isaac Bessette. However, recently I have found that Isaac did not have any sisters and so this information was incorrect. Thankfully my cousin Valerie Lafleur's husband Claude recently unravelled the mystery and for this we are all grateful. Please see footnote below

In the year 2005 Elmridge Catholic School in Gloucester was considering changing the name of the school to Brother Andre Catholic School. This was initiated by former principle Maureen Atherton who is now retired. Coincidentally our grandson Kyle Marcotte, John’s son was attending the school the year of the name change. Also that year, my good friend Jennifer Snell had just begun her first year of teaching kindness classes with her dog Smokey http://www.thekindnessprogram.org/  in Ottawa Schools.  Dr. John Dorner who was the principle of Elmridge Catholic School had heard great things about the classes from Ms. Kimberley Giles the principle of Divine Infant School in Orleans and asked Jennifer if she would visit his school as well. On Jennifer’s last day at “Elmridge Catholic School” which was 23 March 2005, she told Principle John Dorner that one of his students Kyle Marcotte was an indirect descendant of Brother Andre ( I will explain how she came upon this information in the next paragraph) . Anyways, John Dorner was quite delighted to hear this bit of news and asked Kyle if he would say a little about Brother Andre at the School Board meeting when the matter of the name change would be discussed at an upcoming Spring meeting. When the time came Kyle did a great job and even got a standing ovation when he told everyone around the table the story of his humble cousin from Saint Gregoire D’Ibverville who later joined the Congregation of the Holy Cross.  
He took the name Brother Andre, and worked for many years as the porter of Notre Dame College which is situated across the Street from Saint Joseph’s Oratory which he founded.

As porter of the College, thousands of people came to know and love him and he instilled a great devotion to his best friend Saint Joseph to all who passed his way. When a miracle happened in the presence of Brother Andre, and there are countless stories of these, It was Saint Joseph, he would tell everybody, who should be thanked. He was just Saint Joseph’s little dog.

The sequence of events which led me to learn about the Name change for “Elmridge Catholic School” to “Brother Andre” was absolutely Divinely inspired and was connected to Jennifer’s visits there. On March 17th 2005 I decided to attend mass at Saint Patrick Basilica for their yearly Saint Patrick Day celebration. I sat near the front and in no time the place filled up. When Jennifer arrived she saw a seat next to someone wearing a red coat near the front. I looked up when she asked me if there was room for her. It was just then that she noticed it was me. I had met Jennifer the previous year during the Good Shepherd Parish trip to Ireland and the British Isles which was organized by their pastor Father Joe Muldoon. I hadn’t seen Jennifer for a while so we chatted a little before mass and it was then that I found out that Jennifer chose the feast of the Epiphany that year as her retirement date from the Military in order to spend more time in prayer and in doing God’s work. At that time I told Jennifer that January 6th is the day the Church honors Brother Andre since it is the day he died and I told her about my family connection to him. By coincidence I happened to have a book about him with me which I offered to her and which she was delighted to receive.. I do not remember why I had the book with me that day; probably just to have something to read before mass. Then the conversation went on where I mentioned to Jennifer that the school that my grandson Kyle attended, Elmridge Catholic School had a beautiful statue of Brother Andre in the front entrance and I wondered why. . At that point Jennifer told me that she taught kindness classes at that school earlier in the month and would be returning a few days later to see the remainder of the classes. She then told me about the wonderful Principle John Dorner telling her that they were in the process of changing the name of the school to Brother Andre Catholic School. The remainder of the story I have related in the second paragraph from the top of the page..

I love Brother Andre. I know he had a great sense of humour, he loved to garden and greet people wherever he was, whether it was in the garden or at the door and he had a heart as big as the sky and showed his love and concern to all who passed his way.  I  recently learned that he will be declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI later on this year. For more about his life and works please go to this link on my website. http://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/Home/saints-and-blesseds/blessed-brother-andre and the Archbishop's Blog at this link http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2010/01/brother-andre-en-route-to-canonization.html

Blessed Alfred Bessette, pray for us.

Footnote:
Thank you Claude Lafleur ( husband of my cousin Valerie Lafleur -nee Toomey) for figuring this out!!!

Brother Andre's Connection to me
Jean-Bessette (b 27 Dec 1672, d 18 May 1751) and Madeleine Plamondon (b 22
Mar1682, d 5 May 1750).

Their children were:

Nom Naissance Décès Père Mère Époux(se)
Marie-Jeanne Bessette 09 Fév 1696 28 Mai 1697 J. Bessette M. Benoit
Marie-Charlotte Bessette 18 Avr 1702 01 Mai 1702 J. Bessette M. Plamondon
Marie-Josephe Bessette 09 Sept 1705 05 Avr 1752 J. Bessette M. Plamondon
Barre Louis-Jean

Madeleine-Charlotte Bessette 20 Mars 1708 J. Bessette M. Plamondon
Vincelet Jacques

Jean-Baptiste Bessette 28 Mars 1711 J. Bessette M. Plamondon Paquet
Marie-Anne

Jean-Francois Bessette 19 Mai 1714 J. Bessette M. Plamondon Girard
Marie-Josephte
Legrain Marguerite

Marie-Marguerite Bessette 20 Août 1716 J. Bessette M. Plamondon
Guillaume Bessette 24 Oct 1717 03 Mai 1763 J. Bessette M. Plamondon Paquet
Marguerite


Brother Andre (Alfred) descended from their son Jean-Francois and his spouse
Marguerite Legrain.
You descended from their son Guillaume Bessette and his spouse Marguerite
Paquet.

Brother André's ancestors:
Jean Bessette & Madeleine Plamondon
Jean-Francois Bessette & Marguerite Legrain
Joseph Bessette & Marie-Francoise Barrierre
Joseph Bessette & Angelique George
Isaac Bessette & Clothide Foisy
Alfred Bessette

Maureen's ancestors:
Jean Bessette & Madeleine Plamondon
Guillaume Bessette & Marguerite Paquet
Francois Bessette & Francoise Haines
Francois Xavier Bessette & Elizabeth Dubuc
Noel Bessette & Marie Desanges Goguet
Marie Bessette & Didace Guillet
Modeste Guillet & Adelaide Murphy
Marjory Guillet & Emile Brousseau
Elaine Brousseau & Jim Maloney
ME!!!
--------------------
Footnote 2

Many years ago my mother told me that the Guillet’s had made a family tree and that is how we learned that we were indirect descendants of Brother Andre. I have contacted some of the Guillet relatives but unfortunately I have not been able to get any more information on this. If you are aware of how I can see a copy of this family tree please send me an e-mail at mtward@magma.ca

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year Mike, Debbie and Leo, John and Chantel, Chris and Adelaide, and to the grandchildren ( who are my pride and joy) Kyle, Christopher, Matthew, Daniel, Bailee and Emilee. And to my brother and sisters and Mikes brothers and sister and to their spouses and their children ( our nieces and nephews) all our aunts and uncles and cousins and their children and to all our friends, I will you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May God bless you all !!!

Holy Family

Happy Feast of the Holy Family