The Torch - Newman Centre

The Torch Newman Centre Catholic Mission Newsletter

Volume 2

Toronto, Winter 2018

Issue 2

FIDES ET SCIENTIA www.newmantoronto.com

NEWMAN CENTRE CONTACT LIST STAFF

COMMITTEES

Fr. Peter Turrone, Pastor & Executive Director [email protected] Erin Kinsella, Associate Director of Campus Outreach [email protected] Alexandra Whittle, Program and Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] Patrick Douglas, Director of Human Resources and Operations [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 Fr. Peter (see Staff)

STUDENT CAMPUS MINISTERS Lisa Caballero Jose Mendez Campos Sarah Hanna Sasha Hellwig Alexis Motschall Nikita Roy Krishna Santhakumar Arnel Vicente SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS

FINANCE COUNCIL Patrick (see Staff) NEWMAN FOUNDATION Samantha (see Staff) VOLUNTEER SCREENING Alexandra (See Staff) LITURGICAL MINISTRIES ALTAR SERVERS Rogelio, [email protected] EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARISTIC Fr. Peter (see Staff) SACRISTANS Julie, [email protected] LECTORS Joan, [email protected] LAY PASTORAL VISITORS Alexandra (see Staff) SOCIAL OUTREACH MINISTRIES

COFFEE MINISTRY (After Sunday morning Mass) Diane, [email protected] COUNTERPOINT Elisa, [email protected] COURAGE Fr. Kevin, [email protected] GENESIS: FAITH & SCIENCE FORUM Nikita, [email protected] HEALTH SCIENCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (HSAC) Alexandra (see Staff) NEWMAN CATHOLIC STUDENTS’ CLUB (NCSC) Michael, [email protected]

ST. FRANCIS TABLE Anne, [email protected]

ST. THOMAS MORE LAWYERS’ GUILD

STREET PATROL Richard, [email protected]

U of T CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY (UTCCC) Lyndon, [email protected]

CATHOLIC INITIATION PROGRAM (RCIA) and CONFIRMATION Lenita, [email protected]

Fr. Peter (see Staff)

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CATHOLIC TEACHER'S GUILD Barry, [email protected]

NEWMAN YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY (NYAM) Leslie, [email protected]

GROUPS

FIRST COMMUNION/RECONCILIATION Lenita, [email protected]

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

OUT OF THE COLD Mary, [email protected]

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION Fr. Peter (see Staff)

CHILDREN’S LITURGY Alexandra (See Staff)

BIOETHICS STUDENTS’ CLUB (BEST) Alexandra, [email protected]

ANGELIC WARFARE CONFRATERNITY

For Mass times, visiting hours and social media links, please see page 19

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Frank, [email protected]

U of T STUDENTS FOR LIFE (UTSFL) Blaise, [email protected] YOUNG CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS (YCAT) Garrett, [email protected]

YOUTH TEAMS OF OUR LADY (YTOL) Damian, [email protected] WINTER 2018

A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR Happy New Year! Looking back on AD 2017, I would like to begin by thanking the Lord for all of the many graces He has graciously lavished upon us. Thanks to the generosity of many people who offered their time, talents and finances, we were able to continue our work of evangelization here at the university. Of memorable note were the lectures given by Mr. Edward Short and Andreas Widmer. Edward helped us to gain a deeper understanding of the depth and sheer beauty of Blessed John Henry Newman's intellectual life. Andreas, the highly successful philanthropist and business leader, gave witness to the beauty and feasibility of living the Gospel without compromise in the world of business. Additionally, we have had several groups meet on a regular basis as part of our mentorship program, to study Sacred Scripture, to learn how to grow in the spiritual life, and to discuss and implement strategies to address issues of conscience for those in the healthcare professions. It also gives us a great deal of joy to minister to an ever-increasing number of young men and women seeking spiritual direction. There is an increasing awareness of the ephemeral and superficial nature of our secular culture. As St. Augustine eventually understood, their hearts have recognized that they are made for God and only He can satisfy their deepest longings. During this upcoming academic term, we will delve deeper into the important theme of faith and science. In a recent conference on evangelization in Florida, Bishop Barron remarked that many people move away from the faith due to scientism. Scientism is the belief that all "real" knowledge is scientific knowledge. Proponents of this ideology often pit faith against science and assume that only science is synonymous with reason. Unfortunately, many youth have been influenced by this false belief. While ministering to many elementary and high school students and teachers in my previous assignment, I found that many believed that faith and science were in conflict with each other. They believed that a Christian had to choose between believing in evolution or creation. Sadly, they are not the only ones. Ms. Julie Payette, our current Governor General, made some THE TORCH

very offensive remarks during her opening speech at the 9th Annual Canadian Science Policy Conference. In particular, she mocked those who “are still debating and still questioning whether life was a divine intervention or whether it was coming out of a natural process let alone, oh my goodness, a random process." She fails to recognize that there are many scientists who have no difficulty reconciling belief in the Divine Creator with a welldeveloped understanding of evolutionary processes, and otherwise. Part of our mission is to challenge these ideologies lest they remain part of our cultural ethos. Our bi-weekly Genesis: Faith and Science Forum seeks to work out specific issues by offering thought-provoking discussions on a variety of themes. The biotechnologist Geoffrey Woollard's article in this issue, and physics student Darren Pereira's interview published in the November 17th, 2017 issue of the Catholic Register, offer calm and eloquent arguments that question the popular faith versus science narrative. We have also invited two high-profile Catholic scientists to help us grow in our intellectual understanding of the faith with respect to key issues related to natural sciences. Fr Thomas Davenport, OP will give the next Angelic Doctor Lecture on the theme of biological evolution. In March, Dr. Stacy A. Trasancos will speak on the role of Christianity in the development of modern science. These topics are of particular relevance since there is much confusion amongst people of faith and those who claim to have none. The goal is not to minimize the importance of the natural sciences and supplant it with religion. On the contrary, as St. Pope John Paul II once wrote, "science can purify religion from error and superstition." The importance of religion is that it can "purify science of idolatry and false absolutes." May we spend AD 2018 at the service of the Lord under the loving protection of Our Lady, the Seat of Wisdom. God bless, Fr Peter

