1. Albert Lacombe, OMI
1827 – 1916
Volume 8, Number 21 June 17, 2011
QUEEN’S HOUSE
SASKATOON
In this issue...
MY MINISTRY AT QUEEN’S
HOUSE…………………...….……......…..1
BRENDAN BITZ: OUR NEW
DIRECTOR………………………………..4
SERVICE IS OUR MANDATE……….....6
THINGS FROM THE E-WORLD ……....7
1. The Queen’s House Chapel viewed from the
very green and restful park that surrounds the
retreat center.
NEXT ISSUE OF INFO LACOMBE WILL BE MY MINISTRY AT
JUNE 24, 2011.
QUEEN’S HOUSE
By Paul Fachet OMI.
“What do you do at Queen’s House?” is a
question I am often asked. But, as I see it,
that question ought to be prefaced by another
that is more basic: How did you come to be
Saskatoon Office- Communications on staff at Queen’s House in the first place?
TEL: 306 244 1556 As most readers of Info Lacombe are aware,
FAX: 306 242 8916 before moving to Saskatoon in 2003, I had
CELL: 306 370 7581 been, for thirty-one years (1972-2003), a
HOME: 306 653 3113 ex 203 professor of mainly Biblical Studies at
Newman Theological College, Edmonton,

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while also being on staff at St. Charles
Scholasticate, an Oblate formation
community, housed initially in a wing of
NTC and later in three duplexes in St. Albert.
In 2000-2001 I took an eight month
sabbatical in South America (Bolivia and
Peru) and was intent on learning Spanish
sufficiently so that, after a couple of years, I
might transfer from Canada to South America
and be part of the Oblate community and
mission in Bolivia and Peru. Near the end of
that experience, however, in March-April,
2001, I was stricken by a debilitating
neurological syndrome (Gillian Barre) that
rendered me a quadriplegic and I was
hospitalized in Lima for over a month. I was
still under nurses’ care and in need of a wheel
chair when, in mid-May, I returned to Canada
and was left wondering “What now?” The
answer came rather unexpectedly one day in
mid June while I was recouping at Mazenod
Residence, Saskatoon, and hobbling about on
the grounds of Queen’s House with the help
of a cane. Suddenly, running to greet me,
there appeared Gisele Bauche, the director of
Queen’s House, and Lucie Leduc , the
program coordinator: “Paul, Paul, we need
you at Queen’s House”, they exclaimed
excitedly. (At that time, for several years
previously there had been no Oblate on staff
at Queen’s House.) “Like this?” I motioned
with my cane. “Look”, I continued, “If and
when I get my strength and mobility back, I
promise that I will come back.” And I did.
In June, 2003, I moved to Saskatoon to be on
staff at Queen’s House.
So what do I do here? Since 2003, I have
offered each year a mini-series (eight Paul Fachet has biked six times in the Queen’s
House Bike-a-thon, a distance of 235 km. in two
monthly two hour sessions) called
days.
“Journeying with Scripture”. Hence, mainly
in that series over the past eight years, I have
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Queen’s House, was a four-part series on
Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue. Then,
last year, Neil Schwartz, a Jewish Cantor and
I together offered an evening of reflections on
the Lord’s Prayer and its roots in Jewish
Synagogue Prayer.
I have also preached several retreats at
Queen’s House and elsewhere over the past
eight years. Most of these are based on
material adapted from the Scripture series I
had previously shared. The retreats are
usually given during the month of July each
year as part of the “summer stillness”
program that Queen’s House has been
offering for many years, even prior to my
coming to Saskatoon. One retreat in
particular: “The Eight Signs in the Fourth
Gospel”, has been offered several times, each
time with great satisfaction and success. This
past year (2010), I have started offering a six
day retreat based on “The Washing of Feet”,
the popular painting by the German priest-
painter Sieger Koder. This retreat takes more
of a ‘right brain’ approach to our biblical
tradition and is also well received.
