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Bishop Mulhall Presides over Opening Mass and Faculty Oath of Fidelity |
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Written by Elizabeth O'Brien
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Thursday, 02 October 2008 |
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 On 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 significant as they help people live a more fully human life. In this way, the 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.”
 Directly 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 |
During the dinner that followed mass, Academy president Dr. David Warner addressed the students with words of hope and encouragement for the upcoming year. He stated that it will be a “year of new beginnings,” and said that the Academy will push students towards greater academic excellence. Nevertheless, he also emphasized that these efforts must be kept within the wider, more important context of Christian perfection. In this way, he explained how the studies should give people a further and more profound understanding of how to properly live their lives and reach the ultimate goal of Heaven.
Pointing out the goal of the Academy, he quoted Ex Corde Ecclesiae by John Paul II, saying, “Catholic ideals, attitudes and principles penetrate and inform university activities in accordance with the proper nature and autonomy of these activities. In a word, being both a University and Catholic, it must be both a community of scholars representing various branches of human knowledge, and an academic institution in which Catholicism is vitally present and operative.”
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New students Sister Mary Catherine and Sister Mary Augustine with Bishop Mulhall
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Dr. Warner also warmly welcomed the new staff and teachers that have joined the Academy over the course of the summer. Mr. Kevin Aschenbach, M.A., is the school’s new literature professor from Brunswick, Ohio, and specializes in Shakespeare and Catholicism. In addition, Miss Maja Polic, the new Dean of Students, is a former high school teacher from Toronto, Ontario. A highly talented artist and social net-worker, Miss Polic has kick-started the year with a series of student activities, inspiring a spirit of joy and comradeship within the Academy community. Dr. Warner also welcomed Mr. Daniel Millette as the Academy’s Interim Registrar. Mr. Millette graduated from the Academy ’s three-year program and transferred to Redeemer University for his final year of studies in Philosophy. Miss Elizabeth O’Brien and Miss Jenna Henry were also welcomed as assistant faculty secretaries. Then he thanked God for the presence of two Sisters of our Lady Immaculate who have joined the Academy as full-time students. Finally, Dr. Warner welcomed the new cook, Sandra Etmanskie, and thanked various staff members, including Mrs. Anne Chabot, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service as an Academy cook.
After weathering many challenges over the past year, the Academy is launching into a year of great blessings. The school has been joined by 34 first-year students as well as 28 returning students and 21 part-timers. Students, staff, and faculty are thrilled to have acquired the former Health Unit, now St. Mary Hall, which is being used for additional classroom space, the computer lab, library, writing centre, and is also the centre for the music program, headed by Maestro Uwe Lieflander of Ottawa’s Sacred Music Society. As God continues to pour His graces upon the school, the Academy community looks forward to living the 2008 to 2009 school year to the fullest—academically, socially, and spiritually.
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Director of Development Job Posting |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 30 August 2008 |
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POSITION OPENING
Position: Director of Development & Communications
Institution: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
Location: Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada
Reports to: President
Supervises: Development Office employees and volunteers
Liaises with: All Academy departments, especially the President’s Cabinet, Admissions, and the Board’s Finance and Development Committees, as well as subcontractors and consultants.
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Read more...
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Orientation Weekend 2008 |
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Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy Acquires New Building |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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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.
 The 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.
gall bladder surgery
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Academy Participates in 49th International Eucharistic Congress |
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Written by Elizabeth O'Brien
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Friday, 04 July 2008 |
 During the week of June 16th to 22nd, students and staff represented Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy at the Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City. Throughout the event, the Academy was one of approximately 100 exhibitors, including religious orders, formation centres, lay associations, Catholic media, and other groups from around the world. The week was one of great grace and encouragement as staff met with potential students, religious and clergy, teachers, and other supporters from around North America and overseas.
A daily stream of visitors came by the booth, and although many had not heard of the Academy before, they mentioned their pleasant surprise that a new Catholic college is steadily growing in Canada. Several of the French-speaking visitors expressed their wish that a similar, faithful Catholic institution existed in Quebec and offered courses in French. At the same time, the Academy was greatly encouraged by the number of people from across Canada and the United States who had heard about the Academy already and who were interested in gathering more information for their friends and family members.
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Mark and Lea Mallett at Academy booth
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During the week, the Academy was pleased to greet several prominent visitors, including Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa, our own bishop of the Pembroke diocese, Michael Mulhall, Bishop David Monroe of Kamloops, BC, Bishop Richard Gagnon of Victoria, BC, and the host of the Eucharistic Congress, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec. The Academy booth was also visited by Catholic musicians Marcel Dion and Mark Mallett as well as many benefactors, friends, and former students who were participating in the Congress.
