CWL Begins Another Year

Chris Carlyle, President of the St. James-Assiniboia Catholic Women's League 
and Claire Lacroix, contact for St. Charles Parish.

St. James-Assiniboia Catholic Women's League is begining another year of activity.  Below is a brief review of important information.

Spiritual advisor is Father Paul Tinguely of St. Charles Parish and the president is Chris Carlyle.

The contact person for each parish: 

Blessed John XXIII  contact person Elsie Rosler 204-832-5390

St. Ann’s contact person Joie Muirhead 204-783-9535

St. Charles contact person Claire Lacroix 204-885-2724

St. Paul the Apostle contact person Stephie Wasney 204-832-1182

General meetings will be held on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 PM   at one of the four parishes which comprises the St. James-Assiniboia Council.

Programs for General Meetings 2012 - 2013:

September 24 - location St. Paul’s  topic - Newsletter and membership kick off

October 22 - location St. Charles - Guest speaker Karen Tool

November 26 - location BJ 23 - ELECTIONS

December 3 - location St. Paul’s - Christmas Party

January 28 - location St. Charles - Resolutions

February 25 - location BJ 23 - Missing &/or Murdered Aboriginal Women or           

Senior’s Housing
March 25 - location St. Paul’s - Legislation  / Health and Education

April 22 - location St. Charles - Life’s Vision (40 Days of Life)

May 27 - location BJ 23 - Pot Luck Windup

Journey Deep Into the Faith

The CATHOLICISM program provides us with a tremendously realistic renewal of the basic teachings of our Catholic faith, showing the timeless and universal richness and beauty of our Church and its effect on the world.  Filmed in 50 locations throughout 15 countries, the CATHOLICISM DVDs reveal these truths in a visually breath taking and compelling way.

The last 5 Episodes of the series will be presented at St. Charles Parish on following Tuesdays at 7pm. EXCEPT Episode 9, which will be on MONDAY, December 10.

Episode 6: Tuesday, November 20, 7:00pm ( Mass at 6:30pm)

THE MYSTICAL UNION OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH”

Clearly answering the question, “What is the Church?” Father Barron presents the reality of the Church as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.”   This episode also explores the Catholic conviction that the life and presence of Christ continues to embrace humanity in all its joys and sorrows through the presence of the Church.

Episode 7: Tuesday, November 27, 7:00pm ( Mass at 6:30pm)

THE MYSTERY OF THE LITURGY AND THE EUCHARIST”

Father Barron explores the ancient practices of the Church’s worship that endure to this very day.  Considered by the Catholic Faith to be “the source and summit” of its identity and mission, the Eucharist is the central practice of the Church’s culture. Father Barron describes all the parts of the Mass, and shows how the Sacred Liturgy embodies the whole of the Faith.

Episode 8: Tuesday, December 4, 7:00pm ( Mass at 6:30pm )
"A VAST COMPANY OF WITNESSES: THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS"

The story of the Church is told in the examples of those men and women who dedicated their lives to knowing and serving Jesus Christ. We are all called to be saints.  Highlighting Katharine Drexel, Therese of Lisieux, Edith Stein, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Father Barron tells the story of the Church as a vast company of witness who are called by Christ to be a Communion of Saints.

Episode 9: Monday, December 10, 7:00pm ( No Mass)
“THE FIRE OF HIS LOVE: PRAYER AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT”

Catholic spirituality is centered on prayer, and so Father Barron explores different types of prayer: contemplation; adoration; petition; and intercession. In telling the stories of Catholics like Thomas Merton, St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, Fr. Barron demonstrates how the human person can be transformed through prayer that manifests a deep, spiritual commitment centered in Christ.

Episode 10: Tuesday, December 18, 7:00pm ( Mass at 6:30pm)
“WORLD WITHOUT END: THE LAST THINGS”

Explore the Church’s conviction that life here and now is preparation for an extraordinary world that is yet to come – a supernatural destiny. Father Barron presents the Catholic vision of death, judgment, heaven, hell and purgatory.

The vision of the Church sees beyond this world and invites us to consider a world without end. Father Barron shows how this vision is supported by the mystery and truth of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Everyone is invited to attend.