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CATHOLICISM AS TRUTH I was baptized at the Newman Centre during the Easter of 2017. I wouldn’t really claim, however, that it was the moment of my conversion. My baptism gave me new life, the only problem was that I knew not what that entailed. If you can tell by my first and last name, I grew up a Hindu for most of my life; I was not necessarily devout, but I did think of myself as a believer. I took pride in identifying as a Hindu. In my earlier years of high school, I resorted to atheism and in my last two years I converted to some type of deism, and thus began my journey.

unprecedented, will remain that way forever. Call Christianity what you may, but not one person can deny that love conveyed by Christ is such that it cannot ontologically be conveyed by any other being, divine or not. It was in understanding such a concept that truly brought me to our Lord. I’ve heard plenty of times about the logical consistency of God being that which nothing greater can be conceived, and Him being unconditionally all loving was necessary of His nature, but it was at a specific moment that another Newman Student Campus Minister, Alexis Motschall, made me understand it without using reason. This isn’t to say other members of the community did not help me, rather it was especially this instance that was a stepping stone to me encountering Christ.

God was so kind that He revealed Himself to me through the way He knew most effective: reason. My godfather Rashad Rehman, one of my closest brothers in Christ – Massimo Lobue, and my grade 11 philosophy teacher Mr. Paul Coates are all the people that God used to nurture a seed that had been planted earlier than I thought.

My encounter happened when Jose Mendez Campos, one who is defined truly as a friend, brought me with him to Adoration. I was overwhelmed with Christ’s love. God has been constantly using people of all sorts to bring me towards Himself. The Newman Centre has been the quintessential point in my life that enabled me to become a follower. Yes, studying the natural theological arguments for the existence of God along with historical evidence of Christ can help one know the Lord, but to abbreviate St. Thomas Aquinas: who cares? Knowing God as love is sufficient.

However, instead of my baptism, I think my conversion is much more of an interesting and fruitful story. The reason I make a distinction between my baptism and conversion is because the latter was an instance (amongst many to come I believe) that brought me closer to Christ in faith, and the former was me understanding God through reason, but lacking faith. During a minor panic attack just prior to my baptism, if it had not been for my godfather, I may not have been Catholic that night. His exact words: “Krishna, God loves you, and now is your time to say yes”. How much truer can anything else be?

Krishna Joseph Vaz Santhakumar (far right in the photo with the Student Campus Ministry team) is a 2017-18 Newman Student Campus Minister and is in his second undergraduate year studying Philosophy at the University of Toronto.

The fascination that I have for Christ’s love, for it is

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OUR COMMON RATIONALITY: SINKING OUR ROOTS DEEPER THROUGH DIALOGUE I had the honour of sharing an evening of conversation with students and community members at the Newman Centre on the topic of living in harmony with nature and technology. This was part of the Genesis: Faith and Science Forum, which meets every two weeks on Monday nights at Newman to promote dialogue between faith and science. Dialogue comes from the Ancient Greek διάλογος (“conversation”), from διά (diá, “through, inter”) and λόγος (“speech, discourse”).

research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God [Cf. First Vatican Council, Dei Filius]. The humble and persevering investigators of the secrets of nature are being led, as it were, by the hand of God, even unawares, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are. Science enriches faith when it puts us more into contact with reality, which has come from the loving hands of our Father God. God creates freely out of love for the purpose of manifesting his glory, and we and all of creation sing his praise through our created dignity, goodness, beauty, unity and truth. Faith sheds light on reality, and helps the believer move forward in their research amid complexity and possible confusion from worldviews incompatible with the Gospel that are intertwined with existing knowledge. The encyclical Lumen Fidei further explains how science benefits from faith, which Laudato si’ quotes in its section on “Religions in dialogue with science”.

We centered the dialogue around integral human ecology, which has been doctrinally developed in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, as well as Benedict XVI’s social encyclical Caritas in Veritate and other magisterial teaching. I wanted to capture how we can be at home in the world with a mature scientific outlook, and settled on the title “Building a Nest in the Tree of Life”. The main topic we explored is how evolutionary theory is compatible with the Gospel of Creation, which Francis proclaims in his encyclical on the “Care for Our Common Home” (Cf. LS 62-100). Francis reminds us to draw from every well spring available to generate creative solutions of how to live in harmony with creation, “If we are truly concerned to develop an ecology capable of remedying the damage we have done, no branch of the sciences and no form of wisdom can be left out, and that includes religion and the language particular to it. (LS 63)”. In what follows below, I would like to share what inspired me to present these ideas, offer my hopes for the future of the Genesis Forum, and offer a reading list for further enrichment.

Faith encourages the scientist to remain constantly open to reality in all its inexhaustible richness. Faith awakens the critical sense by preventing research from being satisfied with its own formulae and helps it to realize that nature is always greater. By stimulating wonder before the profound mystery of creation, faith broadens the horizons of reason to shed greater light on the world which discloses itself to scientific investigation.

Mariano Artigas (1938–2006), was a spanish scientist, philosopher and theologian. He studied physical sciences and philosophy in Barcelona and Rome and devoted his professional career to building bridges between science and religion. He contributed to developing a language where both science and religion can offer their contributions in the language suited to them. His work was in deep continuity with Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics, and enriched this understanding of being with insights from 20th century physics.