The staff also viewed the Congress as a spiritual opportunity for the Academy. Participating in the daily prayer, catechesis, and celebration of the Mass, they joined with friends and students to pray for the future of the school and for the Church in Quebec and Canada. From the beginning, the event was filled with a spirit of grace and pilgrimage. On Thursday evening especially, the three-hour Eucharistic procession through the streets of Quebec was like a scene from a Heavenly procession. Local residents knelt or took pictures from their balconies as a crowd of approximately 20,000 people flowed through the streets in the direction of the St. Lawrence River. Cardinals, bishops, and priests walked alongside of old and young people representing every vocation. They accompanied a canopied carriage bedecked in flowers and escorted by torchbearers. The sounds of music and prayers in different languages filled the streets as the vehicle carried a giant-sized monstrance with out-stretched golden rays. Everyone held a lit candle so that thousands of sparkling lights lit up the outdoor stadium to welcome the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the five-kilometre trek.
 The climax of the week-long event was the final Mass on the Plains of Abraham, the memorial site of the great battle for Quebec City. The Mass was celebrated by the papal legate Cardinal Jozef Tomko. Greeted by the cheers of approximately 60,000 pilgrims, Pope Benedict XVI was broadcast live on satellite television and gave the homily. Calling the Eucharist “our most beautiful treasure,” he encouraged the faithful to study more deeply the meaning of the Eucharist and to prepare carefully to receive communion worthily. Afterwards, during the consecration, the sky which had previously been hot and sunny, clouded over and broke into a furious, thundering downpour over the multitude gathered on the field. The deluge was so great, that people had trouble seeing through the rain as they struggled through the mud to receive communion. Nevertheless, a spirit of hope and excitement filled the crowd as soon as the rain began to die down. Bishops, priests, and pilgrims alike saw the surprise storm as a sign of God’s cleansing grace upon Quebec. Cardinal Tomko himself described it as a “rain of grace” while Marc Ouellet referred to it as a “flood of Divine Goodness.” (See http://www.lifesitenews.com). The spirit of jubilation that began with the rain continued to flow through the crowds as they streamed away from the plains.
A constant theme during the week was the fact that our country was founded upon the blood and sacrifice of holy religious missionaries and martyrs. Indicating a return to this original fervour, Cardinal Ouellet stated his belief that a turning point has been reached in the history of the faith in Quebec. With this in mind, Catholics throughout Canada continue to pray that the outpouring of blessings that began at the Congress will flow throughout the whole country, sparking a new growth in faith. The Academy was thrilled to participate in the event, representing one aspect of revival in Canadian Catholic culture, and is looking forward to the next Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland, in 2012.
To read the full text of the English translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s homily, please visit: (http://www.zenit.org/article-22994?l=english)
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OLSWA Transfer Students Graduate from Redeemer University College |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 02 June 2008 |
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 On Saturday, May 24th, the entire faculty of Redeemer University College stood outside the university buildings to greet and bid farewell to the graduating class of 2008. Dressed in long, flowing robes and medieval caps, the brightly-coloured academic regalia from their graduate universities, they gave encouraging words and high-fives to students as they made their way to the graduation ceremony.
Seven former OLSWA students received their degrees: Elizabeth O’Brien, Honours B.A. in English with distinction, Margaret Beresford, Honours B.A. in English, Theresa Merrick, Honours B.A. in English with distinction, Michael Doyle, Honours B.A. in English with distinction, Frances Platt, B.A. in Humanities, B.Ed. with distinction, Elaina Mazzarolo, B.A. in English, James Mombourquette, B.A. in English, B.Ed., and in absentia, Daniel Millette, B.A. in Philosophy with distinction.
This year marks the second year in a transfer agreement between Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy and Redeemer University College, a Christian Reformed private university in Ancaster, Ontario. So far, over twelve Academy students have studied and received degrees at Redeemer, and approximately 2 dozen more are expected to attend in the fall of 2008.
Over the past two years, results of the agreement between the two schools have been highly promising. Academy students have received special commendation for being avid and engaging students, willing to debate and discuss with professors and fellow-students both inside and outside of class. Several have won the top mark-based scholarships offered by the university as well as bursaries and other funding. Professors have commented with appreciation on how OLSWA students bring a fresh faith-perspective to their classes. Academy transfer students said that they felt warmly welcomed by the University and found the final year or two at Redeemer to be a wonderful way to conclude their Liberal Arts education.
