A Retreat that Changes the Narrative

The Emmaus Retreat week – Canada’s Catholic Gap Year

Our lives are saturated by constant noise and distraction, from the “ba-ding” of cell phones to the chaotic clamor of the modern lifestyle. We all know the difficulty of tuning our ears to God’s quiet voice in the midst of this modern cacophony. Even when things are quieter, our internal noise keeps us distracted. Thoughts wander while we walk, drive, pray the rosary, try to be attentive in Mass, or even try to stay engaged in conversation with others. 

A couple weeks ago, the St. Therese Institute Catholic Gap Year residents were able to turn away from all the noise for their first silent retreat of the year. It’s called the Emmaus Retreat, and as you might guess, the retreat’s theme is that story of the disciples’ encounter with the resurrected Christ on their way to Emmaus, in the 24th chapter of Luke’s gospel.

Discovering New Narratives 

Phylicia Aalbers, our Female Director of Formation (and a STIFM alumna), led the retreat. “Emmaus is designed to provide the participants with skills in emotional intelligence for living in community,” she said. 

The retreat invites participants to look first at themselves, identifying personal tendencies and internal narratives that may or may not lead them closer to Christ. The whole process is based on the example of the two disciples on the road, who were stuck in grief and confusion about the crucifixion, and who had not yet realized the truth of the resurrection. There is a lesson here about the power of narratives, and of the gap that can exist between our narratives and the actual facts of what God is doing in our lives. 

“Looking at the stories we tell ourselves, we start to see how those stories impact our ability to relate to the world.” Once we realize not all of our narratives are true, there is a real opportunity. “As you discover who you are and step out of old narratives and into life-giving narratives, it frees you up to love more fully, deeply, and freely.”

The retreat weaves its way between facilitated sessions, times of prayer – including daily Mass, rosary, and adoration – personal journaling, confession, small group discussions, and “integration activities” designed to help participants put things together meaningfully for themselves.

“It’s a time to grow in both faith and personal insight,” Phylicia says. “It’s a time of finding answers to questions like, ‘Why do I react this way when blank happens? What is it that compels this reaction? How can I implement what I learned this week to propel myself forward rather than getting stuck or falling back?'”

Over the years she has facilitated the retreat, Phylicia has seen truth strike people as dramatic insights become suddenly obvious. In other cases, she sees a process that starts with a deep sense and unfolds into clarity – akin to the disciples realizing that they have been walking with Jesus all along, so that they exclaim “were not our hearts burning within us” (Luke 24:32). 

An Excellent Retreat Team

We had two STIFM alumni join the retreat team this year: Naazim Kodita (Class of 2014) came to co-lead the retreat, with Phylicia. Naazim is a certified counsellor who runs his own practice out of Calgary, AB. Fr. Michael Horianopoulos, CC (Class of 2017) was here as the retreat chaplain. Fr. Michael is the newly ordained Associate Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Lower Sackville, NS. St. Therese Institute interns, Miranda Willenborg and Joseph Côté, rounded out the team. 

The Fruit of Silence – Testimonials

Noah Huber (pictured left) is at St. Therese for a Gap Year and had a breakthrough in his faith during the retreat: 

“Our Lord was working on my heart and my faith. Even though I struggle with doubts, our Lord was reassuring me of faith being a choice. Even if I don’t feel it, I can still choose. Renewing that choice to believe, to trust, and to love, is so important. Where usually I base my encounters with him on feelings, this was more an encounter of conviction: Yes, I choose to believe. Yes, I choose to trust in you Lord and to be yours.” 

Though silence was hard at first, Noah came to appreciate the opportunity, saying that the silence “really gave an opportunity for things to come up, like memories from the past and lies that I believed. He brings things up so that he can work on them. Tearing those apart revealed the Lord’s constant presence with me through my life, never leaving, never wavering, never abandoning. He’s always there. Coming out of the silence I realized the beauty of the silence. How you can encounter our Lord so much deeper…because there’s no distractions.”

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Kintsukuroi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, this process highlights them as part of the object’s history, creating a unique and more beautiful piece. We can also embrace our wounds and negative experiences, transforming them into strength and resiliency. There is a Kintsukuroi integration activity in the Emmaus Retreat. 

