Archbishop Pettipas prepares a meal, delivers the core message on holiness

Yes, you can see the Archbishop of Grouard-Mclennan prepare a meal at the Archbishop’s house. Almost 736 people viewed the Archbishop’s Dinner 2020 live-streamed on November 6, 2020. If you missed it, you could still view it on Facebook: Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan.

What is Archbishop’s favorite meal?

Usually, people gather for a meal in a deanery for the annual event. But given the pandemic protocols, Archbishop Gerard Pettipas CSsR prepared one of his favorite meals: beef stroganoff. Archbishop Pettipas shared the meal with Father Remi Hebert CSsR, the pastor of St. Joseph’s Grande Prairie, at the Archbishop’s house. Yes, Archbishop gave out the recipe with unique additions he made over the years.

The secret. Archbishop could set the hotpot (slow cooker) and leave the Chancery on work commitments and return (sometimes almost eight hours or more) for a delicious meal.

Archbishop reflects on the growth of religious orders.

Like every annual dinner, archbishop Pettipas shared reflection calling people to holiness. “What we do from baptism forward is the manner by which we become saints,” the Archbishop said. “We are all called to be holy…we become not only human but even holy by giving ourselves away.”

Archbishop Pettipas talked about a book entitled: The Desert and the City, which gives a history of spirituality and the development of religious life in the Catholic church. Besides, Archbishop shared his thoughts on what he sees the Holy Spirit doing in our present times.

“What I see the Holy Spirit doing in our present-day” Archbishop Gerard Pettipas CSsR

The Archbishop pointed out that Jesus gave his life to die on Calvary. Imitating Jesus, men and women give their life away in a radical way. Archbishop Pettipas talked about growth trends and the development of religious life in the Catholic church: hermits in the desert and the monks in the monasteries – those that lived outside the city.

Archbishop Pettipas notes a radical shift in religious life in the early second millennium, not to escape but to remain in the world as a home of the common people – who need salvation and assistance.

It needs a mention. The men religious started to live among the people as early as the 12 century. But the religious women saw desperate attempts by church authorities to force them back to live within the convent set up until the fifteenth century. Oh, yea this was also part of the Archbishop’s reflection.

From 1600 to the 20th-century religious communities of men and women grew in numbers. But from 1960 onwards, religious communities experienced a sharp decline – with people feeling no longer called for religious life.

Don’t despair. Archbishop Pettipas says, “new green shoots are appearing in the garden of holiness.” The new trends involve priests, brothers, religious sisters, consecrated women, laypeople, and young families.

Archbishop pointed out to such religious communities that began in Canada (or established houses in the country) like the Companions of the Cross (1985),  La Famille Marie-Jeunesse (1980), La Fraternite de Jerusalem (1975) opened in Montreal in 2004, Les Petits Frères de la Croix (1980), Sisters of Life (1991) founded in New York with a community in Toronto, La Famille Myriam (1979) and Chemin Neuf (1973) founded in France and 1979 establish a community in Canada.

What’s interesting about new communities who pursue holiness?

Archbishops Pettipas sees a pattern in the new trends

In the Archbishop’s words:

1. They continue in the traditions of prayer, Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
2. Their ministry is focused mainly on the new evangelization, which has been called for and promoted by all the popes since Pope Paul VI.
3. They are often made up of both men and women and, in some cases, families.
4. If they are monastic, they take their inspiration from the spirituality of Charles de Foucault.
5. In many cases, they directly link to the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church, but even with a small “c” they are charismatic.

Archbishop suggests that the dynamism of the new communities continues to be an attraction to the young people.

Online Silent Auction Special Item

It will remain a historic first. The chancery staff coordinated a 24-hour online silent auction to kick start the Archbishop’s dinner. The silent auction had around 33 items ranging from religious items to jewelry collections, gift cards to handmade quilts, and utility and home decor. A Silent Auction unique item? The apron and chef’s hat used by the Archbishop during the dinner. The auction closed on November 7 at noon. The Chancery notified winning bidders via a Facebook messenger.

The feedback suggests that online silent auction can become an annual feature in the life of the archdiocese. It will not only grow in scale but in the level of engagement with the people.

Something for you …

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