Dr. Christine Schintgen, OLSWA's Chairman of Literature, gave a talk on Gerard Manley Hopkins at Ottawa's Theology on Tap on November 18. 

This talk elaborated on how Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Roman Catholic poet and priest, conveys beauty, truth, and goodness through his stunningly lovely poetry. It also explained, through an appreciation of his poetry, what enabled Hopkins to exclaim, at the end of his life, “I am so happy.” As a complement to the conceptual truths of philosophy and theology, great literature--such as the poems of Hopkins--embodies truth in works that are beautiful, giving new freshness and vitality to the perennial teachings arrived at by reason and faith.

Click here to view her talk, entitled "Gerard Manley Hopkins and the Secret of Happiness."

arriving_at_st._marys.jpgOn October 19th the Academy made its annual pilgrimage from Barry’s Bay to the shrine of St. Mary’s Church in Wilno.

Enjoying the glowing autumn colors, the walkers sang hymns and prayed the rosary during the three-hour walk along a former railway track that winds between the two villages.

After a final steep climb, the pilgrims were able to enjoy a sweeping view of the surrounding farms and lakes before concluding with prayer before an image of the Divine Mercy inside the church.

Afterwards, the hungry walkers feasted at the Zakrzewski home on steaming Polish stew, mashed potatoes, fresh bread, and homemade pie. Finally, in the evening, they gathered around a bonfire, where people savoured spiced cider and enjoyed  one another's company. The sense of being united in purpose and prayer, the glorious sunlight, the merry company,and the delicious food combined to produce an event that was truly blessed with many joys and graces.  Many thanks to the Zakrzewski family for their generous hospitality!
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academy_building_cropped_oct_2008.jpgOn Sunday, September 21st, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy hosted an open house for the local community.  Students, faculty, and staff greeted the visitors who were invited to tour OLSWA’s two main buildings:  St. Joseph Hall, the former convent that has been OLSWA’s main building since the year 2000, and St. Mary Hall, a former elementary school building which stands next-door and which was acquired by OLSWA this past summer with support from the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation.  The main reception, library, computer lab, music room, and a few classrooms are located in St. Mary’s, while St. Joseph Hall continues to house faculty offices, classrooms, and now a new study room as well as additional lounge space.  The basement now features a student lounge and St. Clare’s Cafe.

On this sunny and cheery day, visitors were entertained by some of the Academy’s talented students.  Jazz piano and old-time fiddling entertained over 200 new and old friends who came from around the community and as far as two hours away. 

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Entertainers Elizabeth O'Brien and Elliott and Ben-David Warner

Guests were also treated to hotdogs and ice cream, baked goods, and there were even games and face-painting for the children.

Thank you to all who stopped by!  It was great to see you!

bishop_mass.jpgOn Monday, August 25th, Bishop Michael Mulhall officially opened the Academy’s ninth academic year.   The mass was followed by a special celebration dinner and address by Academy president Dr. David Warner.

During the mass Bishop Mulhall directed his homily to the staff and students as he spoke about the sense of hope which a new school year brings. He referred to the sight of fresh faces and the embarking upon new studies as part of a continuing rhythm of life. He spoke about the “exhilaration of the first days” when we have a “goal before us appealing to something noble within us.” Especially within the context of faith, he said, the studies teach students what is important in life. Referring to the holy temple of the Old Testament, he said, “It’s not the gold that’s important. It’s the sacredness of the place that makes the gold important.” In this way, he indicated that the studies are important because of their eternal significance as they help people live a more fully human life. In this way, a liberal arts education becomes a tool to realize what’s important and what’s not important in life. He stated, “It’s a gift that never goes away.”

faculty_before_bishop.jpgDirectly after the homily, sixteen faculty and adjunct faculty members of the Academy teaching staff knelt before the bishop at the front of St. Hedwig’s Church. They made a Profession of Faith and swore an Oath of Fidelity, pledging to faithfully uphold and promote the teachings of the Catholic Church through their example and work as professors.

