Page 10, The Nerald, Friday, November 16, 1979 Church sells no members MONTREAL (CP) — The Anglican Church of Canada has sold its parish church in LaColle, Que., because of a Jack of members. “Due to the changes and shifts in population over the past years there was really no choice," a diocesan of- ficial sald of the closing of St. Saviour’s Church near the Canada-U.S. border. . The church was built in 1638 and has an organ that the Quebec department of cultural affairs has ex- pressed an interest in preserving. TORONTO (CP) — The Canadian Catholic Organization for Develop- ment and Peace has issued a nation-wide appeal for funds to help the people of Cam- bodia, ‘ The organization haa already sent $75,000 worth of rice, seeds and medical and agricultural equipment to the country, where war has closed hospitals and schools and destroyed the harvest. The organization says more than two million people stilt face death from star- vation unless they get help, Donations can be sent to the organization office at 67 « Bond St., Suite 305, Toronto, - MSB 1X5, Attn: Cambodia : Fund. BROCKVILLE, Ont. (CP) — A Canadian Indian prayer with a universal religious theme has been added to a list of prayers praposed for use during: daily opening exercises at Hrockville public schools. The list already Includes the Lord’s' Prayer and Moslem, Jewish and general prayers. City trustee Grace Wyatt said she believes Buddhist and Hindu prayers of a similar, universal nature may also be pro- posed. HALIFAX (CP) — An interdencminational survey is to be conducted in the suburbs of Halifax to find out the churchgoing practices of residents, Ian Datrach, chairman of a committee set up by Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Baptist, Presbyterian and United churches in the area, said the survey will be conducted by volunteers from nine congregations. He said the survey is necessary because of the frequent moves by suburban residents, which mebe it difficult for churches to know whether residents are attending church or whether they want to, RE-ELECT TALSTRA vec X To COUNCIL FROM THE CHURCH By LANCE STEPHENS One day a man was driving down a highway when a red light began toglow.on the car's dashboard. A little later he pulled into a gas station to fuel up and asked the attendant what the red light meant. The attendant looked and said, “your charging system has quit working. You better get it fixed im- mediately.” oo, "But the car still runs fine,” the man said. “Oh sure,” said the attendant, ‘‘it'll go until your battery dies. That won’t be long seeing its getting dark and you'll have to put your headlights on.” “Rubbish,” retorted the man, ‘“‘You’re just out to stick me for a big repair bill,”’ and he drove away. Most people know that when a warning light goes on in your car you had better do something about it quick, or you'll be stuck on the road shortly, We've learned this because the- consequence follows the warning rather quickly. We all have a practical side to our nature. We've learned very early to do the things that work and avoid the things which bring bad con- sequences, However, when the consequences are lang delayed, we tend to ignore them. The spiritual side of life is like that, that is the consequences seem long delayed, or appear: in- significant. For this reason, many people ignore the spiritual side of life. ; “I'm happy, I'm doing okay, everything seems to work real well without church or religion. So why should ! bother?” : And so they go merrily on their way, until a crisis comes. As a minister, lam privileged to see into many lives, especially at times of crisis. My observation’s are that those who have ignored the spiritual dimension of life are really crushed by crisis, They have nothing to fall back on, nothing to support them, they are hollow people. The crises can be many things. It’s often death, or a marriage breakdown, or children going wrong. And the cry goes up, ‘What did I do wrong?’ It is what they didn’t do that is frequently the most important. They had left the greatest power in the universe out of their lives. Christians have long known and taught this truth, and every generation has to learn it. The most essential thing in life is the power of God. The power made known by Jesus Christ. We can weather any crisis through his power. We are never stuck on the road of life. FOCUS... By ALLAN SWIFT | MONTREAL (CP) — Al- though Brother Andre has been dead for 42 yeara, ‘iis heart still remains the centre of St. Joseph’s Oratory. The tallest puint in Mon- treal, and ove of the world's largest churches, St. Joseph's celek: ates its 75th anniyvcrsary this year ag a shrine, although the monumental structure was ‘not completed until after the founder's death in 1087, Thousands of. worshippers have participated in special — masses during the year-long: . anniversary celebrations which began in March, and - most of them have- filed by the niche where the heart of . Brother Andre is exposed, preserved in formaldehyde.