The Torch - Newman Centre

The Torch Newman Centre Catholic Mission Newsletter

Volume 1

Toronto, Winter 2017

www.newmantoronto.com

Issue 2

NEWMAN CENTRE CONTACT LIST STAFF

COMMITTEES

GROUPS

Fr. Peter Turrone, Pastor & Executive Director [email protected] Erin Kinsella, Associate Director of Campus Outreach [email protected] Sonal Castelino, Associate Director of Formation and Programs [email protected] Dr. Mary Marrocco, Pastoral Counsellor [email protected] Patrick Douglas, Director of HR and Op.s [email protected] Anne Skrepichuk, Administrative Assistant [email protected] Maria Da Silva, Communications Coordinator [email protected] Christina Labriola, 11 am Sunday Mass Music Ministry [email protected] Charlie Min, 7 pm Sunday Mass Music Ministry [email protected] Samantha Koon, Development Officer [email protected]

PASTORAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Johan, [email protected]

BIOETHICS STUDENTS CLUB (BEST) Roman, [email protected]

STUDENT CAMPUS MINISTERS

SACRISTANS Julie, [email protected]

Danielle Alvares Ania Bucholc Lisa Caballero Garrett Graham Kaylee Moynihan Theresa Shortell Christian Silva Judy Tsao SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS BAPTISMAL PREPARATION Fr. Peter (see Staff)

FINANCE COUNCIL Patrick (see Staff) LITURGY COMMITTEE Fr. Peter (see Staff)

CATHOLIC DOCTOR'S GUILD Renata, [email protected] Fok-Han, [email protected] Nisha, [email protected]

NEWMAN FOUNDATION Fr. Peter (see Staff)

CATHOLIC TEACHER'S GUILD Barry, [email protected]

VOLUNTEER SCREENING Barbara, 416-234-0626

COFFEE & DOUGHNUT MINISTRY (After Sunday morning Mass) Diane, [email protected]

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

COUNTERPOINT Elisa, [email protected]

ALTAR SERVERS Rogelio, [email protected] EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Sonal (see Staff)

LECTORS Joan, [email protected] LAY PASTORAL VISITORS Anne (see Staff) SOCIAL OUTREACH MINISTRIES OUR PLACE David, [email protected] OUT OF THE COLD Mary, [email protected]

CATHOLIC INITIATION PROGRAM (RCIA) and CONFIRMATION Sonal (see Staff)

ST. FRANCIS TABLE Anne, [email protected]

CHILDREN’S LITURGY Julie, [email protected]

STREET PATROL Michelle, [email protected]

FIRST COMMUNION/RECONCILIATION Sonal (see Staff)

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COURAGE Ryan, [email protected] FAITH & SCIENCE GROUP Danielle, [email protected] KOREAN LEGION OF MARY Soho, [email protected] NEWMAN CATHOLIC STUDENTS CLUB Hugo, [email protected] NEWMAN YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY Brianna, [email protected] ST. THOMAS MORE LAWYER’S GUILD

Thomas, [email protected] U of T CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Lyndon, [email protected] U of T KOREAN CATHOLICS Yongwon, [email protected] U of T STUDENTS FOR LIFE Blaise, [email protected]

For Mass Times, Visiting Hours and social media links, please see page 19

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YTOL YOUNG ADULT TEAM Damian, [email protected]

WINTER 2017

A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR Greetings in the Lord: We now begin a new secular year after the joyous season of Christmastide. In one of his sermons, Blessed Cardinal Newman wrote, “the old year, whether it was a happy year or unhappy, suggests thoughts of pain. If unhappy, that is painful, if happy, it is (painful) because it is gone…and therefore we turn to the new year with hope” (Sermon Notes of Cardinal Newman, 1849-1878). While our beloved patron would never be considered an optimist according to today’s standards, he was nevertheless a man who lived his life firmly rooted in the theological virtue of hope. Hope, among other things, is the God-given virtue that helps us to see beyond the immediate circumstances, whether they be favourable or not, and anticipate the future with great joy. As Benedict XVI wrote in Spe Salvi, “only when the future is certain as a positive reality does it become possible to live the present as well” (2). This issue seeks to highlight some of the past, present and future here at Newman in order to demonstrate both the continuity and creativity of our mission of

forming Catholic leaders capable of presenting and keeping Jesus Christ in the public square. Dr. Julie Wright’s testimony, a former SCM, is a perfect example of how our community can have a lasting impact on students well beyond their university studies. We do not know what the future holds (yes, despite our exciting and jam packed events calendar!): only God does. However, we can be certain that our Heavenly Father has “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). As Christ asks us to “put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4) in this New Year, I pray that each one of us can live the next twelve months with this supernatural outlook. Pax et bonum, Fr Peter

“THE MIRACULOUS CATCH OF FISHES” Our cover photo is an original painting by Catholic artist, author and speaker - Michael D. O’Brien. The painting is generously on loan for a year to the Newman Centre and is on display in our lobby.

