ouellet_with_group_2

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy was honoured with a meeting with His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet in Quebec City, on October 20th, the feast of Our Lady of Schools.

statue_2Saturday, October 20th, 2007 was the 60th anniversary of Pope Pius XII’s declaration of Our Lady of Schools as patroness of schools and students in Quebec.  On this occasion, His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet, primate of Canada, celebrated a Mass at the Cathedral in Quebec City, where he blessed a statue of Our Lady of Schools.  This statue had been a gift from OLSWA to Dr. Marguerite Kussmaul who is promoting devotion to Our Lady of Schools and is seeking to found Catholic schools in Quebec, having already founded one in Halifax, NS. Dr. Kussmaul also organized a peaceful demonstration which took place in Quebec City that same morning, to protest against a new government requirement that all schools in Quebec teach a religious curriculum that presents all religions as equal. 

john_paul_and_cardinal_ouellet_2A delegation from OLSWA was in attendance at the Mass: Dr. Christine Schintgen (Interim President), Mr. John Paul Meenan (Founding Director, and Director for past 7 years), Miss Maria Reilander (Development Officer), Mrs. Sheila O’Brien (founding Board Member), and students: Anthony Burchat, Caitlin Gulliver and Cassie Farrell.  Anthony was privileged to serve at the Mass with the Cardinal.  Anthony shared how he was struck by "the peaceful and intense reverence with which [Cardinal Ouellet] offered Mass.  It was beautiful."

Following the Mass, OLSWA met briefly with Cardinal Ouellet, who had requested the meeting. 

with_bishop_fournier_2OLSWA also visited with Bishop Fournier, Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec City.  Bishop Fournier, an associate of Madonna House, invited OLSWA on a private tour of the Bishop’s residence beside the Cathedral. 

OLSWA encountered Cardinal Ouellet a second time while touring the Bishop’s sitting room.  His Eminence was in high spirits following the Mass and his hope for the renewal of Catholic education in Quebec was quite evident.  Cardinal Ouellet asked us to sign his guestbook as a way to record the great occasion.  He shared of his hope and confidence in the great blessings that will come to Quebec and to Canada next year with the event of the Eucharistic Congress to be held in Quebec City in June 2008.

s_guest_book_2Dr. Christine Schintgen shared the following remarks:  "Having the opportunity to meet Cardinal Oullet, at his request, was a true honour and delight.  The warmth and charisma of the Cardinal's personality was immediately evident.  His strong support for life and the Church is an encouraging presence in the midst of a culture that is clearly yearning to recover its true identity in the Catholic faith.  Merci mille fois, Votre Eminence!" 

"Meeting the Cardinal was a miracle for me," said Caitlin Gulliver, "one of those special everyday miracles.  He was so full of zeal for the Church!  These days it is easy to get depressed but he was so happy and hopeful and the people responded with absolute joy and fervor.  This was...a pilgrimage of hope for me, and God told me what I needed to hear:  And I don't even understand French!"

First-year student Cassie Farrell from Montreal, QC was particularly struck by the Mass and the response of the Catholic Quebecois.  "The Mass for Our Lady of Schools was absolutely packed....  Seeing all the people standing up for their right as French Catholics to educate their children in the faith within the schools really made me proud.  It was especially moving to hear the Cardinal speak and be applauded.  There was such energy in the air.  The Cardinal struck a crucial nerve with Quebec's heart.  As a Quebecker, it filled me with hope for the Quebecois in general.  The whole experience has really meant a lot for me.  It's pretty exciting to know that Quebec is coming back to its senses and is getting ready to truly take its culture back."

ste_anne_de_beaupreThe group from OLSWA also made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré, near Quebec City, and stayed with the Community of the Beatitudes near St. Anne’s Basilica.