Clergy Appointments and Transfers

May 24th, 2013

As bishop of the diocese I wish to thank the priests for their cooperation in these appointments and transfers, and in particular I wish to express appreciation firstly to the Scalabrini Fathers for their great ministry at St. Anthony's parish for so many years. I am pleased they will continue their ministry among us at St. Dominic's parish, and we wish Fr. Corradin a happy retirement.
I wish also to thank Fr. Andrew Deptula and his Franciscan community for their many years of service at St. Casimir's parish here in Thunder Bay. We wish Fr. Andrew a good rest and good health as he returns to his community in Montreal for re-assignment.
Appreciation and thanks also go to Fr. Richard Kowalchuk who has served in our diocese for over 10 years in various positions, lately at Corpus Christi parish. Thank you for your faithful service and we wish you, Fr. Richard, continued fulfillment in your ministry in your home diocese of St. Catharines.
Also to Fr. Rey Sorgon and his Augustinian community, we express our thanks for your ministry among us and for sharing your insights and ministry skills. We wish you well in your new work with your community in the Philippines.
Let us all remember to pray for our priests and to support them in our parishes and to pray for vocations to the priesthood to serve in our diocese.  (The full list of transfers are available here.)

Sincerely in Christ,
+Fred J. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Service with Humility

Easter 2013

March 25th, 2013

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate the great feast of Easter, the Lord Jesus risen from the dead, let us pause to think about what this feast can mean for us. It is not just coming together to have a special meal, it is not just chocolate eggs and bunnies, it is not just family gatherings to share time and memories. Easter is a feast that not only brings us new life and grace, but a feast that challenges us to live this new life, this new creation that we are in Christ, in a particular way in our world.

Living the call of Easter is a challenge for all of us. When our meals are done, our chocolates eaten and people return to their homes, is it all over until next year? I think not. I would like to share a few thoughts given to us by Pope Francis in these past days, to help us learn how to live Easter.

We are challenged to live humbly in our world, and to serve with tenderness. The Pope notes that we are called to be 'custos', protectors or caretakers, to protect the world, its blessings and most importantly its people. We are called to live tenderly and compassionately with one another, to strive for peace and justice, and to be an example of the risen Christ and his love to one another. This is not always easy today. There are many temptations, many who will entice us to follow another way or an easier path. A way that will pleasure us, but many times at the expense of others. The temptations are always there to selfishness, pride, jealousy, envy and retribution. Pope Francis notes that we must be caretakers or protectors of ourselves too, especially of our hearts. For from the heart will come love or hate, peace or turmoil, concern or neglect. Our heart is the source that guides our actions. Let our heart always be like the heart of Jesus Christ.

Easter is a time to celebrate the great mystery of God's love for us in Jesus. We cannot comprehend this love, it is beyond our imagining. However this love touches us so intimately that we are transformed by it and become new creations in the Lord. As faithful followers of Jesus let us be sure to share this love and generosity with others in the way we live. Let us reach out especially to those in need and those who are struggling. They might be within our own families, among our coworkers or in our parish community. We are called to be humble servants in the Lord's vineyard, which is the world. Let us strive to be protectors and caretakers of one another in love and kindness, as Jesus would want us to be.

The challenge of living Easter is not just for a day, or a weekend, or even a week, it is for a lifetime. Can we rise to this challenge? Can we be those holy protectors and caretakers in our world? The grace of God will help us to respond with generous,
humble and tender hearts, and the risen Lord will show us the way. A Happy and Holy
Easter to all.

Most Reverend Fred J. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Lent 2013

January 21st, 2013

As we begin the holy season of Lent this year, we recall that we are in the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. In his Lenten message the Holy Father brings together the virtue of Faith and the virtue of Charity. He notes that Lent gives us an opportunity “to meditate on the relationship between faith and charity: between believing in God, the God of Jesus Christ, and love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others.”

The season of Lent gives us forty days to reflect on our relationship with God. We do this through our prayer and fasting. In our prayer, whether at Mass or in private prayer, we converse with the Lord and share our needs and hopes. We give God praise and thanks for the graces we have received, and we petition God in prayer to assist us on our faith journey on earth, until we meet together in the kingdom He has prepared for us. Lent is a time for more fervent prayer on the part of all of us. Our fasting or suffering is a sign too that we share in the cross of Jesus in order to share in His victory. The deepening of our faith and prayer, leads us to action and especially to acts of charity.

Pope Benedict XVI notes: “Faith is knowing the truth and adhering to it; charity is ‘walking’ in the truth. Through faith we enter into a friendship with the Lord, through charity this friendship is lived and cultivated. Faith causes us to embrace the commandment of our Lord and Master, charity gives us the happiness of putting it into practice. In faith we are begotten as children of God; charity causes us to persevere concretely in our divine sonship, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Faith enables us to recognize the gifts that God has entrusted to us; charity makes them fruitful.”

As the Holy Father notes, during this season of Lent we not only deepen our faith life and relationship to God, but also it prompts us to act in charity and generosity to our neighbour, whomever that might be. In our church during Lent we direct our special efforts towards our neighbour in developing countries of our world. We support the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, which extends this outreach of charity for us throughout the world in countries needing our help.

Also during Lent, and during this special Year of Faith, we reflect on the sacraments that are so important for us. We recall our Baptism when we were given the gift of Faith, and united to Christ and to one another in the community of the Church. We share in the Holy Eucharist more frequently during Lent, knowing that this sacrament nourishes us for our Christian journey and transforms us in holiness, to act in the name of Jesus in our charity towards others.

