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Whilst on a recent holiday to Canada we were initially pleasantly surprised to see quite a large number of Catholic Churches within the city boundaries.
On closer examination however, it was seen that they were if fact amongst others Ukrainian and Polish Catholic Churches.
The Church we did visit however, on our first Sunday, was indeed a “Normal” Canadian Catholic Church but was presided over by a Polish Priest, who, although spoke excellent English, was at time a little difficult to understand in the sort of eastern mono syllabic tone one can understand is from someone who’s native tongue is not English
The church was full as there was only this one Mass on the Sunday and a Saturday vigil, not unlike our new circumstances here in Wath, and as a matter of interest the congregation was made up of multinationals with I would guess 60% from the Philippines and of course two holiday makers from Wath (Not many people go to Winnipeg for their holidays)
The religious element of our break however, was to take a strange turn when we embarked on a trip to my sister’s lakeside holiday home on the banks of Lake Winnipeg.
We were in a small township called Winnipeg Beach approximately 50 miles from Winnipeg City which we could say is comparable in distance between Wath and somewhere north of Leeds say around Harrogate
There were other townships around the same area within 5/10 miles all about the size of Wath / Wombwell notably Selkirk, Gimli and one other which escapes my memory
The local church in Winnipeg Beach was called Our Lady of the Lake, and was a beautiful church built in the traditional wooden style one expects to see in Canada and would be slightly bigger than our own St Joseph’s
We found that there was only one Mass advertised and that was 11.00am Sunday morning which we thought was perfect.
On arrival at the church it was seen that there were many helpers, such as Greeters, small choir with two guitarists arranging the hymns for the day, collectors arranging the baskets and who would be collecting on the day etc, etc
As 11.00am arrived a lady carrying the Holy Word preceded by acolytes
She stood on the sanctuary and introduced herself as being the presiding reader (Eucharistic Minister) for the day we then proceeded to have a Eucharistic service.
We asked later about Mass and it turned out that they had no priest for any of the townships mentioned above but they did all in fact have a Eucharistic service each Sunday and all were very well attended and the congregation took full part in the service including of course the organisation of such.
The bulk of the organisation was indeed done by a PPC type organisation but with great help from the rest of the parishioners
I mention all this not to inform you about our holiday but to give you a sight of what I am sure will be about to happen in the not too distant future
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