apostles intensely focused on pulling in the net. Jesus stands among them with raised arms, praying for their labours to be overwhelmingly fruitful. His eyes are raised to the heavens as he asks the Father to give the abundant harvest. The miracle is both a literal event and “The Miraculous Catch of Fishes” (acrylic on a sign of the Church’s mission in the world. I have hardboard, 2016) is a portrayal of the scene from the added many fish swimming beyond the reach of the net, fifth chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel. In the painting, four representing the souls who are yet to be evangelized. of the apostles are hauling in the net after they have On the horizon are three trees, by which I intend to fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus simply tells symbolize the three crosses of Calvary. Each tree will them, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets.” one day be cut down and fashioned into a cross. Each They obey and are astonished by the catch - so many cross represents a different way man responds to the fish that the net is breaking, and when they are hauled mystery of suffering. The unrepentant thief succumbs to into the boat it is in danger of sinking. This is a portent bitterness and rejects the cross; the “good thief” turns to of the apostles’ coming vocations as “fishers of men” in Jesus and opens his heart in humility. the Kingdom. Later, after the Resurrection, when the The Lord himself is fully aware of what apostles again encounter Jesus on the Sea of Galilee, a salvation costs. The abundant harvest is second miraculous catch occurs, so heavy that the made possible by his total emptying of fishermen are not able to haul it in (John 21). self as he opens wide his arms in abandonment to the Father’s will. In my depiction of the first miracle, I have shown the - Michael D. O’Brien THE TORCH

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WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH CHASTITY ANYWAY? CHASTITY IN DAILY LIFE

CHASTITY IN DAILY LIFE -

Chelsea Santiago

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Our Catholic Faith offers us an incomparably beautiful understanding of chastity. I’m grateful to have the powerful example of many women in my life to reinforce this. In stark contrast, society around us often portrays chastity as a ridiculous concept, and one that particularly conflicts with "being a man". Many guys I know speak candidly about the actual experience of pursuing chastity more closely resembling a wearisome, constant wrestling match against an opponent who always seems to be one step ahead. A well-intentioned effort, hampered by increasing isolation and hopelessness, quickly regresses into a mediocre effort - a best-case scenario for the Devil.

When I was little I would take my Dad’s model cars and reassemble them. But there was this one car I couldn’t put back together so I hid it in fear of my dad getting angry. When confronted I was ashamed, but my Dad didn’t care he just smiled, and we reassembled it together. One hurdle I had to face was my same sex attraction. Growing up I was led to believe that I wasn’t likeable. On top of that I believed God didn’t like me because of my attraction to girls not boys; and I fought that feeling. Theatre helped me to see the worth that I couldn’t find within myself and I began to accept myself in all aspects. However, I still saw God as a judgemental figure in my life, so I decided I would avoid anything to do with faith.

What made all the difference for me was an encounter with a tangible and compelling connection between chastity and manhood. “It is the duty of every man to uphold the dignity of every woman.” - Pope Saint John Paul II. It suggested that I had an important job to do - not only was I called to strive for chastity in my personal life, but also to a parallel responsibility of building up and protecting the environment around me so chastity could thrive. I am especially indebted to a few good men who demonstrated the most effective guidance on how to live this.

During campus group day in my first year, a free pen tempted me into joining the Catholic Association. I immediately regretted it but was convinced to join a faith study; and slowly I began to see God in a different light. September 29, 2013 was the day I said yes. It was during Mass on the feast day of St. Michael. Hearing the story of when he defended heaven against Satan I thought to myself if he can do that why can’t I fight my insecurity.

A good starting place was reassessing my conduct in male friendships. And in a way that I needed to learn specifically from other men, they helped me understand God’s grace and mercy. It began a journey of exploring my nature as a man, and what it meant to be a son of God. It provided the foundation for properly ordering how I loved, and maybe more importantly for me, letting myself be loved.

I learned that the real battle happens after you put God at the center of your life but through it all God is always there. And together like that model car and my dad I was ashamed. Still, God just wanted my honesty and we began to put the pieces back together. [Chelsea Santiago is a Performance Production Student at Ryerson University and a passionate Game of Thrones Fan ] THE TORCH

John Taylor

[John Taylor is part of Newman’s Young Adult Community] -4-

WINTER 2017

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH CHASTITY ANYWAY? CHASTITY IN MARRIAGE -

Catherine C. Spada

One of the most challenging and equally liberating teachings of the Catholic Church is chastity. It is undoubtedly a virtue that is radically counter cultural and one that demands great self-mastery and sacrifice. It demands a right ordered love of God and consequently an authentic love for others. My experience of chastity prior to and in married life has been less than glamorous. I will not claim to speak for all married couples who practice Natural Family Planning, but I will attempt to concisely share my own experience. Chastity in my marriage has been an ongoing experience of examining the heart and mind. It has required the continual weighing of the most hidden intentions. This I find most especially true when communicating about postponing or achieving pregnancy, while at the same time attempting to reconcile understandings of true intimacy and the needs of another. Though it is not always pleasant or easy, chastity in marriage has taught me to be accountable to the gift of sexuality by striving to live out what this gift means through marital love. Natural Family Planning (NFP) truly encourages the flourishing of chastity within marriage. St. Augustine was definitely on to something when he said "Perfect abstinence is easier than perfect moderation". As a newly-wed (married in March 2014), I can humbly admit that I was unprepared in many ways for what chastity in marriage would be like and what Natural Family Planning in practice was all about. However, regardless of any difficulty my husband and I were both committed to seeing it through and remaining true to the teachings of the Church in this area. It has required us to stay united in moments of struggle and always communicate about any challenges that we may be having, either with the periods of abstinence, or learning to better understand each other’s expectations. Chastity enables us to face that which is unpleasant and uncomfortable because it THE TORCH

