shrine message - spring 09

4
FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear Friends of the Martyrs’ Shrine, I hope you had a blessed and holy Christmas and are looking forward to a holy and happy Easter. We are into a new year and my prayer for each of you is that the good Lord will bountifully bless you and yours. Even though the air is cold and snow lies thick on the ground may our risen Lord give you a blessed and holy year. I’m sure your thoughts, like mine, are turning to the coming spring and all the promise it holds. Are you ready for the Shrine’s 2009 season? This past season (2008) we did not have and for the season to come (2009) we are not going to have a 10:30 a.m. mass during the weekdays of May, June, September and October. It was felt that since this is the mass which had the least attendance during those months it would not be missed. It seems this was the case since for the entire season we only had one or two queries about what happened to our 10:30 mass. Once again we have a full roster of ethnic pilgrimages for the 2009 season. Elsewhere in this publication you can find the 2009 schedule. The price of gasoline has finally gone back down and our sincere hope is that this will translate into more pilgrims and visitors. While we held steady at around 95,000 pilgrims during the 2008 season it would be nice to see that number increase this coming year. The Walk Where They Walked program will once again be hosting 3,000 plus students this spring and fall. The success of this program continues to be a great blessing to the Shrine. This is especially true when one keeps in mind that these young folk are our pilgrims of the future. The Six Weeks A Jesuit program will be held once again this year. The Jesuit Province of English Canada committed to running the program for three years. Last year (2008) was our third year. However it was felt that the program should continue to run since it has been such a benefit to the young men discerning their vocation and for the Shrine. For those who visit us in 2009 you will note all of the Shrine Church’s landings, steps and ramps have now been refurbished. The new church doors are also finally installed. The next Knights of Columbus project is the refurbishing of the siding on the upper level of the Shrine Church. Over the years this siding has lost much of its colour and has become stained with moss. The project will involve the power washing, sealing and re-staining of the siding. Our hope is to have the project done for the 2010 season. May the good Lord bless and keep you and yours over the winter. We hope to see all of you at the Shrine next season. A friend in the Lord, Rev. Alex Kirsten, S.J., Director What’s Inside Director’s Message Page 1 Six Weeks A Jesuit Page 2 Who are These Holy Martyrs? Page 3 Novena to the Canadian Martyrs Prayers Page 4 Feast Day Homily 2008 Page 5 and 6 and 7 ** Tear-off Flap ** Prayer Petitions MSA Membership Renewal Prayer Requests The Feast Day of the Canadian Martyrs Page 7 and 8 May 16 SHRINE OPENS (Sat.) 30 Knights of Columbus Tri-Zone Retreat 31 Knights of Columbus Tri-Zone Mass of Thanksgiving June 07 Czech 07 Blessed Trinity (Italian Pilgrimage) 13 Vietnamese (Sat.) 13-14 First Nations 28 Italian National Pilgrimage July 04 Korean (Sat.) 05 Holy Crucifixion Community 05 Slovak 11 Tamil Catholic Community (Sat.) 12 German 17-19 Archdiocese of Toronto Youth Rally 18 India, Pakistan (Sat.) 19 Croatian 25 Chinese Pilgrimage (Sat.) 26 Portuguese Aug. 08 Filipino (Sat.) 15 Walking Pilgrimage (Sat.) 16 Polish 22 Hispanic Pilgrimage (Sat.) 23 Lithuanian 23 Mission Sunday 27 Communal Anointing Service 29 Irish (Sat.) Sept. 05 Slovenian (Sat.) 12 Archdiocesan Western Region (Sat.) 13 International Order of Alhambra 20 25th Annual Living Rosary Celebration 26 The Feast of the Canadian Martyrs (Sat.) Oct. 12 SHRINE CLOSES for the season Page -8- Martyrs’ Shrine MESSAGE Pilg r ima g es - 2009 In your kindness please keep us in your prayers: SHRINE DIRECTOR: Rev. Alex Kirsten, SJ OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR: Mrs. Darlene Sunnerton ASSIST. DIRECTOR: Mr. Steve Parrotte Martyrs’ Shrine SHRINE STAFF: Rev. Lawrence Brennan, SJ P.O. Box 7 Rev. Stephen LeBlanc, SJ Midland, ON L4R 4K6 Rev. Joseph Newman, SJ Tel: (705) 526-3788 Fax: (705) 526-1546 http://www.martyrs-shrine.com We were honoured to have them with us this year. Later in the afternoon the Jesuits of the Shrine and some 71 invited guests gathered in the Papal Dining Room for a social gathering in preparation for our feast day dinner. Our formal dinner for seventy five was hosted by the Shrine Café staff. It was held in the Martyrs’ Hall and from all the many compliments heard during the meal a fine time was had by all. Of course there were the required speeches but mercifully these were kept brief and lighthearted. Following the meal most sat and continued to enjoy good conversation long into the evening. The two groups of American novices left the Shrine the next day after a hearty breakfast. The Canadian novices stayed on for another day before heading off to Guelph, Ontario to participate in the forty days of prayer and reflection known as the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Let us pray that the Canadian Martyrs will keep all of us safe through the winter. May their continued prayers for us continue to bring on us God’s many blessings and through God’s grace may we see you all on their feast day in 2009. Vol. 74 No. 1 2009

