DownloadGENERAL ADMINISTRATION
I want young people to know Jesus Christ“Saint Eugène de
Mazenod renewed the Christian life in Aix by starting the Youth mission,” said
Cecile. Today, the city has about 10 thousand students in secondary schools and
a total number of forty thousand students. It’s a quite a huge number!
“These youths
rarely come to Sunday Masses, because often they find Masses boring, sad and
difficult to follow,” said Katia, who since her years as a student has
participated in almost all the World Youth Days (WYD). During these World Youth
Days, she was touched by the active participation of the youths, the way they
prayed. “Music is the language of the youths. They love to sing, dance, and
move their body… So, why not help them with praise and worship songs and the
joy that comes with these to meet God. This is a proposal that is particularly
suitable to them at this stage of their life,” she thinks.
On the evening
of October 4, despite the storm that struck Provence, about 50 young people
between the age of 15 and 18 came to the Chapel of the Oblates. The prayer
began with a long sequence of songs of praise. Then Fr. Henry gave a talk, a
catechism based on the key ideas of Pope’s message to the Youth at Rio de
Janeiro. After this, the assembly proceeded to the adoration of Blessed
Sacrament. As this was going on, many youth received the sacrament of
reconciliation.
The next vigil is already announced; it will take place on November 30 in the Church of Notre Dame de l’Arc. The New Evangelization in Aix is being realized through the youth and as Pope Francis rightly put it, this has to be done with our knees on the ground and in prayer before and with Christ Jesus! (Krzysztof ZIELENDA in www.centremazenod.org)
Diane Kelly, the
archivist of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, Canada, whose first bishop was
Bishop Ovid CHARLEBOIS (†1933), has
sent us some good news that shows that the memory of this Servant of God is
still alive in his own land. His Cause for canonization began in the diocese in
1978 and was officially introduced in Rome in 1986. We are waiting for the
College of Consultors to study the heroicity of his virtues so as to declare
him Venerable, and for a miracle so that he might be beatified. This is a good
step that revives his memory and boosts his reputation of holiness.
Tuesday 13 August 2013 was an important date
for the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas and for those interested in the life of
Bishop Ovid Charlebois. On that day, the Museum of the Servant of God Ovid
Charlebois was inaugurated. A small chapel built by Bishop Charlebois in 1897 has
been transformed into a museum.
We spent the
morning and afternoon preparing the chapel to welcome the visitors and finalize
the arrangements. The guests began arriving at four in the afternoon. Once
seated in the cozy chapel, Diane Kelly, archivist, welcomed them and told about
the restoration project. She thanked the people and the organizations for their
help and support and she briefly outlined the history of Bishop Charlebois and
the building.
Next, we gave the floor to three guests. Mrs. Evelyn Jebb spoke of her marriage celebrated by Bishop Charlebois 63 years earlier. Vaughn Wadelius, son of Oliva Wadelius, who was also present, told Oliva’s story regarding Bishop Charlebois who would lodge with her family when she was young.
Diane read the touching letters she had received from several relatives of Bishop Ovid Charlebois and from present and former bishops who could not attend.
Then the Charlebois Museum was blessed by Father Jack HERKLOTZ, the present rector of the cathedral. He recalled that the little chapel had been previously blessed by Bishop Albert PASCAL (†1920) on 7 August 1897 and had been dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales.
Finally Vaughn Wadelius led everyone to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart to explain each of the windows. Diane Kelly invited all who were interested to go into the crypt to see the tomb of Bishop Ovid Charlebois and Bishop Paul DUMOUCHEL (†2000).