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Faculty making Oath of Fidelity

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New students enjoying a pizza lunch on the lawn in front of the new St. Mary Hall.

On June 30th, the former Health Unit building in Barry’s Bay became the property of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy.  Many residents of Barry’s Bay will remember this new building, located right behind the Academy’s main facility, as their elementary school, St. Mary’s.  It has now “been promoted” to serve the needs of students in higher, post-secondary education. On July 1st, with faculty, staff, and parishioners present, Fr. Chris Shalla of St. Hedwig Church held a special ceremony to bless the new premises.

blessing_of_buildingThe building’s area measures approximately 5,000 square feet and will house much-needed lecture space, the computer lab, library, and some administrative offices.  Also, it will be the centre for the music program, headed by Maestro Uwe Lieflander of Ottawa’s Sacred Music Society.  It will be linked to the main building by a gravel pathway. 

In addition, the Academy’s main building, the former St. Joseph’s Convent, is undergoing renovations – a new reading-room is under construction, and a more spacious student lounge is planned.  Recently, the grounds were re-worked to address a flooding problem.

Also, in sight of the school, on Stafford Street, a new student residence is under construction. At nearly 3,000 square feet of space, the house will be comfortable and pleasant, in view of the bay, with open green space right across the street.

As the Academy expands, the school administration wishes to thank the Township of Madawaska Valley, the merchants, and the people of Barry’s Bay for their on-going encouragement, support, and services.

Donations to help support our expansion project can be made through our website, by clicking on “Contribute” in the main menu; or by cheque to: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, 18 Karol Wojtyla Square, P.O. Box 249, Barry’s Bay, ON K0J 1B0.  All donations are tax-deductible.  For more information, contact: 756-3082.

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06Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Amidst thousands of peaceful protestors gathered on Parliament Hill on Thursday, the familiar “Veritas Vos Liberabit” sweatshirts were sprinkled throughout the crowd as students and faculty representing each stage of the Academy’s eight-year existence participated in this year's March for Life. Teachers, staff, alumni and returning students travel to Ottawa each spring to protest the legalization of abortion, and as a result, the event has become an informal Academy reunion over the years.

Although the March for Life occurs outside of the academic school year, students have faithfully returned from their home towns and provinces, accompanied by families and friends, and have informally promoted the school by their presence in the capital. This year’s event featured internationally-renowned Christian musician David McDonald, who energetically led pro-life music over loud-speakers on the hill, as well as keynote speaker Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. To read the full story, see LifeSiteNews: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08050803.html. Academy students participated in the march along with 8,000 others who walked peacefully through several blocks of down-town Ottawa.

Many of the Academy students and their family members remained in Ottawa the same evening to attend the Rose Dinner, the pro-life fundraiser banquet sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition. Other alumni participated and formally represented the Academy at the Youth Conference the following day. This event began early with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, and afterwards students attended various workshops and pro-life talks throughout the remainder of the day.

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Dean of Students, Patrick Craine with first-year graduates Maggie Dorris and Elizabeth Enright on Parliament Hill, May 2008

olswa_groupClose to three hundred students, alumni, family, and friends of the Academy packed St. Hedwig’s Parish this Saturday, May 3rd, to celebrate the closing of the 2007-2008 school year at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy. Over the course of the afternoon, event speakers referred to the many great challenges that the school has endured throughout the past year, yet the entire community radiated a sense of unity, joy, and gratitude for God’s many blessings upon them, most especially the return of our President, Dr. David Warner.

warner_and_prendergastOttawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast was the main celebrant at the mass, which was accompanied by the Academy choir directed by Maestro Uwe Liefländer.

Directly afterwards, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jean-Paul Patenaude, presided over the inauguration ceremony of Dr. David Warner as the Academy’s new President.