Thus, teaching and preaching have occupied
The tabernacle centered in the Stillness chapel some of my time these past eight years.
where the pray-er enters for a time of clearly However, my first six years at Queen’s House
focused prayer.
were dedicated mainly to a two year Spiritual
Direction Formation Program (SDFP). I was
lectured on selections of the Bible with which blessed to have had two very capable and
I have long been fascinated but unable to gifted women, Sr. Louisa Brost, o.s.u. and
probe into while teaching at Newman, for Claire Ewart Fisher, a Mennonite minister,
example: The Book of Revelation, The Song graciously accept to come on board and
of Songs, The Book of Job, Paul’s Letter to together with me lead the program as a team.
the Galatians and The Book of Jonah. Thus, in 2004-2006 and again in 2006-2008,
Currently, I am offering a series on The Book the three of us set up and coordinated two
of Genesis, chapters 1-11. As well, on two complete cycles of the program, each time
occasions, I initiated and was a participant in beginning with twelve participants. In the
two interesting ventures in inter-faith first cycle all the participants were women.
dialogue. The first, during my second year at In the second cycle half the participants were
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women, half men. All three of us on team them as my sisters and brothers, and as
agreed that the second cycle was a better beloved, precious children of our Abba, God.
experience for both the participants and us the
leaders. In 2008-2009, as a follow up to the BRENDAN BITZ: OUR
second cycle of the SDFP, we three plus a few
graduates of the program formed an expanded NEW DIRECTOR
team and animated a Nineteenth Annotation
Retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. By Nestor Gregoire, OMI
Ignatius of Loyola. All of the above
experiences have been very enriching for me
in particular and, I would say, very beneficial
for Queen’s House in general as well.
Besides teaching Scripture, preaching retreats
and helping coordinate programs, I also serve
as chaplain at Queen’s House. Thus, at least
once a week, usually on Tuesday afternoons, I
preside at a Eucharist with Queen’s House
staff. As well, whenever there is a program
sponsored by Queen’s House and there is
need of a priest to preside at one or more of
the Eucharistic Liturgies within the program,
I am usually the one called upon to serve in
that capacity. Then, too, there is the
occasional person who is seeking spiritual
direction and / or counseling and is referred to
me.
Hence, during the past eight years, I certainly
have had much to do at Queen’s House and
beyond. As I see it, however, my main
ministry here by far is in being an affirming,
caring, “Oblate” presence to everyone who
comes to Queen’s House, and especially to
the entire Queen’s House’s staff. If Queen’s
House is to be a haven of hospitality and
welcome to all who come through our doors, I
Brendan Bitz has come from a background of
see my main ministry in making sure that
teaching, principal and superintendent of the
each and every member of the staff is made to Saskatoon Catholic School District.
feel welcome, special and loved (translated
“hugged”) and not just occasionally but, as
Brendan Bitz serves as director of Queen’s
much as possible each time I stop to greet
House in Saskatoon. He comes out of a
background of teaching and superintendent of
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the Saskatoon Catholic School System. His conscious energy. If it is not loud and flashy it
wife Louise is chaplain at Holy Cross High does not grab the media’s attention. The
School in Saskatoon. setting of the retreat house is more important
today than before.”
We all wonder if Brendan was born with a
smile on his face because you are His hand lowered on the table to include a
immediately in the presence of an outgoing, further point. “Queen’s House really does
friendly and very enthusiastic man. His entire have a place. How do we make it more
demeanor radiates energy. contemporary? How do we make it more
accommodating? These are the challenges.”
The interview began with the simple question. He lifted his eyes from the outline on the
“What have you learnt since becoming table. “But there is a hunger out there.”
director here at Queen’s House?”