~ Pieces of paper are at - hand where pilgrims can write thelr prayer requests: and slip them into a slot in the wall. Nearby, dozens of: old crutches line the wall, only a few of the many that: have been left on the mountain-top shrine as evidence of heallng by Brother Andre, Hundreds are stored in a warehouse, Brother Andre was once asked to remove the crut- ches, but he said displaying them does good to those who learn of a healing aa well a8 those healed, explains Rev. Bernard Lafreniere, assistant rector of St. Joseph's, Brother Andre's heart would have swelled with pride to see the completion of his dream, a shrine to St. Joseph. The shrine's dome is second in size only to St. Peter’s, Rome. Some two million persons visit the shrine each year, which bills iteelf as “the world capital of devotion te St. Joseph.” - . . The massive structure on the west flank of Mount | Brother And yal hes a bold, Italian renaissanre exterior, with 99 uread concrete steps leading. to the base. It looks like it euud have teen there for centuries. Inside however, it is staraly modern, Massive eonerete pillars soar 59 metres, supporting the inner dome. It is a long way from the little chapel Brother Andre and his friends built on a - vacant lot in the northwest end of the city, * “Born Alfred Bessette on a Quebec farm in 1845, he became an orphan at an early age. Despite poor health, he was admitted to ‘Notre Dame College, run by the Fathers of the Holy Cross, where he was given - the menial task of doorman. “They showed me the door," Brother Andre — an ' incurable punster — once said, ‘and [ stayed there,” “He never became a priest because he could barely read or write,” Father Lafreniere explained, Church-published biographies relate that strange things began to happen at the college, a high echool for boys. Andre’s gift was praying and, as he prayed for colleagues and visitors, healing powers appeared, As word spread, the college was invaded by sick and crippled people, asking Brother Andre to pray to St. Joseph far their healing. The college superior disap- proved, and the doctor called Andre a chariatan. When the superior forbade Brother Andre to practise his apparent powers in the college, he met his patients _ across the street in a tiny streetcar. station. He was eventually given permission to-build a shrine to St. Joseph on the vacant lot, which belonged to the order. ; ’ This became a chapel, big enough only for the altar and two priests. Wide doors opened to the people sitting outside, The chapel was consecrated on Oct. 19, 14, and still sits discreetly to one side of the oratory. . The church refused per- mission to enlarge the chapel, so laymen formed their own association and raised funds for a closed-in building. . Brother Andre disclaimed any virtue, and attributed healings to his patron saint, Joseph, although the movement was a Con- troversy in the Roman Cath- olic Church for years. His dream was to build a church for St, Joseph. Construction began in 1924 on the flat-roofed crypt, which forms the base of the basilica, Building stopped during the Depression, but it resumed in 1997, the year Brother Andre died, and it was officially completed in 1967. Lafreniere says it is impossible to price the structure. Thirteen days after his death, Brother Andre's heart was removed from his body and placed on display in the oratory, It came back into prominence when it was stolen in 1973, and held for $50,000 ransom. The money was never paid, but nearly two years later an anonymous call to a Montreal lawyer led police to it in a downtown apartment. re lives on > Near the heart lies Brother Andre's body, in a marble tomb donated by the dale Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis, who attendad Notre Dame College when Brother Andre was porter there, “ The tomb was opened in 1963 on order by an apostolic tribunal investigating -the life and words of the brother, a candidate for sainthood, In 1978 Pope Paul declared him venerable, The next step, Lafrentere explains, is for the church to check the authenticity of the dead man’s miracles. Three claims of miracles have been submitted. oo. ‘The church has to recognize two cases to: be authentic, so Andre. can be recognized and blessed, There has to be a third case to be canonized {become a saint.” a Normaily the oratory