As we prepare to celebrate the event of the Cross and Resurrection - in which the love of God redeemed the world, may the light of Jesus shine upon us, may we deepen our understanding of our faith in Him and in His Church and its teachings. May our prayer life prompt us to action in ways of charity and love towards our families, our neighbours and our community. May this holy season be a time for us to enter with Jesus into the dynamic love for God our Father and for every brother and sister that we encounter in our lives.

Bishop Fred J. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Christmas 2012

December 17th, 2012

“And he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. These words are from the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading of midnight Mass. These words are words of comfort and encouragement for a people who longed for their God. The southern kingdom of Judah was being threatened by vast foreign armies and Isaiah wanted to encourage the people, but he also warned them, that their sin and failure to be open to God, could also bring destruction upon them.

As we celebrate the birthday of our Saviour Jesus Christ, we seek comfort and consolation, for we know that there is much turmoil around us. Many countries of our world are filled with unrest, many people are poor and struggling to survive, many tragedies touch our lives and the lives of those around us both near and far, and yet the light of Christmas, who is Christ the Lord, helps to reassure us, that even in the midst of turmoil and strife, the love of God is poured out upon us and this will be evident. “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us” says the prophet, and this Son is the Son of God. He comes in humble beginnings, in a stable in Bethlehem, but “authority rests on his shoulders....he will establish a kingdom with justice and with righteousness from this time and forevermore.” We are a part of the establishment of that kingdom.  We are His Church, His people, and His Holy Spirit works through us to bring the kingdom and reign of God to our world.

Christmas is about family gatherings and special sharings of love and friendship during this holy and timely season. Jesus the Lord brings His peace and comfort through these sharings and moments of love. Christmas is a time for forgiveness and reconciliation, it is a time for rebuilding relationships, not only with God but also with one another. It is a time to turn from our pride and any anger that might be lingering in our hearts, to an openness and compassion for one another in the name of this small child born into our world. We know that all children are precious to us, and all children need our protection and care. As Jesus was protected and loved by Mary and Joseph, may we also love one another with a similar care and concern, in our generosity to the needy, in our support for the lonely, in our acceptance for the young and the confused and in our love especially for our families.

As you celebrate this most holy day, may the “Prince of Peace” bring you His peace, may the “Mighty God” bless you and yours with His grace, and may our “Everlasting Father” lead you to the glory of His kingdom. A Merry and Holy Christmas to all!

Bishop Fred J. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Prepare the Way of the Lord 

As we enter into the season of Advent, the four weeks of preparation for Christmas, the figure in the scriptures who stands out most strikingly is St. John the Baptist. He is the prophet who summons us with the words 'prepare, make ready the way, open your hearts to conversion.' St. John the Baptist played an important role in calling attention to the people of his time, in order that they open their hearts for Jesus. He asked them to turn away from sinfulness and to open themselves to God's grace and goodness. We know that St. John the Baptist had many followers, and yet in the end, he directed everyone to the Lord.

As we begin this preparation season during this 'Year of Faith' we ask what we can do to prepare ourselves for the great feast of the Incarnation, or the birth of the Son of God into our world. Pope Benedict XVI has urged us to learn more about our faith and to study and pray, in order that our lives can bear witness to Jesus in our world. The preparations taking place around this feast in many ways, are merely secular ones. We prepare gifts, decorate our homes and offices, we prepare special meals and we send greetings to friends and family. These are all important, but the true meaning of Christmas for us is the awareness that God 'so loved the world that he gave his only son' in order that we might be saved. This great act of love and generosity is really beyond our imagining and comprehension. We wish we could be as generous in our actions and endeavours.

The four weeks in Advent give us a chance to prepare properly for the great feast of Christmas. Not only do we engage in the secular preparations, but we know that we must prepare ourselves interiorly. We seek forgiveness from God for our sins through the Sacrament of Penance, we recognize our need to reach out to those in need and those who will struggle in this Christmas season. We pray earnestly for family members and friends, in particular for those in distress, and we direct our thoughts to the meaning of Christmas who is Christ the Lord, with whom we seek to deepen our relationship in love.

These four weeks, marked by the candles on the Advent wreath, remind us that we need to be spiritually prepared in order to prepare a way for the Lord into our hearts. He desires to come and strengthen us in our journey through life with all its joys and stresses. Our prayer, our reconciliation and our generosity will all make this preparation possible. 'Prepare the way of the Lord'. May St. John the Baptistʼs call truly inspire us.

Bishop Fred J. Colli

"YEAR OF FAITH"

October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013

My Dear People,
    

     Pope Benedict XVI has announced a “Year of Faith” to begin on October 11, 2012 and to conclude on November 24, 2013. This special year of prayer is an opportunity for the entire Catholic Church throughout the world to reflect on our commitment to Jesus Christ and to His Church. This year also commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th Anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

     A “Year of Faith” is a time for prayer and for study. The Pope is encouraging us to deepen the knowledge of our Church and its teachings in this special year. He is recommending a study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or the Compendium to the Catechism, and also a re-study of the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, which gave us the direction of our Church practice today.

     There will be special events and lectures during this year in our diocese. I recommend that you take advantage of whatever services, study groups or presentations that are made to help you share in this “Year of Faith” in a meaningful way. The Pope speaks of a ʻneed to rediscover the journey of faith we share, so as to shed a clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of our encounter with Jesus Christʼ.

     Of course, the best way to participate in a “Year of Faith” is to deepen our prayer life and our link to Jesus through our regular participation at Sunday Mass, through prayer and devotions like the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Sacrament of Penance, daily prayer in our homes and with our families, and most importantly the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Even a small initiative on our part will prove fruitful for our spiritual life.

