Communities look for God’s blessings
Father Milton McWatch with parishioners of his former parish, St. Theresa parish in Beardmore, Ontario, in the Diocese of Thunder Bay.
‘As I looked across the hills and forests, I thought of my father coming to this land many years before and making it his home. I was captivated by the serenity and beauty of it all, and knew why he had called this land home.’
I arrived in the Parish of Holy Saviour in Marathon,
After settling in, I drove down to the Pic Mobert First Nation community to visit some old friends. In the course of our conversations, the possibility of a weekend of prayer was mentioned in honour of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.* After several meetings and breakfasts talks, it was decided we would try for the weekend of November 6, 7, and 8.
I asked Linda Desmoulin, a recent widow, if she would take care of the meals, and we would pray for the repose of the soul of her recently-deceased husband, Alan.
I began to pray about this weekend, on who we would call to support us with music and lead the prayers.
The Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa led by John Corston, a ministry committed to building community relationships among native peoples, said they would come and provide direction for the weekend. How we would feed the participants—God would provide for that.
My prayers led to drives along forest roads looking for a moose. As I drove, I began to see the beauty of God’s creation, the lovely colours of the fall leaves, the clouds that spoke of a change in the weather. The ponds inhabited with colonies of beavers. Animal signs that indicated of preparation for the winter.
As I looked across the hills and forests, I thought of my father coming to this land many years before and making it his home. I was captivated by the serenity and beauty of it all, and knew why he had called this land home.
My heart sang the song of the hunters in my tradition. I was at peace with God and creation; nature would give us the food we needed for our Blessed Kateri feast. As the day turned to evening on my way home, a magnificent bull moose appeared.
The evening ended with prayers of thanks and gratitude to God for providing for our needs.
The day before our weekend was to begin, I took 50 pounds of moose meat to Pic Mobert for Linda and her helpers to turn into a stew for the Saturday meal.
People went home blessed and at peace, full of the spirit of God.
I must thank Catholic Missions In Canada for their support in providing myself and my parish with a vehicle. Without this vehicle, I would not be able to minister to the communities that look for God’s blessings, be it for prayer, food or firewood.
So what is my ministry herein mission country?
It’s getting out of bed at two in the morning to drive to the hospital to comfort the dying, find food for the hungry, and yes, firewood for those who need heat in the cold of the fall and winter.
Catholic Missions In Canada enables me to do these acts of mercy and charity.
Megwetch, and gwabma. "Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), a native woman who lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care for the sick and aged, was declared venerable by the Church in 1943. She was beatified in 1980.
**Ojibway words for “Thank you” and “I’ll see you again.”
Father Milton McWatch is pastor of Holy Saviour parish and missions in Marathon, Northern Ontario, in the Diocese of
