Federation of North American Explorers (FNE).

Registration Form

We are planning to start up a group of the Federation of North American Explorers at Saint Clement’s for the boys and girls of the parish. Ages involved: from 8 to 18 and over: leaders needed.  A registration form can be downloaded (above).  Should you need more information please contact Fr. Hugues Beaugrand through his email address:  hugues.beaugrand [at] gmail.com

photo:  Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP (left), and Fr. Joseph Terra (right) administering baptism

Murder of a priest of the FSSP in Arizona

The evening of June 11 the Fraternity Rectory in Phoenix was broken into. Fr. Eric Flood, District Superior, was contacted at 2 am by the police who informed him that Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP had been killed and that Fr. Joseph Terra was in critical condition.

Fr. Terra’s morale is remarkably strong and he is now communicating. He has head injuries and  a number of broken bones. He will have a long recovery, but his life is no longer in danger and he should have a full recovery.  We are grateful to God and the many prayers that have been offered.

Fr. Walker’s family is strong in their faith and grateful for all of the prayers.

His funeral took place in Maple Hill Kansas on Friday June 20th.

RIP Fr. Kenneth Walker

14 June, 2014: Letter of the Superior General regarding the death of Rev. Kenneth Walker, FSSP

Dear Friends of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter,

In the midst of mourning for our dear confrere, Fr. Kenneth Walker, one great consolation has been the outpouring of prayers and condolences expressed by so many bishops, religious communities, fellow priests and faithful.  Many of you have informed us of the hundreds of Masses which have already been offered for the repose of his soul and for the health of Fr. Joseph Terra. By the grace of God and thanks to your prayers, Fr. Terra’s life is out of danger and we expect him to make a full recovery.

By now you have read on various news outlets and websites about the virtues of Fr. Walker as a priest and how badly he will be missed by his confreres and parishioners.  In an age where we seem so centered upon ‘clerical stars’ and are constantly searching for the ‘newest approach to evangelization’, the life of our confrere gave witness to one of the greatest priestly virtues, a quiet and consistent strength, which is a mark of the Good Shepherd who watches vigilantly over his flock in season and out of season.

He has been described by the parishioners he served in the same manner that he would be by his confreres; he was earnest: he was persevering; he was ready first to serve; nothing ever seemed to inconvenience him.  Our Lord’s description of Nathaniel perhaps fits him best: he was a man without guile.  He will perhaps be remembered as an example to us as confreres more for what he did not say; one would be hard pressed to find anyone who ever heard him complain or speak badly about anyone.  As a former professor of Fr. Walker in the seminary, and as superior, I also knew him as one who took correction well; never pridefully objected; and sincerely sought to improve in all areas of formation both as a seminarian and a later as a priest.

In such tragic circumstances I realize that it can be easy to fall into hyperbole, but there was an innocence to Fr. Walker which is rarely found in this valley of tears.

His life and his priestly work here below have been cut tragically short – just two short years serving in the vineyard of Our Lord.  But we are grateful for the time he had to serve in the Fraternity and that he was given the vocation that he sought. His reason for becoming a priest was already beautifully formulated in his application to the seminary:

“God, in His infinite love, desires all men to be saved and so achieve their true end. Along with the Church, then, I am deeply grieved by these errors concerning the nature and dignity of man accepted by so many people in the world, which deviate them from their supernatural end. In full view of the situation in the world, then, the only vocation that I could be satisfied with, as a work, would be one that would be dedicated to bringing people to salvation in whatever way God wills for me to do so.”

As confreres we know that Fr. Walker would not want us to waste our time in anger over what has happened; over the gross injustice which has been done.  As great as this is a tragedy for us, so too it will bear great graces for our Fraternity: O altitudo divitiarum sapientiæ, et scientiæ Dei: quam incomprehensibilia sunt judicia ejus, et investigabiles viæ ejus! [1]  The first grace will be as an encouragement to each of us to take nothing for granted in the call of Our Lord to the Sacred Priesthood.  We are His instruments to serve, and must do so always more faithfully in accordance with His will and that of the Church for His greater glory.  For the moment let us waste no time, and simply concentrate our efforts in praying for the repose of the soul of Fr. Walker.

