By Fr. Leo English, C.Ss.R.
“We are in this together” was the catch phrase that we – Sr. Fay Trombley scic, Andrea Wan, and I – used during the busy 2016 Christmas season in the most northerly settlement of mainland Canada – Tuktoyaktuk or Tuk, as it is affectionately known, in the Northwest Territories.
Now that I have been in northern Alberta for a while, I have become more and more aware of the pastoral ministry needs of Canada, especially the more northerly parts of the country. After a conversation with our community at St Joseph’s in Grande Prairie, Alberta, I spoke with Jon Hansen C.Ss.R. in Inuvik and offered to go to Tuk for 10 days – to work along side Sr. Fay and Andrea. There is no resident priest in Tuk and so I wanted to make myself available. Sr. Fay is a Sister of Charity of Saint John, New Brunswick who has faithfully ministered in Our Lady of Grace Parish in Tuktoyaktuk for the past 12 years. Andrea is a pre-social work student from Leduc, Alberta who is studying in Whitehorse and has a passion for ministry among Tuk’s indigenous people. What a great experience to live and minister together in the Delta-Arctic region of the Mackenzie-Fort Smith Diocese, an area that includes Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk and Tsiigethtchic. I salute Steve Morrisey, Tom O’Rourke and David Purcell who have also previously ministered in the area.
The Journey. After a journey down to Edmonton from Grande Prairie, I set off on another flight to Yellowknife and overnighted at Trapper’s Lake, a retreat center just outside the city. The next day it was off to Norman Wells; I finally landed in Inuvik to overnight with Jon. On Thursday, the 22nd, Jon and I set out on the 185 kilometer ice road highway into Tuk. The road runs on the Mackenzie River and across parts of the Beaufort Sea/Artic Ocean before coming to Tuk.
There were full days in Tuk; we had the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, coupled with baptism preparation and baptisms celebrated on New Year’s Day. 
We made home visits and welcomed parishioners to eat with us after each church service. Our three-person team was also involved in planning and celebrating the funeral Mass for a 35-year old Indigenous man from Whitehorse with family ties in Tuk. One evening we hosted his family of 13 people at Sister Fay’s house, where she operates a food bank and works with a St Vincent de Paul used clothing store – there were many requests for help over the season and she was undaunted by all of them. Posted schedules are casually observed, to say the least!
On Christmas morning in Tuk, I had the golden opportunity to see spectacular Northern Lights at 3am. Sr. Fay brought me to see the Northern glory, and as we stood in reverent silence; she whispered “God is dancing at the birth of His Son.” These were words and images that made Christmas come alive in my heart.
I found faith-filled, hospitable people with a deep respect for the land and with a tremendous pride of place. It is not everyone who can live in a land of two hours of twilight during a long winter and 24 hours of daylight in a brief summer season. In a land far above the tree line, traditional dress and dancing, jigging and feasts are real expressions of a lively people and culture. I had a taste of all that was 
offered, and I am so grateful. I experienced Tuk’s trademark pingos, or hills formed after a combination of soil and ice; along with trucks, ski-doos, sled dogs, and wind “blows” that come upon the land from the Arctic Ocean, almost unexpectedly and with little compassion, Tuk has its own unique landscape and people.
It takes a very special grace and aptitude to minister in Tuk. I salute with gratitude and send very best wishes and prayers to those called to northern life. Jon, Sr. Fay and Andrea – best wishes and God’s grace and favour upon each of you in the New Year ahead. Thank you for the opportunity to accompany you on your mission in Canada’s North.
“We are in this together!”
I tell people that I am based in my suitcase and they have a quizzical look on their face. My hope, as you know, is to spend about two weeks in each of our communities across the country. With some side trips to places in which we have no communities, it means that I am not really found in one place for very long. I was delighted once again to spend the New Year with the Catholic Christian Outreach Community. This year they held their convention in Vancouver. And yes, if you look closely you can find me in this picture.
Our Vancouver community is at the beginning stages of forming a group of Partners in Mission. We met together to reflect on our vocation ministry across Canada with this group of people after the morning Mass. I am little easier to find in this picture (at right)!!