     May this “Year of Faith” bring to each of us and to our diocese a unique grace, so that in our words and actions, we will draw closer to the Lord Jesus, closer to His Church, and closer to one another.

May Our Lady of Charity, Mother of the Lord, pray for us in our efforts.

+Bishop Fred J. Colli

What can we do for the Year of Faith

What can we do for the Year of Faith?

A few proposals for you that are doable, simple and can be very effective.

1. Continue to pray earnestly. Attending Mass and the Sacraments, and saying daily prayers, especially with our family, even if only at the dinner table in giving thanks. Attend any special Masses or ceremonies your diocese might have for this special year.

2. Take on any opportunity that might arise to study our faith. Attend a workshops, seminar, discussion group, or training on the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Compendium of the Catechism.

3. Read the Catechism or the Compendium of the Catechism to get a better understanding of our faith and its teachings. The compendium is easier to follow since it is structured in a question and answer type of teaching. Use the ‘YouCat’ catechism for youth as a study guide.

4. Learn a little about Vatican II. Maybe read a document or any pamphlet or text that helps you better understand what happened between 1962-5 and what this meant for our Church. There will be articles available, and on the website there are numerous resources on this topic.

5. Pray the Nicene Creed. It might be a good gesture for this prayer to be the beginning of every meeting for the Year of Faith. Use a card to follow the words and pray the creed carefully, reflecting on its teachings.

6. Pray a prayer for an increase in faith in our lives and in our world. These prayers are also available to us on website and through churches.

7. Commit yourself to reading one spiritual book during the year of faith. Maybe the Pope’s book about Jesus or his book called “Light of the World” (2010) (available on Amazon.ca) in which the Pope helps us to see the issues and role of the Church in the world today.

8. Encourage your parish priest to have a workshop or study group during the year of faith at the parish - looking at Vatican II and its role in our church today. Every priest should be able to conduct such a study group.

9. Have a special project for the Year of Faith where you get to deepen your appreciation of God’s Word from the Bible. Buy one of those little books that have a scripture each day for reflection - or get it off the internet - v.g. “Pray as You Go” website.

10. Do not let the Year of Faith pass you bye - without it being a time for some growth and study. Many Catholic seek to know more about the teachings of our church, and many good Catholics even have mis-information about the Church’s teachings. This is a year to help you seek the answers to any questions you might have and to know the truth about what we believe.

Computer : Google - Year of Faith.
Seek a site that will help you understand.
The Vatican itself has a website on this year of faith:
www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

Catholic Education Week 2012

April 30 2012
 
Reverend Fathers & Parish Communities of the Diocese of Thunder Bay: 
 
Catholic Education Week 2012 is being held from Sunday May 6th. to Friday May 11th.  The Theme of this week is: “Walking in the Light of Christ.” This is a very important week for our Catholic educational system.  It is an opportunity for the entire Catholic family to recognize the importance of our Catholic schools and our partnership with them in handing on the teachings and traditions of our Catholic faith to our children. This theme during the Easter season, reminds us of the light we received at Baptism - and carry with us in our daily lives as Christ guides us in our faith journey.

I recommend that your parish community share in a special way with your parish schools in celebrating this week. Please participate in the events taking place in your parish schools and join in the celebrations where possible. A display in the parish church from your schools might be a suggestion to enhance the awareness of your people to this important week for Catholic education.

In your Sunday celebrations, please pray for those who are in ministry in our schools, and if opportune, include the theme of ‘Catholic education’ in your homily or have a special speaker share a few words after communion at Mass, on Catholic education in our communities. The speaker might be a retired Catholic school teacher who dedicated his/her life to this important ministry. We must do all that we can to support, maintain, build and safeguard this important system of education for our children.

Your support and encouragement are essential for all who share in the work of Catholic education. Parents, in particular, look to the support of their parish priest - the ‘church, home and school’ working together as partners.

Thank you for your attention and participation in this important week of events, as we join together in support of our Catholic school system.
 
Sincerely in Christ,

+ Fred Colli

Bishop of Thunder Bay

Easter Joy (Easter 2012)

I have been asked to define “Easter Joy” for some people. Now Easter joy can be found around a family table as they gather to enjoy a special meal. Easter joy can be found in the glee and excitement of children as they search for and find Easter eggs or chocolate bunnies. Easter joy can be found when students return home to be with their families once again. Easter joy can be found when we sing ‘alleluia’ in our churches at Mass as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. But Easter joy is really more than all of these.

On the day of our baptism, when we first received the gift of faith and our lives became linked to Jesus in a special way, Easter joy was planted into our hearts. This Easter joy is the recognition that we are now special in God’s family, and that we are coheirs with Christ to eternal life in the kingdom. This joy helps to sustain us in our faith journey here on earth and it gives us hope and courage especially during times of struggle.

I am sure that each of us knows of someone who, even in the midst of difficulty or upset, has exhibited Easter joy for us. Those people who always see life and its experiences as a gift and a challenge. Those people who lift our spirits with their enthusiasm and excitement at every event in their life journey. Those people who seem to tackle each hurdle of life with gusto, trusting that God will help them in their efforts. Easter joy is that spirit within us that urges us onward and  ustains our hope even when things might look bleak. Easter joy is not just a gift during the Easter season, but is with us continually.

Sometimes we do not realize this, and feel that this hope and support is only given to us by God at certain times. But God is always present in our lives, and as Jesus demonstrated by his life here on earth, God is especially present to us during hard or difficult times. This joy comes to us at Baptism, and that is why during Easter we remember our baptism in a special way.