We thank the many parishes which have organized Holy Hours and will hold Masses of Requiem on Monday; again, we are humbled by your charity.  Fr. Eric Flood, District Superior of North America, will offer a Requiem in Phoenix on Monday in the presence of Bishop Thomas Olmsted, and I will offer one here at the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Fribourg on the same day.  The funeral arrangements are on hold until the body of Fr. Walker can be transferred to Kansas. The Fraternity will of course publish these details when they are in place.

Veni Sancte Spiritus, Consolator optime;
In fletu solatium, reple cordis intima tuorum fidelium!

Mater Misericordiae, Ora pro nobis 

Requiem Aeternam dona ei, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace.

Ember Saturday of Pentecost, June 14, 2014

Very Rev. John Berg
Superior General FSSP

Rev. Kenneth Walker, FSSP, was born September 13, 1985, in Poughkeepsie, NY. He was baptized on October 13 of the same year at St. Mary’s Church in Wappingers Falls, NY. During his high school years, his family discovered and began attending the Traditional Latin Mass. He was strongly influenced by both the Mass and the devotion of his family, and began considering a vocation to the priesthood. After high school, he attended Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, Barry’s Bay, ON, pursuing a classical formation in liberal arts from the fall of 2003 until April 2005. After the influence of his parents, Fr. Walker always credited the College as being essential to his formation in the faith prior to entering the seminary.

By this time, he was dedicated to the idea of becoming a priest, and attended a vocations retreat with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. His motivation to become a priest is beautifully summarized in his own words, taken from his application to the seminary:

“God, in His infinite love, desires all men to be saved and so achieve their true end. Along with the Church, then, I am deeply grieved by these errors concerning the nature and dignity of man accepted by so many people in the world, which deviate them from their supernatural end. In full view of the situation in the world, then, the only vocation that I could be satisfied with, as a work, would be one that would be dedicated to bringing people to salvation in whatever way God wills for me to do so. This work is best carried out by the priesthood, which was instituted by Christ specifically for the care of souls; for by means of the Sacraments and the teaching of the Faith to the people, the people receive both the truths of the Faith and the sanctifying grace needed for the spiritual life.”

Fr. Walker was accepted to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, the Fraternity of St. Peter’s International House of Formation for English speakers in Nebraska, in the fall of 2005, and began the normal course of studies and formation. His dedication to fulfilling the ideals with which he approached the priesthood was evident in his time in seminary. He performed very well academically, always receiving high marks in his courses.  He immersed himself in the fullness of the program of formation, from the life of prayer and liturgy to recreation with other seminarians – especially in his love of playing soccer, a popular sport at the seminary.

After completing the First Year of Spirituality, he was first incorporated into the FSSP, received the cassock, and received Tonsure from Bishop Alvaro Corrada, SJ, on October 6, 2006. After five more years of prayer, work, and study, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz ordained him to the subdiaconate on January 29, 2011. He was permanently incorporated into the FSSP on March 18, and on the next day, March 19, 2011 – the feast of St. Joseph – he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Czeslaw Kozon of Copenhagen.

As a deacon, he traveled to our Fraternity’s other seminary in Wigratzbad, Germany for several months in order to complete further studies and gain the perspective of the Fraternity’s international presence. He also assisted for a number of months at the Mater Misericordiae Mission of the FSSP in Phoenix, AZ. Interestingly, he performed his first Baptism on October 13, 2011 – the anniversary of his own Baptism. Returning to Nebraska in May of 2012, he made a retreat in preparation for his priestly ordination, the culmination of his seven years of studies and prayer life.

On May 19, 2012, Kenneth Walker was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Christ our Savior in Lincoln, Nebraska by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz. He offered his first Mass at the Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, and was assisted by Fr. John Berg, Superior General of the FSSP. He received his first priestly assignment that summer, returning to Mater Misericordiae in Phoenix as an assistant priest under Fr. Joseph Terra, FSSP.

