SOCIAL JUSTICE

Parishioners and parish groups are invited to participate in A Path to Solidarity with Indigenous people. Each month, for 10 months, a topic will be explored as “A Step on a Path to Solidarity.” Each topic has 4 parts: See - An introduction; Discern - A prayer for discernment; Act - Practical suggestions for action; and, Further Resources . Click HERE for the First Step to the Path of Solidarity - Energy


The Annual 'Truth & Reconciliation Collection' in our diocese will take place on the weekend of September 27-28, 2025. Please click HERE to read the directives from the Diocese, and click HERE to view the Diocesan 'Case for Support'.

October and November have several important Missions events that we would like to bring your attention to:

On October 23^rd, we celebrate World Mission Sunday. World Mission Sunday is a day set aside for the Catholic Church throughout the world to publicly renew its commitment to the missionary movement, coordinated by the Pontifical Mission Societies, who are also known as Missio. It is celebrated on the penultimate Sunday of October every year.  For more information, visit www.missionsocieties.ca.

The sixth World Day of the Poor will be observed on 13 November 2022. This year’s theme “For your sakes Christ became poor” is a summons to responsibility and commitment as men and women who are part of our one human family, as we can read in Pope Francis’ text:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/20220613-messaggio-vi-giornatamondiale-poveri-2022.html

We are so happy to be able to tell you about the Soup Kitchen Mission which has been going on for many years, generously serviced by St. Michael parishioners. The following article was submitted by Paddy Cunningham-Schauteet:
 

The soup kitchen located at the Inn of the Good Shepherd has been a monthly ministry at St. Michael church for as long as I can remember. My partner Cecile McEachen and her husband Brian and I took it on when Pricilla and Dwight Yellowage moved away.  We are scheduled the fifth Wednesday and/or the fifth Friday of each month. Sometimes we skip a month, and sometimes we will be on both the Wednesday and Friday.

We have had a tremendous amount of support both from volunteers helping to prepare, serve and clean up our meals, and those who donate prepared food. We send out an email to our team of supporters each month, a week before our scheduled day. The email explains what we plan to serve and exactly what it is we need donated. For example, we often prepare meatloaf as our guests really like it, so we will ask for donations of cut up veggies of any kind, rolls, coleslaw and dessert. We also ask for volunteers to help. Our wonderful team of supporters answers our call with an email saying what they are able to donate in food or time.  

We arrange to be at the church on our committed day in the morning to receive the food, after which we head to the grocery store to purchase our meat.

When we get to the Inn we unload and prepare our meal using anything else needed from the Inn's pantry. Our meal is served at 1:00 pm until 2:15 pm.  We can serve anywhere from 35-100 so we have to be prepared. Whatever is left over can be frozen, used the next day or sent to the Lodge to be used. Nothing is wasted.

We also have received many cash donations which help us purchase our meat. Sometimes people will donate turkeys or hams which make wonderful meals.

We have been so very blessed at St Michael with the continued support for this very important ministry to feed the hungry and welcome anyone who may be interested in helping in any way.

We are also very happy to be able to give parishioners in our family of parishes information on the Sarnia Food Bank and Help Centre. The following article was submitted by Monica Vautour, a volunteer at the Centre:
 

When you hear the term St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and Help Centre, what do you automatically think about---giving food to those in need, right?  Well, we do that and so much more.  When needed, we are also able to give hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, diapers, deodorant, denture cleaner, shampoo & conditioner, and cleaning supplies such as laundry and dish soap, dryer sheets, all-purpose cleaner and garbage bags.  In addition, we can sometimes offer dog and cat food and treats.

There are 2 programs that are organized by individuals in conjunction with some schools but operate through the Food Bank.  These are the Summer Snack Program and the Bare Necessities Little Lunches Program.

The Help Centre also offers rent and utility assistance, emergency temporary housing funding, and Coats for Kids, Hugs for Homeless (water, food, back pack & sleeping bag or blanket or roll up bed), New Baby Gift Bags, Birthday cake & gifts, baby needs (diapers, formula, baby food), school supplies, ½ hour of free legal guidance appointment by a lawyer, help with budgeting, community liaison, and referrals to other agencies. We also can provide gas cards and clothing and furniture vouchers.  Dental and medical help in some situations may also be available.  All of the above and many others, depend upon your donations.  Please keep us in mind when donating. 

The Food Bank & Help Centre is located at 228 Davis St.

There are two locations for clothing and furniture donations.  They are:  200 Vidal St. North and 106 East St. Sarnia.

We are going through a period of flux as far as the processes to obtain the assistance that is needed, so we suggest that if you have a need or know someone who does, please call the Help Centre office to find out how we can help at 519-337-1058.  We work with only 2 part time employees and depend so much on our awesome volunteers!!  If you have some free time and are looking to help our community by volunteering, please call the office.

You can follow us on Facebook at St. Vincent de Paul Help Centre Sarnia and on our website at svdpsarnialambton.ca.  Financial donations can be made on our website.  Hours of operation are currently being adjusted so please check our website or call the office.  Watch for the Irish Miracle on December 3/22 for the door-to-door food collection which will hopefully fill our shelves before Christmas.  Please remember that the World Day of the Poor is coming up on November 13/22.