Sara Hansen (pictured right) appreciated the impact of the Kintsukuroi experience on her retreat. “We received clay pots. We decorated them, then were told to break them (which was actually kinda fun), and then were instructed on how to mend them. I found the mending part to be frustrating as the pot kept falling apart on me. I took the still-broken pot with me to share group, and finally managed to get it put back together there. It really struck me that it was in the context of community that this ‘healing’ occurred.

The whole process helped me to realize that my imperfections and struggles are actually a unique and beautiful part of who I am.” 

The Sacraments and Community 

“All of this [happens] in the context of the sacraments,” adds Phylicia. For the disciples in Emmaus, it was through the sacrament of the Eucharist when Jesus “took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them” (Luke 34:31) that they recognized him. 

“The sacraments are these pivotal moments of grace, and help us to become saints. So, as we are becoming more aware of our stories and narratives, we are working on changing our stories with the Lord, much like what happens in the Gospel story on the Road to Emmaus. How do we become more alive, and how are the sacraments giving us the grace to do so?” 

Reflecting back on the week, co-leader Naazim Kodita shared, “I was struck mainly by the community. Even though we were in silence, the heart of St. Therese was very much present in the love, service, and intentionality of each person. My favourite moment was near the end of the retreat: [after] the silence was lifted, each [participant] shared their own experience with God working in them that week. Love was abundant, hope was revitalizing, and their commitment to a life in Christ was inspiring.” 

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St. Therese Institute May Offer an Emmaus Retreat for the Public

Emmaus is a pivotal moment in our Catholic Gap Year programming. Now, the STIFM team is considering offering this retreat to the public, during the months of June or July. 

“It would be to bring these tools and skills into the lives of others,” Phylicia explains. “Learning these skills helps participants become better spouses, parents, and co-workers. They are operating in freedom, not brokenness, and so can love more deeply.” 

If the witness of these Gap Year participants draws you to the idea of a summer Emmaus Retreat, let us know. Sharing your interest with us will encourage our team to make the commitment. 

Stay tuned for updates in this newsletter, on our website, and on our social media.

Stewardship of Treasure: Finding Your Heart

Time, Talent, and Treasure Series: Part 3

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21

Once a friend told a group of us that he was facing a large bill. Someone within our present company said, “Pray to God to take care of it; He has lots of money!” Someone else added the further point, “…and some of it is in YOUR pocket.”

Stewardship is not simply about “doing more,” but about offering back to God what He has already given for the sake of His Kingdom. I’ve addressed Time – the sacred hours of life that we offer back to God. I’ve addressed Talent – the skills and aptitudes we are called to invest for the Kingdom. This article takes the topic of Treasure – our most tangible and sometimes most challenging area of stewardship.

For me, it’s easier to express need and it’s easier to give help in terms of time or of talent. If I have to postpone a task until later because I give someone an hour of my time, that doesn’t hurt. It’s also easy to give of my talents. I might as well put them to use. But…I had to work for my money! I might not be able to go on that trip or buy that 3D Printer that I’ve wanted if I give that away! The sacrifice is clearer with treasure. 

However, in discussing “The Universal Destination of Goods” the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2402-2404), stresses that, “In his use of things man should regard the external goods he legitimately owns not merely as exclusive to himself, but common to others, in the sense that they can benefit others as well as himself. The ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others” (from CCC2404).

In Providence, God has given all I have: my time, my talent…and also my treasure. My ownership is a temporary situation, designed firstly to help me grow, and even be transformed, as I come to see these things for the gifts they are. Secondly, ownership is an opportunity for my own transformation, as I learn to give these gifts that I’ve received. If I am a faithful steward, my giving will not only provide for my family’s needs, but also for the needs of others.

The tradition of the First Fruits – giving to God first from the very best of our bounty – is a measurable way of living this stewardship out. In the Old Testament, First Fruits giving was the law, called a tithe, and the people gave at the rate of 10% which supported the needs of priests, as well as their families and households. Modern Catholics who still follow this practice give witness that, when we put God first by tithing, our heart is trained to the deep reality that 

• God truly is the source of all we have, 
• He promises to provide lovingly for us, and
• This trustworthy knowledge means we can be confident in our own generosity. 

The principle of sacrificial giving isn’t about God needing our treasure. It’s about our hearts needing to be transformed. When we release our tight grip on what we think of as our own, we open our hands to receive what God knows is possible. We move from our economy of scarcity to God’s economy of superabundance (conf. Luke 6:38).