His priestly life and ministry at Mater Misericordiae was a continuation and affirmation of the ideals that led him to the priesthood. He dedicated himself to his priestly mission, offering Holy Mass in the Traditional Latin Rite daily and hearing confessions regularly. He was remembered for visiting parishioners often as both priest and friend. Desiring to spread devotion to Our Lady, he made a practice of personally bringing a replica of the “Pilgrim Virgin” statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the homes of parishioners. He also assisted in starting a Knights of Columbus council to aid and encourage the men of the parish in their prayer life and the works that they performed for the community. His works of charity among the homeless population in the area were well known by both attendees of the mission and the neighborhood community.

On June 11, 2014 – Ember Wednesday of Pentecost – Father Kenneth Walker was tragically and fatally shot in an incident at Mater Misericordiae Mission. Fr. Joseph Terra, critically injured in the same assault, was able to give Fr. Walker absolution and the Last Rites before being rushed himself to the hospital.

The members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter join together in prayer and remembrance of the life and priesthood of Fr. Walker with his entire family, the members of the Mater Misericordiae Mission, and all those whose lives were touched by his. The great outpouring of prayers and Mass intentions gives us great hope and consolation that he may rest eternally in the Beatific Vision, one with the Divinity whom on earth he held in his consecrated hands.

We ask for your prayers for the repose of the soul of Fr. Kenneth Walker and that God in his Love and Mercy might grant great consolation to his family and his parishioners in this terrible tragedy.

Oremus:
O God, Who didst give to thy servant, Kenneth, by his sacerdotal office, a share in the priesthood of the Apostles, grant, we implore, that he may also be one of their company forever in Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Requiem Aeternam dona ei, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace.

Requiem Aeternam dona ei, Domine.

Et lux perpetua luceat ei.

Requiescat in pace.

June 15, 2014

My fellow parishioners,

It has been about two years since St. Clement Parish moved to St. Anne Church, and nearly a year since I became your new pastor. First, I want to thank you for being so welcoming and helpful to me in my first year with you. I have been impressed by the hard work, creativity, and dedication of the volunteers who devoted their time, talents, and prayers to help an already vibrant parish community adopt a new spiritual home on Old St. Patrick Street. May God reward you for your kindness !

It is good for us to remember that a parish exists primarily for the salvation of souls, wherever it is situated. With this in mind, it is encouraging to see many new parishioners registering at our parish. One reason that draws people is that our church is truly beautiful, one of the three leading heritage churches in the city, endowed with a simple elegance well suited to the beauty and mystery of the Traditional Latin Mass. We are fortunate to be in a fairly quiet setting with accessible parking; to have a church entrance situated on street level for convenient access to parishioners of all ages and physical capacities; to have Park Morin nearby which has a playground and skating rink for families; and to have a church equipped with ample seating to allow us to grow. Our rectory has greater space for our own clergy while providing functional accommodations for visiting priests. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our Divine Lord for His Providence, to Archbishop Prendergast and Monsignor Beach for proposing this move to us, and to Father Philip Creurer, FSSP for co-ordinating it and negotiating benefits that will help us immensely in the long term.

One of the benefits is that Archbishop Prendergast permitted our parish to keep all the proceeds from the sale of the Mann Ave. property, from which we were able to discharge combined debts of $260,363 owed to the Archdiocese and the FSSP. We were also able to allocate $100,000 of the proceeds to finance restoration work at St. Anne’s in 2012 and 2013, and $200,000 toward the restoration work to be undertaken this year.

While our move has brought us to a majestic setting, it has also increased our financial obligations. From our financial statements (available at the bottom of this letter) you will see that our current operational requirements (i.e. ordinary expenses) run about $5,300 per week. This means that we must obtain at least that amount in our weekly collections from the regular white envelopes. Any slight increase you could make to the white envelope will help us to meet this goal, and also qualify us for an exemption from the Archdiocesan tax. Many of you may be in a position to increase your level of contribution. But whatever your contribution currently is, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making the sacrifice of even “the widow’s mite” (Mark 12:41-44).

On the capital side, you will see that the restoration work to be undertaken in 2014 requires that we take in at least $2,300 per week in our yellow restoration envelopes. So while we have been close to our white envelope target for operational needs, we have fallen short on the yellow restoration envelope side.

