Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • October 2015 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican —
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Teddy Bears for La Ronge By Mary Brown
Bishop Michael Hawkins, Rev. Mike Foley and Bishop Adam Halkett share a laugh, while surrounded by many bears, at the Diocese of Saskatchewan Synod Office on July 29. Photo by Mary Brown
Donations flow in for Iraqi refugees Contributed REGINA – Donations are flowing into the Diocesan Refugee Fund, in order to bring a family of Iraqi Christians to Canada. The family is related to the Mousa family, which was sponsored by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in 2011. Marleen Mousa’s father, her brother, his wife and their two young children have escaped from Mosul, Iraq and are currently in Turkey. The parish of St. James the Apostle, Regina, is especially motivated to bring the family to Regina. The Mousa family are faithful members of the parish, while people are excited to help bring Marlene’s father, brother and family to safety. In June, St. James put on “Repas for Refugees,” a fundraising dinner featuring Iraqi food prepared by Safaa and Marlene and members of the congregation. The event raised $2,565. In addition, the congregation has donated $4,120 (to date) to the diocesan fund. Approximately $40,000 is
needed to sponsor the family. About $18,000 had been received from across the diocese by the end of July. Ralph Paragg, diocesan refugee co-ordinator, says “our sincere thanks to those who have already contributed. We encourage those who have not yet made a donation to send whatever they can to help the family settle successfully in Canada. The family had their interview with Canada Immigration on July 15 in Ankara, Turkey, and we are awaiting the official decision.” The diocesan committee is planning a steak-night fundraiser in Regina on Sept. 22. See the Qu’Appelle Notes & Events column for full details. Tickets are available in local parishes. Paragg encourages parishes to also hold fundraising events for this cause. Donations can be made through parishes or directly to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, 1501 College Ave, Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8. Please mark cheques to Refugee Fund.
PRINCE ALBERT – The Rev. Dr. Mike Foley arrived at the Synod Office with a sack and a suitcase full of teddy bears in late July. There were 300 bears in total. Mike was in the diocese last October visiting the communities and congregation of All Saints, La Ronge and Holy Trinity, Stanley Mission. He came to learn about nonstipendiary ministry in Northern Saskatchewan as part of a project to complete his Master of Divinity. With his white hair and beard he soon became the guy who looks like Santa Claus. He actually became Santa Claus and brought hundreds of teddy bears for the children in the northern communities.
He resides in the parish of Musquodoboit in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and drove out to Saskatchewan to deliver the bears. When he told people in Nova Scotia about his trip to Saskatchewan, the Anglican Church Women in the whole diocese said they would knit bears for him to take out West. So Mike and Bishop Adam Halkett drove up to La Ronge and met with a few elders from All Saints Church in La Ronge. They met in the campground for a wiener roast and Mike gave the teddy bears to them to distribute. We will probably see more of Mike in the future as Northern Saskatchewan made a profound impression on him that he cannot forget.
Thoughts from Saskatchewan’s TRC closing ceremony Journeying together on the Path to Reconciliation By Mary Ann Assailly SASKATOON – Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation called the seven communities that hosted National events to hold a day to honour the closing TRC event in Ottawa and mark the release of the final report of the TRC. In response, 25-plus partners, including the churches, planned a day-long gathering for community healing. On June 2, aboriginals and non-aboriginals gathered at Victoria Park in Saskatoon for the Saskatchewan Truth and Reconciliation closing ceremony. We gathered with loving, open hearts to listen, to provide transport, to serve food but mostly to be a support to our aboriginal and Métis brothers and sisters. Residential school survivors/ elders Howard Walker and Ruth Cameron co-hosted the day of speakers, storytelling, drummers, singers and dancers. School students were there in abundance with students from
White Cap singing O Canada in Dakota and city students singing the Métis Anthem in Metchif. The signatory churches, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, United, Mennonite and Anglican (dioceses of Saskatchewan, Qu’Appelle and Saskatoon) were charged with the responsibility of providing the noon feast. Huge amounts of homemade soup, bannock and jam were prepared and served. The very full day opened with an early morning pipe ceremony and closed with a huge round dance, where we all joined hands and then released hundreds of orange balloons emblazoned with the word “TRUTH.” Afterwards, a call went out for Anglicans who were in attendance to share a few words and thoughts of their experiences and emotions from the day. The comments include: The Rev. Jan Bigland Pritchard “For me it was a mixed day (and it was) good to hear MC Howard again, to enjoy music and dance. The huge round dance was inspiring, as was the moment
when we let off our balloons: little fragile bubbles of hope into the great sky. But it was also a sad time. “All races and cultures were mixed up together in one space, but mostly not connecting, staying in our own little groups. We are still, by and large, two solitudes, and that makes me sad. “It was fun to watch the school children who were much more easily, naturally mixed together, but will that last once school is out? There is such a long way to go.” “Two snapshots: Right at the end of the event I was sitting at the edge of the park, when two young teen boys, aboriginal, tall and poorly dressed, entered the park and asked me what was happening. “I said that it was the Truth and Reconciliation Celebration. It was clear they’d never heard of it. All they said to me in reply was, ‘Is there any food?’ “I pointed them to the food tent and they disappeared in the crowd.” See TRC CLOSES on page 9