Some of you may know Annette Donovan-Panchaud (far right in the picture below), a chaplain at Kings University, Western University, in London. Annette invited me to represent the Redemptorists at a display of Catholic organizations in the foyer of the Student Life Centre during Catholic Students Week. I was also able to address a prayer group in Pain Court (see if you can find that on your map) about the spirituality and mission of the Redemptorists. I met the local high school chaplain and will return in the fall to make a presentation to high school students about the Redemptorists.
I kept heading west of Toronto in February, but this time, all the way to Grande Prairie. Fr. Leo and I attended a vocation luncheon at the high school. Three seminarians including Travis Chabot; the local diocesan vocation director, Fr. Michael; two School Sisters of Notre Dame, Srs. Louise and Mary-Jeanne; were on hand to share their experiences with twenty students. 
I am very grateful and encouraged by the affection, warmth, and respect that is accorded to priests and religious among Catholics across the country. Last Easter I recounted to you the great pride a young boy displayed, as he told me the story of an Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest, who had worked with his people for many years in Paulatuk, N.W.T.. Most remarkable, as this boy had never met the priest personally. I was astounded as Fr. Shijo and I were invited forward at a Christmas party hosted by Gethsemane Ministries, Toronto. There, special guests, including the clergy, were given gifts and recognition at their banquet. Can you find Fr. Saju Oreethaparambil C.Ss.R.? Fr. Saju is serving as a parish priest in downtown Hamilton. We were delighted to see him at the banquet, and to find out that he is enjoying his ministry there very much. This celebration was an amazing pageant for Christmas and very inspiring to see the way that youth of all ages were involved in skits, music, and hosting this big banquet. 
Then in February, at the Chinese New Year celebration at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Toronto, I was profoundly moved by the great warmth, and special honour given me, even though I was not always present in their community, but had come that day as a visiting priest. 
Luis (Live-In inquirer at St. Patrick Monastery) and I attended a gathering of the University of Toronto Chinese Catholic Community. 
First, let me introduce you to the four Amigos…myself, Stewart, Bishop Don Bolen and Andre (pictured at right), this was our team for the first three weeks of the Camino. Later, on Aug. 24th, we would be joined by Bishop Don’s sister Judy and her husband Bob (pictured below). 
After a good night’s sleep, we were ready to begin our climb through the Pyrenees of France. While I trained in preparation for the journey, I discovered, that no amount of walking the flat trails of Saskatoon had prepared me for the Pyrenees. As I was ascending up the mountain with my twenty pound backpack, my lungs were burning, my heart 
pounding, I thought maybe, I should have gone to some beach in Florida to begin my sabbatical year. Such thoughts didn’t last long because as we continued our climb, the vastness of the mountains, the amazing views, the large number of sheep and shepherds, horses grazing the surrounding hills and greeting fellow pilgrims along the climb, made for one awesome day. 
We set off early the next morning to continue our climb and before crossing the border into Spain, we visited the Biakorri Virgin – the protectress of the shepherds (pictured at left). 
The climb was very good though steep at times, but then there was a good spell where the climb was most enjoyable. After a few hours into my climb I realized I was totally alone having not seen a pilgrim since leaving Del Bierzo. The silence was so profound, here I was alone with nature and the Lord, such peace came over me. Walking along a level pathway, I saw I wasn’t alone, a few butterflies were tagging along. It seemed that when I stopped for a rest they did as well. I remembered how my mother loved butterflies and saw in them the beauty of God’s creative hand. I might have left my team to walk the lower trail but here on this mountain in the awesomeness of creation, small though I might be, I felt safe and loved. Then came the sight of smoke up ahead rising high into the sky. Where was it coming from, was I facing a forest fire ahead of me? I needed to find out as I may have to turn back. Ahead of me I could see two higher peaks, I was certain that from there I could get a read on the situation.
The descent down the mountain side took a few hours, while tough on the knee it had been an awesome day alone but never lonely. However, I was happy to reconnect with my team and enjoy a cold beer, a good meal and a comfortable Albergue (pictured at right) to rest my head for the night.
There were many highlights in our six week pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela but one of the most exciting for me was a finding Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Astroga. I went to Mass there and had a good visit with one of the confreres afterwards before continuing my journey.