leads us toward an authentic experience of intimacy that does not seek to hide behind societal constructions of sexual fulfillment or the distortion of a disposable contraceptive mentality. It aids us toward achieving what is most beautiful. Chastity in marriage

has also highlighted the crucial importance of owning one's own commitment to chastity prior to saying "I do". This personal foundation of chastity strengthens the marriage bond. In my opinion, it is not enough to simply love a person and choose chastity; it must be rooted in a love of God, because it is only through God’s grace and providence that we can truly succeed in living out the call to be chaste in freedom. It is only when we are lovingly accountable to God and his plan for our sexuality that we can begin to love and value the other as a gift. My husband and I both struggled with chastity prior to meeting one another and throughout the onset of our relationship; our conversion experiences strengthened us immensely and gave us a greater understanding about one another and about the freedom of chastity. It allowed us to cling to God separately so that we could fasten ourselves as husband and wife. Natural Family Planning has helped us shed our selfish expectations and strive to grow in love within our marriage daily. Though it may not always be easy we remain open to God’s will and so far we have been graciously provided for. [Catherine Spada is a Public Middle School Educator] -5-

WINTER 2017

FAITH AND REASON LECTURE SERIES SAVE THE DATE ! VISIT: www.newmantoronto.com/ministries/lecture-series TENSIONS IN HEALTH CARE: CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVES Dr. Chris De Bono VP of Mission, Ethics, and Spirituality Providence Health, BC Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 7 PM Newman Centre, 89 St. George St. Toronto

NEWMAN AND CONVERSION Dr. Donald Graham Assistant Professor, St. Augustine’s Seminary, Toronto Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 7 PM Newman Centre, 89 St. George St. Toronto

THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

INTERNATIONAL MISSION TRIP

at Newman Centre

with Newman Centre

Serve with the Missionaries of the Poor in Kingston, Jamaica

Are you a 3rd or 4th Year student looking for guidance from a professional in your field?

Friday, April 28 - Sunday, May 7, 2017

OR

Mission Trip details: http://bit.ly/2hHh3YK

Are you someone who can share your experience and wisdom with a student?

Registration forms available at Newman Centre (Registration deadline: February 24, 2017; Bursary application deadline: January 20, 2017)

———————–———

Cost of Trip: $860 (Estimate)

Apply to our Mentorship Program!

To apply for Bursaries and to submit applications with deposit, please contact:

For students: bit.ly/newmanmentorship

Erin Kinsella, Associate Director of Campus Outreach at [email protected]

For mentors: bit.ly/mentoringatnewman The program begins on January 19, 2017

Offered by: Newman Centre

For more information, please contact Sonal Castelino, Associate Director of Formation and Programs at [email protected]

THE TORCH

Open to: All, with preference given to students and young adults who are members of the Newman community.

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WINTER 2017

FAITH AND REASON LECTURE SERIES ‘WHY READ THE BIBLE TODAY’ - A LECTURE BY MOST REVEREND TERRENCE PRENDERGAST S.J., ARCHBISHOP OF OTTAWA NOVEMBER 8, 2016

THE TORCH

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REMEMBERING NEWMAN THROUGH LIFE MEMORIES OF NEWMAN -

However, being an SCM didn’t allow me to stay holed up in discourse all day. Part of working through questions about God’s working in the world involved going out into the world and getting some work done! So we organized tutoring programmes, and pastoral visiting; we helped in soup kitchens and homeless shelters; we hosted lectures, faith and social justice groups; we planned retreats and community social events. Through it all, we were blessed with priests, religious, and a community of parishioners who supported and mentored us as we tried to reflect back onto the world the love and welcome of Christ that we experienced at Newman.

Dr. Julie Wright

Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. - Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

Finally, I end where I began. One of greatest gifts I received from the Newman Centre community was the opportunity to experience and participate in our beautiful liturgies as a parishioner and liturgical minister. There is something special about Mass at Newman: our community is drawn to and surrounds the Word of God and Body of Christ; there is a spirit of loving attentiveness, of generous participation, and reverence for Christ who enters into the midst of our gathering. The friendships that I’ve made at Newman flow from the joy of being together in the presence of Christ, and experiencing God’s love in our community.

When I was a first year undergraduate student, my roommate Kirsten suggested that we ‘check out’ the Newman Centre on campus. We met Fr. Tom Rosica, the Student Campus Ministers, and felt drawn in to the community almost immediately. We started going to Mass together almost every day. Two years later I joined the Student Campus Ministry (SCM) team and spent two years living in community with eight other students, two nuns and a priest -- not your typical ‘Residence on Campus’! My time on the Student Campus Ministry team was an incredible gift to me during that time of my life, showing me how to invest my head, hands and heart into the service and love of God; and it continues to be a source of grace for me today.