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President Dr. Warner congratulating Kelly Sanders of Manitoba, receipient of the Divine Infant of Prague Scholarship.		Vice President Dr. Christine Schintgen presenting Sean VanBakel with his Basic Certificate of Christian Humanities.

During afternoon’s events, politicians representing all three levels of government expressed their warm support for the Academy and their confident hope in its future. cheryl_gallantThe Honorable Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, MP, addressed the gathering, saying, “You will be making a difference.” Local MPP John Yakabuski also underlined how the Academy is a testimony to faith, determination and commitment. Finally, Barry’s Bay Mayor John Hildebrandt voiced the local community’s support for the Academy and encouraged students to go out and spread the good news that they are learning.

Addressing students and staff in his keynote address, Archbishop Prendergast touched on the tragedies of the past year, saying, “You have lived the Paschal mystery in a particularly powerful way…” The Archbishop went on to describe his own experiences as a student and later as a teacher during the tumultuous times of moral confusion that began in the 1960s. The Archbishop further described a future pastoral letter in which he plans to remind the Catholic faithful of the importance of Church teaching on human sexuality. Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae, this letter would challenge Catholics to embrace the truth of Catholic teaching surrounding sexuality and the dignity of the human person. The Archbishop concluded by underlining the great privilege enjoyed by Academy students who are able to study the truth of Church teaching. Recalling the words of Pope Benedict the XVI, he emphasized the unity of the truth and its continuity with the past. He urged them to commit to learning the wisdom of the past and to tackle the challenging task of “passionately and articulately” sharing this truth with the world.

zylstraThe graduating valedictorian was Nikolaas Zylstra, the Academy’s hard-working Residence Assistant from Brampton. Over the past three years, he could be found studying furiously, helping out his fellow-students, driving the Academy van on school trips, or raising smoke on the volley-ball court and hockey rink. Basing the theme of his speech upon the school’s motto, Veritas Vos Liberabit, he stated, “We now have a great responsibility that the truth places upon us…We must witness to the world so that the truth that has set us free may, likewise, set others free.” He noted the Academy’s remarkable ability to deal with the recent tragic deaths of Paul and Janine. He attributed this recovery to the fact that as Catholics, the community possesses the truth—the assurance of hope in the resurrection—that has freed them from despair, thereby allowing them to come to grips more easily with such a devastating blow.

Mr. Zylstra also testified to his own well-rounded experience during the past three years, primarily through the intellectual life, but also through daily interaction with staff and students, the routine manual chores that are an intrinsic part of the Academy experience, the personal relationships built up between professors and students during communal meals, and the outdoor sports that students play all year long. Pointing out how the Academy life especially encourages prayer and frequent use of the sacraments, he emphasized that there is “no point in knowledge without Christ.”  Click here for the complete valedictorian address.
warner--graduationThe Academy’s recently returned president, Dr. David Warner, concluded the official ceremonies with words of hope and great encouragement. Shortly after weathering the crisis of the two student deaths, the school was struck again when Dr. Warner was diagnosed with multiple-myeloma, a cancerous disorder of the plasma cells. As a consequence, he had to undergo intensive medical treatment that required his absence in the United States for nearly two months. Roaring applause filled the hall, however, as students, faculty members, staff and friends welcomed him back. He thanked the community for their prayers, speaking of the past seven weeks as a “blessed time of healing,” and enthusiastically congratulated the graduating students.

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Congratulations to our third-year graduates: Matt Gunnarson, Scott Murray Nik Zylstra, Anthony Burchat, Leslea Cranmer-Byng, Melissa Riese, Rebecca Mombourquette, Heather MacIntyre, Mary Sawchuk, Lindsay Gallagher

olswa_studentsAcademy students are heading many separate ways this spring. They are diving into summer jobs, preparing for new careers, and looking towards further studies in the fall. Some are returning to the Academy while others have been accepted into various universities and colleges throughout North America. Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy congratulates them for all their hard work over the past year, thanks them for holding together as a community during the difficulties of the recent winter months, and wishes them the very best in their future paths.