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Jesuits honour Lourdes

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  • April 20, 2011
Jim Webb, right, awards the Magis Award to Fr. Bill Addley, who accepted on behalf of Our Lady of Lourdes parish. (Photo by Michael Swan)CONCORD, ONT. - Jesuit Father Bill Addley took one for the Our Lady of Lourdes team at the fifth annual Provincial’s Dinner April 13. In its 125th year in downtown Toronto, the Jesuits awarded their parish with the Magis Award and pastor Addley was there to accept the plaque.

“We gratefully and humbly accept it,” said Addley.

The award is bestowed annually by Canada’s English-speaking Jesuits on someone or some community that lives out the ideal of the magis. Magis is Latin for more. St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, urged his followers to constantly ask what more they could do for Christ. Jesuits ever since have called this constant search for more the magis.

The award was given specifically to the parish outreach programs in the form of a plaque that will hang near the front door of the church. Accepting the award was an opportunity for Addley to employ one of his favourite phrases: “Individually and personally, and all of us communally and together....”

Our faith, our ideals and our hopes are nurtured personally and individually, but put into action communally and that’s why we have parishes, said Addley. A parish is more than the sum of its parts and more than a local institution. It exists for a purpose.

“To bring the love of Christ Jesus to those most in need.”

Addley expressed his own admiration for the parishioners who have served the mission of Our Lady of Lourdes, “in solidarity and in service to one another.”

The fundraising dinner was also an occasion to honour men who had lived 50 years as Jesuits — the men who entered the Society of Jesus in 1961. This year’s jubilarians include Brother Gerald Horan, Fathers Frank Obrigewisch and Joe Schner and Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast.

“We’re grateful to have had the opportunity to serve,” said Schnerr.

More in this category: « Local parishes gear up for Pope John Paul II beatification KAIROS hosts mining conference »

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