From Scarcity to Abundance

In the Gospel miracle of Feeding of the Five Thousand, the lunch-box treasure of loaves and fish that was freely given was transformed into not only enough to feed 5,000 men plus even more women and children, but there was excess left over. It must have really impacted the early Christian community as this is the only miracle, aside from the resurrection, mentioned in all four Gospels (Mtt 14:13-51, Mk 6:31-44, Lk 9:12-17 and Jn 6:1-14)!

We have seen similar things here at St. Therese. It was somewhere around 15 years ago, as our participant numbers were starting to grow, that we realized the need to increase the number of beds in the dorms. We approached the owner of Battleford Furniture, who had made a few past donations, and made our need known. He agreed to donate something like $30,000-worth of bunk beds and mattresses through his company, if I remember correctly! Shortly after his donation, the owner told us his company just made an unforecasted extra $30,000 in sales! He had blessed us with the beds and benefitted in his soul by the act of charitable giving. Then God arranged for even his costs to be recuperated. Battleford Furniture continued to bless us with product donations for years after that, too. 

The owner of Battleford Furniture didn’t just give us things. He invested his heart in the mission. Perhaps he saw an promised opportunity in the famous Matthew 6:21 and realized he could place his treasure where he wanted his heart to be. Whether they realize it or not, the truth is that all of our donors are more than supporters. All donors are partners in the mission.

Partners in Mission with St. Therese Institute

Our donors – our true mission partners – make graces possible here and then get to share in the graces that they invite by their partnership. We are truly honored to work together in mission with those who diligently give from their first fruits to St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission. 

Last year, we enrolled 39 residents, which meant fees could about 55% what it cost to operate the institute. The rest came from the treasuries of people like you plus revenues that the institute itself could generate. To reprise my earlier story, God has lots of money, but some of it is in your pocket.

The Montpetit family, who moved to Bruno the year the Institute opened, invest in St. Therese Institute as longtime financial supporters. Their giving comes from hearts that have seen the mission’s results personally. Three of their five children have attended STIFM. Denise Montpetit reflected how St. Therese transforms lives and is also a witness to the local community: 

“From the start, and even 18 years later, we’ve been drawn to its mission – to help young adults encounter Christ deeply, grow in authentic community, and be formed for mission in the world. Through our children, we’ve witnessed the spiritual depth and growth of St. Therese’s formation.”

“The thriving community of Bruno continues to attract many young families, drawn by the life and faith that radiate from St. Therese Institute – truly the heartbeat of our community. We are especially grateful to see so many St. Therese students participating in daily Mass, assisting with parish events, and enriching our community with their youthful faith, enthusiasm, and joy.”

For the Monpetit family, financial support is doing “our part to see it continue to flourish. Supporting St. Therese…is truly an investment in the renewal of the Church”. For them, financial investment here “means helping to build a future Church that is alive, joyful, and authentically Catholic.”

Joshua Van Vliet (alumnus, class of 2014), shares his treasure with a heart of gratitude for what God did for him when he attended STIFM. “My year as a St. Therese resident was one of the most impactful years of my life. In gratitude for the formation I received and friendships I made, I’ve been a monthly donor for years so that others might be able to be blessed like I was. 

“All that I have is a gift from God and I am happy to give back to Him by supporting a thoroughly Catholic apostolate like St Therese Institute.”

Josh adds a bold challenge to his fellow alumni: “I am of the bold opinion that all alumni with a job and who are grateful for their time at St. Therese should be monthly donors. It’s easy to give a little each month and it ends up making a big difference!”

Sometimes, the heart is moved in an instant. One of our Gap Year students was fundraising for her year at St. Therese. Dr. Wilbur Collins is in his 90s. He had never met her before but was struck by everything that she said. “I found the presentation very interesting and stimulating – and so I met with her after mass and agreed to provide some assistance.” After meeting the first student, Wilbur decided to continue supporting other students each year, because the experience had made such “a great impact on my life.”

“I support this Institute because I believe it has the ability to encourage young people in developing their Christian faith – which I hope will contribute to their future work, family and community. It is clearly evident that the Catholic Church and all Christianity needs all the help it can get to encourage young adults to continue and develop their faith – to attend mass, participate in religious activities, etc. It seems to me that the Institute – goes a long way in doing that AND so I want to encourage all young people in the parish to consider taking out one year or more to further solidify their faith by enrolling in programs such as that offered at ST Therese Institute.”