It has now been many, many years since I lived in community at the Newman Centre as an SCM, but Newman remains my spiritual home. The experience of Christian community has seized my imagination head, hands, and heart- and that has affected everything. It is with me in my vocation to marriage and medicine. It directs my (never-ending) studies. It takes me to far away parts of the world. And it always brings me back home, continually amazed with joy and gratitude for what I’ve found.

For a young Catholic starting out in University, I was so fortunate to have found a spiritual community that accepted and fed my academic curiosity. From my earliest days in the community, the Newman Centre has been a place where I’ve been comfortable bringing my questions, and encountering the questions I haven’t thought of yet. Whether over dinner with the SCM team, with visiting lecturers, or in lively debate after Mass with other Newmanites, our community has always honored the ‘wonder’ in wondering, and recognized that working through ideas is one of the ways that God calls people (and maybe especially academics) to a deeper love of His Church and His world. THE TORCH

[Dr. Julie Wright works at Sickkids]

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WINTER 2017

REMEMBERING NEWMAN THROUGH LIFE LEARNING TO LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS - Garrett Graham Over the summer, I stumbled across a great sermon written by our very own Blessed John Henry Newman. It’s entitled, “The Love of Relations and Friends” and was written for the feast day of St. John the Evangelist. Newman writes how even Jesus, fully God and fully man, had close friends, the closest of whom was St. John. Newman says in fact that there is nothing wrong with having friends we are close to, whom we love more than other people. Blessed Newman says that if we want to grow in love for everyone, we have to start small, learning how to heroically love those nearest to us - our family and friends. He writes:

surprise birthday parties, house meetings and team building activities. However there were also times where my love and patience was tested. There were times where I thought to myself, “I’ve heard this story told before”. There were moments where I felt drained and just wanted to go off and do my own thing. However, the beauty of community life at Newman is that it forces me to go past my own desires and feelings, and really make acts of committed service and love to the other people that I live with, even when I’m feeling down or tired. Living at the Newman Centre has shown me how to love in a deeper way.

“Now I shall here maintain ... with our Saviour's pattern before me, that the best preparation for loving the world at large, and loving it duly and wisely, is to cultivate an intimate friendship and affection towards those who are immediately about us.” In family life and in friendship, we can learn how to love in a committed and faithful way. Going beyond loving someone out of mere affection, but loving them even in their weird habits and most especially in their weaknesses and failings. This is the real test of faithful love. Learning to love our family and friends isn’t enough though - we must strive to love everyone. Newman goes on to write:

However, the love gained for those I lived with didn’t become closed in only on those people I lived with. It’s also helped me to learn how to do my best to show the love of Jesus to all of those whom I meet. This all began by learning how to love as an SCM. I’m very grateful to those whose generosity and support makes the SCM program and all of the other different activities here at Newman possible!

“…But again, the love of our private friends is the only preparatory exercise for the love of all men. …We are to begin with loving our friends about us, and gradually to enlarge the circle of our affections, till it reaches all Christians, and then all men.”

[Garrett Graham is in his first year of the Consecutive Education Program at York University. He is also in his second year serving as a Student Campus Minister at the Newman Centre ]

This is my second year serving as a Student Campus Minister (SCM) at the Newman Centre. At Newman, this year and last year, I developed good and solid friendships, with those I lived with, as well as with others who come around to Newman. There were many great times - movie nights and THE TORCH

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WINTER 2017

LEARNING FROM THE SAINTS THE RELEVANCE OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS TODAY - Liam Farrer The task to which I have been appointed is no easy one, to explain the relevance that St. Thomas Aquinas has for today’s Christian. The obvious temptation in such a situation is to resort to St. Thomas’ theology; however, I shall attempt to avoid this, insomuch as that is possible, given that it was not St. Thomas’ theology that made him a great saint, but, rather, his sanctity that made him a great theologian. There are clearly many instances within the life of the Angelic Doctor that would serve to edify us, however for the purposes of this reflection, I would like to focus on a series of events which were inarguably the climax of St. Thomas’ earthly life, events which I believe are often misunderstood. At some point in the year 1273 St. Thomas finished his “Treatise on the Incarnation,” and as was his custom he literally brought his work before the altar and offered it to God. He celebrated Mass in his usual fashion and proceeded as usual to meditate before the tabernacle prior to the start of morning prayer. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until the crucifix spoke stating “Thomas you have written well of me, what reward do you ask for your labour?” Thomas responded simply “Non nisi te Domine”— Nothing but you Lord. The same year on the feast of St. Nicholas, Thomas returned to the same chapel to celebrate Mass. While Thomas had experienced ecstatic experiences during Mass before, those who observed him noticed that this time he seemed distraught. Following Mass, he returned to his cell where he proceeded to pack up his writing instruments. Thomas was a changed man, something that was soon noticed by his confreres. THE TORCH