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Page 1: Shrine Message - Spring 09

FFRROOMM TTHHEE DDIIRREECCTTOORR

Dear Friends of the Martyrs’ Shrine,

I hope you had a blessed and holy Christmas and arelooking forward to a holy and happy Easter. We are into a newyear and my prayer for each of you is that the good Lord willbountifully bless you and yours. Even though the air is coldand snow lies thick on the ground may our risen Lord give youa blessed and holy year. I’m sure your thoughts, like mine, areturning to the coming spring and all the promise it holds. Areyou ready for the Shrine’s 2009 season?

This past season (2008) we did not have and for theseason to come (2009) we are not going to have a 10:30 a.m.mass during the weekdays of May, June, September andOctober. It was felt that since this is the mass which had theleast attendance during those months it would not be missed. It

seems this was the case since for the entire season we only had one or two queries about whathappened to our 10:30 mass.

Once again we have a full roster of ethnic pilgrimages for the 2009 season. Elsewhere inthis publication you can find the 2009 schedule. The price of gasoline has finally gone back downand our sincere hope is that this will translate into more pilgrims and visitors. While we held steadyat around 95,000 pilgrims during the 2008 season it would be nice to see that number increase thiscoming year.

The Walk Where They Walked program will once again be hosting 3,000 plus students thisspring and fall. The success of this program continues to be a great blessing to the Shrine. This isespecially true when one keeps in mind that these young folk are our pilgrims of the future.

The Six Weeks A Jesuit program will be held once again this year. The Jesuit Province ofEnglish Canada committed to running the program for three years. Last year (2008) was our thirdyear. However it was felt that the program should continue to run since it has been such a benefitto the young men discerning their vocation and for the Shrine.

For those who visit us in 2009 you will note all of the Shrine Church’s landings, steps andramps have now been refurbished. The new church doors are also finally installed. The nextKnights of Columbus project is the refurbishing of the siding on the upper level of the ShrineChurch. Over the years this siding has lost much of its colour and has become stained with moss.The project will involve the power washing, sealing and re-staining of the siding. Our hope is tohave the project done for the 2010 season.

May the good Lord bless and keep you and yours over the winter. We hope to see all ofyou at the Shrine next season.

A friend in the Lord,

Rev. Alex Kirsten, S.J.,Director

What’sInside

Director’s MessagePage 1

Six Weeks A JesuitPage 2

Who are These HolyMartyrs?

