Visited with Mom yesterday and today. We went to Mass this morning at the home where she lives, and she lit up when the priest came around greeting people.
Despite dementia she still loves to be with people, to receive a hug, and to laugh. It was good to be with her.
I'm in Ottawa to visit with my mother, but I tend to go see her in the morning as her illness makes her more confused as the day goes on. That left my evening free, so I went out with two of my nieces.
Maya is one of my goddaughters, and Alex was born on my birthday, so I call her my "birthday present". Alex's boyfriend took the picture for us.
We wound up chatting about school, what it's like to be "adulting", and faith. All over a meal in an Irish pub. It was a great evening.
Ma dernière rencontre à Toronto a eu lieu ce matin avec l'OPÉCO. Cela m'a donné l'occasion de rencontrer Tom Michaud, le nouveau Directeur de l'éducation au Conseil scolaire Nouvelon.
Depuis son arrivée Tom voyage beaucoup, afin de voir les écoles du conseil et les paroisses du diocèse. Je voyage beaucoup aussi, donc c'était difficule de trouver un temps de faire notre première rencontre officielle. Mais au moins on a réussi à se parler un peu à Toronto. Bienvenue dans notre diocèse Tom, et au plaisir de se connaître davantage!
Jack Brooks and I have known each other since high school. The last time we saw each other was in 2007. Today we got together for coffee and it felt like no time had passed.
God bless you my friend.
I drove in to Toronto this morning for the week-long plenary of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (ACBO). I got here early for a meeting at Regis College, but then I realised I was close to the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS). I had never visited there before, but my father had studied there as a young man back when Étienne Gilson and Jacques Maritain and Marshall McLuhan were part of the life of the Institute. So I decided to just show up and introduce myself.
I was very warmly received by the President, Father Augustine Thompson, and we have a great time chatting about the Institute, salvation theology, and the current state of the Church. He also gave me a tour, and I was grateful to see the places where my dad would have studied and prayed. There is a notable spiral staircase in the common room, so I made sure you go up and down once, just to literally follow in Dad's footsteps.
Last fall, the Society of Jesus announced that they would be leaving the city of Sudbury, after being here since 1883. So today, we celebrated a special commemorative Mass for them, at Sainte-Anne-des-Pins parish. Here is a photo of the priests who were present:
The parish also decided to dedicate their parish hall to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Once the Mass was ended, we went downstairs and I blessed the doors to the hall.
Because some social media companies aren't allowing for news articles to be posted, I've posted them here for you to enjoy!
The Manitoulin Expositor published an article about our Chrism Mass!