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OLSWA alumni, James Mombourquette, Elizabeth O'Brien, Margaret Beresford, Theresa Merrick,
Frances Platt, Michael Doyle and Elaina Mazzarolo with Redeemer President Dr. Justin Cooper
(far right)and Redeemer Academic Vice President Dr. Jacob Ellens (far left), and OLSWA Founding
Director Mr. John Paul Meenan (center) and OLSWA Academic Dean Mr. Scott Nicholson (2nd from right).
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Academy Students Participate in the March for Life |
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Written by Elizabeth O'Brien
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
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 Thursday, 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
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Spring Graduation Ceremony is a Celebration of Hope and Thanksgiving |
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Written by Elizabeth O'Brien
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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
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 Close 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.
 Ottawa 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.
The following graduation ceremonies were dedicated to the memory of the late Paul Sanders and Janine Lieu, who were awarded honorary Basic Certificates in Christian Humanities. A Pro-Life scholarship in memory of Paul Sanders was awarded to first-year student Cassie Farrell, and first-year student Kelly Sanders received the $2,000 Divine Infant of Prague Scholarship for the highest average of a first-year student proceeding into second year.
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President Dr. Warner congratulating Kelly Sanders of Manitoba, receipient of the Divine Infant of Prague Scholarship.
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Vice President Dr. Christine Schintgen
presenting Sean VanBakel with his
Basic Certificate of Christian Humanities.
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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.  The 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.
 The 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.
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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 |
 The 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.
 Academy 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.
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2008 Valedictorian Address |
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Written by Nikolaas Zylstra
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Monday, 05 May 2008 |
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 I would like to start by thanking everyone for your presence here today. On behalf of the graduates of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, I extend a warm welcome to: His Excellency Archbishop Prendergast, our chaplain Fr. Paul Burchat, Fr. Shalla and Fr. Thomasz, Fr. David May, Fr. Pelton, and Fr. LeRoux; Deacon Chabot and his wife Anne; Deacon Bob Probert and his wife Lois and Deacon Dauvin; our M.P. Cheryl Gallant, our M.P.P John Yakabuski our president Dr. David Warner and his wife Patrice; the members of the Academy’s Board of Directors, members of the Academic Senate, members of the faculty and staff, my fellow students, and all the families and friends of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, whom I have the honour of addressing this afternoon.
When I learned just last week that I was going to have the honour of giving this valedictorian address to you today, the first question that came to my mind was: what am I going to talk about? I was informed that since the valedictorian at the Academy is chosen based on academic merit, I should focus primarily on the academics at the school—what I have learned over the past three years. I thought to myself—O.K.—well, I’ve been at this institution for the past three years and, given the Academy’s rigorous academic character, which I’m sure you hear lots about from my fellow students, I’ve learned a great amount. But when I thought about the speech more, the School’s motto popped into my mind, Veritas Vos Liberabit, Latin for “The Truth Will Set You Free.” Then I thought back to the first time I heard that phrase, way back in first year. What did I think that it meant three years ago? Well, I figured that truth is what you tell someone instead of a lie, so if you tell the truth, you’ll be free from the punishment you would receive if you told a lie. Wow, I was such an amazing philosopher back then, or so I probably thought.
When I thought about the motto again last week, with the abundance of wisdom held by all third year Academy students, I realized that maybe I didn’t totally exhaust the wisdom of that infinitely deep, Scripture based motto in my first year. When I thought about it again I realized that the truth that the Academy’s motto refers to, which is taken from the Gospel of John, is not just a negative command—not to lie—the truth, rather, is a positive thing. The truth is, first and foremost, Revelation: the Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church. And this truth not only sets us free from punishment for lying, but sets us free in a fuller sense. The truth sets us free, primarily, from eternal death and leads us to everlasting life. The truth also sets us free from the pressure to live up to the standards of this world: we don’t have to be millionaires, movie stars or famous sports figures in order to live a happy life. All we have to do is to live out that truth, practicing love towards God and neighbour. Truth also gives us answers to the most important questions like: why do people suffer and what is the purpose of life? Worldly questions such as: how can I maximize my investments in order to retire at fifty-five, all of a sudden lose their importance in light of the truth. This is the type of wisdom that we as students have gained at this incredible institution over the past years.
