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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Friday 17th was the day chosen for
the first common activity organized by Our Lady of Mount
Carmel and our home-schooling friends. It was a ping-pong
tournament. After an 11:15 a.m. Mass and a quick lunch,
Father Scott proceded to organize the children, 30 in number,
into the various divisions; 8 years and under, intermediate
division of 9 - 12 years, and 13 years and above boys, and
13 years and above girls. The mothers were also firmly coerced
in partaking of the fun and playing against one another
as their little ones held on to the skirts.
With three tables set up in the gymnasium
side by side, and games and sets of games were able to take
place concurrently, everybody having a fair chance. Many
of the children had not played before and some were rather
lacking in coordination, which all added to the fun, although
it was a lesson in patience for the older ones. Julia Papania
won the youngest division, Jerome Nienaber won the intermediate
division, James Karecki won the older boys division, and
the girls were not good enough for the winner to be recorded.
Then doubles games were fought out and holy cards and statues
were awarded as prizes to the winners.
That same afternoon, Father May coopted
the help of Mr. Joe Papania to build a bunk bed out of the
birch wood that had been recuperated from a nearby school.
It was practically done before the day was out.
Monday October 20 was also a noteworthy
day for Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For the first time, two
District Superiors visited the school at the same time:
Father Rostand, now US District Superior, but who was responsible
for the purchase of the school property in April 2007, and
Father Wegner, presently Canadian District Superior. They
came out for a quick visit, just prior to their departure
for France for the Society’s pilgrimage to Lourdes
for the feast of Christ the King. The school was also able
to host them to a delightful evening meal, cooked by parishioner,
Mr. James Paraschuk. The school not yet being sufficiently
well established, there is not yet a cook, and so we depend
upon parishioners, who volunteer to provide the meals on
a rotating day by day basis.
Tuesday 21st was noteworthy inasmuch as
the Principal agreed to turn on the new heat system in the
school, in response to the request of the teachers and students.
It was none too soon, since a sudden cool change, with temperatures
plunging down to freezing, arrived that very day. After
celebrating Mass, Father Rostand visited the school to see
the fruits of his year and a half of planning.
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A
rather exasperated Father Scott attempts to umpire
and teach the older girls
how to play a doubles games of ping pong.
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In a much more exciting match the high
school boys duke it out with one another,
under the careful eye of Mr. Blake Tonogai.
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Three games being played simultaneously
in the gym,
with Father Scott umpire for fight between the grade
school
and high school boys to win the doubles championship
(taken very closely by the grade schoolers).
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Father
May completes the cutting of the wood pieces
for the final touches on his new bunk bed. |
Father May,
our new carpenter, with drill and crucifix in hand,
alongside his mentor, Mr. Antonio Raponi, the General
Contractor responsible
for the remodeling of the school, who had taught
Father May some important skills,
with which he remodeled his office in the school.
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Father
Rostand in the school hallway in front of the main
office, speaks with secretary,
Mr. Dan Barrett, and grade school teacher, Mrs.
Joann Templeton.
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The Fathers listen attentively
at supper
to the reading from the Imitation of Christ
with which the meal in the dining room begins.
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A few
minutes of relaxation after the meal
during which the Fathers share ideas.
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From left to right, Fathers Wegner, Scott, Rostand
and May
in front of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima
that had providentially just been donated on October
18.
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