This Summer in the Diocese An E-Publication of the Diocese of Antigonish

Transcription

1 This Summer in the Diocese An E-Publication of the Diocese of Antigonish Issue 12 First Anniversary Edition Summer 2016 Welcome to our special anniversary edition! This extended issue features a message from Bishop Brian Dunn, a reflection on our past year and details about our new e-news format coming in September. Also inside are news, photos and events from across our diocese. See inside for more. St. Anne s Mission 2016 It was a day of sun, sacraments and celebration at the closing mass of St. Anne s Mission The annual mission at Potlotek took place July See more on Page 4. No Life Like It Subscribe Now! Celebrations and Events Army chaplaincy is a proud Starting in Sept., our E-News can Photos and details on activities tradition in our diocese. Pg 2. come straight to your inbox! Pg. 3 past and future. Pgs 4-6

2 This Summer in the Diocese Page 2 Mercy in Uniform: Fr. Mulcahy of M*A*S*H fame embodied the army chaplain: ever-present and an oasis in the turmoil of conflict. Our diocese has a proud history of army chaplaincy, with two of our priests currently serving in uniform. On a cool spring weekend Fr. Patrick O Neill found himself covered in mud along a remote road in Quebec, and knew he was exactly where he needed, and wanted, to be. Fr. Patrick, pastor of St. Joseph s Church in North Sydney and producer of our popular Mass for Shut-Ins television program, is also a military chaplain. Every Thursday night, plus several weekends and two weeks each summer he trades his vestments for camo gear and ministers to the women and men of Canada s armed services: training beside them, listening to them, and offering a safe space of compassion and hope in a world framed by duty, danger and unspeakable memories. We re available for them to reach out to; just being there can provide some comfort, says Fr. Patrick, who joined the reserves in Sydney in his pre-seminary days and rejoined as a chaplain after his ordination. Fr. Donald MacGillivray, rector of St. Ninian s Cathedral, has served 30 years in the military chaplaincy, including six months in the Golan Heights and two one-month deployments in Afghanistan. He is now senior chaplain, overseeing chaplains in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. We loiter with intent, he says, being available when needed, or even when not. Behind the simplicity lies a valuable means of outreach. It s a wonderful ministry for young people; the army has a lot of young adults, he points out. Secondly, you are ministering to a lot of people that you wouldn t know or connect with otherwise. Fr. Patrick has seen this first hand; as he stood outside his church door one evening before mass, a young woman passed by, then backtracked. She served in my unit, but didn t recognize me at first with my collar on, he said. When she realized it was my church, she decided to stay for mass. She had never been to a mass before. Just being there can provide some comfort. Fr. Patrick O Neill We loiter with intent. Fr. Donald MacGillivray

3 This Summer in the Diocese Page 3 The Art and Tasks of Communicating: Our five year Diocesan Pastoral plan identified Communications as one of six pillars of action. In the past year we have worked to build relationships and systems to carry our information in many directions. Here s a look at how we can stay connected. Message from our Bishop As we celebrate the first anniversary of our monthly Newsletter, I want to acknowledge the work that in involved in a publication of this kind. Special thanks to Jennifer Hatt, our Communications Officer, for her commitment to this project. Thanks also to all who have assisted in any way to making this such a success. Our Holy Father Pope Francis has invited us to reflect on the importance of Communication: Communication has the power to build bridges, to enable encounters and inclusion and thus to enrich society, he wrote in his message for World Communications Day Our newsletter is an important step within our diocese as we discover our richness in connecting as individuals and communities living in Christ. This newsletter has allowed us to know one another in a new way and to connect with the rest of the world. Thank you all for sharing in this connection, by reading the newsletter, distributing it, and contributing your stories, photos and ideas. With your participation, this newsletter has given our diocese an opportunity to share news and celebrate events as a community of faith and love. May the Lord continue to bless us as we grow in relationship with one another. Bishop Brian Joseph Dunn Bishop of Antigonish News and Tools to Use Launched our newsletter, August 2015 Relaunched our Facebook page, October 2015 Enacted a new diocesan brand, with a fresh logo and colour palette, January 2016 Installed our new website, March 2016 New for Autumn: Starting in September 2016 we can send our e-news directly to your inbox. Visit the Newsletter page (under News) on our website to subscribe: x.php/news-to-you/newsletter If you prefer, a PDF version will still be available for download from our website. Deanery workshops: development is under way to deliver specific topics across the diocese. Ways to keep in touch Find us on Facebook: Did you know: our Facebook page is public, which means anyone can view it, including those without a Facebook account. You need to be signed in, however, to like, comment, share and add posts. Liking our page Check our website: Comments? Story ideas? Contact our communications officer: jennifer@dioceseofantigonish.ca

