Knights of Columbus Award Bursaries

Every year the Knights of Columbus Father Alan Hall Council # 8604 awards academic bursaries to students. Worth $250 each, one bursary is reserved for a member of a Knight’s family while the other is available to any student from St. Charles Parish. The bursary is intended to assist young adults with funding their post-secondary education.The bursary winners are expected to have excellent academic standing and show a history of Parish and Community service. Chris McGillis, the Knights of Columbus Youth Director, presented this year’s awards to Janelle Thibert and Dominique Gibson.
Janelle Thibert is the older daughter of Lorraine and Norbert Thibert. Janelle recently graduated from Westwood Collegiate where she was in the IB (International Baccalaureate) program and graduated with an IB certificate. Now, Janelle is taking a Science Degree at the University of Manitoba leading up to a career in emergency medicine. Janelle says,” I have attended St. Charles my whole life, and consider it my second home.” Her involvement in the parish includes, teaching Sunday School, participating in the Youth Band and being a Communion Minister. Janelle appreciates winning the financial support and says, “I would like to thank the Knights of Columbus of St. Charles for this bursary to help fund my education”.

Dominique Gibson is the older son of Brian and Veronique Gibson. Dominique volunteered as an Altar Server for five years, participated in the World Youth Day dinner theatre productions, taught Sunday school and is a Lector at St. Charles. Dominique is attending the University of Manitoba pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree which he plans to follow with a degree in Law. Dominique says “I’m very thankful for the reception of this award, I appreciate the support our church community has always demonstrated”.

Charlie's Angels Painting

Have you noticed the beautiful water color on the wall in the church hall beside the kitchen window? It was very generously donated to St. Charles Parish by one of its long time members, Joan Chase. Painting has been her passion for the last eight years. The painting was created using a mixed medium with water color technique creating a floating, transparent effect.

Joan described how the people of St. Charles Parish inspired her to do this painting. “I was most impressed with how hard the parishioners worked and the togetherness and the fellowship extended to one another and to our family. There is such a beauty in all of this and it is truly a feeling of comfort to be part of it. I feel that I am among the most beautiful angels and this gives me peace as I have never felt so loved.”

I inquired about the symbolism in the painting. Joan explained,”Charlie’s Angles represents the people of St. Charles Parish. In the front are the younger members seeking nurturing and guidance. In the center are the women with their gentle determination and approach to what needs to be done. In the back, the non-faces represent the men and the silent workers as well as those who are with us in spirit”.

When I asked Joan what she gets out of her painting experience she quickly said,”It gives me peace. We all need to escape now and then. When I pick up a brush, I feel God’s hand on mine as He helps me to paint the world and its miracles. It is He who taught me that there is an artist in everyone. This is a belief I prove as I teach others to paint”.

2010 Harvest Supper a Huge Success!

St. Charles hosted over 650 Parishioners and members of our community for a delicious turkey dinner on September 26th. Check out this video with all the details.

Buy Your Tickets Early - Harvest Supper September 26th

Sunday, September 26th marks a special day in our community - St. Charles Parish is hosting its Harvest Supper.

For over 20 years, St. Charles has been welcoming Parishioners and members of the Community for this much awaited dinner. The menu is fresh and offers the best of the harvest– a delicious roast turkey dinner and homemade desserts. Many have attended every year and are sure to purchase tickets well in advance. With over 600 guests a year, the event often sells out.

An event of this size involves a lot of coordination and manpower. Each year, over 100 volunteers come together to make the Supper a reality. “Over the years we have found that our Harvest supper meets a number of goals”, says Anna Desilets, Harvest Supper coordinator. “Not only does the Supper raise much needed funds, it also provides a project that encourages community building. While new parishioners meet current ones, they work together and learn about each other and the Parish. We are always happy to welcome and meet persons in our neighborhood and beyond. It is truly a win win situation.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Church’s website at www.saintcharles.ca or call the Parish Office at 889-3248.

Do you Knit or Crochet? Join our Prayer Shawl Group!

Prayer shawls are traditional forms of praying for others in a tangible, physical way. It is one thing to say “I’m praying for you”, but another to hand someone a physical object. Usually, prayer shawls are given to people who are in a time of suffering and need of healing. They can go to people you know, or you can donate them to total strangers.

A hand made shawl represents comfort and reminds people of care and love because it shows the thoughtful consideration of the creator and the time spent creating the shawl.

We already have a group of St. Charles parishioners working on Prayer Shawls. If you are interested in joining them and learning more about Prayer Shawls you are invited to attend a meeting at St. Charles Parish Hall on Tuesday, July 27th from 1pm to 3pm. Call Bertha LaFleche @ 895-1667 or Eva Arsenault 895-4108 for further details.

Outdoor Mass and Church Picnic 2010

We have a St. Charles tradition which marks the beginning of Summer. Each year, on the last Sunday of June, our community celebrates Mass in the Cemetery behind the Church. Thanks to Ron Desilets, our Cemetery is in excellent condition with well maintained gravestones and beautiful trees. Parishioners placed their lawn chairs among the graves of their friends and family members and some took this opportunity to plant flowers to beautify the headstones.

Following the Mass our congregation relocated across the road to the beautiful banks of the Assiniboine River to have a potluck lunch and barbeque. Games were organized for children and Pickles the Clown was busy face painting. The weather was sunny with enough cloud to keep it cool and enough breezes to keep away the mosquitoes.

What a great way to begin the lazy days of summer!

Fr. Paul Tinguely Celebrates 25 years as a Priest

On Saturday, June 26th, over 200 Parishioners, friends and family of Father Paul Tinguely gathered at St. Charles Parish to celebrate his 25 years in the priesthood. In attendance were former Parishioners from some of Father Paul’s former parishes - Shoal Lake, McCreary, Ste. Rose du Lac, Stonewall, Ste. Eustache and Ste. Lazare.

Father Richard Arsenault, moderator of the Curia brought greetings on behalf of Archbishop James Weisgerber, who was unable to attend because of a prior commitment. Father Michael Nault from Shoal Lake Parish and Father Sebastian Susairaj from the Kateri Tekakwitha Parish also attended.

A delicious roast beef dinner was prepared by St. Charles Youth Group. It was an honour to welcome visitors to our Parish and to pay tribute to our Pastor on this important occasion.

Eva Arseneault put together this video tribute for the event. Enjoy!