does not check the miracles, nor advertise them, because they have not been declared official by the church, says Lafreniere. Letters from persons who say they were healed arrive daily at the rector’s office, Andre would be Canada’s first saint. . Workmen scurry about the well-manicured grounds, and students hired in summer as extra guides add to the regular staff of 100, including clerics. “Jt was a people-initiated project,”’ Lafreniere ex- plains. “It's there and it’s still beautiful because people. want it. ; Counselling a source. of strength TORONTO (CP) — In the dizzying rush of wedding | plans and the thrill of being’ to couples engaged, Andrew and Barbara Walker found the ‘had lost touch with ead other. . Needing to reaffirm thelr 1 WF Lalengt | Pastor Bob Lesyk Toews ees gg 695-2807 | Corner of Halliwell and W. T Zion Baptist Church Corner Sparks and Keith Pastor Paul Mohninger:.. : Ab Sart 5-83 Home 635-5309 Sunday School 9:45a.m Morning Worship 11:00a.m. Sunday School 7:30 p.m. Singing and Bible S Uplands Baptist Church 9:45a.m. Bible Teaching 11:00. a.m. Morning Worship Service Wednesday 3:00 Home Bible Studies "Yau Are Welcome at Uplands" tudy DAGRED NEANT pAxloN 4830 Straume Avenue, Terrace 635-2312 SATURDAY EVENING 7:30p.m. SUNDAY MASSES 3:00am. ve dh sa.m. OY 230 pm. 11:00 a.m.- Holy Communion tor 1 4126 Lazelle Avenue 635-9019 Minister: Reverend Lance Stephens - 635-5855 ty wget rd yt nr ¢ ATTEND THE CHURCH _ OF YOUR CHOICE Christian Reformed Church Sparks Street and Straume Avenue _, Reverend S. Van Daaloni sagt: yo Sunday Schoo! - Terrace 10:00a.m. - Sunday School - Remo 1:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. Worship Service 5:00 p.m. Worship Service ia “ana Sunday Services - 10:00 a.m, Sunday School. Adults Discussion. he lamily 4637 Walsh Avenue. SUNDAY 9:30a.m,. Christian Education TUESDAY NIGHT WEDNESDAY: ; KNOX UNITED CHURCH 4907 Lazolle Avenue Minister Reverend Dave Martyn Worship Service 11:00 a.m. SATURDAY .- Christian Counselling Emergency Welfare Spiritual Resources 635-5446 or 635-2626 SALVATION ARMY.™ Sag. “Educ 11:00 a.m. Family Worship Service 7:30 p.m, Evanglistic Salvalion Meeting’ 7:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer Moetitig : 7:30 p.m. Ladies Home League Fellowship Hour oo ; Wotcomes Nou To Worship 1 7.30p.m. Youth Group CHRIST. LUTHERAN CHURCH Corner Sparks Street and Park Avenue Reverend R.L. White _ Prayer Service CHURCH OF GOD 3341 River Drive Terrace, B.C, 638-1861 Sunday School 10:00 a.m Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Evening Worshio 7:30 p.m, Wednesday 7°30 p.m. Reverend RL. White 635-3015 — 635-3657 Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. ation & Instruction. Thurs. 7-8:30 Aclass for all ages ~ House of Praise 3406 Eby Street Worship, Holy Rev. Herman Hagen B.A. M.0.0. 635-3485 Communion & installation 7:30 p.m. _. Church School 9:45 a.m. Sunday School, Confirmation Youth and Adult Classes feelings, the couple entolled in a marriage preparation course and hecame reacquainted, _ “We were into the whole wedding bit rather than the marriage per se until we started taking the course," recalls Mrs. Walker, 24. “It's such a big thrill belng engaged and then, all oba i renee c Suien, you're strangeraipr f° THIS: SUNDAY © SVE . i think, ‘I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you?’ The counselling impressed me with the seriousness of marriage, ..." __ The Walkers are Roman Catholic and, like all couples who want a church wedding, were advised strongly by their priest to participate in pre-marital counselling, The choice was theirs but in a mixed marriage, Cannon law would have required them to take the course or be denied a church wedding. “Between 90 and 95 par cent of priests will make a couple go through a course before they agree to marry them in church,” says Rev. Thomas Dove, director of the Catholic Information Centre. “Some priests won't give them a marriage date uniess they return with a certificate that they took it.” The centre has doubled to 11 the number of marriage preparation programs it offers each year. About 75 couples attend the five-week. series which covers topics such as communication, sexuality and the Catholic outlook on marriage. | But Father Dove, the pro- Bram's co-ordinator, acknowledges that a couple cannot be prepared fully for marriage in five weeks, “It isn't going to make someone who is childish mature but at least it can point out the. kinds of problems a relationship will run into,” he says, be The Most Faridus Rashel in the Warkd-* Home gy | It's time lo eal your Welrone Wagon hogtecs. Lois Mobninger 635.5309 Evelyn Anweiler 635 5471.