When one of them inquired about the difference in his character, and why he had stopped writing his Summa Theologiae, he responded “Reginald, I cannot go on because all that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared with what I have seen and what has been revealed to me.” Soon after this St. Thomas was summoned to the Council of Lyon. Unfortunately on his way he hit his head on a tree and suffered some sort of head injury. He was taken first to his niece’s castle and then to the Cistercian Monastery at Fossanuova where he passed away on 7 March 1274. St. Thomas provides us with several important spiritual lessons within this story. The first is the concept of offering our work to the Lord. We, especially students, often ask for God’s help at the beginning of something, be it an essay, an exam, a project, or a job,

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LEARNING FROM THE SAINTS but how often do we offer God the finished project? I remember when I was a high school student that a friend of mine pointed out to me that someone had taken out a thank-you note to St. Jude for favours granted in the advertisement section of the Calgary Herald. At the time I thought this was silly; however, looking back on it now it seems like the proper thing to do. We thank others for the good they do for us and give them credit when credit is due, why do we not do the same for God and His angels and saints (Thanks for the help with this article by the way). Secondly let us learn from what St. Thomas asked for as a reward: Christ. Not a share in Christ’s glory, not a share in his riches, simply Christ. This is perhaps the first place where contextual exegesis is required. Many people today think of receiving Christ as receiving the grace of the Risen one, and it is; however, for St. Thomas it is also first and foremost the reception of Christ’s Passion. St. Thomas understood that in order to be united with Christ one must be united to what he himself described in Pange Linguae as “a life of woe.” By uniting ourselves to Christ’s passion we can truly drink from the cup which he drunk from we can truly come to share in Christ’s love and the love of His Father. As several great spiritual writers (St. Bernard, St. Bonaventure, St. John of the Cross, etc,) have noted, suffering is the beginning of the process of purgation which leads to greater union with our Triune God. This may sound disconcerting, but as another great St. Thomas (More) notes “we do not get to Heaven on feather beds.” The third point I wish to highlight is perhaps the most important. What did St. Thomas mean when he said that his writing was “so much like straw” compared to the vision of Christ? In order to understand this properly one must look at one of the primary uses of straw in St. Thomas’ time, building. Straw was used for thatching roofs and making mud bricks. What St. Thomas is perhaps saying then is not that his Summa THE TORCH

must be discarded but rather that he had been greatly humbled by realizing that his well-crafted works were in fact not the intellectual cathedrals that he had thought, but rather simply the first stage of the building process. We can learn both from St. Thomas’ humility and from his choice of words. We too, with humility, must see that God is infinitely greater than we are, and as such we must resist the urge to put God in the proverbial box. If we attempt to reduce God to systems (and please don’t mistake me: I love theological systems, they are very helpful) we can negate the God of surprises. The second lesson that we can learn from this is that we must build on St. Thomas. If the Angelic Doctor’s writings are straw we must treat them as such, and use them to build. What I mean by this is simple. There is a great tendency in Catholicism to take the theology of St. Thomas as the final word on a subject, but to do this goes against everything St. Thomas stands for. We must use the straw that he and others have provided us to build up our own knowledge of the faith, but first one must learn how to build properly. The best way to do this is to thoroughly apprentice oneself to Holy Scripture, via a good study bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Compendium of Catholic Social Teachings. This will undoubtedly be a long process but it will teach us how to make bricks from straw so that we continue to help, as St. Thomas did, to build the city of God here on Earth. [Liam A. Farrer is a PhD Student at Regis College at the Toronto School of Theology at the U of T. He is also a Junior Scholar of the Lonergan Research Institute]

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SPECIAL PARISH EVENTS FIRST ANNUAL ANGELIC DOCTOR LECTURE The Person of St. Thomas Aquinas and His Contribution to the Intellectual Life of the Catholic University Students

—————————— Special Guest Speaker

Fr. Peter Cameron O.P. Thursday, January 26, 2017

NEWMAN CENTRE

PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY May 22 - June 1, 2017 Estimated cost: $3,300 Under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Peter Turrone, we will visit the holy sites in Italy: Rome, Montecassino, Assisi, Lanciano and Siena over 11 days. Pilgrimage Package includes:  Hotel and Round-trip airfare  Transportation to holy sites  General Audience with Pope Francis  Daily Mass  Daily Breakfast and Dinner  English-speaking guide

Mass: 6 PM | Lecture: 7 PM

Newman Centre

(Reception follows lecture)

Please register here: http://bit.ly/aquinasatnewman Open to: All

For full itinerary, visit: http://bit.ly/2h0fT76

About the Lecture: According to his chief biographer, “those who heard Thomas Aquinas resolving difficulties and problems in a new way, with new principles, believed that he had been endowed by God with a new light of understanding.” How can we, faced with our own pressing problems and difficulties, reap the benefits of St. Thomas’ light of understanding?

Deadline for $300 deposit: Sunday, January 15, 2017.

