Saturday, May 30, 2009

Three New Priests! CWL Diocesan Convention

Fathers Carlos Martins, Jamie Utronkie and Simon Lobo were ordained priests as members of the Companions of the Cross this morning in a packed Notre Dame Cathedral.

Many of the Companions--priests, seminarians and aspirants--were present to pray up a storm and join in joyful and prayerful song. Congratulations to the newly ordained, their families and the CC Family!

Present in the minds of many was Companions' Founder Father Robert (Bob) Bedard in hospital since February with a series of health complications. There is hope he will be released in the near future to a nursing facility. Prayers are asked for his peace and healing.

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This afternoon, seminarian Matthew Keshwah drove me to St. Philip's Church, Richmond (founded in 1819--then part of the Kingston Diocese--the oldest English-speaking parish in the Archdiocese of Ottawa) for the 86th Annual Convention of the Ottawa Archdiocesan Council of the Catholic Women's League of Canada.

The anticipated Sunday Eucharist of Pentecost was standing-room only at the tiny church. At the close of Mass, Diocesan Spiritual Director, Father Jessimar Tapia, blessed the newly installed executive (among them: Colleen Randall is the new President, succeeding May Lubin).

At the banquet that followed in the parish hall, the parish assembly of the Knights of Columbus provided and served the wine; a few short speeches were made and service was acknowledged with several presentations.

Among the prayers said--in addition to the grace before meals, was the Prayer for the Holy Father which I always find moving:

O God, ruler and shelter of the faithful, look with favour upon your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, whom you have willed to designate shepherd of your church. Grant him, we beseech you, that by word and example he may so benefit those in his charge that, together with the flock committed to his care, he may attain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Draws were made for the centre-piece plants, photos galore taken and entertainment provided by the St. Philip's Folk Group. Well done, St. Philip's!

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