Page 3

Novena to theCanadian Martyrs

PrayersPage 4

Feast Day Homily 2008Page 5 and 6 and 7

** Tear-off Flap **

Prayer PetitionsMSA Membership Renewal

Prayer Requests

The Feast Day of theCanadian Martyrs

Page 7 and 8

May 16 SHRINE OPENS (Sat.)30 Knights of Columbus Tri-Zone Retreat31 Knights of Columbus Tri-Zone Mass of

Thanksgiving

June 07 Czech07 Blessed Trinity (Italian Pilgrimage)13 Vietnamese (Sat.)13-14 First Nations28 Italian National Pilgrimage

July 04 Korean (Sat.)05 Holy Crucifixion Community 05 Slovak11 Tamil Catholic Community (Sat.)12 German17-19 Archdiocese of Toronto Youth Rally18 India, Pakistan (Sat.)19 Croatian

25 Chinese Pilgrimage (Sat.)26 Portuguese

Aug. 08 Filipino (Sat.)15 Walking Pilgrimage (Sat.)16 Polish22 Hispanic Pilgrimage (Sat.)23 Lithuanian23 Mission Sunday27 Communal Anointing Service29 Irish (Sat.)

Sept. 05 Slovenian (Sat.)12 Archdiocesan Western Region (Sat.)13 International Order of Alhambra20 25th Annual Living Rosary Celebration26 The Feast of the Canadian Martyrs (Sat.)

Oct. 12 SHRINE CLOSES for the season

Page -8- Martyrs’ Shrine MESSAGE

Pilgrimages - 2009

In your kindness please keep us in your prayers:

SHRINE DIRECTOR: Rev. Alex Kirsten, SJ OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR: Mrs. Darlene Sunnerton

ASSIST. DIRECTOR: Mr. Steve Parrotte Martyrs’ Shrine

SHRINE STAFF: Rev. Lawrence Brennan, SJ P.O. Box 7

Rev. Stephen LeBlanc, SJ Midland, ON L4R 4K6

Rev. Joseph Newman, SJ Tel: (705) 526-3788

Fax: (705) 526-1546

http://www.martyrs-shrine.com

We were honoured to have them with us thisyear.

Later in the afternoon the Jesuits of theShrine and some 71 invited guests gathered inthe Papal Dining Room for a social gatheringin preparation for our feast day dinner. Ourformal dinner for seventy five was hosted bythe Shrine Café staff. It was held in theMartyrs’ Hall and from all the manycompliments heard during the meal a fine timewas had by all.

Of course there were the requiredspeeches but mercifully these were kept briefand lighthearted. Following the meal most sat and continued to enjoy good conversation long into the evening. The twogroups of American novices left the Shrine the next day after a hearty breakfast. The Canadian novices stayed on foranother day before heading off to Guelph, Ontario to participate in the forty days of prayer and reflection known as theSpiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Let us pray that the Canadian Martyrs will keep all of us safe through the winter. May their continued prayers for uscontinue to bring on us God’s many blessings and through God’s grace may we see you all on their feast day in 2009.

Vol. 74 No. 1 2009

Page 2: Shrine Message - Spring 09

My “Six Weeks a Jesuit” ExperienceBy Juan Trujillo

To know a community is not the same as to read or research it. By doing so, you do not get to know acommunity, but you get to be informed about it. If you really want to know a community, then you have to go and live in itand experience what it means to be a part of it. Only then can you say you know it. This is what I came to do in the Six Weeksa Jesuit experience. I came to live and experience a Jesuit communityand get to know what it means to be a part of it, and it worked.

The experience began on July 3, 2008, with two input-session days. In these sessions, Father Leonard Altilia, S.J, talkedabout the different dimensions in Jesuit life. The explanation of thethree vows, the Jesuits’ way of praying, an overview of the Jesuits’Spirituality, and the duties we would have at Martyrs’ Shrine weresome of the topics discussed. It was fruitful to receive thisinformation because this data became the foundation of most of whatwe did during the six weeks. At the end of the two days, we had anopening mass in which Conor McCarthy, the other Six Weeks a Jesuitparticipant, and I were offered to our Lord, so He would accompanyus in this experience of discernment and growth.

During the first couple of weeks, the members of the community and I had a chance to gradually get to know eachother. Something I appreciated was that I was treated not as a possible candidate but as if I were already a Jesuit. This fact

gave me a lot of confidence in sharing who I was with the community.Another thing that struck me was to discover the beauty of thediversity of personalities within one Jesuit community. It was insharing with the Jesuits that I made this discovery. Father Brennan toldme everything about his Missions and his work with the Native people.Father Kirsten took me in one of the golf carts around the Shrine andtold me the history of the Shrine. Father Newman told me all about histravels to Honduras. Father Steve talked about being a teacher inHalifax, and Father Baranowski spoke about his missionary works inZambia. It was a great chance to listen to their different life experiencesas Jesuits.