Questions: Email Sonal at [email protected] Offered by: Newman Centre | Open to: All

About the Speaker: Father Peter John Cameron O.P. is a Dominican priest ordained in 1986. He is the chairman of the department of homiletics at St. Joseph's Seminary-Dunwoodie and the artistic director of Blackfriars Repertory Theatre in New York City. Father Cameron is the editor-in-chief of Magnificat. His books include Mysteries of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Present Before Me: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration. THE TORCH

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STAFF PROFILE AN INTERVIEW WITH

ANNE SKREPICHUK ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT NEWMAN CENTRE When did you join the Newman Centre? I joined the Newman Centre in February 2013. I had previously been working in a very busy environment at a school in Toronto, and I was looking for a change in pace and a new direction. I thought to myself that a parish secretary’s work was probably quiet and relatively stress-free. The first job posting that I found was here at Newman and I was led smack into the middle of an even busier educational environment where I am very happy, despite having lost my illusions about the quietness of the church secretary’s life! What do you do at the Newman Centre? I am the Administrative Assistant here at Newman so I take care of the general administrative tasks like managing the parish office, maintaining our parish records and coordinating scheduling. I am honoured to support our community’s mission and to further our vision. How does the Newman Centre inspire you? The Newman Centre community inspires me with a deep sense of hope, which is a virtue I struggle to even ask for! Here is a community of people who do not notice the obstacles, but keep their eyes on what their mission is, giving themselves completely.

immediately about us.” (Parochial and Plain Sermons, vol. 2, ser. 5) What has been most memorable in your time at Newman? I have not been here as a staff member for a very long time, but I remember well my visits here as a student. I was too shy to enter the house or join any of the activities, but I would come often as I began to commit to a daily habit of mental prayer. I loved seeing the windows of Our Lady in the East Wall of the chapel and found them very consoling as I began to practice a faith that I was only just beginning to take seriously. Then, when I met the gentleman whom I have since married, we came to the chapel to pray the Rosary and I shared with him the beautiful windows of Our Lady that I loved. Words you live by: Words I would like to live by more faithfully! - “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” (Matthew 6:27)

What is your favourite quote from the teaching of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman? “The best preparation for loving the world at large, and loving it duly and wisely, is to cultivate an intimate friendship and affection towards those who are THE TORCH

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Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? (Matthew 6:27) WINTER 2017

AMAZING GROUPS AT NEWMAN THE NEWMAN CATHOLIC STUDENTS’ CLUB

FAITH STUDIES:

DEVELOPING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

- VIRGINIA MERVAR, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE NEWMAN CATHOLIC STUDENTS’ CLUB

- LINA MARIA The faith study program is an amazing way to discover one’s relationship with God through fruitful discussions. There are five levels in the faith study series: Discovery, Source, Growth, Obedience, Commission. Whether you have an established spiritual relationship with the Lord, or whether you do not know much about him, the small group sessions will allow you to encounter the Trinity and begin your path to holiness. Each level has a different focus; for example, Discovery highlights the person of Jesus Christ. In the first level, we encounter Jesus and internalize the meaning of his great sacrifice as a means of creating a bridge between us and God. Moreover, every faith study calls us to action, by being aware of the sins and distractions that prevent us from placing God at the very center of our lives. Through the faith studies, one begins to realize that our spiritual lives are dynamic and can be improved by taking small steps. Each week ends with a challenge, where participants are called to put into practice what they have learned during the lesson. The groups are made up of 2 to 4 members that are accompanied by 1 or 2 leaders. The meetings are once a week with varying times depending on the participant’s schedule. We are looking for both leaders and participants, so if you are interested, please register online at www.ccofaithstudies.ca. Our ultimate goal is to spark a desire for God and to equip participants to spread the good news to those around them, as well as, acting as missionaries of the Catholic faith.

Faith Studies Student Leaders at Newman Centre THE TORCH

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The Newman Catholic Students’ Club (NCSC) serves within the Newman Centre to offer opportunities to students at the University of Toronto that involve a spiritual and social dimension. We as a club have been commissioned by the Newman Centre to serve by creating opportunities where people can encounter a community, and through that community, hopefully meet Christ, whether it is by feeding the hungry during monthly Street Patrols or in Adoration at Night Fever.

Street Patrol - Every month NCSC organizes this service activity where people prepare sandwiches and distribute them to the homeless on the streets of downtown Toronto. Activities and celebrations like organized sports games, an All Hallows Eve party, a skating “stress buster”, or the Pilgrimage of Mercy (in partnership with the Ryerson Chaplaincy) are experiences through which the NCSC plans to foster a sense of community and joy. We feel these events are especially important in the university setting where academic pressures and student success become primary focuses. ….Continued on page 15 WINTER 2017

AMAZING GROUPS AT NEWMAN Events to alleviate the feelings of these pressures and isolation especially to the students on campus, is where the NCSC team fits in among the various other groups at the Newman Centre. A good summary of the experience of the Newman Catholic Student’s Club’s impact is Anne Mienkowski. Anne served as a Student Campus Minister last year at Newman and we first met playing on the Newman Cardinals softball team. We both continued to interact at the NCSC events last year while I was attending Newman and she was serving as a Student Campus Minister.

Dr. Patricia Murphy lectured to a group of students on Humanae Vitae at an event co-hosted by the BESt Club and the Newman Centre in 2015.