To help you determine what may constitute an appropriate and fair amount to give each week, we have presented in the status report an analysis of the weekly collections for 2013, including some general guidelines on the duties Catholics have to financially support the material needs of the Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] #2043). Sometimes referred to as “tithing,” a person fulfills this obligation according to his abilities. In relation to this obligation, you will see that a few extremely generous parishioners account for a significant percentage of our revenues. I encourage you to scrutinize these data, consider your own current level of contribution in relation to your income, and determine whether you could afford to contribute more towards the material needs of our parish.

An important part of our restoration work will be the beautification of the sanctuary. A committee has been working diligently to develop a comprehensive plan and expects to be able to report to us as soon as some details are finalized. In due course, we will engage in discussions to identify ways and means of funding this important work.

Now while we have used some of the proceeds from the sale of Mann Ave., we have allocated about $1.4 million for the construction or purchase of a hall. We are also examining the feasibility of setting up some of this money in an endowment fund. These funds currently earn almost 3.25 % in a safe investment, with the interest earned going toward restoration costs. As many of you already know, some thought has been given to purchasing the John Howard Society (JHS) building next door should it become available. We know that the JHS has been searching for a more suitable building for its expanding programs. In the meantime they have been good neighbours and would be receptive to an offer from us should they come to a decision in the near future.

A lot has been accomplished these last two years. As we continue to progress both spiritually and temporally to build a bright future for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren in the parish, I urge you all to give your support wherever you can, whether it be by means of rosaries, donations, or volunteering. And for those of you who can, I would also ask you to consider remembering the parish in your last will and testament. Your sacrifices, whatever they may be, are truly appreciated.

Thanks again. May God reward you, and remember: “Be cheerful and keep the faith!”

Status Report–June 15 – EN

In Corde Mariae,

Father Erik Deprey, FSSP

Pastor

For men and ladies. Wed. Aug 20, at Manderley on the Green, North Gower. $95 per person (includes golf cart, dinner with wine, & prizes). Registration deadline July 25th. For more info contact John Fennelly at 613-867-0144.

DIMANCHE 25 MAI 14H00 AU PATRO D’OTTAWA

 40 RUE COBOURG

VENEZ ENTENDRE UN COURAGEUX DÉFENSEUR DE LA FOI

Croire ça change tout: Pourquoi la Foi transforme-t-elle la vie?

L’école Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel vous invite à entendre le maire de Saguenay, M. Jean Tremblay, à l’occasion de la sortie de son livre : Croire, ça change tout.

BILLETS EN VENTE À LA PORTE AU COÛT MODIQUE DE 10$

Being in Communion with the Catholic Church on Moral Issues

The position of the Catholic Church in favour of life at all stages is clear and unchanging. A person who takes a position in contradiction to the teaching of the Catholic Church on the value and dignity of human life from the moment of conception to the moment of a natural death, and persists in this belief, is not in communion with the Church’s values and teaching, which we believe faithfully transmit for today the teachings of Christ.

In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel, no 213), Pope Francis explains the link between protection of the unborn and every other human right:

“Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenceless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this. Frequently, as a way of ridiculing the Church’s effort to defend their lives, attempts are made to present her position as ideological, obscurantist and conservative. Yet this defence of unborn life is closely linked to the defense of each and every other human right. It involves the conviction that a human being is always sacred and inviolable, in any situation and at every stage of development. Human beings are ends in themselves and never a means of resolving other problems. Once this conviction disappears, so do solid and lasting foundations for the defense of human rights, which would always be subject to the passing whims of the powers that be. Reason alone is sufficient to recognize the inviolable value of each single human life, but if we also look at the issue from the standpoint of faith, “every violation of the personal dignity of the human being cries out in vengeance to God and is an offence against the creator of the individual ‘’(John Paul II, Christifideles laici, no 461).

              One may not dissent from these core teachings on life issues and be considered a Catholic in good standing. This is a very serious matter requiring of each Catholic, prayer, reflection to inform one’s conscience, and openness to embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.

+Terrence Prendergast, S.J.

                                                                                                                   Archbishop of Ottawa

                                                                                                                  May 14, 2014

St. Anne’s early sanctuary lamp has returned from being recently refurbished and for the first time since 1967 is again in its rightful place at the heart of the sanctuary in front of Our Lord’s Tabernacle.

The lamp was blessed and returned to service by Fr. Erik Deprey, FSSP during the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 19^th 2014.