On Saturday, Feb. 11th (the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Prayer for the Sick), a church full of confreres, family, friends and parishioners gathered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Vancouver to remember Fr. Brendan Boland, to celebrate his life, and to entrust him to the ever-loving arms of Our Redeemer. At 92 years of age and after a number of months dealing with a recurring melanoma, Fr. Brendan returned to his Maker. And we are all a little poorer for his departure from our midst.
for two years in Ireland, principally along the West Coast, using both Celtic and English. In 1953 he went as a missionary to India where he preached missions, including a two-year stint in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). His last four years in India were as a parish priest.
(where he started Holy Redeemer Parish, next to our Holy Trinity Parish) back to Williams Lake, and then on to Holy Spirit Parish in Kelowna. 
friend. He took great advantage of the world he lived in, skiing (both downhill and cross-country), hiking, picnicking 
with friends, golfing (which he started in his senior years in Kelowna), touring, and visiting friends. Two nephews and a niece came from Ireland, and another niece from Maine, for his funeral; all had visited him in previous months and were full of stories about this wonderful Uncle who enlivened everybody on his home visits where he went 
swimming in the ocean, fishing, and sharing the odd glass with family and friends. He was adored by his 8 nephews and nieces.
Dear Friends,
God is indeed so good. One of the many joys I have is to share in people’s experience of the goodness that God works in our lives! Quite often this experience includes literally tasting good food together in a way that helps us to build Gospel friendships. While in Toronto, at a gathering of the University of Toronto Chinese Catholic Community (
As some of you may know, Megan McKenna has been preaching parish missions and leading sessions of reflection in many of our parishes across the country. In the middle of March, Megan came to St. Teresa’s parish in St. John’s. Our Partners in Mission ….(pictured here, left to right: Joe Janson; Clyde Hodder, Megan McKenna; Zita Holden; Jim Healey; Tom Hickey; Margie Janson; Pauline Brophy; Fr. Michael Kelleher, C.Ss.R.; Daphne Byrne; Anne Walsh; Bon Fagan; Dave Bishop; Fr. Tomy Joseph, C.Ss.R.) rolled out a great taste of Newfoundland, including….Fish Chowder, Pea Soup, Newfoundland Spinach Salad with Newfoundland Berries, Curried Salt Fish Salad, Moose Casserole, Fish and Brews, Cod Tongues, Cod Fish Cakes, Flipper Pie, Cod au Gratin, Newfoundland Roasted Vegetables, Grandma’s Newfoundland Blueberry Cake, and much more!
“For me, I will remember the story she told about the Son of Man, forever. It was a profound image of the Son of Man from the Book of Daniel in shimmering white that a priest told in California. It was a startling and quite touching story of how we are really all connected to one another and of forgiveness and humility. It definitely was not a party starter but it was a moment for deep reflection. Besides this, when I asked if she had all the scriptures committed to memory, I liked that instead of boasting she was quite encouraging and suggested that anyone could commit scripture to memory. The secret is to start with a few verses and add to it. Finally, you would not have to be in her presence very long to know that she lives and breathes scriptures and stories. I can only imagine how much work she has had to do in the past to be filled with the knowledge she currently holds. She is a very impressive lady who delivers the scripture with a punch.” 
And more about great tasting food! As you may have heard, on the weekend of the 11th of March, a great wind storm knocked out power to St. Teresa’s church and the rectory for about five hours. Some people in other areas, were without power for two days! Fr. Tomy Kizhakkethundathil, C.Ss.R. cooked up a curry dinner for us on the propane stove as we hauled out all the candles, flashlights, and oil lanterns that we could find. Did I mention that Fr. Tomy is a great, great cook! Well we had another occasion later in the week to experience his culinary expertise – an experience where India meets Newfoundland. In this picture you will see in front of Frs. Tony and Tomy … (have you ever heard of a movie about the three amigos? Well in Newfoundland we have our very own community of the three T’s: Tom, Tomy and Tony!?) … a dish in the foreground, of delicious curried moose! The other dish was a spicy chicken recipe. Both of these were cooked up for our community supper one night, by Fr. Tomy. 
At Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, you will be interested to know that the Catholic Community is growing. Fr. Joe Mroz, with the Society of Jesus, is the priest Chaplain. He presides at a daily Mass and there is of course, a regular Sunday Mass held at St. John’s Chapel. Fr. Joe serves the spiritual needs of students in many other ways. The Catholic Christian Outreach team started a new outreach on this campus during September 2016. Weekly faith study groups, J.A.M. (Jesus and music) gatherings, retreats and many other activities appeal to Catholic students. I was able to share in a pot-luck supper one evening and then preside on Friday, at Mass followed by adoration – a devotion that is held in the chapel every Friday. This was a great chance for me to introduce the leaders of 
Then on Saturday, the St. Patrick’s Day celebration was held at St. Teresa parish. All the volunteers of the parish were celebrated and thanked at this dinner. I found out that Fr. Tony Bidgood, C.Ss.R. has a special talent for stand-up comedy! He had people laughing continuously, as he handed out gifts to the volunteers. 
From the air, I took in a rather vast and rugged landscape covered in snow as far as the eye can see. It looked like a skidooer’s paradise. While driving from the airport to the rectory the vastness from the air gave way to the presence of a wonderful community filled with people who call this winter wonderland of the frozen North their home.
A little later, I bundled up in warm winter wear provided by another confrere in Edmonton, Fr. Tex Keindel and headed out with Jon to explore the little town of Inuvik. As cold as it was, I loved what I saw. A warm and welcoming people and all the conveniences one could want; a hospital, library, a weekly paper called the Inuvik Drum, a recreation centre, a hockey and curling rink, a child care centre, a large public school with six hundred students, a community college, hotels, a small warm home for the homeless, a big post office, and yes, even a detachment of the 
On Sunday Fr. Jon introduced me to his community, the parish of Our Lady of Victory, as we gathered for Sunday Eucharist in their igloo shaped church. The following Sunday my first homily was dedicated to the young children and their families.
From Tuesday the 25th of April through Thursday the 27th, Redemptorists and Lay Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer from the Edmonton-Toronto Province met at Queen of Apostles Retreat Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. During our Chapter Sitting we asked the Provincial Council to appoint a committee to investigate how best to handle our internal and external communications. We gave our recommendations about a model for joining our three Canadian units. We approved a policy for sabbaticals, and discussed how to manage our apostolic commitments with our current resources. With the help of Marwan Al-Turk, we reviewed our finances; and also heard from Fr. Mark Miller about his overall views concerning our Province, and how we are being affected and will be affected by decisions that were made at our General Chapter and at the Conference level. (As you may notice in this picture, we were joined on our closing day by all those in the novitiate). 
During our Chapter, we celebrated the re-commitment of Bob and Joan Williston as Lay Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer. 
During the evenings we also enjoyed each others’ company at social gatherings. During the banquet on Thursday evening we celebrated our jubilarians, and were pleased to welcome Fr. Remi’s cousin Carla Hindman (seen in the picture to Fr. Remi’s left in the picture at the right). Luis Fuentes, Doug Stamp, M.C. Havey, Kathy McMerty, and Fr. Ralph McQuaid also joined us for the banquet. 
Through the inspiration of Fr. Mark Miller, and the technical help of Anne Walsh and Fr. Graham Hill, we also welcomed Archbishop Gerry Pettipas who was celebrating his 40th anniversary of ordination and 10th anniversary of Episcopal ordination. He “Zoom-ed” in from his office in Grande Prairie, Alberta. He was able to hear our stories of appreciation about him and also to speak to us all! 
From the 21st of May through the 27th, all the Redemptorist students in North America along with those in formation ministry and those in vocation ministry met at Notre Dame Retreat Centre, near Rochester, New York. 
Each afternoon and evening, was filled with social time to build fraternity among the students, while many of those in formation and vocation ministries held meetings. 
Please remember to pray for our Redemptorist students, especially as many are going through transitions through this summer and into the fall. For example, many people may have heard, “we are moving”! Many theology students are moving from Chicago and Boston to complete their theological studies at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. This school was founded in 1903 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The main languages for their education there will be English and Spanish. Fr. Peter Hill and Fr. Mick Fleming (l. to r.) will be responsible for leadership in this community of students. 
The formation programs that we have at “The Bronx” will remain the same. Although Br. Gene Patin will stay in place, Fr. Bob Wojtek and Fr. Joe Ngo (l. to r.) will be new to the leadership team at this community.
Our formation programs in Dallas, at the University of Dallas, Texas, and at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, where the formation programs take place primarily in Vietnamese and English, will continue as they have. Fr. Francis Dang (standing in centre) will remain in leadership with others on the formation teams in these places.