Our friendship flourished and this year we are both on the NCSC team planning events together with the rest of an incredible group of people who care so much about bringing Christ to this university campus. One of the things Anne says about her experience about Newman is that “I honestly have so much trouble leaving Newman every day because the friendships formed here are so deep because they are rooted in Christ, and therefore so much joy and laughter results” and I think this is what we hope for the NCSC experience.” We hope the Newman Catholic Students’ Club experience is one that can be both spiritual and social because it is rooted in Christ and thus, it inspires a spirit of authentic joy and friendship through community engagement.

BIOETHICS STUDENTS CLUB - ROMAN ZYLA Euthanasia. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Embryonic stem cell research. The world is faced with increasingly complex bioethical challenges, and Catholics often find themselves at odds with the prevailing public opinion on these issues. The Bioethics Students Club (BESt Club) provides healthcare students with an opportunity to discuss contemporary topics in bioethics and learn how to THE TORCH

approach them from the Catholic understanding of the fundamental dignity of the human person. The BESt Club is the student arm of the St. Joseph Moscati Toronto Catholic Doctor’s Guild (TCDG). For the last several years, members of the TCDG, including physicians and a consultant ethicist, have offered their time to serve as seminar leaders for BESt Club students. During a typical seminar, students share a meal and hear a presentation from a speaker with expertise in the presentation topic. There is always ample time left for discussion and students invariably find themselves walking away from a BESt seminar intellectually richer for the experience. Medical student Rafael Sumalinog says, “The BESt club is a great way to develop fellowship with doctors and other medical students who share the faith. It allows me to take the pulse on the most important bioethical issues of the day, and helps me better approach the ethical ‘gray zones’ that I often see in everyday clinical practice.” In addition to bioethical subjects, we have also had seminars on other topics relevant to Catholic healthcare, such as a talk on physician saints and one on Catholic medical missions to underserved areas of the world. Furthermore, the BESt Club receives ….Continued on page 16

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WINTER 2017

AMAZING GROUPS AT NEWMAN ….Continued from page 15

Our Mission:

spiritual guidance from our chaplain, Fr. Fausto Bailo, who was trained as a surgeon before finding his vocation as a priest and therefore brings a unique blend of experiences and perspectives to our events.

1. To promote an understanding of Catholic perspectives in health care practice through educational activities that engage participants in reflective discussion;

The BESt Club has been blessed to enjoy a very fruitful partnership with the Newman Centre over the last several years. We hold our seminars at the Newman Centre on the last Wednesday of every month during the school year, and along with the Newman Centre we co-host an annual event featuring an invited speaker lecturing on topics important to the provision of authentically Catholic healthcare. In addition, we hold recollections during Advent and Lent that provide community members with an opportunity for spiritual reflection and fellowship. Finally, every year BESt students attend symposia and meetings such as the Canadian Physicians for Life conference and the TCDG Annual Mass and General Meeting.

2. To provide a supportive community for inter-professional dialogue among Catholic healthcare professionals and students;

Students with an interest in bioethics or a career in healthcare are encouraged to contact Roman at [email protected] for information on upcoming events.

HEALTH SCIENCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

3. To support health professionals and students by offering opportunities to deepen their Catholic faith, resilience, and fortitude; 4. To reach out to the wider community to promote an understanding of Catholic perspectives on ethical healthcare. Past Events: 

Role of Mercy and Compassion in Health Care



Can I Still Work in Health Care?



Get the Facts: Concerns Related to Assisted Death for Catholic Health Care Students and Professionals - An inter-professional panel discussion.



Palliative Care - The Family Story



Role of Conscience in Health Care Professions

If you have suggestions for topics, please contact Sonal Castelino at [email protected]

- SONAL CASTELINO The Health Sciences Advisory Committee is an Inter-Professional Committee of the Newman Centre Catholic Mission at the University of Toronto. Our commitment as health science professionals and students is to foster discussion and inquiry regarding ethical issues in healthcare guided by Catholic teaching. We welcome everyone who shares our commitment to attend our events.

Health Sciences Advisory Committee THE TORCH

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WINTER 2017

NEWMAN EVENTS AT A GLANCE Tear off this quick reference guide to events at Newman and put it on your fridge For details on individual events, please visit our website: www.newmantoronto.com or follow us on social media (Links provided on page 19)

EVENT

DATE

Holy Hour for Chastity & Vocational Discernment (Weekly)

Every Thursday, 12:45 - 1:45 pm

Deadline for $300 Deposit for the Pilgrimage to Italy with Newman Centre (see page 12 for details)

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Mentorship Program Begins (see page 6 for details)

Thursday, January 19

First Angelic Doctor Lecture with Fr. Peter Cameron O.P.

Thursday, January 26

Newman Centre Winter Retreat Weekend

January 27 - 29

Student Campus Ministry Program Applications Open

Wednesday, February 1

Candlemas and Celebrating Religious Life at Newman Centre

Thursday, February 2, 6 pm

Faith and Reason lecture Tensions in Health: Catholic Perspectives By Dr. Chris De Bono, VP of Mission, Ethics, and Spirituality Providence Health, BC

Thursday, February 9, 7 pm

Celebrating Faith, Food and Culture!