Found damaged and lying in pieces in the organ loft when St. Clement Parish arrived at St. Anne in 2012, the lamp was restored by Turn of the Century Lighting, a Toronto firm specializing in the restoration of antique lighting fixtures.

Restoration work is expensive. The cost for refurbishing and re-installing the lamp is $6, 554, half of which has been raised in special donations received so far.  A further $3, 350 is required to meet the total costs.  If you would like to contribute to the costs of the lamp’s restoration, please be sure to mark your cheque or envelope with the direction:  “For Sanctuary Lamp”.

Thank you your generosity!

*For more information on the history of the sanctuary lamp, please go to About  on this site and click on “Sanctuary Lamp”.

We are pleased to invite you to hear guest speaker

Dr. John Pepino, PhD, Professor of Latin, Greek, and Patristics

lecture on

Father Louis Bouyer and the Liturgical Reform

Place: Amphitheater at Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street, Ottawa

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Time: 7:00 PM

Cost: Donations toward refreshments and use of auditorium accepted at the door

Louis Bouyer, one of the 20th century’s leading theologians and liturgists, reflects on the Liturgical Movement and the Post-Conciliar Missal. Louis Bouyer was part of the Liturgical Movement from the very beginning of his reception into the Catholic Church in the 1940s. He was then known as a reformer with ideas of his own – until his death in 2004.

Dr. John Pepino, PhD, who originally hails from the South of France, is a Professor of Latin, Greek, and Patristics. He teaches at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in the USA. 

Dr. Pepino’s paper on Father Louis Bouyer and the Liturgical Reform, which in addition to both English and French published material, relies heavily on Fr. Bouyer’s still-unpublished tell-all Memoirs. It seeks to outline what reforms Bouyer called for in the pre-conciliar Mass as well as what he denounced in the post-conciliar liturgy. Such an overview may provide some understanding of what motivated the reformers as well as provide a lucid assessment of the current ordinary form of the Mass by someone who collaborated in its redaction.

April 23, 2014 – Amphitheater at Saint Paul University. 7PM followed by a Q&A period.

Meet Dr. John Pepino in the Atrium for refreshments afterwards.

University parking $10. Street parking free after 5:30 PM.

Hosted by St. Clement Parish, Roman Catholic Archdicese of Ottawa

Prof John Pepino

We invite you to participate in a parish-wide preparation for total consecration to Jesus through Mary according to the method of St. Louis de Montfort, beginning Monday April 28th & culminating with the total consecration on Sat May 31st, Feast of the Queenship of Our Lady, followed by a parish BBQ.

To obtain a book with the 33 day preparation prayers and readings, sign-up at the entrance of the Church.  The book “Preparation For Total Consecration To Jesus Through Mary” may also be obtained from any good Catholic bookstore.

What is total Consecration?  An explanation of it may be found here:

Consecration-to-Jesus-through-Mary:  An explanation

Altar Server Practice will take place on Saturday April 12 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. We will practice the Holy Week ceremonies. All servers should attend.  (Practice will begin promptly at 12:30 as there willl not be mass prior to the practice.  Please be vested prior to 12:30)

Historical buildings very often only reveal their secrets over time and even then, only after patient questioning.  St. Anne Church is no exception to the rule.

When the parish was preparing the brochure commemorating the 140^th anniversary of the founding of St. Anne in 1873, one of the things we very much wished to do was to highlight the church’s remarkable stained glass windows. The challenge in that lay with the nine windows of the sanctuary vault and those figures which initially at least, were not readily identifiable. One of them, on the Gospel side, caused considerable questioning until a 1998 issue of the parish bulletin turned up identifying it as St. Agnes.

Recent closer examination of the sanctuary windows has revealed the figure’s true identity:  Saint Gabriel the Archangel. Jean-Claude Grant, who has taken many photos of church interiors including many of St. Anne, recently photographed the windows using a more sophisticated camera which very clearly shows what up until now had not been easily visible from the sanctuary floor; the figure’s red wings! The wings, together with the diadem crowned with a cross are typical of the iconographic depictions of angels leaving no doubt about the figure’s identity.  St. Gabriel the Archangel is shown standing opposite St. Michael the Archangel, bringing a nice balanced logic to the window series.