Some of my duties at the Shrine were serving at masses as areader and Eucharistic minister, working in the office, and guiding traffic during the busy days of pilgrimage. By doing these activities, Iwas able to serve people from a Jesuit’s apostolic perspective. This wasvery rewarding for me. Another thing I liked about working in the

Shrine was that work time did not exceed four hours a day, so I had a lot of time to pray, discern about my vocation, read,and share with the community.

Martyrs’ Shrine was the perfect place to live the experience. The Shrine is located in the countryside, far away fromthe busy world. This let me be at peace and encounter my inner Spirit. Another great advantage is the closeness to Sainte-Marie-among-the-Hurons, the place where the Jesuit Martyrs lived, and SaintIgnace, the place where Fathers Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant weremartyred. Being able to live the experience in these holy places truly helped meto open my heart, mind and soul to God’s voice.

During the last weeks I had the chance to “collect the harvest.” I hadmore time for meditation and reflection about the various emotions, thoughts,and spiritual movements that I had during the experience. I was able to analyzewhat the phrase “getting to know” the Jesuits meant for me. Then on August 16,2008, Father Altilia, S.J. celebrated a mass to thank God for the graces receivedby the Six Weeks a Jesuit candidates and to ask Him to continue blessing Conorand I, in our Jesuit vocation.

Martyrs’ Shrine MESSAGE Page -7-

loves of the Native people they came to serve. They camebecause they wanted the love of Jesus Christ to bediscovered and made known among the Native people.

What does this mean for us today? Does it meanthat we too are called, invited, filled with a desire tocentre our lives on Jesus Christ, and not on the idols ofriches, consumerism, materialism, greed that surround us;to live in solidarity with the Native people of NorthAmerica, in their struggle for justice and the redress ofwrongs done to them over several centuries; to be moresensitive to all those who suffer.

I just finished 22 years in Jamaica, a beautifulcountry, but one crippled by debt, where more that 60%of the government’s budget goes to service the debt (notto pay it back), leaving the government with little moneyto fund basic education. The result, two out of three high school students are in schools in which only 4% pass math and only11% pass English.

In the first week of August, I went to Haiti for the ordination to priesthood of two Haitian Jesuits studying in Toronto.There I saw the poverty of millions. The gap between rich and poor is growing, within Canada and within our world. Ourworld is being torn apart by poverty, greed and war. Our world needs the message of Jean de Brébeuf and his companions,his companions among the Jesuits and among the Huron Nation. Our world needs the love of Jesus Christ to be madeincarnate, in each one of us, inspired by the spirit of Brébeuf and all those who so heroically lived and died as other Christsin this land.

The 2008 Feast Day of the Canadian Martyrsby Fr. Alex Kirsten, S.J.

The article above is the homily given at the feast day of theMartyrs on September 27, 2008. The feast day celebration beganwith a beautiful mass offered for over five hundred visitors andfriends of the Shrine. The day was wet and cool but this did nothamper the many visitors who came to celebrate our Martyrs.Participating in the celebration of the mass were twelve Jesuitconcelebrants. The concelebrants joined us from the Torontoregion, Newfoundland, New York and West Africa. We wereparticularly honoured with the presence of twenty-three JesuitNovices from three novitiates representing some seven JesuitProvinces in the United States and Canada. The visit by novices

has become over the last four or five years somewhat of atradition. Every year a new batch of novices are told about thepilgrimage to the Martyrs’ Shrine and each new group looksforward to their own pilgrimage to the site where all Jesuits havetheir first roots in North America.

The mass was followed by a light lunch offered to allattending in the Filion Centre below the Shrine Church. Thispresented us with the opportunity to mingle and chat with thosewho came to celebrate with us. Among our many guests this yearwe had members of the Canadian military. These men and womenwere from Camp Borden in Barrie and attended our celebrationbecause their company has taken St. Jean de Brébeuf as its patron.

