Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy hosted its 2nd Annual Open House on Sunday, October 4, 2009.  The event provides local and nearby families, friends, and associates, both new and old, with a chance to become acquainted with the Academy. 

Despite cool fall weather, many guests were again welcomed to the Academy this year to share in fellowship.  Visitors were invited to tour the Academy buildings and see the changes that have been made in the last year.  Food and refreshments were provided for the guests, as well as games and face painting for the children. 

The Academy thanks the local community and all those who show continuous support for their endeavours.

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy’s first Alumni Reunion was held on Saturday, October 3, 2009.  The event was organized and hosted by the Alumni Committee to commemorate OLSWA’s 10th Anniversary. 

Many former students, representing a wide range of academic years, gathered throughout the afternoon to mingle and share memories of their Academy experiences.  Rev. Fr. Paul Burchat, OLSWA’s chaplain throughout all ten years, welcomed alumni and shared his own experiences of seeing the Academy grow from its grass-roots, living-room study group to its present ever-expanding academic community.  Alumni enjoyed a photo-presentation capturing OLSWA’s 10-year span, as well as perusing through its many yearbooks, and sharing stories.

The evening activities commenced with current students, faculty, and staff joining alumni for a special supper and brief speeches.  Dr. Keith Cassidy, OLSWA’s Interim President, gave a warm welcome to students and alumni, expressing his deep joy in being a part of OLSWA’s expansion and progress.  Dr. David Warner, President Emeritus, expressed his love and continued support for the Academy, its students, and future endeavours.  Daniel Millette, alumni representative, recalled his own first humorous experiences and the great impact the Academy has had on all students throughout its ten years.  Finally, Professor John Paul Meenan, OLSWA’s original director and a well-beloved professor, gave words of wisdom to students and alumni alike; he recalled OLSWA’s beginnings and encouraged all to turn to God in trust in all aspects of Academy life.

A local blues band concluded the evening providing live music for students and alumni.

Many thanks to all who made this day possible through their support and presence.

Academy greeters welcome incoming students

The Academy’s tenth year started off with much excitement and commotion, as the smiling faces of 38 “First-Years” arrived on campus. On Thursday, August 27th, our official Orientation began with five o’clock Vespers, followed by a dinner with the freshmen and their families. Later that night, each household gathered for their first “house meeting” to become familiar with Academy policies, and with each other.

Friday’s activities started early, beginning with Mass, breakfast, and a tour of campus. English writing tests and Latin placement tests followed, which caused anxiety at first, but, soon enough, everybody was done and back to playing volleyball. Pizza lunch was served outside, which provided an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other more, accelerated by “people-bingo” and a “name-game challenge” for the Residence Assistants and Proctors. The new students were then given an overview of Academy services, safety, chores, athletics and chaplaincy before having some well-earned rest, relaxation, and, of course, more volleyball. After dinner, students jumped into chores, taught by upper classmen how we keep our school clean. The highlight of the day, however, was an evening bonfire at Professor Nicholson’s house. Each household walked out to nearby Mask Island to join the Nicholson family in celebrating the start of the school year, while fiddles, guitars, and dancing provided lively entertainment. 

It is hard to believe that a full decade has gone by since we began this educational apostolate known as Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in the Jubilee year 2000; many students, staff and teachers have graced our halls over those years, with the numbers growing year by year. All have their stories to tell, and we have had our ups and downs, but you can see God’s providence through it all. On a bright and clear August 31st, His Excellency Bishop Michael Mulhall celebrated our tenth opening Mass, always a beautiful and inspiring event, but especially so this year.

The music, conducted by Maestro Uwe Lieflander, was glorious, filled out by our largest group of freshmen to date (with but one hour of practice, their performance of Bruckner’s Locus Iste was breathtaking). Bishop Mulhall’s thoughtful homily inspired us all to be humble before the truth, and especially the Truth, God Himself, Who is the only one who can reveal to us who we really are. This is a time for students (as well as staff and teachers) to discover their own identity, a lifelong process, but one that begins especially in this critical time of young adulthood. Directly after the homily, eighteen 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.  The afternoon was topped off with a delicious (as usual) meal cooked by Rachel and Sandy; a beautiful evening of fellowship to begin this year.

        On May 23rd 2009, twelve alumni of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy graduated from Redeemer University College, the third year that a group of Academy alumni have received their degrees with a Bachelor of Arts from Redeemer.  The warm, sun-filled day in Ancaster Ontario was a fitting complement to the accomplishments of these students.  The graduates, OLSWA President Dr. Warner, and Redeemer’s faculty attended a luncheon in honour of the occasion, after which a splendid graduation ceremony took place in Redeemer’s auditorium, the culmination of the students’ efforts. Over 220 Redeemer students gratefully received their hard-earned diplomas from Redeemer’s president Dr. Justin Cooper, among whom were the Academy alumni, Carol Reaume (B.A. Honors), Stephen Vajdik (B.A. Honors), Anthony Burchat (B.A.), Patrick Craine (B.A.), Michael Fisk (B.A.), Alissa Golob (B.A.), Heather MacIntyre (B.A.), Rebecca Mombourquette (B.A.), Maria Nolan (B.A.), Mary Sawchuk (B.A.), Joseph Platt (B.A., B.Ed.)  and Angela Reilander (B.Ed.).   Our students did very well academically (as they usually do at Redeemer and the other universities they attend), many of them graduating ‘with distinction’.  The professors and students at Redeemer are very impressed by the ‘Catholic contingent’ on campus, and the academic and personal relationship between OLSWA and Redeemer continues to flourish; this is real ecumenism in action. 

OLSWA grads pose with Dr. Warner, Mr. Meenan, and Dr. Cooper and Dr. Ellens, President and Vice-President of Redeemer University College

All the best in the years to come to our new graduates!