Wilbur pledges that he will “encourage my acquaintances to contribute to the Institute…because I want to further what you do.”

Whether you’re the person who gives a substantial one-time donation; the sweet widow who sends us a fraction of her pension every month in the mail; or anyone in between: giving generously—that is, giving until it costs us something—is an act of radical trust. It is designed to transform us. This starts when we look past our own security in order to say: “God, I believe you are the source of all my provision. I will act as a steward of your gifts, trusting that you will provide what I need.” 

With that attitude, we can be the cheerful giver that God loves (conf. 2 Cor 9:7), and truly become “the Love at the heart of the Church” that the St. Therese mission statement promotes. We discover that when we place our treasure in God’s hands, our hearts find their way home.

Don’t Hide Your Talents

Time, Talent, and Treasure Series: Part 2

In the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30 and Lk 19:11–27), the departing master entrusts his servants with different amounts of talents, each according to their ability. When he returns, he calls each servant to account for what they have done with those talents. The first two have doubled what they were entrusted with and earn praise. The third hid his talent away for fear of failing the master; he is stripped of everything and cast “into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” (Mt. 25:30)

A biblical talent was a measure of weight, or a unit of currency that equated to around 20 years worth of work. 

Our modern usage of the word talent, meaning “a special or natural gift aptitude” derives from the Parable, and our talents are meant to be shared and used for God’s glory, not self-serving purposes. Whether you are a carpenter, an administrator, a cook, or a prayer warrior, your talent is a divine endowment intended to bear fruit for the Kingdom. If we look at a talent as a skill that equates to 20 years worth of practice and perfecting, it’s all the more important that we re-invest that hard work worthily, remembering that “to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mt. 25:29).

When I give my account before God, I know I want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy” (Mt. 25:21).

At St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission (STIFM), our mission of forming young people to be “love at the heart of the Church for the conversion of the world” requires a myriad of skills, and many are offered behind-the-scenes.

One might assume that only “spiritual” or “formational” talents would be needed at this apostolate. Yet, every foundation requires structure, every community requires maintenance, and every mission requires organization.

Frank and Cathy McGeragle, whose involvement with STIFM spanned six and a half years, found that decades of experience provided them the very talents God needed to bless STIFM:

Frank: “I came on a 9-day retreat in 2010 at St Therese and was struck by the young adult formation program and also, as a carpenter, that everywhere I looked called out, ‘Please fix me!’”

Cathy: “We were praying to know where God might be calling us a year [after that retreat]. Frank and I were at a point in our lives where we felt called to offer our skills somewhere different, having raised our five kids, [now adults], on Vancouver Island. I checked the website of  STIFM and noticed…that a voluntary handyman was being sought! We looked at each other and felt that was likely God’s answer!” They decided to come live at the St. Therese Institute. 

Frank’s offering of his gifts is a reminder that a well-maintained door or a freshly painted room is not separate from the spiritual mission; we need the skilled hands of The Master to renovate, upgrade and repair our brokenness…and we need a working, functional, physical place where the spiritual work can happen!

As for Cathy, God took the gifts she offered and multiplied them. Through her willingness to share her years of teaching and remedial experience with the STIFM community, the opportunity came up to hone those talents further and become certified as a Spiritual Director through courses being offered in nearby Saskatoon. 

Cathy noted, “Sometimes I was told that Frank and I living at St Therese was like having grandparents in the house. That warmed my heart. I would encourage those considering volunteering at St Therese to give what they can and be assured you will receive more than you give!”

Whether managing a building or an administrative system, the choice to offer our talent also shapes our future vocation. It is in the faithful execution of the task at hand that God prepares us for the next loving step in His plan. The “Little Way” of St. Thérèse of Lisieux teaches us that perfection consists not in doing grand things, but in doing small things with great love. This perspective elevates the hidden, often thankless tasks to the status of prayer. 

A member of last year’s Internship program, Jeremiah Evans, who continues to assist with housekeeping and emergency maintenance work around St. Therese this year, shared an encounter with grace in a very ordinary moment:

“A moment where I experienced the Lord would have been when I was making beds and cleaning rooms in the west wing of St. Therese and I was in silence. I noticed my heart had a deeper compassion and love for people, a love for the people about to use these rooms. I thought to myself in that moment, ‘The Lord is revealing this to me, to show me that this work is not pointless even if no one else sees what I do.’”

