|
Newsline
Canada
| Happy
Feast |
| Message
from Friends of St. Francis Xavier (Toronto) Mass Brochure |
November
29, 2003 |
| Dear
Friends:
It
has been my pleasure and privilege to preside over
the committee responsible for the celebration of this
year’s feast of St. Francis Xavier.
It
is my particular pleasure to participate in this feast
hosted by the St. Francis Xavier Church of Mississauga
because of the extraordinary contribution of the Pastor
of this Parish to the local community. Father Terence
D’Souza has taken a leaf out of St. Francis
Xavier’s book. He is, and continues to be, a
sterling example of one individual who can accomplish
great things against, what seems at the time, overwhelming
odds.
St.
Francis Xavier is an inspiration to all of us. Once
he put his hand to the “missionary plough”,
Francis never looked back. He became all things to
all men that he might be instrumental in the salvation
of all. To the people of Goa, where his holy relics
are enshrined, he is known as the Patron of Goa. In
the language of Goa, Konkani, he is known as Goycho
Saib (the Lord of Goa).
Next
year, beginning on the 21st November and ending on
the 2nd January, 2005 the sacred relics of St. Francis
Xavier will be exposed to the public. This is an event
that happens in Goa once every ten years. It is a
time when the faithful ask favours from God through
the powerful intercession of St. Francis Xavier. Disputing
parties come together to resolve their differences
at the feet of the Saint. Childless couples beg St.
Francis for the boon of a child and solitary bachelors
or spinsters for a suitable companion in life. The
list is unending...
Let
us use this day to celebrate Francis Xavier's dynamic
contribution to the Church. We are privileged to follow
in his footsteps.
I
wish you all a very Happy Feast. |
| Tim de Mello |
Multiculturalism
(In Canada ): its Advantages and Limits
Text of Address by +Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic -
November 13, 2003 at Empire Club
Excerpt....
What is Multiculturalism?
It is much easier to say what it is not. It is not a multiplicity
of economic systems; nor is it a multiplicity of legal or
public administrative systems; nor is it a multiplicity
of public educational systems. Even heritage classes in
schools follow the pattern accepted in our schools. .....
The difficulty in defining multiculturalism is compounded
by the difficulty in defining or describing the culture
we live in. McLuhan's statement that fish was not the first
to analyze water is very applicable here. While we find
it easier to describe other cultures, we do it by means
of contrasting them with our own customs. Pierre Berton
has written a book on being Canadian: I cannot recall the
title, but I found it insightful; but it too set up a contrast
with the Americans. Luigi Barzini's Italians comes to mind
as about the best description of a culture known to me......
To the best of my ability I would describe the phenomenon
of multiculturalism in Canada as "a benevolent letting
be, in religion, language and private customs, in regard
to ethnic communities and individuals". The emphasis
here is on "benevolent", for ethnic communities
have existed and will exist whether the dominant culture
likes it or not. I shall return to the importance of the
term "benevolent".
Full text at :http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/nov/msg00122.html
New
Ontario Government Throne Speech
See: http://www.goacom.com/news/news2003/nov/msg00111.html
See also: http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/english/Library/ThroneSpeech112003_ts.asp
Excerpts:
Premier McGuinty made his comments as the Honourable James
K. Bartleman, Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, presented a
Speech from the Throne, opening the First Session of the
38th Parliament of Ontario.
In the Speech, the government highlights the need for decisive
action. Since the year 2000, spending has grown more than
ten times faster than tax revenue. If no action were taken,
the Tory deficit would grow to $7.7 billion next year and
$8.6 billion in 2007. And that's without any new programs
or spending.
The
Speech also lists several steps the government will take
to keep its commitment to:
- Provide Excellence for All in Education, including anti-bullying
programs, safety audits, character education, and new programs
to ensure teaching excellence, while laying the foundation
for smaller class sizes, learning until 18, and the Best
Start early childhood education plan.
-
Deliver the Health Care We Need, including introduction
of a new Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, new agreements
to bring new private hospitals into the public sector, more
independence for the Chief Medical Officer of Health, smoke-free
workplaces, and more accountability for health care dollars.
-Build
an Economy that Achieves Our Potential, including a two-year
tuition freeze, access to trades and professions, a plan
to ensure stable and reliable electricity, an increase in
the minimum wage and an end to the legislated 60-hour workweek.
-Grow Strong Communities, including a permanent greenbelt
across the Golden Horseshoe, a ban on the disposal of untreated
toxic sludge, protection of our drinking water and fresh
water resources, and measures to stop urban sprawl.
-Create
Government that Works for You, including a new minister
for democratic renewal and steps to give MPPs a greater
role and hold ministers accountable for attending Question
Period.
Emigrating
to Canada? - - Think again!
If you are in a computer related industry in India and thinking
of emigrating to the US or Canada then you need to think
again.
For full text on "The makings of tech juggernauts"
in the Business Section of today's Toronto Star click
here.
Craig Mundie, chief technical officer at Microsoft Corp
was speaking at a Canadian Club luncheon.
Here are two quotes from the article:
"All of these things are kind of a stealth process
that's draining away current and even future talent from
places like Canada," he says, adding that the old brain-drain
problem - that is, the flow of jobs from Canada to the United
States - pales in comparison.
"If they thought that was bad, now we're seeing the
input supply being choked off - you're kind of losing it
on both ends. I think there's real risk."
"`It's scary, and frankly I don't think that policy
makers of the G8 countries, broadly defined, have really
come to grips with the fact of how radical they might have
to be'Craig Mundie, chief technical officer at Microsoft
Corp.
|