Thursday, February 16

International Mission Trip Application Deadline (see page 6 for details)

Friday, February 24

Fr. Jacques Philippe Lenten Retreat

Saturday, March 4

Fr. Jacques Philippe preaches at all Sunday Masses at Newman

Sunday, March 5 11 am & 7 pm

Our Last Stand Movie Screening and Discussion with Toronto Campus Ministries

Monday, March 6, 7 pm

Faith and Reason Lecture: Newman and Conversion Dr. Donald Graham, Assistant Professor, St. Augustine’s Seminary, Toronto

Thursday, March 23, 7 pm

Business Leaders Breakfast and Talk Andreas Widmer, Author of The Pope and The CEO

Thursday, November 9

*Join us for our weekly events: Every Tuesday, Soup and Bagel (S&B) lunch and Pray and Play (P&P). Details on our website.

S&B: 12:45 - 2:30 pm P&P: 7:30 - 10:00 pm

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WINTER 2017

NEWMAN FOUNDATION OF TORONTO What are your hopes for Newman Centre?

A TÊTE A TÊTE WITH LLOYD BARBARA

Newman has played a very important role in students’ lives by supporting their faith in today’s climate of religious ambiguity. Inviting them into the Newman world so they can reach out to help others physically, spiritually and emotionally is a wonderful way to serve others. I hope to see Newman Centre increase their outreach to help many more students.

BOARD MEMBER, NEWMAN FOUNDATION OF TORONTO How long have you been with the Newman Foundation Board? I have been a Board Member for over 15 years. Newman’s Patron, Frank Morneau introduced me to the Newman community and I’ve been a supporter ever since. Why is it important to provide university students with both spiritual and intellectual knowledge? I believe spirituality enhances intellectual knowledge. Rather than separating them, balancing them together provides for a more wholesome personal development.

I would also like to see more members of the Newman community become peer parishioners and support one another. We need to celebrate and showcase the uniqueness of this community, and how worthy the work is of donor support. One of the most remarkable qualities of our Christian faith is value of service to others. I hope Newman’s friends and alumni will continue to support all this good work. [Lloyd Barbara is the Vice Chairman of Burgundy Asset Management. He is a philanthropist and an active member of numerous non-profit organizations.]

L to R front row: Newman Foundation of Toronto Board Members Lloyd Barbara, Natalie Maggisano, Fr. Peter Turrone, Vickie McNally, Dr. Nisha Fernandes, Sandra Murphy. L to R back row: Samantha Koon (Development Officer), Jim Milway (Board Chair), Dr. Fok-Han Leung and Patrick Douglas (Director of HR & Operations) THE TORCH

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WINTER 2017

PHOTOS: NEWMAN’S ADVENT DINNER

NEWMAN CENTRE MASS TIMES AND VISITING HOURS Mass Times: Monday - Friday 12:15 pm | Saturday 9:30 am (Rosary at 9 am) |Sunday 11 am & 7 pm Mass on statutory holidays: 9:30 am St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel Visiting Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:45 pm Confession: Confessions are heard before every Mass: Monday to Friday: 11:45 am to 12:05 pm | Saturdays: 9:00 - 9:20 am | Sundays: 10:15 to 10:45 am and 6:15 to 6:45 pm Alternatively, book an appointment with Fr. Peter: [email protected]/416-979-2468 ext. 223 The Newman Centre (Charitable Registration Number: 10791 0259 RR0021 ) 89 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E8 | Tel: 416-979-2468 | Fax: 416-596-6920 | Facebook.com/newmanchaplaincy | Twitter @NewmanUofT | YouTube NewmanUofT Interested in receiving Newman Centre event updates regularly? Email: [email protected] to sign-up for our bi-weekly email. THE TORCH

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WINTER 2017

LENTEN RETREAT WITH FR. JACQUES PHILIPPE Saturday, March 4, 2017 9:00 am - 3:30 pm Join us for a once in a lifetime Lenten Retreat led by the world-renowned Fr. Jacques Philippe from France. The retreat will comprise Rosary, Mass, spiritual talks, time for prayer and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Jacques will also preside over the 11 am and 7 pm Sunday Masses on March 5th at Newman. To RSVP, go to http://bit.ly/newmanretreats. For more information contact Sonal Castelino at [email protected]

The cost is $15 only! | Open to: All “We are not always masters of the unfolding of our lives, but we can always be masters of the meaning we give them. Our freedom can transform any event in our lives into an expression of love, abandonment, trust, hope, and offering.” — Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 58 (An excerpt from Interior Freedom) Fr. Jacques Philippe was born on March 12, 1947 in Lorraine, France. After studying mathematics in college, he spent several years teaching and doing scientific research. In 1976, he met the then recently-founded Community of the Beatitudes and answered the Lord’s call to follow Him through this vocation. He then spent several years in Nazareth and Jerusalem immersing himself in the study of Hebrew and the Jewish roots of Christianity. In 1981, he traveled to Rome to study theology and canon law, was ordained a priest in 1985, and began his work as a spiritual director, working in the formation of priests and seminarians of the Community. He has also preached retreats regularly in France and abroad and has consolidated his principal retreat themes into several books on spirituality. In recent years, he has devoted himself primarily to spiritual direction and preaching retreats. For advertising enquiries, please contact: [email protected]