Julie Berube served in 2024-2025 on our Apostolic Internship team. She had an interest in cooking but had never worked in a commercial kitchen. Throughout the year, she applied her talent and strengthened her skills, always cheerfully and enthusiastically with great love, under the direction of our head cook, Shelley Ebner.

A couple weeks ago, Shelley came to my office, practically bouncing in the doorway to share the news. Because of the skills Julie developed at STIFM, she had just accepted a job in the kitchen of a retirement home. Shelley told me proudly how Julie’s little “yes” to exploring something new had transformed into something vocational. “They called me to check up on Jule’s references, and within half an hour they had offered her the job!” she beamed.

Lending your talent to Christ’s mission is the Holy Exchange: you give the gift, and God gives you more in return.

So, what gifts has God given you? A knack for organization? A joyful way with people? The ability to balance a budget or tend a garden or fix things or cook or run a business? Whatever your talent, consider offering it in service to the formation of future disciples at STIFM, to your parish, or to a local cause. The reward is far greater than the sacrifice.

St. Therese Institute board chair Christine Aalbers extends an invitation: “Everyone is gifted and I would encourage you to look at what you love to do and see if there is a way that you can be part of the heart of this organization. Helping out at St. Therese is so life-giving and fulfilling. I would highly recommend sharing whatever gifts God has blessed you with.”

Making Sacrifices of Time to God

Time, Talent, and Treasure Series: Part 1

St. Theresa of Avila writes, “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.” Each of us must do our part to make God’s work happen. 

Time is our most protected commodity and the ultimate, non-renewable resource. It’s hard for most of us to “make time” for anything that isn’t really important to us. Nonetheless, we also let precious time slip through our fingers. Whether used well or wasted idly, once the minute goes, it is gone forever. That’s why giving of your Time is a precious sacrifice to make for the Lord. 

Many people become the physical hands and feet of the divine Giver through their offerings of Time at St. Therese Institute. Mathieu Denis (class of 2009) and his wife Suzanne have lived near Bruno for the past few years. Both spend a few hours a week at St. Therese, meeting with participants as mentors in our Discipleship and Accompaniment (DnA) program. Mathieu gave witness to his experience of sacrificial time offerings at St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission: 

“To be able to surrender my own plans to help out volunteering is truly life-giving, because it’s not just a one-way street with God. You give him time and your skills, and he will come bless you in return. I strongly believe that God needs hands and feet, and he will do the rest. If I say ‘yes’ to volunteering my time, he will use it well. 

“One of the blessings of volunteering at STIFM is that you are surrounded by young adults from across North America seeking to grow deeper in their faith. Being part of that is truly inspiring. Faith is contagious no matter your age. Surrounding myself with that is a way that the Lord has definitely blessed me and my family in our time of volunteering.” 

Annette Bentler has two daughters at St. Therese Institute right now. Early this month, Annette herself had time to come volunteer for a couple days, doing housekeeping in our guest wing after a retreat. 

“It was very rewarding to be able to share my charism of service,” she said. “My main task was to reset guest beds. It was so invigorating to transform the bedrooms, to make them more beautiful and welcoming for future guests. As I climbed up and down three flights of stairs searching for linens, I paid quick visits to Jesus in the chapel — What a gift to have the King of Kings in the same building I worked and slept in! I offered up this aerobic work for friends and family of STIFM who will soon be sleeping under this roof. 

“I admit that part of my motivation was selfish: I wanted to spend some time with my daughters and get to know the community they will be immersed in this year! I had meaningful encounters with many participants, praying and eating together, setting up for a special feast day supper, watching a movie, and just walking through the hallways. 

“The participants I am praying for are no longer just names and faces on a poster! They have become part of my extended family! I’m excited to come back to serve so I can witness first hand how the Lord is working in this community!” 

All kinds of people find reasons to serve at St. Therese Institute with gifts of time large and small. Parents, alumni, local people, and people traveling from afar are help here at different points of the year. One alumna just arrived last week to volunteer in our kitchen for a month! 