The Second Vatican Council offers criteria for the “Rightful Autonomy of Earthly Affairs” in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. By the very nature of creation, material being is endowed with its own stability, truth and excellence, its own order and laws. These, as the methods proper to every science and technique must be respected. Consequently, methodical THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

OUR COMMON RATIONALITY: SINKING OUR ROOTS DEEPER THROUGH DIALOGUE

His work is continued by the Science, Reason and Faith group at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. Fr. Mariano Artigas was a priest of Opus Dei, whose founder taught ordinary Catholics how to live their faith in the day-to-day.

into wisdom. By dialoguing with those around us, we prevent a confused stagnation from setting in, and are primed to see the deep interconnections in creation that mirror the profound interconnected interiority of the Triune God (Cf. LS 238-240).

Everyday life is the true setting for your lives as Christians. Your daily encounter with Christ takes place where your fellow men, your yearnings, your work and your affections are. It is in the midst of the most material things of the earth that we must sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind.

I believe the unique offering of the Genesis Forum is in promoting this community of dialogue. We live in a world-in-motion, and many of us long to sink our roots deeper, to really feel at home in the world, to become socially invested and belong. Dialogue flourishes under long term relationships such as family, old friends, professional mentors, family doctors, personal trainers and spiritual guides. In these long-term relationships people are deeply known and appreciated. My hope for the Genesis Forum is that the participants themselves will learn through teaching. We can take turns offering our expertise and become confident through passing the lessons we have learned to those around us. I look forward to seeing examples of how everyone is enlightening their work with the light of faith and the warmth of Christ’s love in the upcoming year. …….Continued on page 7

I believe the future of the Genesis Forum lies in building bridges between science and religion. In the context of creation theology, Santiago Sainz wrote: In reality, a sound epistemology not only distinguishes between the spheres proper to the natural sciences and faith respectively, but also acknowledges within philosophy a certain principle of mediation, since the sciences, with their own methods and objectives, do not cover the whole sphere of human reason; and faith, which refers to the same world as science, needs philosophical categories in order to formulate its meaning and enter into dialogue with human rationality.

Geoffrey Woollard (seen in the centre of the photo above with attendees at the Genesis: Faith and Science forum at Newman Centre) studied biophysics (BSc) and structural biology (MSc) at UBC. He moved to Toronto to work in biotechnology.

What better time to build bridges then while studying science at university? Each conversation with classmates provides opportunities for dialogue: in class, completing assignments and studying for exams together. Through dialogue enlightened by faith we can transform data into knowledge, and knowledge THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

REVIEW: POVERTY INC. SCREENING On the evening of November 6, Newman Centre along with St. Michael’s College and the Archdiocese of Toronto hosted the screening of Poverty, Inc., a documentary exploring the corporate dimension of foreign aid for impoverished and underdeveloped countries.

investment from their North American and European counterparts.

Featuring philanthropist and tech entrepreneur Andreas Widmer, who also participated in the subsequent panel discussion, the film focused on the economic dynamics currently in place between public funding and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who profit from the ‘paternalistic’ system of providing for peoples who are, contrary to widely accepted public opinion, more than capable of providing for themselves.

Concluding the event, Andreas proposed that many Western nations suffer from ignorance of the true nature of problems facing the developing world, and must first confront social issues domestically in order to allow other nations to resolve their own problems internally. Alexander Tonelli is a second year undergraduate in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. Continued from page 6 - Our Common Rationality Full list of further reading related to this article: •

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Andreas and the many other local and global interviewees heavily criticized the status-quo practice of dumping vast supplies of subsidized goods into foreign markets, crippling local businesses’ ability to compete with artificially lower prices. These external market factors set off chain reactions which create an environment where real economic growth becomes nearly impossible, ever increasing developing countries’ reliance on foreign assistance.

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Solutions from grassroots business leaders and startups included the need for justice within public institutions along with high-risk investment capital, absolutely critical for small companies to grow into the ‘missing middle’ of medium-sized businesses essential for a robust, flourishing economy. Following the film, the panelists discussed their own experiences working with emerging African economies, many of which are currently stunted by the inability to procure capital THE TORCH

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Benedict Ashley and John Deely, How Science Enriches Theology, St. Augustine’s Press (2012), 248 pages Mariano Artigas, The Mind of the Universe: Understanding Science and Religion, Templeton Foundation Press (2001), 384 pages Knowing Things for Sure: Science and Truth, UPA (2006), 290 pages Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), Libreria Editrice Vaticana (2009), 106 pages Josemaría Escrivá, In Love with the Church: Passionately Loving the World, Scepter Publishers (2007), 13 pages Francis, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), Libreria Editrice Vaticana (2013), 68 pages Why the only future worth building includes everyone, TED2017 (2017), 18 min Romano Guardini, The Lord: Part Two, V, The “Kindness of God”, Gateway Editions (2016), 12 pgs John Paul II, Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), Libreria Editrice Vaticana (1998), 154 pages Jose Morales, Creation Theology, Publisher: Four Courts Press Ltd (2000), 261 pages Anthony Rizzi, The Science Before Science, Authorhouse (2004), 390 pages Santiago Sanz, Summaries of Catholic Teaching: Creation, opusdei.ca, http://multimedia.opusdei.org/pdf/en/36creation.pdf, accessed 8 Dec 2017, 9 pages WINTER 2018

MEMORIES OF NEWMAN I walked into the Newman Centre for the first time soon after I started my graduate degree in chemistry at the University of Toronto. I was freshly baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil of 2013 and had little idea how my newly found faith would change my life. As I progressed in my studies and became involved in more projects, I slowly discovered the necessity of being part of a Catholic community. I started coming to the Newman Centre frequently, attending daily Masses, Adoration nights and various lectures. I often had little time to stay and socialize after each event, but I always loved coming here and taking a break from long hours of lab work and other responsibilities. After transferring into the PhD program, I began to notice that the success of my research and my extensive travels somehow left me desiring something more. It was not enough for me to simply attend Masses to check off an item on my to-do list. Rather, I longed for my faith to infuse every aspect of my life. It is not an exaggeration to say that it was through my graduate work in science that I began to reach out to God for a deeper relationship with Him.

