The Confreres of Canada Celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart in Ottawa
The celebrations began with Eucharistic adoration in the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25, prepared by Father Richard Woodbury and presided over by the Regional Superior, Father Gustave Lulendo N'dotony. During this celebration, everyone was able to meditate and pray based on excerpts from Pope Francis's latest encyclical, Dilexit nos, on the Sacred Heart. After the celebration, they gathered for a fraternal gathering, followed by a celebratory dinner. For the occasion, the meal was prepared by a caterer, a social integration company that offers free training to people from all walks of life who seek to improve their living conditions, helping them develop their skills in a commercial kitchen.
The following day, Thursday, there was an early celebration of the Eucharist for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart in the residence chapel, prepared by the Ottawa community and presided over by Fr. Yuliwan Maslim. Fr. Aegidius Warsito gave a rich homily. As the Canadian region is composed of confreres of eight different nationalities, this diversity was highlighted by proclaiming the prayer of the Faithful’s intentions in the confreres' different languages of origin.
After sharing a meal prepared by the same caterer as the day before, everyone returned to their communities. Thus, confreres involved in parishes or other ministries were able to celebrate with their parishioners on the day of the Feast.
As Father Gustave mentioned at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, it was a powerful moment of communion between confreres, a manifestation of the Sint Unum that we are called to grow among ourselves, as a testimony of the fraternal life to which we have been and are called.
Fr. Maurice Legare, SCJ
