Farewell to Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatoon

This evening, my husband and I attended a farewell Mass and reception for our Bishop who was appointed to the position of Archbishop to the Diocese of St. Boniface in Manitoba. It was a beautiful, faith-filled celebration with wonderful music and stirring rituals topped off with a touching message from Bishop Albert LeGatt. The remembrances and ‘musings’ that Bishop Albert shared with us are a reminder that even though he is a man of God, he is still a human being with the same need to belong and be part of a community. As he told us in his homily, when he first came to Saskatoon and he was celebrating Mass at a different parish every Sunday, he was preaching to strangers. Now, when he goes from parish to parish on weekends, he is preaching to friends. How did the scenario change from strangers to friends? I think the reason he went from being a stranger to becoming a beloved spiritual leader is because he opened his heart to the people of the Diocese of Saskatoon and made himself available to all different factions. He attended events, celebrations, conventions, conferences with his flock. He went where he was needed. To put in simple terms: He put a human face on the office of the Bishop. By making himself accessible to his people, he made many friends in a very short period of time. So as Bishop Albert completes his mission here in Saskatoon and prepares to go to St. Boniface, the people of the Diocese of Saskatoon thank him for sharing his heart and his faith. You have been a good and faithful servant to your flock. Adieu, Bishop Albert and God Bless!

Thought for the day…

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.


- Marianne Williamson