We are reassured of this joy and support in the letter to the Romans where it is written “we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” These words are really the source of our Easter joy. They are words of hope and assurance. They are words that give us courage and words that direct us and remind us of our ultimate goal.

As we gather with our families and friends this Easter and as we share in this special Easter joy, may our hearts and minds be turned to God in thanksgiving. May we be appreciative of all that we have and share, and may the Risen Christ, who is our light and our life, be our constant companion as we journey in faith to the kingdom of God our Father. A Happy and Holy Easter to all!

+ Fred Colli

Bishop of Thunder Bay

Lent 2012

“Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works” Pope Benedict XVI uses this phrase from the letter to the Hebrews to give us a theme for prayer during the season of Lent. Lent offers us once again the opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of our call as Christians, our call to charity. The words of the author to the Hebrews exhort us to trust in Jesus Christ who has won forgiveness for us and who prompts us to be sincere in faith, to live in hope, and to love generously. To be concerned for one another means that we must first be attentive to the needs and condition of others, especially those who suffer. Sometimes we ignore the plight of others under the guise of ‘privacy’. But the Gospel call for us is a call to reach out and to show concern in whatever way we can. We are called to see one another as brothers and sisters, whose lives also touch our lives, since we are connected by faith and as children of God. Concern for others means desiring what is good for them, physically, morally and spiritually.

The Lenten season prompts us to be grateful for the abundance we share but also to reach out to help alleviate the material struggles of our neighbour. The traditional ‘almsgiving’ during Lent and our support to developing nations responds to this important call. Sometimes we can become unaware of the ‘cries of the poor’ due to an over concern for ourselves and our own personal
pleasures. Lent helps us to refocus and recall our need to be generous.

Being concerned for others also entails a concern for their spiritual well being. We are called to pray for one another, to seek and extend forgiveness to each other and to turn from sin and evil ways, in order to live in God’s grace and love. Forgiveness is an integral part of the Lenten journey. We not only seek mercy and forgiveness from God but we also do so from one another. Moved by love and concern, we turn from sin and seek to be an example and an inspiration for others to do the same.

Concern for others also carries with it an eschatological perspective. The Christian community must not only be concerned about our journey in this world, but we must support one another in the hope of sharing eternal life together with God. The Pope calls this dimension our insight into ‘communion’. Our sins and our actions of love have a social dimension, as we seek forgiveness for sins and we rejoice in virtue. We are ‘one body’ as St. Paul notes, and all our actions affect the entire body. This ‘response in love and good works’ helps us to walk together in holiness and to bear witness to that holiness in the secular world. Being concerned for one another should spur us to an even greater and more effective love which makes us live each day in anticipation of our union with God and with one another in His kingdom.

May this season of grace be a time for greater prayer, a deeper reflection on our call to holiness and our concern for our brothers and sisters. May the sacrificial spirit of Lent help us to truly prepare for the celebration of Easter joy.

+ Fred Colli

Bishop of Thunder Bay

Lent 2011

“You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him.” Pope Benedict XVI uses this phrase from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians to give us a theme for reflection during this season of Lent. Our baptism is the door which allows us entry into the Church and gives us access to the wonders of God through the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. In Baptism we become members of Christ’s body, and members of the Church and along with the benefits of this membership we also assume the responsibilities of helping to build the kingdom of God here on earth and to build up the Church of Christ through our witness to the Gospel. Through Baptism we are created anew and share in the life of God. Through this life we also become sharers in the death and resurrection of the Lord, which is expressed in a special way in our Lenten journey together.

As believers, we enter this holy season of prayer and penance and we reflect in particular on our relationship with God and with one another. The upheaval in our world, the turmoil in countries of the Middle East and even the unrest in our own nation, prompts us to turn to to the Lord in our prayer, especially for a change in the hearts of world leaders, and for peace and justice to be restored in the world.

In our prayer we seek a closer union with Christ, and we beseech Him to hear us. Pope Benedict XVI notes: “In order to undertake more seriously our journey towards Easter and prepare ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord – the most joyous and solemn feast of the entire liturgical year – what could be more appropriate than allowing ourselves to be guided by the Word of God? For this reason, the Church, in the Gospel texts of the Sundays of Lent,leads us to a particularly intense encounter with the Lord, calling us to retrace the steps of our Christian initiation, in light of the new and decisive steps to be taken as we follow Christ in a fuller giving of ourselves to him.” The Word of God nourishes us at each Mass and in our daily prayer and readings. It is a means by which we come to know Christ more intimately and to know of his interaction with others and his example of mercy and forgiveness so generously given. We all seek that mercy and forgiveness during the season of Lent. In our prayer, in our fasting and in our almsgiving or outreach to the poor, may we recognize that through our Baptism we carry Christ to the world. Our actions speak of Christ to others. Our witness helps the message of the Gospel, the message of hope to encourage others.

May this season of grace be a time for inner reflection, a deeper appreciation of the gifts and goodness we share, a time for rebuilding broken relationships through mercy and forgiveness and may “this Lent renew our acceptance of the grace that God has bestowed upon us from our Baptism so that it may illuminate and guide all our actions.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

+ Fred Colli

Bishop of Thunder Bay

Easter 2011

Saint Hippolytus, a great saint of the third century - in celebrating Easter service prayed over his people in these magnificent words - “Joy to all creatures, honour, feasting, delight. Dark death is destroyed and life is restored everywhere. The gates of heaven are open.”

You can sense the joy and excitement of the words of this prayer, as the faithful gathered in their parish church to rejoice in the Risen Lord. As was done centuries ago, we do today in our churches at the Easter Vigil and on Easter morning. We gather as a faith community to rejoice that the words of Jesus promising us a share in His eternal life, are true.