L to R: Judy Tsao, Nicole Richard and Danielle Alvares at Newman’s Advent Dinner

deeply humbled by the wisdom of those around me. I have no doubt that these fruits will continue to help me in the future.

But I soon realized, I couldn’t do it alone. I was driven to dig deeper into the meaning of the vocation of a scientist through the faith and science group at the Newman Centre. While my formation is certainly ongoing, the two years I spent with this group of inspiring people contributed immensely to keeping me grounded throughout the often confusing experience of graduate school. I became less afraid to delve deeper into subjects that I never frequented and was

Above all, my fondest memories of the Newman Centre come from my time serving as a Student Campus Minister and front desk associate this past year and a half. Looking back, I cannot count the number of occasions where I was genuinely surprised by joy, even when things did not go according to my own plans. I discovered the joy of serving others, the beauty of prayer, the importance of virtues, and many of my weaknesses and strengths. I have been blessed with so many unexpected friendships that I know will continue to develop in the future. Though I know it is time for me to move on from being a student to the next stages of my life, I will always be grateful for these formative years at the Newman Centre. This truly is the place where I started to become myself.

Judy Tsao with the 2016-2017 Newman Student Campus Ministry team.

Judy Tsao is a former Newman Student Campus Minister who successfully defended her PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Toronto in December 2017. THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

RETREATS AT NEWMAN CENTRE

LENTEN RETREAT

with Cardinal Gérald Lacroix - Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada —————————————————————Have I responded to the call to be a missionary?

Saturday, February 24, 2018 | 9 AM - 3 PM | University of St. Michael’s College (Begins with 8:30 AM Mass at St. Basil’s) Upon becoming a cardinal, Cardinal Lacroix challenged us by asking the following question. “Have I responded to the call to be a missionary? Am I one of those "waiting for somebody (else) to change the world?" (Vatican Radio, February 22, 2014). These words will form the basis for this upcoming Lenten retreat. Registration: https://lentenretreatnewman.eventbrite.ca Tickets: $30 (Light lunch will be served) Questions: [email protected]

EASTER RETREAT

with Fr. Jacques Philippe - World-renowned spiritual director and author ———————————————————— Living the Beatitudes

Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 9 AM - 3 PM | Newman Centre We are blessed to have Fr. Jacques guide our community on the importance of living the Beatitudes. In this retreat, Fr. Jacques Philippe shows how true joy comes from spiritual poverty lived according to the Gospel. Father will give examples from the Scriptures to teach us what it means to be spiritually poor before God, ourselves, and our brothers and sisters. Registration: https://easterretreatnewman.eventbrite.ca Tickets: $30 (Light lunch will be served) Questions: [email protected] THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

REFLECTIONS ON RISE UP 2018 “He shall have dominion from sea to sea” (Psalm 72:8, KJB). This verse, from which Canada’s motto is taken, was the theme of the Catholic Christian Outreach Rise Up conference this year. Rise Up took place from December 28th - January 1st in Ottawa, and had almost a thousand attendees, including young adults from all over Canada and many priests and religious. This year’s keynote speakers spoke about the importance of allowing God dominion over our hearts, minds, and decisions, in order to become witnesses of God’s love and power to those in our lives. I was pleasantly surprised at how the talks not only included exhortation and encouragement, but also personal examples of how to live under God’s dominion in reallife circumstances. I was especially impacted by two speakers, Lisa Canning, a prominent interior designer, cancer survivor, and mother of seven, and Immaculée Ilibagiza, a woman who miraculously escaped the Rwandan genocide. Both speakers reflected on extraordinarily difficult circumstances they had experienced, and how they learned to trust God to bring good in and through these experiences.

Almost a thousand attendees at Rise Up I had the opportunity to encounter this reality in a much smaller way when I was sick in bed for much of the second full day of Rise Up. Although disappointed at having to miss some talks, God’s hand was evident in the situation: My younger sister from Winnipeg, also at Rise Up, was even more sick than I on the same day, so I was able to spend some rare quality time with her in our hotel room. THE TORCH

Many Newmanites attended this year’s Rise Up A fascinating aspect of Rise Up this year was the presence of the relic of St. Francis Xavier – his right forearm. I confess that I’ve previously found the idea of touring a dead saint’s severed body part to be a little strange. However, when I venerated the relic, I was immediately filled with joy. Seeing the arm in its fleshy reality helped me recognize that St. Francis was a real, young Catholic who tried to follow God’s will for his life, and I too, as a young Catholic, can strive to follow God’s will for my life. What I will bring back to my life at Newman is a deepening of the conviction that the most important thing in this life is to seek the will of God. Speakers gave many practical examples of how to do this: Immaculée reminded attendees of the importance of praying the Rosary every day, and with true sincerity of heart. Lisa talked about the freedom that comes from actively choosing to trust God’s plans, even when life events don’t make sense. When speaking about the call to love God through prayer and serving others, Fr. Emmanuel, a Franciscan Friar in New York who works daily with people living on the street, ended his talk with a quote from Nike, “Just do it!”

Nicole Richard is doing a Masters in Music and Health Sciences at the University of Toronto.

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MISSION TRIP AND EUROPEAN PILGRIMAGE

MISSION TRIP

PILGRIMAGE

KINGSTON, JAMAICA

HUNGARY, AUSTRIA AND POLAND

April 27 - May 6, 2018 Serve with the Missionaries of the Poor

Cost is $550 per person (Plus a donation to the Brothers to cover food and residence)

Only 20 spots available!