Reflecting on all these things made me realize how much we have learned here at the Academy, and how ignorant I was, in particular, when I came as a freshman. The Academy’s Liberal Arts program truly frees the mind through teaching the truth. Although the majority of what we have learned over the past years has occurred in the classroom, this school definitely forms the whole person in the truth. We have indeed learned much about revelation, philosophy, history and other such things over the years; but lots of wisdom has also been gained through daily interaction with our peers, the teachers and the staff, the amazing priests in the community, and the people and parishioners of St. Hedwig and the community of Barry’s Bay. We engage in sports all year round, even playing hockey outdoors in the minus twenty degree Canadian winter. Student chores are also a special formative aspect of Academy life, which help the students interact with each other on a more domestic level and ensure a healthy variety of labour. The personal relationships that we as students share with the teachers and their families are also an invaluable part of our formation. For example, it’s always a pleasure to have teachers and their families at meals, with us. We have also learned how beneficial frequent use of the sacraments is, as well as a healthy prayer life, for there is no point in knowledge without Christ. Thus, although the Academy is primarily an academic institution, I cannot, in fact, speak of the academics divorced from all the other formative elements that the school offers.
Now this past year in particular has been one of the most difficult in the School’s history, because, as you know, we lost two first-year students, Janine Lieu and Paul Sanders, in a tragic accident. Most students, including myself, were very surprised at how fast the School got over the tragedy, and wondered why this was the case. Now, when I say we got over it I do not mean that people stopped grieving, but only that classes resumed, and students returned to their studies. Many commented on how strongly the school bounced back from such a great tragedy and were very impressed at how everything was handled. When I thought about the accident again I realized why this was the case. It is precisely due to the fact that we as Catholics have the truth. This truth sets us free from despairing over the death of loved ones, because we know that they are in the hands of our all-just, but also all-loving God, and will hopefully soon enter into eternal life. People without faith do not have this assurance, and will very easily, lose hope. I ask all of you, then, to continue praying for the souls of Janine and Paul, their families and all who were involved in the accident.
And so, I turn now to my fellow students and especially all the graduates and those leaving this institution. We did it. We successfully lived up to the standards that the Academy in her wisdom has challenged us with. We have learned the truth that Christ promises will set us free. But now we cannot just keep that truth shut up inside of us; we now have a great responsibility that the truth places upon us. We must venture forth from the welcoming arms of this school community into the world, which will not welcome us in the same way. We must witness to the world so that the truth that has set us free may, likewise, set others free. I know that many of you are going on to finish your degrees or continue your studies at Redeemer University, and you in particular are going to be required to witness to your Catholic faith among our brothers in Christ. You will be required, as St. Francis said, to preach the Gospel, and use words when necessary.
In conclusion, I want to first express my personal gratitude to all who have made my time spent here at the Academy a truly life-changing experience. And on behalf of all the students I would like to thank, first and foremost, all our excellent professors who sacrifice so much for us in their position, which is really an Apostolate. Both their lessons and their life example have been truly inspirational. Next, we would like to express our gratitude to all the staff, including our cooks Rachel and Mrs. Chabot We would also like to thank the exceptional priests who are an integral part of this institution; especially Fr. Burchat, Fr. Shalla and Fr. Tomasz who are particularly involved. We also must thank our loving families who have always showed us love and support as we pursued our exceptionally lucrative Liberal Arts certificates. Finally we thank our loving Patroness, Mary, who is Seat of Wisdom. It is she who both brings her son Christ to us and leads us to Him, who is the truth that will set us free.
Thank you, and God Bless
Nikolaas Zylstra
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From Cross to Cross this Catholic College is Living Out the Way of Christ |
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Written by John-Henry Westen
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Friday, 11 April 2008 |
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anemia levels
 It seems almost like heaven has descended and the angels are in full voice as the Mass which precedes the Gala dinner for Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy commences. The sounds of polyphony reminiscent of Palestrina come courtesy of the Academy Schola choir, under the direction of Maestro Uwe Liefländer - the founder of Canada's Sacred Music Society and the director of the World Youth Day Choir. "I haven't heard music like that since the 50's," murmurs a deacon in awed reverence as he takes his leave.
 After the Mass celebrated by Pembroke Bishop Michael Mulhall, the Germania Hall hosts over 200 enthusiastic guests to hors d'oeuvres and wine followed by a scrumptious meal. Milling about the room are politicians, judges, professors, proud parents and students, friends and benefactors of the Academy, prospective parents and highschool principals. The joy of the music at the Mass and the reverence of the students who participated spreads into conversations over dinner.
But there is another joy about the hall. A joy of true fellowship; of kindred spirits. Talking in friendship without agendas, in brotherly love without vulgarity, jovial and with great peace.