“The astonishing thing is that there is this
As he taught, all his thoughts are laid out in hunger in young people. When young people
order. “It is the amount of goodness in people. come here, when they embrace a faith or a
It is the goodness that comes through the service project, they flower. “
people who are coming on retreat, who
volunteer in the Queen’s House setting and all Continuing the observations on the spiritual
those who want to see the retreat ministry hunger out there, he added: “It is the
survive and thrive. These are not the people ambience here. We are seeing a mission to the
who are saying that someone else should do hurting, secular events within a gospel
it, but they are there helping to make it environment. Can we be for the secular
happen. These people are willing to make community what Albert Lacombe was for his
sacrifices for Queen’s House.” community? Or Eugene de Mazenod for the
hurting people of his day? It is here that we
Then with his hand outlining on the table top can be a source of peace, light and hope.”
what a piece of chalk would do on the
classroom board he outlined his points. “The “The heart of our ministry is hospitality. We
Oblates have no idea what they have actually want to give a sincere welcome with joy and
done and the commitment they have made to warmth. A hospitality that is accommodating
do something like this. I do not think they had and given with consideration.”
any idea what they were starting. This is
remarkable in itself. He folded his hands and added to the
observations. “Queen’s House is here for a
“Queen’s House and its setting is the antidote reason. It did not spring up because someone
to all that is troubling the world. We need the waved the wand. It took sacrifice and vision
type of environment that allows people to in order to sustain it.”
unhook, to step back, to view and experience
a calm environment. This is away from the Moving into the future of Queen’s House he
frantic environment of our businesses and our folded his hands. “This is a place of faith. It is
families. We are just racing and chasing every essential that the call of Jesus Christ put out
day! Each of these is not a bad thing in to ‘take up your cross and follow me’ be
themselves but they claim so much of our inspiration for us.
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“I think that divine inspiration will come. SERVICE IS OUR MANDATE
There will be the unfolding of the divine By Lucy Leduc
mystery. Human inspiration has its limits. But
the divine inspiration will come to the fore.”
“The Oblate charism is essential to our future.
This is the key. This is our thread back to the
divine.” His hands opened up with
expression. “The Oblate charism, you hang
on to it for all it’s worth!”
“Who are our needy today? Right now, it is
our own children in this secular community.
There is a spiritual awareness out there but
very little knowledge of our religion. Here we
can be a meeting place to make this
connection between our spiritual hunger and
the Christian story.”
Brendan sees where this ministry must move.
“We have to build a partnership. We are not a
storefront for the needy such as being a drop
in center or a food bank, our connection with
the needy is the work be do with the
caregivers. They have the relationships with
the needy.” This is where the ministry to the
poor fits in.
With enthusiasm he added, “I really enjoyed
the Oblate Community Days. The aging does
not diminish the charm, the goodness, the I. Lucy Leduc enters her thirteenth year of
commitment and the spirit of these men. We ministry with the Queen’s House Staff.
are not to take this for granted. I want to hang
on to this spirit.
“It is here that we see the Oblate charism in For thirteen years now, I have had the
action. I see in these older Oblates, men who privilege of serving as Program Coordinator
have lived out the charism for decades and for Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal
have asked for so little in return. They have Centre, working with wonderful, dedicated
survived many a cross and yet are still joyful. people both past and present. I have been
moved over the years by two ongoing
“Our challenge is how to enliven the charism dynamics at work in this ministry: the Oblate
for the next generation?” Charism as it touches us and the community
at large gathering in this place of peace, for
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retreats, workshops and seminars sponsored On the same weekend as the latter, our
by Queen’s House programming staff, or “Ecumenical Advent Retreat” led by Bishop
meetings, retreats and conferences hosted by Don Bolen attracted thirty or so people to
our facility bookings staff. “remembering, seeing and hoping” in
preparation for the celebration of the
Both facility bookings and sponsored incarnation.
programming together create opportunities
for people from diverse backgrounds to We enjoyed celebrating the Oblate Feast Day
experience Christ’s peace and refreshment of the Immaculate Conception with Oblates
through the unique Oblate lens of hospitality and the community at large with a vespers
and faith. The Q.H. staff as a whole work service followed by a social.
