A Longer View

In October of last year, I had the opportunity to do some work with the Kenora Catholic School District in Kenora, ON. Shortly after returning home the pastor of one of the parishes, Notre Dame du Portage parish in Kenora, contacted me and asked if I would replace him. I said, “Yes!” When I arrived in the parish to replace him I knew very little about the town or the history of the Church. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered various folks telling stories about Oblates who had lived and worked there.

As I entered the Church for the first time I was drawn to a plaque which recognizes that the French speaking Oblates from Manitoba had founded and served the parish community for some 114 years. In fact, next to the plaque is a list of the Oblates who had served there. What is not noted on the plaque is that Oblates from the former St. Peter’s Province also served there for a few years. While there is no plaque recognizing their service, they, along with the Oblates from Manitoba are still remembered in the minds and hearts of the people.

Today, while the building graces one of the highest hills in the town, the parish community is much diminished from its former rich and vibrant history. The members of the parish, though fewer in number, still give flesh to the Gospel. As I spent time with them, I noticed rumors of the Oblate presence. I noticed that there is a commitment to foreign missions; an outreach to people who are poor and in need in lands far away. I noticed that there is an outreach to the poor who are present in Kenora; to the people struggling with addictions and the lack of a permanent home. Food and drink is provided for the homeless. I noticed that there is a commitment to trying to build up the local community through various outreach programs; some of which have official parish designation and some of which flow from groups of people in the parish who want to make a difference. I noticed also that there is a strong sense among the people of their baptismal call and the need to express that call in and through ministry on behalf of others.

Located in the Church yard, between the Church building and the parish office/rectory, there is a sign honoring the life and the work of Fr. Albert Lacombe. The sign highlights some of his work as a missionary and makes note of his work in establishing the parish at Kenora.

As I spent time in Kenora, I wondered if Fr. Lacombe had any idea at the time that his work would be remembered and honored a century later. Today, we as Oblates and Associates struggle to identify our mission and the ministries we should be focused on at this time in our history. As an Oblate, I support and encourage this work. Listening to stories of what the Oblates have done in the past reminds me that it is important that I/we do well the work that is required of us today.

In other words, we do what we must, recognizing that the good we do today will bear fruit today and tomorrow and into an unknown tomorrow! After all we believe that our lives are in the hands of our God who loves us unconditionally. In that regard it is good for us to take a long view of all that we are doing today. Today, we may be discouraged because our work is not bearing immediate fruit that we can see, hear, feel, touch and taste and yet as scripture so often reminds us, God is at work, not only in large events but in the hidden places of people’s hearts and minds.

Here on the prairies as winter lessens its grip and as the Easter season unfolds we celebrate with joy what God is doing among us and we wait with eager longing for what God will do with us. Knowing that God has the big picture in mind we turn our energies to making this day a little better through our daily choices to love one another as Christ has loved us. Taking the long view, we trust that our acts of love will facilitate life for others including ourselves, even if we are unaware of how this will happen.

Thomas Merton published a poem that has become a mainstay of my prayer. I share it with you and I trust that it will be a source of encouragement and life as you engage the Easter moments of your life!

Thomas Merton Prayer

 My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this

you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, I will trust you always

though I may seem to be lost

and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me

to face my perils alone.

A prayer, taken from Thomas Merton’s, Thoughts in Solitude, written in 1953-1954 and first published in 1958.

By Doug Jeffrey, OMI