Our great song of the vigil service is the Exultet. Again these words ring out with joy for us: “Rejoice heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels! Exult all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!” These words of exuberance uplift us and sustain us in our hope for eternal life.

Along with the news of resurrection, we recognize the new life that surrounds us with spring, and even nature shares in the act of rejoicing as new life is brought forth. However, we are also very aware, that in the midst of joy there is much struggle in our world. We remember the turmoil and unrest in many countries of our globe. Turmoil and unrest that is a result of political upheaval, war, poverty, and natural disasters. Many will struggle this Easter,both at home and abroad, to find joy in this feast.

Our prayers and support for them and for one other in our parishes and in our families can bring some hope and joy to others. Easter and our connection to the Risen Lord Jesus, also reminds us of our connection to one another, and our need to reach out to others wherever and whenever we can. Like the Easter candle which is a sign of the Risen Christ, we are called to share our light with one another by generously sharing our gifts and talents.

May this Easter be a time of true religious observance for us. May it not be a mere excuse to purchase chocolate eggs and have a large meal, but may it be a time of prayer, a time of recognition of Christ our Risen Lord in our lives, a time of family love and nurturing, a time of peace in our hearts and a time of generous outreach. Easter is not just one day in our calendar, but is a stepping stone into days of spiritual growth and new life into the future. May you and your families, especially your children, experience the joy and holiness of this great feast. I wish everyone a Happy and a Holy Easter!

+ Fred Colli

Bishop of Thunder Bay

Christmas 2011

'Today A Light Will Shine Upon Us'

Each day when I listen to the news and read my newspaper, I am overwhelmed by the events of unrest and chaos that seem to plague our world. Protesters, government upheavals, rebellions, and political unrest seem to dominate the airwaves. One might ask what is happening to our world? Is there no peace and calm anywhere? Will this turmoil ever cease?

These questions are thought provoking and important especially today. We seek some peace and comfort in our lives and yet we are surrounded by turmoil and noise. This applies not just to the world around us, but also at times to our personal lives. Where will we find this peace?

In the message of Christmas and in the weeks as we prepare to celebrate this important feast, we ask the Lord to instill within us, some sense of peace and calm, in the midst of all the turmoil and busyness that mark this time of the year. Today a light will shine upon us, says the prophet Isaiah. A light that is unlike the light of this world. This light comes from above and it is the light of God in Jesus Christ His Son. This light will not only bring some peace within our hearts but it will also help us to see the way for our daily living. Our openness to this light, is a sign of our willingness to see this season and this feast in it's true light. This is not just a holiday or a time for gift giving and fancy meals or decorations, it is a time for us to examine our hearts and to discover if we have allowed the light of God to touch us and to guide us in our everyday living.

If our heart is open to this light and peace, then our relationships will change. There will be a greater sense of love and respect for one another. There will exist a greater sense of appreciation and gratitude for the abundance that we have. There will be a true sense of compassion and concern for others manifest in our outreach to help, especially those who are less fortunate in our society. There will exist within us a sense of reconciliation and forgiveness, to reestablish bonds and relationships, especially in our families, that have been severed through anger, argument or jealousy.

This light from above can change our life and give us a deeper appreciation for the gift of life itself which we enjoy. So in the midst of the turmoil, upset and impatience, let us allow this light to shine on us. We need not wait until Christmas for this to happen, since the light and grace of Jesus Christ is available to us now. A simple prayer seeking this light and an openness of heart to allow God's light to enter us will be sufficient.

May these days that lead us to Christmas and may the celebration of this great feast with our families and friends, be a time for us to allow the light of the Lord to shine in us and to help us bring some peace and goodness to the world around us.

A Merry and Holy Christmas to all.

+ Fred Colli

Bishop of Thunder Bay

A Manger Scene Prayer

Christmas 2010

Each year, when I was growing up, on the buffet in our dining room, we would set up a manger scene. You could say it had a place of prominence in our house for everyone to see in the midst of our traditional Christmas decorations. I remember how the scene would change when we purchased new figurines, and yet it always remained the same, in that it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ the Lord. It is wonderful for households today to have a manger scene in a special place for their family to celebrate this great feast.

I don’t remember having said many prayers before the manger scene, however I know that my prayer today would consist of many themes. One theme would be that of ‘gratitude’. Giving thanks to God for Jesus His Son, who came into the world in order to redeem us and to bring us back to God. Thanks also for the many blessings that touch our lives, our families and our friends. Gratitude could be a theme that we all can share this Christmas.

The second theme would be one of ‘humility’. We don’t speak of humility much today. For some it is seen as a weakness - for others it is dangerous to open yourself before others in humility, people could hurt you. Yet at the manger scene we see God coming into our world as a humble child in humble surroundings. God could have chosen some other way to enter our world, however, this humble and gentle entrance was to teach us that we too need to be humble in our lives and to recognize the good in others and rejoice with them in their gifts. Pope John Paul II called it a sharing in ‘communion’ with God and one another.

The third theme that would be included in my prayer would be a desire for a greater ability to ‘love’. We all know that loving a newborn child is easy. Loving one another and even those who seem to be against us, is the true challenge of Christmas. Christ came into the world to teach us this love. A love that sees all people as important, worthy and filled with dignity and goodness. A love that challenges us to do what is right and good, even in difficult times. A love that shows us that to sacrifice for the sake of another, is a true way to share in the love of God. We share much love at Christmas with family and friends. May our love truly reflect the love that the Lord Jesus brought into our world on that first Christmas night.