hard to create an atmosphere of welcome,
beauty and quiet for all to enjoy. As staff we played a fun guessing game
during Advent (ie. Through puzzle pieces
Some programming, bookings and staff with general questions and answers for each
highlights this year and last since August, staff member participating, we guessed at
2010: who our puzzle questions pointed to on staff)
leading up to our Christmas staff party where
In early August, many Ursulines of Prelate the answers to each of the puzzles was
and Bruno gathered to take part in “Cosmic revealed. We also proudly raised over $300
Blessing: Sabbath Retreat for Religious”, for the Oblate mission in Haiti and the
being renewed by the Universe Story and Friendship Inn in Saskatoon.
their part in it.
More recently, we celebrated the week of
In late September, Fr. Kevin McGee and Christian Unity with a Noon Prayer liturgy
Marge Copeland, led a group of about 25 and lunch on the theme of “Breaking the
people on a journey of contemplative prayer Bread in Hope”; and a Saturday Scripturefest
with a “Centering Prayer Retreat”. where a Keynote and panel of speakers from
Fr. Paul Fachet, OMI led a weekend Faith and diverse denominations shared on their own
Sharing Retreat for L’Arche members and the and their traditions perspectives of “Women
larger community. in Scripture”.
We reached out to grieving widows with a
“Grief and Loss” Retreat led by Sarah
Donelly. For many years Sarah came to THINGS FROM THE E-
retreats and programs at Queen’s House. WORLD
Now, she is giving back as a capable and
much appreciated facilitator of grief retreats.
In late November we partnered with http://monasteriesoftheheart.org/ This is a
“Tamara’s House” of Saskatoon, and website originating from the Benedictine
welcomed six inner city women in recovery Sisters of Erie Pennsylvania. One of their
from abuse for our first “Women’s Wellness” well-known sisters is Joan Chittister OSB.
day, led by Gisele Bauche. They expressed They have launched what they describe as a
deep gratitude for the healing and lay monastic movement for seekers of God
transformation they experienced. and a meaningful life, calling it “our gift to
the next generation.” “Monasteries of the
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Heart: A New Movement for a New World”
offers an opportunity for anyone -- regardless,
or even in the absence, of faith tradition -- to
live Benedictine spirituality and values.
Sometimes on visiting a library you stumble
upon an article in a periodical, or a shelf of
new acquisitions and sit down and take the
occasion to enjoy this serendipity. In the
wired world, a trip to google or other search
engine is the equivalent of putting in a name
like Matteo Ricci SJ in China, or Tissa
Balasuriya OMI in Sri Lanka which would
produce remarkable readings.
I came across the following interview on the
Agenda on TV Ontario on Two Popes and
Their Church, Blessed John Paul II and
Benedict XVI, a fascinating panel of
individuals that is a tribute to journalism that
can handle topics in a manner other than a 30
second sound bite. A click on the lengthy link
below will direct you to that panel discussion. Paul Howard - Oblate Associate
TVO indicates the direction of the panel.
Pope John Paul II was the Roman Catholic Allen. You can subscribe to individual
Church's first globalized pope. He was on TV columnists such as Mr Allen or Sr Joan
around the world trying to inspire Catholics. Chittister OSB, and have their columns arrive
Pope Benedict XVI is an administrator, on your email without as google search.
working behind the scenes trying to help the Here is a John Allen column on Benedict
Church during one of its most difficult XVI...
periods. Two different men, two different
popes. How will they affect the future of the http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/
Catholic Church? only-benedict-could-go-china
http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/ Lastly, a little known periodical available on-
index.cfm? line is the Sacred Heart Messenger, produced
page_id=7&bpn=109164&ts=2011-05-19%2 by the Jesuits of Ireland, now in its 122nd
020:00:00.0 year!!!!
The National Catholic Reporter has a http://www.messenger.ie/ You will find
remarkable commentator on things Catholic interesting articles as well as homilies and
from his vantage point in Rome, viz., John reflections for up and coming Sundays.
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