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Who Are These Holy Martyrs?The Iroquois set fire to the Chapel and threw his body intothe flames. He was Martyred at Mount St. Louis, 12 milesfrom Ste. Marie at the age of 48.

Saint Charles Garnier, S.J. Martyred December 7, 1649.Charles Garnier, a Parisian, a Jesuit, and a priest, was

attracted to the arduous Missions of Canada. He came toHuronia at the age of thirty-one and for thirteen yearslaboured among the Hurons and Petuns. He was a victim ofthe Iroquois massacre of the village of Etharita, thirty milesfrom Ste. Marie. He refused to escape but exercised hischarity to the end. Saint Charles Garnier was always aperson of innocence and purity with a strong devotion toOur Lady whom he acknowledged looked after him as ayouth. Gentle, innocent, fearless, he succeeded in winningmany souls to God both at St. Joseph’s Mission and amongthe Petuns.

Saint Noël Chabanel, S.J. Martyred December 8, 1649.Noël Chabanel became a Jesuit at the age of seventeen,

a priest at twenty-eight, and was a successful professor andhumanist in France. Experiencing a strong desire toconsecrate himself to the Canadian Missions, he arrived inQuebec in 1643 and then travelled to Huronia. Theenthusiasm of the young missionary quickly lost its glamour.Unable to learn the Native language, feeling useless in theministry, sensitive to the surroundings, his life was to be oneunbroken chain of disappointments, an ordeal that hehimself called a “bloodless Martyrdom.” Tempted to returnto France, he bound himself by a vow to remain in NewFrance till death. For two years he stood in the shadow ofdeath and then was slain secretly by an apostate Huron onthe banks of the Nottawasaga, twenty-five miles from Ste.Marie on December 8, 1649.

Saint René Goupil, S.J. Martyred September 29, 1642.René Goupil entered the Jesuit Order but had to leave

because of ill health. He studied medicine and then offeredhis services to the Jesuit Missions in Canada. On his way toHuron country with Isaac Jogues in 1642, they werecaptured by the Iroquois, tortured and taken to the Mohawkcountry. On the journey to Mohawk country he begged IsaacJogues to receive his vows. A month later he wasmartyred for making the sign of the cross on a little Nativechild. He was martyred at Auriesville, N.Y. at the age ofthirty-five, on September 29, 1642.

Saint Jean de LaLande, S.J. Martyred October 19, 1646.Jean de LaLande was a young layman who offered his

services to the Jesuits of New France. He accompanied IsaacJogues to the Mohawk Mission in 1646, knowing what hemight have to suffer, gladly offering himself as a companionto Jogues and looking to God to protect him and to be hisreward if the sacrifice of his life was demanded. With IsaacJogues, he was tortured and threatened with death. He saw themartyrdom of Jogues on October 18. He himself wasmartyred on the following day at Auriesville, N.Y.

Saint Jean de Brébeuf, S.J. Martyred March 16, 1649.Jean de Brébeuf, born in Normandy, was ordained to the

priesthood at the age of 33. He was the first Jesuit Missionaryin Huronia (1626), a master of the Native language, workedthrough all the district of Huronia for thirteen years, foundedMission outposts and converted thousands to the faith. He wasknown as the Apostle of the Hurons. He was massive in body,strong, yet gentle in character. Before leaving Normandy, herevealed his sentiments. “I felt a strong desire to suffersomething for Christ.” He made a vow signed in his blood,never to refuse the offer of Martyrdom if asked to die forChrist. He was captured March 16, 1649 and tortured forhours. He was Martyred at St. Ignace, six miles from Ste.Marie, at the age of 56.

Saint Isaac Jogues, S.J. Martyred October 18, 1646.Isaac Jogues was a priest only seven months and was 29

years of age when he came to Canada in 1636. He set out atonce for Huronia. For three years he served at Missionoutposts, instructing and baptizing. On a return journey fromQuebec, he was captured by the Iroquois, brutally tortured,and made a slave. Thirteen months later he escaped toFrance. By the next year he was back in Canada and wassent as an emissary to discuss a treaty with the Iroquois. Hewent, “his heart seized with dread,” at the prospect of againfalling into the hands of his torturers. He was seized atOssernenan (now Auriesville, N.Y.) and cruelly beaten. Ablow from a tomahawk gave him the crown of Martyrdomon October 18, 1646, at the age of 39.