The last theme that would complete my prayer would be the theme of ‘sharing’. Christmas is a time for gift giving and sharing. We share special meals together. We extend best wishes and greetings to others, and we buy gifts that express our love and concern for one another. We share generously as God shared His Son with us and continues to share His goodness and love. We share with one another and more importantly we share with those who have little. We reach out in a spirit of generosity to those around us who are less fortunate and struggle in even greater ways with the burdens of life.

My prayer before the manger would ask God to help me to be generous and not to be too attached to the things of this world, knowing that they are here for my use only and for good. A prayer before a manger scene can contain many themes. These are the ones that come to mind for me. May your Christmas be filled with the gratitude, humility, love and sharing that Christ the Lord taught to us. A Merry and Holy Christmas to all.

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Bishop of Thunder Bay

“A Chocolate Holiday?”

Easter 2010

The store shelves were filled with chocolate treats, bunnies and eggs, little chicks and chocolates of all shapes and sizes. These are for purchase to celebrate the Easter holidays. People in many ways were connecting chocolate with Easter. Needless to say, the comparison to chocolate and the true meaning of Easter is very remote.

The fact that Jesus, the Son of God, rose from the dead in order to share eternal life with all of mankind, is never depicted in a chocolate bar or candy. However, we do know that chocolate was seen as a delicacy and a special treat for unique occasions, and there can be none more important than that of the feast of Easter. We gather with our family and friends for our Easter celebrations in Church and our voices joyfully sing the famous ‘alleluia song’. We reflect on God’s love for us and our need to share love and forgiveness with one another especially in our world today , which seem so fragile and uncertain. We, once again, give thanks for the boundless mercy and concern that God shows for all people and we open our hearts to that mercy.

Once we have given thanks for these wonders, we share with family our very best in food and treats - symbolizing the significance and centrality of this feast for us.

In our churches, candles, Easter lilies or special flowers and blessed water for baptisms, remind us of life and goodness, holiness and joy. The Easter proclamation in the midst of the multitude of lighted candles in our ceremony echoes these words: “Rejoice O earth, in shining splendour, radiant in the brightness of your King!...Exult in glory! The risen Saviour shines upon you!” As the risen Saviour shines upon each of us, and we enjoy the ‘specialness’ of this feast with fancy treats, in particular for our children, may all people be blest with the peace and the hope that a true celebration of Easter brings us.

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Sexual Abuse Crisis

(April 15, 2010)

Over the past few weeks, in the midst of our great Easter celebrations, there were many articles in the news concerning the Pope and sexual abuse scandals in our Church. It seemed like the media wanted to headline any information that would or could accuse the Pope or the Catholic Church of inaction, indifference and a lack of concern for victims abused by priests. As horrendous as these crimes were and are, under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, our Church has taken many important steps to eradicate this terrible behaviour in the ranks of our clergy and anyone working for the Church. Pope Benedict XVI, in particular, has spoken about and confronted this issue more than any other Pope of our time.

Many of the news articles dealt with issues from 20 to 30 years ago, and the priests who abused in the past have either died or been removed from ministry and the priesthood. Currently, men desiring to be priests in our Church are examined and assessed in a multitude of ways, throughout many years of training and formation, to make sure they will be faithful priests for the Church. The cases presented in the news during these past weeks seemed to indicate a new wave of sexual abuse in the Church, and this is definitely not true.

Every diocese in all of North America has a strict policy concerning this issue, and any credible allegations against a priest or anyone in the Church are taken very seriously. Our first and primary response is to help the victims and their families in whatever way we can. The accused priest is removed from ministry and in many cases never returns to ministry if found guilty. Proper civil authorities are always informed and strict procedures are always followed. Years ago, no one seemed to know how to respond to these cases. I am sure mistakes were made in the learning process and our response today is certainly much different than it was in the past. We have deepened our understanding and worked with civil, medical and Church persons to help us know what actions to take in these difficult situations.

The media failed to report that the Catholic Church, including the Canadian and American bishops, have come a long way in better understanding and combating this serious issue in our Church. I believe the presentations in many articles over the past weeks were incomplete, skewed and intentionally hurtful, especially to the Holy Father.

It was regretful that this entire episode of criticism was promoted during our Easter celebrations. It must have made it very difficult for many of our Catholic faithful to enter into the true spirit of this Easter time. However, the Spirit of the Lord keeps us strong and will see us through this episode and into the future. We will always work to improve our actions and to make sure that all people, especially children, are safe in our Churches.

Easter is a time of newness and new beginnings. Our Catholic faith is strong and I am convinced that our Church community will continue to live this faith in hope. May God bless us and give us courage and strength for our journey.

Sincerely in Christ,

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Lent 2010

“The justice of God has been manifested through faith in Jesus Christ” St. Paul gives us this text in his work to the Romans and Pope Benedict XVI uses it as his major theme for his Lenten reflection this year. What is justice? How can it best be described? The dictionary calls it “fairness or fair dealing, righteousness and correctness.” Our theological dictionary describes ‘justice’ as giving to another what is due. Justice is an universal concern. In the Old Testament justice has to do with one’s relationship with another. To be just means to be free of faults that would harm one’s relations with others. In the New Testament justice means accepting the Gospel of Jesus, by becoming a disciple of Jesus, one is removed from the company of the unjust, and the fulfillment of the commands of justice is an expression of the justice of God.”

As believers, we enter this holy season of prayer and penance and we reflect in particular on our relationship with God and with one another. Our recent response to the struggles of the people of Haiti, helped us to see how important justice is in our world. We are called to respond to the cries of those who are less fortunate than ourselves and who are in need, always with a spirit of generosity and a sense of justice.

