Catholic Mission In Canada

It was early June 2007, in the northern community of Natuashish, in Newfoundland and Labrador, in the former Diocese of Labrador City-Schefferville, and everyone was excited and in suspense.

Bishop Gary Gordon of the Diocese of Whitehorse always makes sure two items safely stowed in his truck before setting out from his home base in Whitehorse for missions scattered across his diocese: a down sleeping bag and five extra gallons of gas.

I was a passenger on Air North’s Flight 506 in mid-March 2007. When the plane made its final approach to Whitehorse airport in the Yukon, my neighbour turned to me with a smile and said, “Your first day in Paradise.” The scenery was stunning.

My first trip to the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas was as an scholastic in 1972 when I was asked to come and run a boy’s camp in the bush near Île-à-la-Crosse with only a boatload of supplies, five tents and two older boys as helpers.

Celebrations of new beginnings, successful accomplishments, or significant milestones remind us, too, of all we have experienced in life: hope, trust, irony, difficulties, sometimes tragedy, paradox, disciplined renovation of heart, conversion, and new-found life.

Talking to donors over the last couple of months, I have learned what kind of an impact the financial crisis is having on so many of you.