Thank you Jean-Claude!

Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSP is the District Bursar for the North American District of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) and has been frequently on the road in connection with his duties. Prior to this role, Father served at St.  Stephen the First Martyr Parish in Sacramento, California. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2009. Father is from the state of Texas and is the youngest of eight children.   We are happy that Father will be able to act as Assistant Pastor at St. Clements until next summer.

We invite you to join us in a novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, patroness of the canonical house of the FSSP in Ottawa, from August 13 – 21, after each daily mass, culminating with an evening Mass Thursday August 22, at which we will consecrate the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour for St. Clement Parish

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.   Amen.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, thou hast been blessed and favoured by God. Thou becamest not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but the Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to thee today as thy loving children.

Watch over us and take care of us in all our spiritual and temporal needs. As thou didst hold the Child Jesus in thy loving arms, so take us in thy arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us. For God who is mighty has done great things for thee, and His mercy is from age to age on those who love Him. Our greatest fear is that in time of temptation, we may fail to call out to thee, and become lost children. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon thee, our Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen.Nous vous invitons à vous joindre à nous dans une neuvaine à Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours, patronne de la maison canonique de la FSSP à Ottawa, du 13 au 21 août, suivant chaque messe, culminant avec une messe le soir du jeudi 22 août au cours de laquelle nous allons consacrer la paroisse au Cœur Immaculé de Marie.

His Grace, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast SJ, will celebrate a Pontifical High Mass with us on Sunday the 25th of August at 10:30am and officiate at the rite of installation of our new parish priest, Fr. Erik Deprey FSSP.

Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving in the Extraordinary Form

on the 140^th Anniversary of the Construction of St. Ann’s Church

& the 45^th Anniversary of the Establishment

of the Latin Mass Community

St. Clement Parish, Ottawa,

Patronal Feast of the Church—July 26, 2013

The Legacy of Faith

[Texts: Proverbs 31.10–31 [Gradual: Psalm 44.8]; Matthew 13.44–52]

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Today, we celebrate Saint Anne. Our sacred tradition tells us that she was the mother of the Blessed Virgin. She was thus the grandmother of Jesus our Saviour.

What we know about her life comes to us from apocryphal Gospel accounts. They tell us that Anne (a variant of Anna or Hannah, which means grace) and her husband Joachim could not bear children. They pleaded with God for a miracle. Just as God heard Sarah’s plea and sent an angelic messenger (Genesis 18.10, read last Sunday) with the promise of a child and descendance, so did He do for Anne.

Saint Anne gave birth to a baby girl whom she called Mary. Anne and Joachim raised Mary in the Jewish faith. They conveyed their exceptional love of God to their precious daughter. Worship and prayer were doubtless central activities in the family’s daily life. When their grandson Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph in turn raised him in God’s love.

This story teaches us the vital importance of the family in the faith education of children. A child, whose parents remind him daily of God’s love, grows up strong in the faith.

In Jules Tremblay’s book Sainte-Anne d’Ottawa published in 1925, we read, “On December 5^th, 1872, the founding of Sainte-Anne parish was announced.” Bishop Guigues hastened work on the church to begin in April 1873. The book notes that the cooperation of French Canadians and Irish on this project was exceptional for its time. The Courrier d’Outaouais of May 5^th, 1873 covered the ceremony of the installation of the corner stone the previous day, presided by His Excellency Bishop Gigues. In the corner stone is a document that bears the names of the bishop, the vicar general and the builders. The event attracted a huge crowd of Catholic faithful and several members of the clergy. As was customary at that time, sermons in French and English followed the prayer.

Bishop Édouard Fabre, Coadjutor and future Archbishop of Montreal, officiated the dedication of the church on Sunday November 30^th, 1873. According to the Courrier d’Outaouais, His Excellency delivered a speech in French and English that was much appreciated by all. Following the consecration, Fr. Alleau, the pastor of the new parish, celebrated Mass. The Citizen reported, “The building is a very fine one constructed of stone and presents a pleasant appearance…It is richly furnished and capable of accommodating 800 persons.” 140 years later, we can see that Saint Anne parish has lived up to its auspicious beginning.

