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 Catholic Missions In Canada
E-Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 5: December 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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| Greetings!
Christmas in the missions
Have you ever thought that the best part of a party occurs in the moments after most guests have left? There remains behind only a few friends to enjoy the quiet moments together.
In the Christmas story, after the shepherds leave, rejoicing at what they have seen and heard that night, we find these same moments of peaceful reflection: "Mary treasured all these words," Luke writes, "and pondered them in her heart."
Your own heart will rejoice as you read how our missionaries celebrate Christmas with their communities in missions spread across Canada's now icy vastness.
One of those celebrations presented an unexpected guest to Oblate Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador. Ben Bear is the special and aptly-named mascot of Our Lady Star of the Sea parish in Benoit's Cove. Ben is a teddy bear who welcomes children and their teddy bears to Mass and, as you'll see, Christmas Mass with the Bishop was no exception!
Farther north and from the other side of Canada, you'll hear from Oblate Bishop Denis Croteau, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, and journey with him on his Christmas "pilgrimage" to Whati, a Dene community that he once visited by dog sled.
Sister Ruth Koprucha's first Christmas Eve in Canada was a "present from God"-even if it was -30°! She and Sister Mary Jeanne Davidson, S.S.N.D., journeyed to northern Alberta First Nations communities in the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan.
One of my gifts this Christmas was in reading how Sister Ruth told a young girl that she looked like Jesus. This child of God responded with joy, "Sister, thank you very much. Jesus looks like me!" In the great stillness that leads up to His birth, may the treasure of that same happiness reign always in your own heart.
Faithfully yours,
(Rev.) Philip Kennedy
President
Catholic Missions In Canada |