The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences (sometimes referred to as “The Learneds”) was held in Toronto May 29-June 2, 2017, and St. Alphonsus Liguori seemed happy to once again be among his learned peers! The conference of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association is a portion of the Congress and, at this conference, Dr. Nancy Earle (Associate Professor at Douglas College) and I presented a paper entitled “The Finest Room in the Colony: the Library of Bishop John Thomas Mullock.”
The novitiate year in Toronto is entering its final phase. The past few months have had wide-ranging activities with trips and visits.
Then, these last few weeks, the novices have been traveling. The goal was to know the other two Redemptorist provinces in Canada and to deepen our understanding of Church history in this country.
From Winnipeg, we drove to Yorkton, to St. Mary’s monastery, a former Redemptorist seminary in which three confreres live and serve about ten parishes in the area. Yorkton is a rural town, and an area with vast fields of arable land. It is one of the major cereal granaries in the world. The confreres have to commute more than 200 km to minister to some of the parishes, which they visit only on Sundays during spring and summer, as weather conditions in winter are too harsh and cold.
Our travelling experience ended in the novitiate house on May 26 when the novices received the habit of St. Alphonsus. It was a simple Eucharist but very touching as it was yet another step bringing us closer to our profession. We now wear the habit during morning Mass. It reflects what we feel inside: our willingness to follow Christ with the Alphonsian charism.
Two Provincial archivists flew the Redemptorist banner with distinction at a University of Notre Dame history conference in Rome, highlighting a pivotal Scottish confrere in Rome and the effect of the city on a Canadian confrere. 
A holder of a history doctorate from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, Hayes explored the life and work of Fr. Douglas, a Scottish convert and descendant of the Dukes of Queensbury and the Earls of Douglas and Mar. The sole heir to the family’s considerable wealth, Fr. Douglas distributed it liberally on congregational projects, financing the 1854 purchase of the Roman property on Via Merulana and the subsequent construction of the headquarters and the adjacent St. Alphonsus church. 
On March 23, 1898, Fr. Douglas died of the flu at the age of 78 and was buried in the crypt of the Casa S Alfonso house chapel along aside the Superiors General. 
We started with Mass in the church presided by Cardinal Thomas Collins. (Concelebrants from l. to r. Carl Schmidt C.Ss.R., John Feng – associate pastor, Peter Chin C.Ss.R. – pastor, Shijo Meppilly C.Ss.R., Peter Siu S.J., David Purcell C.Ss.R..) We then prayed at the doors of the church while gathered around a statue of Mary and then headed out in procession throughout the neighbouring streets.
On the 10th of June at the Martyrs’ Shrine near Midland, Ontario, 3000 Vietnamese Catholics gathered for a pilgrimage. Some opening devotions were held at the Shrine church at 10 am. The crowds continued to build in the fields near the church while families and friends shared fun and lots of food together. Among those gathering were l. to r. Redemptorist Frs. Antony Nguyen van Dung, Francis Nguyen, David Purcell and Jean-Baptiste Nguyen Thanh Hung.
Fr. Jean-Baptiste is on a holiday in Canada and decided to join in the festivities. There is always a special catechism for young people at this gathering and he was asked to speak to the young people gathered there. 
Fr. Anthony (some will remember him as living at St. Patrick’s rectory, Toronto, during recent studies – he is now teaching in Vietnam) was the guest speaker during the afternoon. In honour of the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, he gave a very inspiring testimony to the message and the place of Mary in our lives of faith, and spoke about the witness given by the children to whom Mary appeared at Fatima. 
As you may know, Fr. Peter Chin is the chair of the Toronto Archdiocesan Pastoral Council for Chinese Catholics. As such he represents Cardinal Collins at some religious functions in the Toronto area. On the 11th of June, Fr. Peter led a prayer on behalf of the Catholic community at an interfaith prayer gathering for Peace, and for God’s blessing on the 150th Anniversary of Canada. He chose for his text, Matthew 5.5-9: Blessed are the peacemakers…Here we see l. to r.; Mr. Thomas Chung, parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Fr. Peter; our hostess, Abbess of the Fo Guang Shan Temple in Mississauga, the Venerable Yung Ku; myself, and our liaison with the Temple, Ms. Mabel Lam. 