4 This Summer in the Diocese Page 4 July 26-31, 2016 A week of gathering and worship St. Anne s Mission 2016 Potlotek (Chapel Island), NS Have you ever seen a U-Haul following a hearse? Father Doug MacDonald reminded us of setting our priorities on the spiritual rather than the material in his homily at the closing mass of St. Anne s annual mission on July 31. St. Anne is the patron saint of the Mi kmaw. Each year, thousands gather on this tiny island near Potlotek First Nation (Chapel Island) in Cape Breton for days of celebration and giving thanks. St. Anne s Mission has been celebrated here for more than 400 years. The island is also an important spiritual and historical site. World Youth Day 2016 Krakow, Poland Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (Mt 5:7) was the theme of the 31 st World Youth Day, hosted this year in Krakow, Poland. Five pilgrims from St. Mary s Polish Church in Sydney and Rebecca MacLeod from North Sydney were among the two million pilgrims at this historic event. Rebecca, show here with a group touring the Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków (St. Faustina's room has the flowers under the window) arrived home Aug. 7, filled with memories and gratitude to our CWL Diocesan Council which helped support her trip. See more World Youth Day memories in upcoming posts.

5 This Summer in the Diocese Page 5 Celebrations and Milestones: St. Mary s Polish Church Mass of Dedication, July 3, 2016 Holy Rosary 125 th Anniversary July 16, 2016 St. Mary s Polish Church in Sydney, NS celebrated mass in their new sanctuary. The church was rebuilt following a fire in November Fundraising and work on Phase II, including a multicultural library, kitchen and children s play area are ongoing: More than 175 friends and family from near and far joined Bishop Brian Dunn and Rev. Evo DiPierro in Ballantyne s Cove for mass, followed by a reception at the North Shore Fire Hall. The Diocesan Social Justice Committee and Development and Peace hosted a table at the Antigonish Highland Games Street Fair July 7. Members distributed 100 handouts on Laudato Si and other local activities.

6 This Summer in the Diocese Page 6 Adventures in Youth: Celebrating at Steubenville Atlantic Youth from the Diocese of Antigonish, here on the Dalhousie University campus with Bishop Brian Dunn, spent July 8-10 in Halifax for the Steubenville Atlantic annual conference. The event for youth Grades 8-12 celebrated its 10 th anniversary this year. Walking The Camino: Dates of Note: Aug. 17, pm, Holy Redeemer Church, Sydney NS Kathleen Wolfe in Concert Organized by Diocese of Antigonish Youth. All ages welcome. Sept. 9, 2016 September E-News, delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here: com/index.php/news-toyou/newsletter Sept. 14, 2016 Healing mass in parishes throughout the diocese for Victims of Sexual Abuse by Clergy Sept. 25, 2016 Catechetical Sunday "Announcing the Mercy of God" Pope Francis will celebrate with catechists around the world. See the Emmaus Centre link under the Events listing on our website: com In July 2016 our diocesan Director of Youth Ministry, Nolan Conrad, walked The Camino de Santiago. Also known as The Way of St. James, this network of ancient pilgrimage routes leads to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. (Further details are available at Why do this? Nolan will share his experiences in upcoming posts. October-November 2016 Fall Education and Action Workshops: Development and Peace, Diocesan Council Oct. 22: Sydney, Glace Bay, New Waterford, Northside/Victoria Oct. 29: Inverness, Richmond Nov. 5: Antigonish, Guysborough