Saint Gabriel Lalemant, S.J. Martyred March 17, 1649.Gabriel Lalemant, a Parisian, became a Jesuit at age 19.

His ambition was to labour in the Missions and he asked tobe sent to the Canadian Missions. He was “one of the mostfeeble and delicate in health.” A scholar, he was professor ofPhilosophy, and dean of studies in French Colleges. Hearrived in Huronia in September 1648 where in words ofScriptures, he was destined to complete a long time in ashort space. In Huronia seven months, just beginning tospeak the Native tongue, he was sent to assist Brébeuf inFebruary 1649. He was captured with Brébeuf and torturedfor seventeen hours at the stake. Gabriel Lalemant died onMarch 17 in his 39th year, at St. Ignace, six miles from Ste.Marie.

Saint Antoine Daniel, S.J. Martyred July 4, 1648.Antoine Daniel was born in Normandy and became a

Jesuit and was ordained a priest at 29. He answered a strongcall to the Missions of Canada and was a Missioner nearBras d’Or Lakes (1632). He founded the first boys’ Collegein North America (Quebec 1635) and laboured in Huronia fortwelve years. He mastered the language and dreamed offorming future catechists among the Hurons who wouldinstruct other members of their tribe. The Mission wasattacked by the Iroquois in July 1648. Daniel encouragedthe converts to meet death as Christians should; he hastilybaptized all he could and went out to face the enemy. Hisbody was pierced with arrows and bullets.

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the full message of Jesus, to be professed by those who heardtheir words, recognizing in those words, and in the lives of themissionaries themselves, the love of God that they experiencedin the remarkable virtues of hospitality and generosity thatthey found in the Huron people among whom they lived.

Our first reading from II Corinthians reminds us thatthese many gifts of God to us, we carry in clay jars, and thatwhatever suffering, persecution, difficulties we might face, thelove of God, made manifest in the love of Jesus Christ on thecross, will raise us up, with Him. Death, as St. Paul writes,where is your sting?

The second reading from the letter to the Hebrewsreminds us that if we too are ready to sacrifice our lives,to give all, to think of others before we think ofourselves, it will not be without a cost. But, we have theexample of those who have gone before us. We gather in thisholy place to be strengthened by their faith.

In the gospel, Jesus, bracing his disciples for thesuffering he was to face in Jerusalem, says: “Whoever wishesto come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, andfollow me. For whoever wishes to save his life, will lose it, butwhoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it. What profitwould there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit hislife?”

Jean de Brébeuf and his companions were not aboutmaterial gain. They did not share the greed of theircompatriots, who saw in the Native people, a source of wealthin furs, who divided the Native people against themselves andprompted them to war for control of the fur trade. Rather, theycame because they wanted to discover Jesus in the lives and

Page 4: Shrine Message - Spring 09

PP RR AA YY EE RR OO FF PP EE TT II TT II OO NNO God, who inflamed the hearts of your blessed Martyrs

with an admirable zeal for the salvation of souls,grant me, I beseech you, my petitions,

so that the favours obtained through their intercession may make manifestbefore your people the power and the glory of your name. Amen.

St. Jean de Brébeuf, pray for us St. Charles Garnier, pray for usSt. Isaac Jogues, pray for us St. Noël Chabanel, pray for usSt. Gabriel Lalemant, pray for us St. René Goupil, pray for usSt. Antoine Daniel, pray for us St. Jean de LaLande, pray for us

Holy Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us

The Feast Day of the Martyrs of North Americaby Fr. Jim Webb, S.J.

September 27, 2008

We come today to remember persons whose livescannot but stir within us awe, admiration and respect. Their livesalso stir within us deep faith, sensing that God was so much a partof their lives, that they were willing to give all, risk all, in theirlove of God and intheir love of allthose they camehere to serve.

As weremember St. Jeande Brébeuf and hiscompanions, wecannot forget themany hundreds ofNative people,who also lived lives of deep Christian faith and virtue. Amongthem, most notably, was Joseph Chiwatenhwa, who, like ourmissionaries, grasped the depth of the love of Jesus Christ,personally and for the Native people, in a way that prompted himtoo to give his all.