Your donations of food, money or time will help us continue to serve God’s beloved who are in need, with love, respect, justice and joy.

The “Bringing Christmas to Pikangikum Project” is in full swing.  Sixty names have been sent to us from Missionary Colleen Estes.  These 60 names are from some of the poorest families in Pikangikum who would otherwise not receive any Christmas gift this year.  If you wish to participate in this project of purchasing a gift for someone on the list please contact Theresa vanKoeverden at [email protected].  The deadline for delivering the wrapped gifts to St. Michael church is the weekend of Nov. 12-13 or at the parish office during office hours (9 am – noon) on Wednesdays or Fridays or you can make other arrangements with Theresa.

Please hold the people of Pikangikum in your prayers.  There is much sadness in the community over a recent death of a young mom.  Please read Colleen’s recent letter below.
 

Dear Friends,

The last time I wrote I was in the hospital in Thunder Bay after surgery and awaiting a PICC line for IV antibiotics for a stubborn case of osteomyelitis.   I am grateful to report that although the infection is not totally gone yet, it is retreating!  I have a couple more weeks yet of being attached to an IV pump.  I also have been referred to a specialist who may have some insight into a more effective antibiotic to knock this out.   Thanks for praying!   I am glad Mark Mast is able to cover my Christian Ed classes for the next couple of weeks when school resumes after Culture (moose hunting) break.   Hopefully I will be able to go home to Pikangikum after my appointment Oct. 25.

In the meantime, I have been living at a beautiful home south of town, and being totally blessed by Carole, the woman who graciously opened her basement apartment to me.  I have been enjoying times with friends in Thunder Bay and LHNM staff.  I was able to attend our staff meetings at Dorion Bible Camp east of Thunder Bay.  A home care nurse came out to the camp for me. cool.   The teaching sessions by Gord and Bev Mills were excellent as we looked at topics such as being a helper rather than an enabler and the ongoing effects of childhood trauma and how to bring healing.   We have a new interim mission director -  Andrew Lange from Thunder Bay.   I got really excited as he shared his heart. I believe he is in leadership"for such a time as this.

With Pikangikum people coming to Thunder Bay for medical appointments and hospitalizations, I have been able to pray with some folks and help out where I can, whether it be finding lost luggage at the airport, taking a couple of ladies to Fabricland (not my idea of fun, but they really enjoyed it!)  or giving a young couple who have been in the city for a year for medical reasons an afternoon outing to beautiful Kakabeka Falls.

Leesha Turtle, a young mother was in Thunder Bay with her son upon returning from London, ON where he had been hospitalized for severe respiratory infections.   He was doing well.  We took a drive in the country and another day went to the mall where she shopped for toys.  We hung out together eating KFC.   She returned to Pikangikum.

However today I am compiling the memorial card for her funeral tomorrow and emailing it to Pikangikum where it will be printed off.  On Monday Leesha, 26, took her own life, leaving behind 5 children.  4 were being raised by their father's mother who died in July and are now being raised by a grandfather.    Her father and siblings and grandmother -- she loved her -- are heartbroken.  So am I.  I spent a lot of time with Leesha after her mom died suddenly of a heart condition when she was 7 and when her 14 year old brother suicided the next year.  Sleepovers.  Trips to camp.  Chocolate chip cookies.  Times at the nursing station after suicide attempts.  Munchie runs.  Middle of the night phone calls.

The question always blasts thru a person's mind.. WHY????  Maybe a combination of things.. unhealed grief, childhood trauma, feeling rejected, adult bullying, partner abuse, depression, loneliness, alcohol, ... and that there is our adversary the devil that walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.    She was loved by her father Corry who is a strong believer and by her siblings.  And me.   And by the Lord who is the one who knows what was in her heart at the time she passed away.   And then the question comes, WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE????  how can we better minister life to the others that like Leesha are in despair and don't want to live anymore?  How can we in the power of the Lord better rescue the perishing?  That is a question for not only in Pikangikum but all other places as times get more perilous.

The company who works on trailer/water tank set up in Pikangikum said they would do it around the end of the month.   Pray for that to be completed so that things are made ready for labourers who will come with the love and light and life of Jesus to the Leeshas of our community.

Love, Colleen
 

The St. Michael Quilters are happy to report that we will have quilts for sale at the St. Michael CWL Christmas Bazaar.  And we will have a 2-Quilts Raffle, starting November 12^th at the bazaar.  The draw will be held at the CWL Potluck Dinner on December 13^th.  Proceeds from both of these efforts will go to support Colleen’s missionary work in Pikangikum.  Pictures of the quilts are below.  Thank you as always for your care and support.

The Rayjon organization was formed in 1986 to seek to raise the quality of life in countries like Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and to inform and educate people in our own communities here in Canada about the situation in these developing countries.

Contact ~ John Barnfield ~ [email protected]