Join our second annual pilgrimage under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Peter Turrone, Pastor & Executive Director of Newman Centre & St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

We're teaming up with UTSCC for this year's trip. Newman and UTSCCassociated students will receive first priority, followed by non-students and students from other universities. Registration packages are available by emailing: [email protected]

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July 2 - 12, 2018 11 days C$3,650 (Includes taxes and tips) ——————————— For more information, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected] 905-412-2242; 1-800-565-3619 Full itinerary available at Newman Centre and at www.newmantoronto.com

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REVIEW: THE POPE AND THE CEO At 8 a.m. on the crisp autumn morning of November 9th, 2017, I walked into Rotman School of Management to what I would be expecting as a lecture on the importance of business - words that would sound way too mathematical and perhaps an experience that would be a dose of melatonin (an induction of sleepiness)! This expectation of mine could not have been further from the truth given who was presenting! Professor Andreas Widmer, former Swiss Guard to Pope Saint John Paul II, a tall towering figure who had the nature of a gentle giant with the humour of a comedian and the joy of a saint! This remarkable man shared his personal experience of being in the Swiss Guard and how in his very first year was made to work a shift on Christmas Eve! Moved to tears while on duty from missing his family, the young Andreas came face to face with Pope St. John Paul II who was on his way to celebrate Midnight Mass! Embracing him and wiping away tears while assuring him that his role was very important and that it mattered, the great Pontiff lit a fire in the heart of young Andreas. It suddenly occurred to me that I was listening to a lecture from a third class relic! The former Swiss Guard went on to share his experience in the business world while using the model of a ‘colouring box’. He described how it is as if God has given us, His children, a colouring box which He wants us to make full use of, by using whatever colours we want in order to make the best picture for Him alone. A lecture for young and old alike, whether in business or not, Professor Andreas shared a powerful testimony that ended in a communal calling: “You have to begin, so start somewhere!” Conchita Mary D’Souza is a Christianity and Culture Major; Medieval Studies and Human Geography Minors at the University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto. MENTORSHIP SERIES AT NEWMAN CENTRE

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: Lead Kindly Light Award

The Newman Centre hosts bi-monthly speaker and open discussion sessions on a variety of important topics as a part of the mentorship program. If you are interested in participating, please see the links below.

Newman Centre volunteers provide a special witness to the action of God in their lives and in the community.

Students seeking a mentor: http://bit.ly/mentorshipnewman Professionals seeking to be a mentor: http://bit.ly/mentoratnewman

To recognize their contributions, the Newman Centre has re-established the "Lead Kindly Light Award" in honour and in memory of our dear friends Nancy Sidle and Dr. John Kennedy, whose legacy of love and service left an indelible mark on the Newman community. ———————————————————-

Next session: Thursday, January 18, 2018 | 6:30 pm

Bringing Faith into the Work-Life Balance Register: http://mentorshipseries2.eventbrite.ca/ Questions: [email protected] THE TORCH

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The award will be presented at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation event on Thursday, May 17, 2018. To find out more about the criteria, please visit our website: www.newmantoronto.com

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STAFF PROFILE and gratitude in all experiences and trust in the Lord. It is a good reminder that as a Christian I should be taking the path of the narrow gate and understanding that it is a blessing.

AN INTERVIEW WITH

ALEXANDRA WHITTLE PROGRAM AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR NEWMAN CENTRE When did you join the Newman Centre? I joined the Newman Centre team in April 2017. What do you do at the Newman Centre? I am the Program and Volunteer Coordinator. I work on program development and many of the events that Newman hosts and co-hosts. I also coordinate all of the volunteers involved in the various ministries and work on helping people to find where they are best suited and to get them started in their position. That being said, if you are wanting to get more involved in the community or figure out where your strengths could be used and how – feel free to send me an email. How does the Newman Centre inspire you? The Newman Centre inspires me on a daily basis in many ways. At the core I think this thought comes from knowing that the vision and mission of Newman are genuinely practiced and carried out every day, not only by the staff, but by students and adults alike. God’s love is so present in the community, that once you walk in the door (or even outside) you are welcomed with hospitality and generosity. I have been able to witness time and time again that regardless of your age, interests or profession you can find both intellectual and spiritual support and experience how they are intertwined. Before actually beginning in my position here, whenever I told people that I was going to be working at the Newman Centre, all I heard were amazing things about the staff and community and they were completely and entirely right. It’s been a great journey thus far and has fostered much growth for me and in my relationship with the Lord.

What has been most memorable in your time at Newman? This seems like the hardest question as I feel as though there are quite a few now! Nevertheless, a moment that really stuck out to me was on my first day at lunch. When it came time to eat, Patrick had asked if I wanted water and poured it for me. It may not seem like anything big and to some maybe ridiculous. However, in the workplace in this society it is not common to see people (especially in high positions) serving others in these ways. I was not accustomed to this and found myself reflecting on scripture in that early, powerful, defining moment for me. The thing is that what I witnessed through time was not a one-time occurrence, but rather a daily one. Further, it was not only Patrick as the Director of HR, but others in high positions as well that serve and treat everyone with the exact same kindness, incredible generosity, and respect that clearly exemplify Christ’s love. So, it was quite memorable. Words you live by: The poem entitled “Anyway”. I particularly enjoy the revised version by Mother Teresa. I am by no means a perfect example, but I try to keep these words close to my heart at least. This poem is a great and constant reminder that no matter what trials come your way, to not let them harden your heart and to keep God’s love and your relationship with Him at the forefront.