Time to Give it Back 

St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission shares our Time resources in our surrounding communities, too. This year: 

• We lead a weekly faith formation program for elementary-aged children at Bruno School; 
• We assist at St. Bruno Parish by leading music, reading, ushering, altar serving, cleaning up after events, and removing snow; 
• We volunteer with FaceToFace Ministries at their regional events; 
• We speak and lead music at parishes, events and conferences across the prairies. 
• We offer physical labour to local community members and families. 

Last week, some of the STIFM men spent an afternoon helping with yard and barn work at the property of Nathan (class of 2011) and Kateri Gaudet, who resettled in the area a few years ago. 

“As a busy husband, and father of 6 (with 7 on the way) I can appreciate how valuable time is,” said Nathan. “When St. Therese reached out to my wife and me to offer the assistance of four of the young men…I was very grateful! Winter is fast approaching, and there is always lots to do on a farm before the snow flies. 

“The men showed up with an eagerness to serve, stating several times, ‘We are here for you! Whatever you need done, just let us know!’ 

The St. Therese Institute volunteer corps moved animal shelters, built a shelter for pigs, winterized a chicken coop, and chopped firewood for the Gaudets. “They did this all with a smile on their faces, and no complaints,” said Nathan. “It was truly a gift because what we accomplished that day would have taken me several evenings or weekends on my own!”

Giving a Gift of Time 

In Luke 6 Jesus says, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” I find that I often get even more back than what I gave! God has put this paradox into reality, showing that He is beyond the constraints of human understanding. 

Annette Bentler encourages anyone who would get involved: “We all have different gifts to share, no matter how big or small, how visible or hidden. As we all try to imitate St. Thérèse’s “little way”, the ordinary tasks in our day become extraordinary because they are an offering to Jesus through the other. Not everyone would enjoy making 44 beds in a day like me. So what do YOU enjoy? How can you offer your gifts to STIFM? Are you driving to/near Bruno? Can you give 30 minutes, 2 hours, 1 day, several days? Joy is a lasting side-effect of serving others!” 

Kelly Aalbers (alumnus of 2013-2015) is the husband of our Female Formation Director, Phylicia (alumna of 2019). He gave his insider’s perspective: “If God is calling you to serve at St. Therese, there is need for help in almost every department from building maintenance, to people looking to help in the kitchen, or support with administrative or marketing work. Whether it is for a short or long term, send a request to the office detailing how you could help.”

In Praise of What God Has Done

This Mission Has Had God’s Constant Blessing

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I’ve had Bing Crosby’s performance of “I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For” from the movie Holiday Inn stuck in my head:

• Surviving three deficit years during our startup – unpaid bills racking up while our missionary staff members waited up to three months for paychecks;
• Navigating a sudden 9000% increase in our property tax bill in 2008. The $147,000 bill was reduced to 18% of that amount and finally to 4% through negotiations and many prayers and novenas;
• Recovering from a steam boiler explosion October in 2012 and the success of an associated $100,000 fundraising campaign;
• Re-roofing the entire facility – a 9-year project (2016-2025) accomplished through multiple campaigns that funded about $250,000 in total costs;
• Surviving the COVID shutdown of our program in March of 2020 and navigating a facility-wide outbreak the following year.

In each case, God showed His faithful heart for this mission, providing the real-world graces that each challenge required.

Secondly, I am thankful for our partners in mission – all of you readers – for your dedication to prayer, volunteerism, and generous financial support. You are the hands and hearts that God uses when St. Therese Institute is in need. In times of clear sailing, your prayers and support of funding and personal talents are the winds that propels us forward to new horizons of the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, I’m thankful for the 408 young women and men who have said “Yes!” to the call to make God first in their lives by journeying for one year (or more) at St. Therese Institute. It is a huge and humbling blessing to have known each of these receptive souls; to see God at work in their lives. Six have gone on to become monks or priests; 2 are in seminary; 11 have taken vows or are living in discernment with female religious communities. Many more have married and are striving to raise holy families. All impact the world through their faith and joy.

Fourthly, I am thankful for the mission crew – both present and past. These colleagues inspire me with their committed love for God, their dedication to prayer and the Sacraments, their wisdom and knowledge in theological matters, and their open heart for everyone around them. From directors and administrators to cleaners and cooks, teachers and formators, support roles and volunteers: St. Therese would not be what it is today without the unique contributions brought by each missionary staff member over the 19 years since our 2006 founding.