The justice that St. Paul speaks about - the justice of Jesus Christ, is the justice that comes from grace, where it is not man who makes amends for his sins, but it is through Jesus that we have been justified through his death and resurrection. Our Lenten journey reminds us of our need to turn to God in thanksgiving for the graces we have received and to recognize that through the love of God we have been saved. Our prayer, our penance and our almsgiving are all reflections of this gratitude and thanksgiving. Strengthened by this experience and understanding, as Christians and followers of Jesus Christ, “we are moved to contribute to creating just societies, where all receive what is necessary to live according to the dignity proper to the human person and where justice is enlivened by love.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

May this season of grace be a time for inner reflection, a deeper appreciation of the gifts and goodness we share, a time for rebuilding broken relationships through mercy and forgiveness and “a time for authentic conversion and a deepening of our knowledge of the mystery of Christ, who came to fulfill every justice .” (Pope Benedict XVI)

We pray for those seeking employment, we pray for the poor seeking food and shelter, we pray for the lonely seeking encouragement, we pray for families struggling with multiple burdens, we pray for our youth seeking guidance, we pray for the Church in its mission, and we pray for grace and holiness in our lives. Lent is a time of special prayer as we enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. Let us travel this road together for these forty days - knowing Christ accompanies us in this sacred journey.

+ Fred Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay

A Mother Teresa Christmas

As we celebrate this great feast once again, let us reflect on what this might mean for us as followers of Jesus. We know the story of our salvation and we recall it each Christmas. But what does it mean for us? For Mother Teresa it was a special time. She began her work with the poor of India on Christmas day. She said: recall your fondest Christmas memories: most  ikely, they are family and friends gathered together to cherish one another. The greatest gift you can offer your loved ones is the gift of yourself - your time, your attention and your presence, for it is Christmas every time you let God love others through you....yes it is Christmas time every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.

As we share in the wonder and joy of Christmas we ask ourselves, how often do I offer my hand in love to another? How often  o I think of the needs of the other, as more important than my needs and wants? Mother Teresa saw her life as a response to that call from Christ to see Him in everyone, especially in the poor and the abandoned. She saw the condition of all mankind in the fragile and defenceless child born in a stable in Bethlehem; and equally she saw the Baby Jesus in all human beings. She saw Him especially among the poorest of the poor, because those who suffer the most and have nothing, are most like the baby born in Bethlehem. She saw Him in abandoned children as these innocent creatures represented the condition of the child Jesus even more clearly.

Mother Teresa saw Christmas in a special way. Not so much in the gifts and fancy trees or decorations, but in the decoration of one’s heart in love. She also saw the response in love to one another as the continuation of the meaning and spirit of Christmas that began with God’s great gift of His Son to us. We are called to see Christmas in this spirit of love and generosity. As we share this time let us open our hearts to Christ, to His call of love and to offering our hand to our brother and sister in need.

Story of a Christmas in Calcutta with Mother Teresa. Monsignor Hnilica recalls: I remember one in particular. I was in Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa invited me to dinner on 24 December, Christmas Eve, to celebrate with her and the other nuns. It was a meager meal as is usual for the Missionaries of Charity, but rich in joy, affection and fraternity. The atmosphere was so cordial that we almost forgot to eat. ‘At a certain point, I heard a knocking on the door. One of the nuns went to see who it was and returned with a basket covered in cloth. 'A woman gave it to me and then rushed off,' she said. As she gave the basket to Mother Teresa she added, 'She was probably a benefactor who wanted to donate some food to us for Christmas.' Mother Teresa removed the cloth and her eyes lit up. 'Jesus has arrived' she said with a beautiful smile. The other nuns ran to see. In the basket there was a sleeping baby boy. He was an abandoned baby who was a few days old; the woman who had brought him, perhaps his mother, was unable to look after him and so entrusted him to the nuns; a frequent occurrence in Calcutta. The nuns squealed with joy and held onto the basket, moved by the sight of the sleeping baby. Their cries woke him up, and he began to cry. Mother Teresa picked him up, smiled and yet at the same time had tears in her eyes. 'Look, now we can say that our Christmas is complete,' she said. 'Baby Jesus has come to us. We must thank God for this wonderful gift.' A powerful emotion emanated from her, a protective force which was her great love.'

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Catholic Bishop of Thunder Bay Diocese

Opposition to Bill C-384

(Sept. 15, 2009)

Dear Mr. John Rafferty, MP
Thunder Bay-Rainy River:

In writing this letter to you I wish to express opposition to Bill C-384. This bill would amend the Criminal Code to permit euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. I oppose the legalization and practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide on the grounds that they undermine the dignity of the human person by denigrating the dying process and by rejecting the community dimension of the person. I believe that euthanasia and assisted suicide are contrary to the practices of holistic health care, cannot be regulated to prevent abuses, and are inconsistent with Canada’s reputation as a protector of personal dignity and human rights.

I urge you to reject euthanasia and assisted suicide as a solution to the challenges posed by the suffering of terminally ill members of our society, and instead, to adopt policies and practices that promote access to comprehensive end-of-life care for all Canadians.

By attending to the needs of dying persons among them, Canadians can transform health care. By committing ourselves to compassionate palliative care, Canada could provide the world with yet another model and example to be imitated in the realm of health care. We have come a long way in our research in the area of pain control, and assisting those who are suffering, and modern medicine has the ways and means to assist all those in these circumstances.

I believe the development of policies that will give palliative and end-of-life care higher priority in our health care system — not the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide — is the way to ensure that people near death receive compassionate care and are able to die with dignity. As a Member of Parliament from my area, I ask you to consider seriously my objections and concerns. Thank you.