What is your favourite quote from the teaching of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman? “If we are intended for great ends, we are called to great hazards”. Nothing worthwhile comes easy and sometimes I just need to be reminded to have patience THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

SERVING THE POOR AND HUNGRY In the last few months, some students who are members of Counterpoint, a group associated with Communion and Liberation that meets at the Newman Centre, have been volunteering at St. Ann’s parish with their food bank, a part of the Daily Bread Food Bank. Each Saturday, the food bank supports hundreds of individuals in need of food assistance, and volunteers help with sorting, moving, and distributing the donated food. Among the students in Counterpoint, the desire to volunteer comes from the proposal of Communion and Liberation to participate in charitable work to be taught that the ultimate law of existence is charity and gratuitousness. As Fr. Giussani, the founder of Communion and Liberation, says, “Above all, our very nature

requires us to be interested in others. When there is something beautiful within us, we desire to communicate it to others…The supreme law of our being is to share in the being of others, to live in communion. Only Jesus Christ reveals this to us, because He knows what everything truly is, who God, from whom we are born truly is, what Being truly is. I am able to understand the word ‘charity’ when I remember that the Son of God… became poor like one of us: He ‘shared’ our nothingness. We do charitable work in order to live like Christ.”

We have experienced many joys by getting to know and work with the volunteers at St. Ann’s, as well as the community that the food bank serves on a weekly basis. Witnessing the visible peacefulness on the faces of my friends in Counterpoint and the other volunteers at St. Ann’s shows me that there is something in our Christian experience that is beautiful and natural to share with others.

Volunteering at the food bank at St. Ann’s parish has been an occasion for us to participate in this mystery of sharing our lives with others, as Christ demonstrates to us by sharing His life with us in our everyday lives.

Returning to this place every few weeks is an opportunity to see again the beauty of living in communion with others and living with Christ through this work. Although the work can also be challenging, it has been a beautiful experience for us to be recalled through this work to the meaning of charitable work, and to what it means to share our lives with others. We welcome anyone interested in joining us to get in touch with Alexandra Whittle at the Newman Centre! Elisa Kwon is a member of Counterpoint, a movement in the Church which has the purpose of forming its members in Christianity in order to make them coworkers in the Church’s mission in all areas of society.

THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

FREEDOM: INTERCHAPLAINCY RETREAT What is freedom? What does it mean to be free? How do we live in freedom? These were all questions we explored with the guidance of Fr. Kevin Belgrave on the three-day Interchaplaincy Freedom Retreat. Students from universities and colleges across the GTA gathered together to share in the Catholic faith and grow in fellowship. The retreat was filled with talks, games, small group discussion, Mass, confession, and silent prayer time, all while being situated in the beautiful Upper Canada Camp retreat centre. It is not easy to go on a three-day retreat as a university student, especially with two papers due the next week and a midterm on Monday. I told myself I would bring my laptop to do some school work during the free time, however, spending time in fellowship and exploring the 52 acres of the camp ultimately took precedence. Through this retreat, I have come to realize the importance of authentic Catholic fellowship while studying at such a secular institution. Fr. Kevin began the retreat by unpacking the Church’s teachings on freedom. He started with the basic point that we are all made in the image and likeness of God – something most of us have probably heard since kindergarten. However, Fr. Kevin went a step further, this stuck out to me, the image of God is not only a gift within us, it is something that we must become. Our journey with God is not complete, therefore, the choices that we make deeply shape us. From here, Fr. Kevin presented the analogy of the tree – in order to produce

good fruits (how we act, think, the decisions we make) we must have strong roots (prayer life, sacraments, confession) that are in well-tended soil (our environment, giving thanks to God in all moments, patience, etc.). The retreat was packed with other rich discussions about the importance of human nature, sin, and redemption! Fr. Peter Turrone closed the retreat by sharing ways to live the retreat out past the three days and left us with the parting words of, “Prayer is not just something that we do, it is a part of who we are.” This retreat was an invitation to everyone to examine their current relationship with God and strive to grow ever-deep in it. As a convert to the faith, the notion of freedom has always fascinated me. This retreat allowed me to realize that the only true way to happiness and fulfillment in life is a commitment and surrendering to Christ through our freedom. Every retreat I go on, the leader always says, “You are here because God wants you to be here.” I never know what that means until I get home on the last day and start to unpack the endless graces the Lord poured out on me. This retreat was no different; I am still coming to understand how the Lord worked through me over the three days. What I do know is that I was able to grow in fellowship with other university students, spend time exploring important aspects of my faith, and grow deeper in my relationship with God. Being in the Lord’s presence in Adoration opened my heart to make a commitment. As I scribbled quickly in my journal, “Lord, I promise to live my life for you. For you alone…Christ take me for all that I am. I am yours.” God knew I needed this retreat before I did. Sasha Hellwig is studying Teaching, with a focus on Christianity and Culture and History at the University of Toronto. She is also a 2017– 2018 Student Campus Minister at Newman Centre.

The Newman Chaplaincy group at the Freedom Interchaplaincy Retreat THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

FROM GLORY TO GLORY:

The Importance of the Sheptytsky Institute for Roman Catholics prayer or the practice of holding a devotional service such as a Moleben. When we do this, when we fill our lungs with the sweet tasting (and heavily incensed) air of the Catholic east, we breathe better. It helps us to fulfill Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Catholics are not the only Christian group that has found a home at Sheptytsky, both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians frequent the halls of Windle house, and miraculously there is something about the atmosphere there that tends to put people at ease. I’ve had wonderful conversations with the Coptic Christian students about the similarities in our Churches and how we as the next generation can follow the example of Popes’ Francis and Tawadros in engaging in this ecumenical dialogue. I hope that others visiting Sheptytsky will also find that the friendships and conversations draw you closer to the heart of our Christ our God, who prayed that “all may be one.”

