Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • March 2014
Franciscan friars to leave St. Michael’s Retreat by 2016 By Frank Flegel
Noah’s Ark, on a different type of water
Members of Arborfield’s Church of the Ascension help assemble Noah’s Ark out of snow and ice, as part of the local library’s promotion of taking part in various winter activities. Photo — Munden Coates
Where sculpture meets Scripture By Munden Coates ARBORFIELD (Skwn) – The Arborfield Library Board has been actively promoting community activities to help us get through this cold Saskatchewan winter. The Anglican Church of Ascension accepted its challenge to create a snow sculpture. Vestry approved the choice of Noah’s Ark, so minister’s warden Ken Edwards and vestry member Munden Coates acquired the
materials and binned snow for the rough outline. Gwen Ehrlich, from the neighbouring town of Carrot River, provided the expertise and talent. Fifteen members of the congregation showed up on a sunny Sunday afternoon to transform a solid rectangular block of snow into a “bathtub,” then a “cradle,” then a passable, if whimsical, version of Noah’s Ark. Soon giraffes, elephants
and bears were peering out the portholes; turtles, hippos, weasels and beavers covered the deck; and a pair of doves roosted on the sagging roof of the forecastle. Betty Edwards made sure the children were familiar with Genesis 6- 8. Shirley Reavie brought cookies and in her button collection we found eyes for the larger animals. Now that’s better than just getting through winter. That’s embracing it.
What is the Fred Says Campaign? By PWRDF Diocesan Representatives: Mary Ann Assailly and Barbara Spurr– Diocese of Saskatoon; Violet Goodfellow – Diocese of Saskatchewan; Basil Pogue – Diocese of Qu’Appelle The Fred Says Campaign is a three-year concentrated effort by the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) to address issues of food security through education, engagement and fundraising. Please see the website Fredsays.ca for more details. Food security is different from food aid, which is giving a hungry
person a meal to address the immediate need. Food security is teaching and sharing with people to give the knowledge, resources and skills needed to provide food for themselves and their families. The issue of enabling global food security is complex and requires a sustainable commitment from us, from our partners and from the people we are serving. Food security is important, as one person in every eight people in the world is hungry. PWRDF wants to help change that. A series of “Fredisms” will be used to drive the campaign in Canadian dioceses. A new Fredism will be launched every
two months. In November 2013, the first “Fredism” launched: Fred Says, Have you eaten today? In Mozambique, AIDS patients receiving treatment are under a real strain as the treatment requires them to be well nourished. Anti-retroviral treatment is very hard on the human body and can be fatal if improperly managed. By donating to PWRDF, Canadians can help fund a food basket project in Mozambique. Fred Says Goal #1: To provide 600 AIDS patients in Mozambique a secure food supply for the first two months of their anti-retroviral treatment at $80 per basket. See “Campaign” on Page 3
Ministries,” said Vavrek. Cindy Seiferling, director of St. COCHRANE, Alta. – Rev. Dennis Michael’s, has worked at the site Vavrek, ofm, Western Canada for 11 years. Provincial for the Franciscans, “It’s understandable confirmed in a Jan. 2 telephone considering that their numbers are interview that Franciscans are down. Change is inevitable,” said leaving St. Michael’s Retreat Seiferling. Ministries in Lumdsen. “We’ve been discussing “Like most religious sustainability for some time, so it communities in the Western world really didn’t come as a surprise.” our numbers are declining and we It doesn’t have to be a negative have two retreat thing, said centres. Seiferling. “It’s understandable “At our “It’s just chapter meeting considering that their change and in May 2013, numbers are down. change can be a the future was thing. I’m Change is inevitable. good discussed and so grateful for it was decided We’ve been discussing the Franciscans. that we can no sustainability for some “They’re longer maintain helped so many time, so it really didn’t people two retreat and come as a surprise.” without them centres, that we’d have to would Cindy Seiferling, there leave one and it have been no St. director of Michael’s.” was decided that St. Michael’s Retreat we would leave F o r m e r St. Michael’s Director Donna Retreat in Lumsden on or before Fischer worked at St. Michael’s the next Chapter meeting, which for 33 years and still works some will be in 2016.” of the retreats. St. Michael’s Retreat Ministries She is also chair of the Friends celebrated its 50th anniversary of St. Michael’s, an informal group during 2013 and the community that supports St. Michael’s through did not wish to discuss the issue fundraising and other efforts. until the end of the anniversary “Firstly I was sad, because year. we have this long, wonderful The other retreat facility is tradition, but being there and Mount St. Francis in Cochrane, watching the Friars age and seeing Alberta. the younger ones (who) are not Retreat houses do not make interested in retreat ministry, I money, said Vavrek. St. Michael’s wasn’t surprised.” income pays the operating bills but Vavrek said several options are doesn’t make a profit. being considered, but the priority The Franciscan community, is for St. Michael’s to continue in because it owns the building, pays some form. all capital costs. “It is the only retreat centre in Vavrek said the ecumenical southern Saskatchewan and it is a board of Anglican, Evangelical busy retreat centre with a loyal and Lutheran, Roman Catholic faith dedicated staff.” traditions and representatives from Three Franciscans, Brothers the Franciscans and the Regina Gerry Clyne and Dominic Tessier Archdiocese will continue to along with Father Michael govern, but other options are being Conaghan remain at St.Michael’s considered. and are expected to remain there “Yes, we have sort of tested until about the middle of 2015, the waters to see what interest said Vavrek. there might be, but our number Two other Franciscans reside one priority is to find a way to at Regina’s Santa Maria Senior continue as St. Michael’s Retreat Citizens Home.