Sincerely,

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Catholic Bishop of Thunder Bay Diocese

Reaction to Situation involving Bishop R. Lahey

(Oct. 7, 2009)
 

My Dear People:

Over the past week, there have appeared many articles in our local newspaper and in the media, about the charges against Bishop Raymond Lahey, the former bishop of the Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia.

Like you, I was shocked and dismayed to hear about these charges and the warrant for his arrest. My thoughts and prayers went out to the children and their families, and also to the people of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, who knew this man for many years and who trusted him.

Pornography, and in particular child pornography, is hurtful to all involved, especially the victim-children and their families. I cannot explain the sense of hurt and regret that I feel for them, and for all those involved in this terrible situation.

I ask that you pray for the children and their families and that you remember the people of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland who are hurt by this tragic turn of events and who knew this bishop for many years.

As a Church community we recognize that mercy and trust in God's faithfulness will carry us through any tragedy, and we pray that, in spite of human weakness and sin, this trust will renew our hope in the Church and its mission in this world.

Sincerely,

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Catholic Bishop of Thunder Bay Diocese

H1N1 Flu Virus

(October 13, 2009)

For the last several months, the diocese has been in communication with health officials to determine whether or not it is necessary to alter our liturgical practices, in light of current concerns regarding the spread of HINI influenza. To date, we have been informed that this is not required. It is important, however, that we remain diligent with preventative measures. We need to take note of the following reminders from our health officials which are practical and make common sense:

— Good hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of all flu viruses. Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.

— Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (gel or wipes) handy at work, home and in your car. It needs to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective.

— Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue. Cough into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.

— Stay home when you are feeling sick or have a fever, out of respect for those around you.

— Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected.

In addition to these general recommendations from the health officials, I would ask everyone to be attentive to some particular points relating to our celebration of the liturgy:

— Parishes may wish to provide small hand cleaning stations near the entrances to the church with small bottles of a sanitizer.

— Priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are especially reminded of the need to practice good hand hygiene.

— Ministers of Holy Communion should always wash their hands before Mass begins. In some parishes, as a further precaution, hands are cleaned before and after distributing Holy Communion inconspicuously at a side table.

— The faithful should be instructed that if they feel ill, have a fever, or have been sick in recent days, they certainly should not receive communion on the tongue or from the cup. Of course, as noted above, if they are ill, they really should stay home.

— The Sign of Peace is an important part of our liturgical celebration. The usual custom is to express the Sign of Peace by shaking hands. It may, however, be preferable, especially in our present circumstances, to use another gesture, for example, by bowing and perhaps saying "Peace be with you." This is correct and acceptable.

We will continue to monitor the situation and, if necessary, adopt additional measures. We are stressing common sense and good hand hygiene at this time.

Sincerely in Christ,

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Bishop of Thunder Bay

An Era of Hope

Christmas 2008

As Christmas draws near and we sense the increased activity and busyness that touches our lives in preparation for this great feast, we also note that in the world around us, each Christmas time, there is a sense of hope that touches people and societies. New leaders promise a hopeful future, governments, even with dire news of economic uncertainty, tell us that there is hope at the end of this crisis, the worker who is laid off from their job, is hopeful that there will be a return to employment, and parents are hopeful that things will get better and that a stability in our society and economy will enable them to provide for their children.

Hope fills us with the courage to carry out our work and responsibilities even in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. This was the spirit of the people in the time of Jesus’ birth. They were a hope filled people, knowing that God would not abandon them and that the Messiah would come to bring newness and freedom, a new era of hope. The Christian message for us today is that the Messiah, Jesus, is our Hope, and He brings us the promise that to follow Him is to live in hope. St. Paul in his letter to Titus, which we read at the midnight Mass notes: “ the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people.... and we are to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Our hope is in the Lord and it is in this that we place our trust and are made secure.

Unfortunately many in the world place their hope in what the world has to offer. This hope can be weak and disappointing - and seldom brings us lasting comfort and fulfillment. True hope in the Lord, sustains us even in the midst of turmoil and fear. This hope sustained the great saints of our history and the great martyrs of today. This hope is seen in the great works of love and charity that we witness, in particular during
this Christmas season. This hope lives on beyond the tinsel and coloured lights of Christmas in the hearts and minds of all believers and sustains them throughout the entire year.

Can you share in this hope? Can you open your heart to the true message of Christmas which is to welcome Christ into your life in a more intimate and loving way? Can you live, as St. Paul noted, an upright and godly life in this world in order to manifest the love of Christ brought to us on that first Christmas day? These questions are important for us, for they challenge us to recognize the true meaning for our celebrations. Our prayer, our family sharing, our outreach to the needy, our compassion and mercy shown in forgiveness to one another, is the meaning and hope that we live at Christmas. Are you willing and open to share in this kind of hope? May the Spirit of the Lord lead us all to this great light and understanding.

Merry and Holy Christmas to all.

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Bishop of Thunder Bay

Response to Naming of Henry Morgentaler to Order of Canada

(July 10, 2008)

It is with dismay that we heard on July 1st that Dr. Henry Morgentaler was named to the Order of Canada. I do not believe that his high honour should be accorded to someone who has made it his ultimate goal to promote abortions in our nations and worldwide. We are fully aware that abortion is the willful killing of innocent life, and no argument for "free choice or personal freedom" gives anyone the right to take innocent life. I believe this committee has dishonored the Order of Canada with his nomination. I have written to the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and my local MPs expressing my objections to this nomination. I ask that you do the same.

Sincerely in Christ,

+ Fred Colli

Most Rev. Fred J. Colli,
Bishop of Thunder Bay