Ministers of the federal government brought greetings from the Prime Minister and every level of civil government was represented at this gathering, along with community representatives from the university, police force, and social services. Did I mention lots of food at these summer gatherings!? A vegetarian food fair held on the Temple grounds, followed the prayer and speeches and was attended by hundreds and hundreds of people throughout the afternoon. 
I have been hearing about the Clonard Novena since I became connected with the Redemptorists, and everything I heard made me want to see, be part of, and experience this nine-day festival of faith in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. So, imagine my delight when Fr. Noel Kehoe, CSsR, the rector of Clonard and a good friend, invited me to be part of the preaching team for the 2017 novena. I confess to being quite nervous when I learned that the other three members of the team were Fr. Michael Brehl, CSsR, Fr. Michael Kelleher, CSsR and Fr. Brendan Kelly, CSsR! Pretty good company to be keeping, I figure! 
The schedule for the Novena was intense and grueling. But it amazed me how everyone gets into the rhythm and picks up the pace, and we all got carried along. Throughout the Novena, there were ten weekday sessions (usually Masses), which took place at 6.45am, 8.15am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.45pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm, 9pm and 10.30pm. Sessions on Saturdays and Sundays took place at 6.45am, 8.15am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.45pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, 6pm and 7.30pm. Each morning at 11.00 am, a special Mass with sign language was celebrated, and prayers closed with a candlelight session each night at 10.30pm. On Saturday 17 June, Mass was augmented with the Anointing of the Sick, and a Blessing of Babies and Children took place at 3.00pm on Sunday 18 June, followed by a youth Mass at 7.30pm. A special and inspiring feature was that, at all sessions on Monday 19 June, ministers from other Christian Churches preached. 
I marvelled at the faith, openness, and prayerfulness of the people who came every day to pray, to celebrate the liturgy together, and to offer their petitions and their thanksgivings to God through Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It was humbling and, at the very same time, mind-boggling to witness the estimated 12,000 people who came every day to encounter God through Mary, or to be encountered and seen by Jesus and His Mother. I heard stories that moved me, shook me and reaffirmed my own faith. The number of participants is even more mind-boggling when I consider that an additional 14,000 people took part online, a participation made possible through the technology of the Clonard web-cam. 
On a very personal note, my experience as “the first resident lay preacher” at the Clonard Novena was fantastic. Noel Kehoe, CSsR, told me that I was invited because it had become clear, from the responses of a survey carried out in 2015, that the voice of women needed to be heard at the novena. If I was a little nervous at the outset, all my fears were allayed in the first morning! I was received with open arms, and people listened to my homilies with open ears and open hearts. Many of them had heard about me long before I arrived; the Redemptorists at Clonard had been tilling the soil through preparatory interviews and media releases. They may have come out of curiosity, but their helpful and insightful comments and reflections convinced me that they kept coming because God spoke to them through the word proclaimed, and through the energy and life that they found at Clonard. 
My nine days at Clonard came to a close all too quickly. I will forever remember with gratitude my experience of the faith of the people at Clonard, the welcome of the Redemptorist community, the support of the volunteers and staff, and the collaboration of the preaching team. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! 
Jubilation and high numbers on the UV index marked Our Lady’s feast day celebrations and Marian Consecration in Vancouver in June. Coming together for the special 4pm Mass were two archbishops, priests from our neighbouring parishes, a full choir with visiting musicians, the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in capes, swords and feathers and a church full of happy people.
The new bronze sculpture of Our Lady was originally purchased and installed at the Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery. For a variety of reasons, the Gardens felt it was not suited to their needs and contacted us to ask if we would accept it as a gift. Fr Babu, our pastor, pondered the matter for a while and decided, yes, she would be quite happy here on the grounds of our parish.
The instruction from Pope Pius IX was a simple one: “Make her known.” And in the 151 years that have passed since that day, generations of Redemptorists around the world worked diligently to answer that call. Once again, St. Patrick’s Church in Toronto has continued that mission to promote the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, known as “the Icon of Love.” From June 26 to June 28, thousands of pilgrims from around the greater Toronto area gathered to honour Our Blessed Mother under the title of Perpetual Help. The presider and preacher for this year’s celebration was well-known Redemptorist missionary preacher, Father Eugene O’Reilly, affectionately known as “Red.” Red brought together his usual combination of humour, music, and compassion to inspire the people to follow Mary’s example of discipleship and service in their own lives.
