Parish
begins search for church building
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski
SASKATOON — After some 28 years of serving First Nations, Métis
and non-Aboriginal Catholics in the heart of the city, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Parish in Saskatoon is now looking for a church building.
The parish pastoral council has appointed a committee to investigate alternatives
and try to find an appropriate space in the core neighbourhood.
“I think it is exciting news for our First Nations community,” said
elder and parish pastoral associate Gayle Weenie, describing the need for
community members “to feel at home with our Catholic faith and
Aboriginal spirituality.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
traces its history to ministry offered to the First Nations and Métis community starting in 1984 under the
direction of Msgr. Len Morand in the basement of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
As the community grew, the need for its own space became apparent. In
1987 a house on Avenue J South in Saskatoon was purchased and became
known as Guadalupe House.
Within a few years, the Guadalupe
House space was no longer big enough for Sunday celebrations, which
began to be held at nearby St. Mary’s
Church. Meanwhile, Guadalupe House has continued to be a centre of outreach,
evangelization and parish life.
In February 2007, Our Lady
of Guadalupe Parish was officially established by a decree signed by
Saskatoon’s former Bishop Albert LeGatt celebration
held at St. Mary’s Church.
The community is thrilled that Bishop Donald Bolen has now given the parish
the go-ahead to investigate options for a church building of its own, reported
Parish Life Director Mary Jacobi, a member of the parish leadership team,
which also includes Priest Moderator Rev. Mick Fleming, CSsR.
Jacobi described how parish council decided to wait until Christmas to inform the community of the bishop’s approval. At the end of the Christmas Eve celebration, someone dressed as Santa Claus brought out a present, much to the delight of the children. Inside the package was the letter from Bolen, giving his blessing to the parish’s search for a church building.
“They broke into applause — it was a very
emotional time for our people,” Jacobi related.
With the growth of the Aboriginal community, it is appropriate that the
parish is looking at finding a home of its own, she said.
“The Redemptorists and St. Mary’s have been nothing but gracious,
but there is nothing like having your own space, for your own celebrations,
to place your own artwork, to make your own,” observed Jacobi.
It was a For Sale sign on
a nearby church building that first prompted parish leaders to begin
investigating the idea with the diocese. That particular building has
now been sold, but the search is on for another space that could meet
all the parish’s requirements, she said.
“We just need a simple building, with space enough for us to gather.
For instance, right now we don’t have a place to hold wakes — something
which is important to First Nations spirituality,” Jacobi said, listing
some of the criteria identified by the committee. “It has to be
located in this inner city neighbourhood, it has to be on a bus route,
and it has to have a kitchen. But we are being really open and flexible
and considering the options.”
The parish has limited resources,
but is working with the diocese to determine the best options for financing
a church building, such as accessing a development fund, using income
from the sale of the existing Guadalupe House and fundraising, Jacobi
described. “It is important for
people to take ownership; this will be good for parish self esteem.”
Parish programs at Our Lady of Guadalupe include ministries such as sacramental preparation, RCIA, and ongoing catechesis to people of all ages, as well as pastoral care of the sick and infirm, 12-step pilgrimages, community outreach, and a variety of prayer evenings that include praise and worship, Gospel singing, Bible sharing and healing circles.
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