Earlier, I mentioned the importance of the family. Today’s Old Testament reading from Proverbs 31 lists the qualities and underscores the worthiness of the diligent wife. This wife not only takes care of her household but also manages a thriving business. She resembles the faithful servant of whom Jesus speaks. He sells all his possessions to buy the field in which is hidden a treasure, which symbolizes the kingdom of heaven. She is also like the scribe who has become a disciple of Heaven and can extract from his holdings old and new things of value. (Matthew 13.44–45, 52). This implies that we are blessed by the old covenants and the New Covenant, the promise of reconciliation with God through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

The Book of Proverbs tells us that the sons of the diligent wife proclaim her blessed. Her husband praises her always. If her husband values her, it’s not merely for her beauty. Rather, it is because of her dedication to the Lord and her wise fostering of her family’s prosperity.

The liturgy proclaims this passage today specifically about Saint Anne and more generally about the community and the Church. She cares for the household. She acquires a vineyard—symbol of the Spirit. They prosper, for the glory of God and for the good of His children.

The work of the parishioners of Saint Anne parish has born much good fruit over 140 years. The Lord found here “a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.” (Proverbs 31.10, NAB) Your works tell your “praises at the city gates!” (Proverbs 31.31, NJB)

Tonight express our gratitude to the Lord for his abundant graces over the many decades of this church: the celebration of Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, of marriages witnessed, and souls unburdened in Confession, of anointings and Solemn Requiems; of vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life—men and women called to serve the People of God from the families of this community of faith.

The Church recognizes the value of the whole person, including their culture and education. Among St. Anne parish’s noble achievements was its leadership in successfully opposing Ontario’s Règlement 17 of 1912. This unfair law sought to restrict the use of the French language in Roman Catholic schools.

Over the decades, the parish has nurtured the education of its children and has drawn on many excellent resources. I extend a warm welcome to several guests here today. We have representatives from the religious involved in francophone education in the parish, such as the Sisters of Charity, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and les Frères des écoles chrétiennes. We also have local and national-level dignitaries from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Roman Catholic school boards, and De La Salle High School. I thank you for the invaluable investments you and your predecessors have made in our youth.

Today I also salute the community of St. Clement. You are attached to the Latin Mass and your presence has enriched our liturgical life in the Archdiocese, since its founding forty-five years ago by my predecessor, the late Archbishop Joseph-Aurèle Plourde. We have benefitted too from the leadership of my predecessor, Archbishop Marcel Gervais, who entrusted this fledgling community to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Lastly, I must highlight the contribution of Father Philip Creurer as he completes his assignment here, especially his masterful arrangement of the transfer of the St. Clement Community from Mann Avenue to this beautiful and historic church of Saint Anne. All this he achieved—with the help of many co-workers—while completing his doctorate in Canon Law at St. PaulUniversity. Thank you, Father Creurer, and be sure of our prayers for your thesis defence and for your future ministry wherever the Lord calls you.

As we gather to celebrate the Mass in its Extraordinary Form, which was the common experience of the faithful in these parts for almost a hundred years, we realize that this is not the experience for many of us. We generally celebrate what is known as the Ordinary Form of the Roman liturgy.

Many in the Church make the mistake of thinking that the Roman Rite has two different Masses to choose from. But the beautiful, profound truth is that we have only one, holy sacrifice of the Mass in two usages: the ordinary and extraordinary forms. This is perhaps one of the best examples of that most Catholic expression of “both/and” and not “either/or.” Both forms share a fundamental basis in the sacrament of the Eucharist. We can and should appreciate the truth, goodness and beauty of each form.

I beseech the Lord, by the intercession of Saint Anne, protector of this church, to preserve us for years to come for His service. May this church continue to be a place of gathering for His faithful for the greater glory of God and the salvation of the world!

Construction on and around the church is ongoing, and includes work on the soffit of the apse as well as new bathroom facilities at the entrance.

The bookstore will be moved to the opposite side of the middle entrance hallway, and the new bathroom facilities installed in the former bookstore space.

Four parishioners will be entering formation for the priestly and religious life this year, two to the Toronto Oratory, one to the FSSP (Nebraska) and one the Benedictine sisters in Clear Creek, Oklahoma.