Fifthly (and finally), I’m thankful for our local community:

• the people of Bruno;
• our parish of St. Bruno; and
• our Saskatoon diocese.

The people of Bruno always say “hi” to each other. They wave as they pass by in their vehicles and are truly willing to help when someone is in need. At St. Bruno Parish, St. Therese Institute community members assist with music, altar serving, reading, and ushering at Mass. We take part in a variety of parish events, and I’m grateful for Fr. Pius’s visits to St. Therese Institute to say Mass in our chapel and hear confessions, too. We are also members of the local diocese, and I value the bishop’s support of our lay apostolate. We love having Bishop Mark visit throughout the year to say Mass…and to join sports in the gym!

Thanks be to God for all these blessings; for the love and support of our families and for all His plans which are yet to be revealed to us. I pray that God bless each of you, too, through the ongoing mission and work of St. Therese Institute…in ways large and small.

Walking to the St. Therese Shrine

The men’s community walked 57km for the feast of St. Therese

However, this morning is special. It is Sept. 29, the feast of the Archangels – which is the day the men of the St Therese Institute embark on our annual 57km walking pilgrimage to reach the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Wakaw, SK, in time for the Oct. 1st feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

The walking pilgrimage to Wakaw was added to our Gap and Mission Year programs last year. It is an opportunity for men to bond through an epic endeavor that really cements the community. This year, the journey has extra importance as the Wakaw shrine is a designated sacred site for the Jubilee Year of Hope.

At 8:00am Monday morning, with a strong tailwind to aid them, the men are off. Their first tack takes them zigzagging north and east along 27km of gravel grid roads, to the St. Boniface Catholic Church: a beautiful old decommissioned country church at the halfway point between Bruno and Wakaw. The fresh and eager pilgrims traverse the first day’s route quickly, with the first of them arriving at the old church around 3:30pm.

As he did last year, our Latin Rite bishop, Mark Hagemoen, joins the men for Mass in the church and a BBQ burger supper. Gap Year participant Zach McLaughlin gives voice to the rich feeling of blessing, exclaiming: “We had Mass with the Bishop! That was crazy!”

The men get to sleep in the old church overnight, although one pilgrim reports getting “a little freaked out” when he wakes in the dark to see someone standing nearby. It turns out to be the statue of St. Boniface keeping watch!

Will Cornish is the last to catch up with the lunch group. He got left behind during a bathroom stop in Cudworth. “When I came out, it was like I had stepped into an apocalypse movie or something, and I was the last survivor! Everyone was gone! Once I found the crossing, I saw everyone else a half mile ahead, just before they turned the corner at the next grid road.” On our Christian journey too, we can lose the way, but – grounded in the stalwart truths of the faith and with God’s guidance over time – we can always get back on track.

Not everyone is able to complete the walking pilgrimage this second day. A small group has to retire due to illness or minor injuries. On the van ride back with them, I find myself reflecting on times I’ve had to admit that “I can’t do it”. The disappointment and the hit against my ego has also been an invitation to grow in humility and self-knowledge. Then there is the chance for discernment: when do I learn to let go, and when do I resolve to get up and try again?

Daniel Berube recounts the struggle and support of the second day: “I was ready to give up the entire second day, especially towards the end. But then four of us, who were very sore, decided to walk the last 11km together. Together we were able to push through, where if any of us was walking alone, we would have given up. And I think that goes to show the support of the brotherhood, and that’s going to be very important in the year to come.”

“I’m surprised I could push my body to the absolute limit but I’m glad I did,” concludes Jeff Vizeacoumar at the end of his journey.

“This has shown me a part of myself that I didn’t know existed!” adds Zach McLaughlin.

“It really taught me to overcome adversity and not quit; to cling on to brotherly love and support and use God-given courage to accomplish a difficult goal; a real life lesson,” reflects Roberto Ocon.

“I’m so happy to be here. I’ve never been so happy in my life!” , exclaims Peter Blair, upon reaching the accommodations. Beds and showers have never looked so welcoming.

St. Paul’s letter to Timothy comes to mind: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).

The men who had to pull out earlier join their brothers again for supper. They all spend the final pilgrimage night together, looking towards the morning and the culmination of their journey: to celebrate Feast of St. Thérèse together at the National Shrine of the Little Flower.

Good St. Thérèse, pray for us!