Andrey Sheptytsky, O.S.B.M., was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

The structure of Eastern Liturgy allows you to experience worship in a completely different way.

I’m putting my saints series on a temporary hiatus to answer a question that’s been on my mind since the beginning of the semester, namely how should the Roman Catholic students at U of T be affected by the relocation of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic led Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies to the University of St. Michael's College? I could wax on about the reasons, but for brevity’s sake, I should only like to give you my top three:

Much like the beauty of Mass or Adoration the beauty of Eastern liturgy should first be experienced rather than described. The schedule for worship at the Chapel of St. Sophia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love can be found at this link, https://www.sheptytskyinstitute.ca/chapel/

It allows us to breathe with both lungs. Pope St. John Paul II was quite adamant about this point. The Catholic Church as a body is made up of twenty-four distinct sui iuris (self-governing) churches in communion with the Pope which practice several different liturgical rites, which the Church universal can draw upon for spiritual traditions and the individual Catholic for spiritual nourishment. The word Catholic means universal not uniform. By nourishing and fostering an appreciation for all of the Catholic churches, we learn not only that they are not that different from our own, but to appreciate and treasure the unique and wonderful differences that do occur within them such as the focus on the Jesus THE TORCH

As Bishop Borys Gudziak, the Eparch of Paris said in his address at the blessing of the Institute this past July “don’t waste this opportunity,” he continued “take this encounter seriously . . . join in this beautiful dance . . . incredible things will happen.” Incredible things will indeed happen with both the Newman Centre and the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute here on the U of T Campus as we work together to transform this campus from glory to glory. Liam A. Farrer is a PhD student at Regis College at the Toronto School of Theology at U of T. He is also a Junior Scholar of the Lonergan Research Institute.

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WINTER 2018

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD? I believe in God for the same reason I believe in the existence of my parents - I have a relationship with God, and this relationship has a practical impact on my life. Just as any relationship is strengthened through regular communication, so my relationship with God is strengthened through daily prayer (like hanging out) and participating in the sacraments/Mass (like family dinner). Incredibly, God is present and accessible at all times (though not always in the ways I expect). In other words, in my own limited way I know God personally, so I believe in Him. Nicole Richard, Newman Parishioner

At first, I chose to believe in God by way of Pascal's Wager. But over the years, and especially through the blessing of my vocation, our Lord has put a more abundant and abiding love for Himself always deeper into the depths of my heart. Anne Skrepichuk, Administrative Assistant, Newman Centre

The move from Victoria, B.C. to Toronto for graduate studies was quite challenging. As a young student, the rigors of the PhD program and distance from family and friends took its toll on me. I felt helpless and distant from God. By the grace of God, I was introduced to the Newman Centre at the University of Toronto. Newman has given me so much - from life-long friendships to a solid foundation and understanding of what it means to be a Catholic scientist, and the ability to grow in holiness - especially in my prayer life. Newman has been a God-send for me. Jesus through the Newman Centre has done for me in the 21st century what Jesus did for Lazarus in the 1st century. People often ask me if I believe in Jesus and His Church. My response is always, “After all I’ve seen Him do in my life, how could I not believe?” José Campos, PhD student, Biological Chemistry, University of Toronto and Newman Student Campus Minister 2017-2018

A WITNESS TO FAITH In 1987, I started to pray and join people in praying for healing for a friend. This started my conversion. I am so grateful that just across from the library where I work, there was daily Mass at Newman Centre. I started going frequently. I firmly believe that the Lord nourished me in the daily Mass. Through the Masses, I started to experience a strong sense of belonging to the Catholic Church, and Newman has been an important instrument in this. I am very grateful to the Lord and to Fr. Peter Turrone who welcomed me from the first time he was assigned to Newman Centre, and reinforced my faith and my sense of belonging to the family of God. Josie Siao has been a parishioner at Newman for over 25 years. THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

NEWMAN FOUNDATION OF TORONTO WELCOME OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS: HILARY AND MICHAEL RYALL The “Unicorns” of the Catholic Church Hilary Harmon Ryall and Michael Ryall have been married for 25 years. They will celebrate the fifth anniversary of their conversion to the Catholic faith on Easter Day in 2018. Both grew up in secular families where science was the truth and faith belonged to the artistic or cultural realm. But looking back, Hilary’s life kept intersecting with the Christian faith. And for Michael, the call came around seven years ago when after ticking off all of his lifetime achievement boxes, he realized that he wanted to add a spiritual dimension to his life. He delved into eastern religions and even paganism, however, it was on a trip to Paris when they entered the Cathedral of Notre Dame where Mass was in progress that Hilary said, “Let’s sit down.” It seemed almost like a mystical experience with the incense, the stained glass and the celebration of Holy Mass, following which, a radical thought entered Michael’s mind, “Why have I ruled out Christianity?” Hilary remembers one evening after their return from Paris, when they opened up to each other about converting to Christianity. Both were avid readers and questioners and throughout their life together, they would choose a book, normally philosophy or history, to read to each another. They both admitted that they should become Christian and since they had heard about St. Ignatius of Loyola, they decided to start with him. After visiting various churches and attending Mass, they felt most at home at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica and honed in on Catholicism to discover that its foundations and teachings rang true. When they met with the administrator at St. Michael’s to enquire about RCIA, she asked which one of them was Catholic and which one was the convert. When they told her they both wished to convert, she exclaimed, “You are the unicorns of the Catholic Church!” Once they began RCIA, they embraced the faith wholeheartedly, even when they found some teachings of the Church challenging. They would study the readings THE TORCH