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Knights of Columbus Bursary Awards 2012

Pictured above is Greg Chase, Janelle Thibert, Chris Souce (Grand Knight) and Nicholas Gibson.

Each year the Knights of Columbus Fr. Allan Hall Council 8604 awards two $250.00 bursaries to candidates who demonstrate parish and community service and academic achievement.  This year’s bursaries were awarded to Nicholas Gibson and Janelle Thibert.  Nicholas is a graduate of Sturgeon Heights Collegiate and is attending the University of Winnipeg in the pre-med program.  Janelle is a graduate of Westwood Collegiate and attending the University of Manitoba with plans to have a career in nursing.

Alzheimer Disease and Dementia Presentation Hosted by St. Charles

Over the years, many myths have evolved about what Alzheimer’s disease is, who gets it and how it affects people who have it. These myths can add to the

stigma attached to the disease and stand in the way of our ability to understand and help people with it.

Charles Parish will be hosting a one hour (free) information session on brain health and  the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer Disease and Dementia.  The program will be presented by the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.  The date is October 25, 7:00 PM.  Everyone is invited.

Young Missionary Travels to Kathmandu

Dominique Gibson with parents Brian and Veronique

Long-time parishioner Dominique Gibson, presented an informative speech and slide show about his trip to Nepal volunteering with MountainChild.  MountainChild exists for the purpose of raising awareness, resources and financial aid for humanitarian work carried out amongst impoverished children living in the Himalayas.  This organization is urgently working to improve the lives of these children by bringing food, medical aid, education and love to children who have little chance of survival amongst such hostile conditions.

I asked Dominique a few questions about his experience.

How did you hear about this organization?

In late 2011, my friend Cait heard about MountainChild from a woman she met in Assiniboine Park. Nepal had been on her heart for a few years leading up to this moment, and when a stranger approached her in the park and told her she should go serve with MountainChild, a child and family based development agency located in Kathmandu, Cait didn't hesitate to contact her friends to see who would be interested in joining us. After some research and prayer, I decided to go with her to Nepal, along with six other young adults.

What insight have you gained from this experience?

This insight has broadened my view of the world that I live in. Having never previously gone any further than Dominican Republic (on vacation), South-East Asia presented new experiences of culture shock, ethnic diversity and different ways of life. After experiencing the world as through the lens of the poor in the Himalayas, I now see that the world is not as small as I had originally imagined, but I can also see that the world is small enough that none of us have an excuse to not go and help. It is extraordinary that I can get on a plane for just a few hours, and end up in a place as foreign and otherworldly as Nepal, but it made realize that not going to help out with their suffering comes out of a selfish distrust in God.

What was the biggest challenge in this adventure?

Although we were surrounded by some of the biggest mountains in the world, and some of the most difficult trails to trek, the biggest challenge was summoning the courage to reach out and pour a part of ourselves into the inhabitants of the Himalayas. We have almost nothing in common with them, so to try and interact with them in order to alleviate their suffering was extremely difficult. Even with the help of translators, the work of development is extremely challenging and slow in Nepal, which can frustrate even the most committed missionary. It was only by the grace of God that we found the strength to continue to serve in Nepal, even when the situation seemed hopeless.

How has this experience affected your life?

This experience has, as mentioned, changed the way I see the world around me, but it has also changed the way I see my own lifestyle and spending habits. I had previously imagined that I was going to go to Nepal and teach the Nepalese how to live a better life - in other words, how to become more like a Canadian or an American. I was shocked, however, to discover that we had far more to learn from them - although they are "poor," they are rich in generosity and hospitality, partly because they do not have materialism surrounding them on a daily basis. Here in North America, we often insulate ourselves from God and each other with objects and lifestyles (such as being overly committed to work, school, etc.), but in Nepal, they are forced in a simpler lifestyle that allows them to depend on God in ways that we never could.

Will you have further involvement with this organization and if so, how?

My further involvement with MountainChild will involve regular financial contributions, as well as continued prayer. I'm uncertain as to whether or not God will be calling me back to Nepal to serve with MountainChild, but I know that the experiences and skills I gained in Nepal will prove extremely useful as I travel to other parts of the world to do His work.