But don't let the opulence fool you. This wonderful event occurs near the end of an academic year that held two of the most severe crises faced by the Academy during its eight years of existence.
The small but extraordinary Catholic college in Eastern Ontario, renowned for its faithful adherence to truth, shocked the Catholic community in Canada with the deaths of two students in a tragic accident only two months ago. Now it is facing another major cross.
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, the only Canadian Catholic college on the Cardinal Newman Society list of the most faithful North American Catholic colleges, has recently welcomed its new President, Dr. David Warner. And now, he has been diagnosed with cancer.
The news came only weeks ago when Dr. Warner slipped and fell on the ice, but sustained three broken ribs. An initial analysis found cancer throughout his bones. Normally such diagnoses mean weeks and months to live rather than years, and so the news hit the community very hard. After all, Dr. Warner had only just arrived at the Academy and within his first few days was forced to deal with the ramifications of the gravest tragedy that the institution had experienced - the sudden deaths of Janine Lieu and Paul Sanders.
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Dr. David Warner with Christendom College President
Dr. Timothy O'Donnell during a visit to Christendom this January.
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He came through that ‘trial by fire’ with flying colors - calming the students and staff, directing media and legalities with a presence which instilled confidence and security. He showed great concern and love with a friendly charm and humility. For two nights during the aftermath he slept in his office by the phone in order to take emergency calls.
Just as the Academy, under his direction, began to return to normalcy, his own tragedy struck. But the bad news was quickly tempered with the finding that the illness is non-infectious Multiple Myeloma, rather than some sort of secondary bone cancer. Myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow blood plasma cells that is treatable at this point, thus permitting a prognosis of many years to live rather than a few months only. Dr. Warner plans to return to the Academy in time to close on their new home they purchased, and oversee Graduation on May 3. During April he is in Virginia receiving urgent, one-time radiological, chemical, and surgical treatments. Remaining therapies (without hair loss) will take place in Canada.
Addressing the guests at the fundraising banquet in lieu of Dr. Warner was famous Catholic novelist - Michael D. O'Brien.
 O'Brien explained the origins of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy as "a small, hopeless, mad venture" where parents concerned for the Catholic upbringing of their children saw clearly the "woeful" state of Catholic higher education in the nation and felt they had no choice but to embark on the impossible.
We began, he said, "on our knees", adding that God likes to bring forth new fruit in impossible places as "flowers in the desert" and "water from rocks" (Biblical references). O'Brien related that from its beginnings the charity that has enabled the Academy to grow from an impossible dream into a shimmering reality that is recognized throughout the continent for its faithfulness, was crowned with sacrifice. "The characteristic gift was sacrifice on every level of its life," he said.
Such is evidently true of the professors and staff of the Academy who pour their souls into the work without the normal financial inducements. Dr. Warner accepted his newfound condition with equanimity telling O'Brien over the phone, "We are going to the cross and that can only be fruitful for souls."
 "Suffering," said O'Brien, "puts us in union with The Vine", and thus it is on the cross where we will be most successful. The dream of those parents nearly a decade ago to provide for young Catholic men and women a place where they could "breathe" the true faith without compromise, is now being lived out at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy. But it has come and continues to come at a great cost.
In his keynote address, Bishop Mulhall also addressed suffering. "You can never go wrong," he said in his concluding remarks, "by suffering for young people who desire the truth."
Sacrifice will be key for years to come as the growing Academy is in need of hundreds of thousands of dollars to continue development goals such as academic accreditation, proper wages for professors, and extra buildings for classrooms and student residences.
Academy alumna, Elizabeth O'Brien, now in a Masters program at the University of Ottawa, gave a final address to the crowd just before Maestro Lieflander and his schola began the evening entertainment. In her address, Miss O'Brien, a former writer for LifeSiteNews.com, recalled fondly the yearly winter excursions of the Academy students to the shrine of the Canadian Martyrs in Midland Ontario. There, she said, she joined her fellow students and professors "kneeling in the snow drifts" at the site of the brutal martyrdom of Sts. Jean de Brebeuf and Gabriel Lalemant, who with great suffering first brought the Christian faith to North America.
 Miss O'Brien described her recent missionary excursion to Honduras where she worked with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal ministering to those living in extreme poverty in the mountains. She noted that her strong formation in the faith assisted her immensely in spreading the Gospel among the poor.
"Even without knowing it," she said of the Academy, "they are making Catholic missionaries of the students."
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I cannot adequately express what an exceptional school OLSWA is, and how blessed Canada is to have such a place! I also cannot thank God enough for leading me there... 
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