On Saturday evening, Oct. 13^th, Angelina Steenstra, distinguished pro-life speaker, addressed OLSWA’s young women.  In her heartfelt talk, “From Darkness to Light,” Angelina shared her testimony of her personal struggle and journey to healing.  The ladies were profoundly moved by her witness.  Angelina also reflected on the beauty and goodness of femininity and on a woman’s call to bear life—to be fruitful both physically and spiritually.

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy is one of only twenty-one Catholic post-secondary institutions—and the only one in Canada—to be listed in the soon-to-be-published Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look for and Where to Find It. The fruit of much painstaking research, the Guide presents Catholic parents and students with detailed information about a core group of colleges in the United States and Canada that are truly Catholic, according to the standards set out by Pope John Paul II’s Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

OLSWA is proud to be recognized by the Newman Society as a post-secondary institution that faithfully imparts the teachings of the Church within a Catholic environment. The Guide is endorsed by such eminent Catholics as Father Benedict Groeschel, Father John McCloskey, and Dr. Peter Kreeft.

For more information about the Guide, to be published this October and jointly marketed with the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, click here.

On Friday, September 21, students and faculty were honoured to attend the Episcopal Ordination of our new bishop of Pembroke, Bishop Michael Mulhall.

The day was declared a holiday so that many students could attend the liturgy held at the Cathedral of St. Columbkille.

The Apostolic Nuncio (and dear friend of the Academy), Archbishop Luigi Ventura, presided over the joyous and reverent ceremony.  More than twenty-five bishops and over one hundred priests concelebrated the Mass.  So many were in attendance to witness this holy event that the congregation overflowed and many of the laity had to participate from the reception hall.

We are especially honoured that OLSWA professor John Paul Meenan and students Maura McNeely and Elizabeth Lemieux chanted the Te Deum at the liturgy.

Dr. Christine Schintgen, our interim president, remarked: "The majesty and splendour of the Universal Church were evident on this glorious occasion.  We thank God for his providential care in sending us His Excellency Bishop Mulhall."

We all look forward to Bishop Michael's first pastoral visit to OLSWA, when faculty will be privileged to make the Ex Corde Ecclesiae oath of fidelity in his Excellency's presence.

Ad Multos Annos!

After seven years of dedicated service, Mr. John Paul Meenan has decided to finish his term as Executive Director. His resignation was peacefully accepted by the Board of Directors, and we all wish him many hours of relaxation after much hard work! Well, not too much relaxation, as he will continue with his teaching duties and taking students on the occasional hike.  Dr. Christine Schintgen has been appointed as Interim President for the term of one year, from August 1st, 2007, to July 31st, 2008. The Academy will now conduct a search for a long-term replacement for the position. Thank you, Mr. Meenan, for your tremendous contribution to the life and development of the Academy.

The Academy is thrilled to announce the appointment of four new faculty. Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski is our new philosopher, and his wife Tami is teaching half-time in Literature. Dr. Ryan Freeburn fulfills a much-needed role as our new full-time instructor in History. Finally, Colin Kerr, who is in the final stages of a doctorate in Theology, has come on board as our new Theologian. A warm welcome to all of them and their young families!

Four of our students graduated with their Bachelors degrees from Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario on Saturday May 26th.  Angela Reilander, Laura Vanderhulst and Jenna Gannon all received their degrees in English Literature, while Veronica Sebanc graduated in Philosophy.  Graduating 'with distinction', with the broad-based and integral formation they received here, our students have already made Our Lady Seat of Wisdom a 'name' on the campus of Redeemer.  Congratulations girls!  Some of our students will be continuing their education at Redeemer, with more beginning in the fall semester.  For photos and more details, please see 'Student Life/Photo Gallery' from the main page. 

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy Graduation 2006-2007
Valedictorian Address

I would like to begin by thanking you all for your presence here today. On behalf of the students and graduates of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, I greet: our Chaplain Father Paul Burchat, Father John Burchat, and Father Robert Pelton; Deacon Jean-Nil Chabot and his wife Anne; our Mayor John Hildebrandt and his wife Beth, and Karen McDonald, representing our MP, Cheryl Gallant; the members of the Academy Board of Directors, members of the Academic Senate, Dr. Keith Cassidy, members of the faculty, my fellow graduates and students, and all the families and friends of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, whom I have the honour of addressing this afternoon.

When we first came to the Academy, each of us came with certain motives. Some came for the Academy’s social life, some for its league-leading football and volleyball, some for Friday night hockey at the Barry’s Bay Forum, some for its swing-dancing, some for its drama club, and yes, people did come for its academics too. Probably the most universal reason for our coming here was to be grounded in a deeper understanding of our Catholic faith and in the principles of right reasoning. The Academy has been faithful in providing this intellectual foundation. We students have discovered the flaws in the reasoning of Descartes, Hume, and Sartre; we have been given Saint Thomas Aquinas as our model and teacher in the search for objective truth; and we have been introduced to the treasury of teachings found in Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Church’s Magisterium, and all these in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. We have indeed learned much about God and His creation.

Pope's Address to Bishops of Ontario

"Make God Visible in the Human Face of Jesus"

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 8, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today in English and French to the bishops of Ontario, Canada, on the occasion of their five-yearly visit to Rome.

(Notice the Holy Father's stress on the importance of education, and whom he invokes as an intercessor for Canada!) 

Students and staff will no doubt recall alumna Julia Frie (04-05) as a vivacious, free-spirited young woman of sparkling intelligence. Now Julia's family is asking for prayers as she is suffering from a serious illness and is currently undergoing medical tests. Let's storm heaven together!