Each night of the Triduum followed a different theme. Monday’s theme was “Listening, Struggling and Saying ‘Yes’.” Tuesday’s theme was “Blessed are Those Who Mourn” and was followed by a beautiful celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick. Wednesday’s Theme was “Take Her into Your Home,” inspired by Christ’s instruction to John at the foot of the cross. Father Red showed why he is in such demand as a mission preacher, sharing many stories of help, hope and humour to make his point. Each sermon was punctuated by a song from Father Red, including a crowd-favourite, Charlie Landsborough’s “My Forever Friend.” 
The three-day celebration highlighted the cosmopolitan character of St. Patrick’s. The music for the first night was provided by the German men’s choir Harfentöne; Tuesday night we were blessed with the Irish Choral Society; and Wednesday we had our Sunday choir, made up of singers from around the world. The last evening of the Triduum was topped off by an international food fair, with food from many countries.
Fr. Gerald “Tex” Keindel died on the morning of Monday, August 14th at Villa Marguerite in Edmonton at the age of 82. He had been diagnosed four months earlier with esophageal cancer for which radiation was prescribed to stop the tumour from closing his esophagus but which would likely not be amenable to further treatment. A shunt was inserted in his esophagus to enable him to swallow, but he ate and drank very little the last few months of his life.
Fr. Gerald Keindel’s nickname—Tex—stuck with him for his whole life. His sister Mary told me that he had a very strong stutter as a youngster and the Redemptorists helped him to overcome it, with professional help, so that he slowed down his speech—and the family thought he sounded like he had a drawl. Hence, he became Tex and then Fr. Tex, as he was known throughout his ministry. 
Fr. Tex was a steady, dedicated presence wherever he went. He served faithfully and could be tapped on the shoulder to go the extra mile. I do not recall him ever complaining; on the contrary, as his brother Vince told me, he loved being a Redemptorist and that was how he identified himself. He also had a special concern for the poor and marginalized. In his final years as he slowed physically he took up knitting—preparing scarves, vests and toques to be used in winter by people in need—and donating them to the Marion Centre in Edmonton. 
He was predeceased by his parents, Edwin and Veronica (nee Clarkson) Keindel. He is survived by his brother, Vince (Saskatoon), and his sister, Mary Lucki (Hawarden, SK) both of whom came from Saskatchewan for his funeral. (I note that when I went with Tex to visit his doctor on the Thursday before his death, the doctor asked him if there was anything he really wanted on this last journey. Tex replied that he wanted to stay alive long enough, and in good enough shape, to see his brother and sister who were planning to come in about ten days to visit. Alas, their visit was postponed due to another funeral, but the wish would have still remained unfulfilled, as he died rather unexpectedly four days later.) Vince Keindel’s family – sons Darrin, Edwin and Kevin, and daughter Denita—along with Mary’s daughter, Laurie, also attended the funeral along with their children. At the gravesite several of them spoke about how much they enjoyed Uncle Gerald when he came to visit their families.
The management and staff at Villa Marguerite graciously allowed us to celebrate the Funeral Mass for Fr. Tex on Friday, August 18th, in their chapel, a place where he had often said Mass himself. He was interred at Holy Cross cemetery, by my count the 70th confrere to be buried there. May he rest in the Peace and Love of Christ.
Here you see five inquirers who attended a December retreat at our student house in Toronto. We used the Icon of Our Mother Perpetual Help to meditate on “The eternal Word became poor for us,” and “The eternal Word became flesh for us.” For our common prayer on these themes, we used the words of St. Alphonsus, who, as you know, has written many meditations on the mystery of the Incarnation. 
As you know, Fr. Steve Morrisey serves three parishes all within an hour’s drive from Saskatoon. Here he is pictured with parishioners who attended a Sunday Mass at Paroisse Sts. Donatien et Rogatien at the end of November. The week after this celebration, Lay Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer, Joan and Bob Williston arrived to preach a parish mission for the three parishes that form a pastoral unit.
During the summer, I was joined at Ste- Anne-de-Beaupré by two men who wanted to live-in with the Redemptorists for a short time. This was an experience which helped their desire to join the Redemptorists to grow stronger. Pictured here at a crêperie, is Hawkins. Although Hawkins worked very hard at the Basilica, we also took time to visit in Québec city. 