In a contemporary understanding of missionary service,we are more conscious now that the role of the missionaryinvolves discovering the presence of God and Jesus Christworking in and through the people to whom they are sent. Jesuswas there. Jesus is here. It is but for us to recognize hispresence, to unmask his face, to open each of our hearts to thedepth of his love.

During my retreat in Wikwemikong in July, I browsedone afternoon through one of the volumes of the Jesuit Relationsand made this discovery, that this truth of the presence of God inthe midst of all those with whom we work was certainly not anidea unknown to Jean de Brébeuf. For example, in a letter hewrote to his superiors in France in 1635, among other things, hesaid about the Hurons, among whom he lived and worked, “Wesee shining among them some rather noble moral virtues. Younote, in the first place, a great love and union, which they arecareful to cultivate by means of their marriages, of their presents,of their feasts, and of their frequent visits. On returning fromtheir fishing, their hunting and their trading, they exchange manygifts; if they have thus obtained something unusually good, evenif they have bought it, or it has been given to them, they make afeast for the whole village with it. Their hospitality toward allsorts of strangers is remarkable; they present to them in theirfeasts the best of what they have prepared, and, as I have alreadysaid, I do not know if anything similar, in this regard, is to befound elsewhere.….”

These early Jesuits in Canada recognized the spirit ofJesus Christ present in the midst of the people to whom theyministered. It was the foundation on which they could bring the

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II nn vv ii tt aa tt ii oo nn && NN oo vv ee nn aa PP rr aa yy ee rr ssWe invite you to join in the Novena to the Canadian

Martyrs and St. Joseph, March 11-19, 2009. During thesenine days we honour all the Martyrs and commemorate themartyrdoms of St. Jean de Brébeuf and St. GabrielLalemant and the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) in whomthe Martyrs placed great trust.

A Novena of Masses and the Novena Prayers to theMartyrs will be offered for the intentions of all making theNovena. Intentions that are sent to the Shrine will be left onthe altar beside the relics of the Martyrs during the Novena.

May St. Joseph and the Martyrs, patrons of Canada,intercede for all of us and for our country.

PPRRAAYYEERR TTOO TTHHEE MMAARRTTYYRRSSHoly Martyrs and patrons, protect this land which you

have blessed by the shedding of your blood. Renew in thesedays our Catholic faith which you have helped toestablish in this new land. Bring all our fellow citizens to aknowledge and love of the truth. Make us zealous in theprofession of our faith so that we may continue and perfectthe work which you have begun with so much labour andsuffering. Pray for our homes, our schools, our missions, forvocations, for the conversion of sinners, the return of thosewho have wandered from the fold, and the perseverance ofall the Faithful. And foster a deeper and increasing unityamong all Christians. Amen.

PPRRAAYYEERR TTOO OOUURR LLAADDYYGlorious Queen of Martyrs, to whom the early

missionaries of this country were so devoted and fromwhom they received so many favours, graciously listen tomy petition. Ask your Divine Son to remember all they didfor His glory. Remind Him that they preached the gospeland made His holy name known to thousands who hadnever heard of Him, and then for Him had theirapostolic labours crowned by shedding their blood.Exercise your motherly influence as you did at Cana, andimplore Him to grant me what I ask in this Novena, if it beaccording to His will. Amen.

PPRRAAYYEERR TTOO SSTT.. JJOOSSEEPPHH(Patron of the Martyrs and of Canada)

O God, who in your special Providence deigned to chooseblessed Joseph to be the spouse of your holy Mother, grant,we beseech you, that we may deserve to have him as ourintercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as ourprotector. You who live and reign in the world without end.Amen.

NNOOVVEENNAA PPRRAAYYEERRO God, who by the preaching and the blood of Your blessed

Martyrs, Jean and Isaac and their companions, consecrated thefirst fruits of faith in the vast regions of North America,graciously grant that by their intercession the flourishingharvest of Christians may be everywhere and alwaysincreased. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Ass

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SHR

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Ann

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