before Mass, listen to the homily and then discuss it together. In this manner, they began to synthesize the doctrine of the Catholic Church and were strengthened in their faith. Following RCIA and Baptism, they wanted to understand more of the teachings of the Church, which led Hilary to take up a Masters program at Hilary and Michael Ryall the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto. It was through a student she met that she was introduced to the Newman Centre. They began to attend the Soup and Bagel lunches and daily Mass that eventually helped expand their community of faith. They have a special devotion to Newman Centre because they say they found it takes Catholicism very seriously and found an atmosphere of apostolic evangelization in many of its groups and peoples. They felt privileged to be nominated to join the Board of the Newman Foundation. Hilary hopes to nourish and build relationships between the University of St. Michael’s College, St. Basil’s and Newman, along with Fr. Peter and the leadership team. Michael, on the other hand, speaks of the global network of students who come to Rotman and looks forward to collaborative connections and conversations between faith and business, such as the Andreas Widmer Business Leadership event that took place in November 2017. Hilary works in Continuing Education at the University of St. Michael’s College and Michael is a professor at the Rotman School of Management. According to Michael, “The proximity brought us into Newman, and the seriousness got us involved.” Interviewed by Maria Da Silva, Communications Coordinator, Newman Centre.

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WINTER 2018

NEWMAN EVENTS AT A GLANCE Tear off this quick reference guide to events at Newman and put it on your fridge. For more details, visit our website: www.newmantoronto.com or social media links. EVENT

DATE

Mentorship Series: Bringing Faith into the Work-Life Balance

Thursday, January 18, 6:30 pm

Angelic Doctor Lecture with Fr. Thomas Davenport, O.P.

A Catholic Perspective on Evolution

Thursday, January 25, 7:00 pm

Ash Wednesday Liturgies - 8:00 am & 7:00 pm (St. Peter’s Catholic Church), 1:30 pm (Regis College)

Wednesday, February 14

Lenten Retreat with Cardinal Gérald Lacroix (Begins with 8:30 am Mass at St. Basil’s)

Saturday, February 24, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at University of St. Michael’s College

Faith & Reason Lecture: The Role of Christianity in the Development of Modern Science - Stacy A. Trasancos

Thursday, March 8, 7:00 pm

Newman Chapel Rededication with Cardinal Collins

Monday, March 19, 7:00 pm

Mentorship Series: 4th Session (Topic TBD)

Thursday, March 22, 6:30 pm

Palm Sunday (Procession at 10:30 am & 6:30 pm, no Confession)

Sunday, March 25, 11 am & 7 pm

Graduate Mass and Dinner with Cardinal Collins

Monday, March 26, 5:00 pm

Holy Thursday (Mass of the Lord’s Supper & Confession after Mass )

Thursday, March 29, 7:30 pm

Good Friday (Stations of the Cross 10:00 am, no Confession)

Friday, March 30, 3 pm

Easter Vigil (No 9:30 am Mass)

Saturday, March 31, 7:30 pm

Easter Sunday Mass (No 7 pm Mass and no Confession)

Sunday, April 1, 11 am

Easter Monday Mass

Monday, April 2, 9:30 am

Easter Retreat with Fr. Jacques Philippe

Saturday, April 14, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Event

Thursday, May 17, 6:00 pm

International Mission Trip to Jamaica

Friday, April 27 - Sunday, May 6

NEWMAN CENTRE MASS TIMES AND VISITING HOURS Mass Times during chapel renovations: Monday - Friday 12:15 pm | Saturday 9:30 am (Rosary 9 am) - Held in the Newman Centre Sunday Mass 11 am & 7 pm - Held at Regis College, 100 Wellesley St. Mass on statutory holidays: 9:30 am at Newman. St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel Visiting Hours: Closed for renovations until Spring 2018 | The Blessed Sacrament Chapel on the 2nd floor is open Mon-Fri 9 am - 9pm.

Confession: Confessions are heard before every Mass. You may also book an appointment with Fr. Peter: [email protected] 416-979-2468 ext. 223 Newman Centre Catholic Mission (Charitable Registration Number: 10791 0259 RR0021) 89 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2E8 | 416-979-2468 Facebook.com/newmanchaplaincy Twitter @NewmanUofT | YouTube NewmanUofT

Interested in receiving Newman Centre’s bi-weekly event updates? Email: [email protected] THE TORCH

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WINTER 2018

Faith and Science lectures

A Catholic Perspective on Evolution Thursday, January 25, 2018 | 7 PM |Newman Centre About the lecture: Many Christians have found it hard to reconcile modern science with their faith, particularly when it comes to evolution. Although they may not realize it, Catholics have a wealth of philosophical, theological, and scriptural tradition to draw on to help address difficulties raised by the developments of modern science. This lecture will lay out some of the fundamental principles that help Catholics understand the harmony between faith and science, and evolution in particular. Doors open at 6:30 pm, reception follows lecture. Questions: [email protected] Registration: https://newmanlecture.eventbrite.ca All are welcome.

Fr. Thomas Davenport O.P., Scientist and co-author of "Thomistic Evolution"

The Role of Christianity in the Development of Modern Science Thursday, March 8, 2018 | 7 PM |Newman Centre About the lecture: The Scientific Revolution is associated with a period of 150 years in the 16th – 17th centuries in Europe. The discoveries of Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo, and Isaac Newton launched an unprecedented growth in the understanding of the mathematics of nature.

Dr. Stacy A. Trasancos Scientist, editor, and author of Particles of

Faith: A Catholic Guide to Navigating Science and Science was Born of Christianity

Prior to that time, Christian scholars effectively rejected the ancient concept of an eternal cosmos and defended the truth of Divine Revelation, particularly the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation of Christ. This presentation will tell the story of how science was born of Christian faith. Doors open at 6:30 pm, reception follows lecture. Questions: [email protected] Registration: https://christianityandmodernscience.eventbrite.ca All are welcome.