The Vatican’s ambassador to Canada, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, paid a visit to Weyburn on Thursday evening, and gave a message of encouragement for people to show love and compassion to each other.
The Papal Nuncio visited the Regina Archdiocese, and as he told the parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, “No visit to the archdiocese would be complete without visiting the rural parts of the region.”
The archbishop noted that parishes which once were flourishing have made many sacrifices, and some churches no longer have a resident priest.
“In some cases, as recently in Ceylon, the church has been closed, so this is a trial for many in rural Saskatchewan,” he said, adding that while this can be painful for the community, it can still be a vibrant and loving community.
“As the Nuncio, I bring greetings, friendship, encouragement and blessings from Pope Francis,” said the archbishop.
Making reference to Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, he said it is important that members of the parish respond to the needs of their sisters and brothers, and of all those who are in need in the community.
Referring to the name-sake of the church, he noted St. Vincent de Paul told the Sisters of Charity the motto, “The poor are my master, the poor are my Lord.”
“There are many kids of poor: the material, financial poverty, spiritual poverty and social poverty,” he said. “It’s up to us to fill the emptiness caused by their needs.”
Archbishop Bonazzi quoted Mother Theresa in saying that the fruit of faith is love.
“Real faith produces the fruit of love, and the fruit of love is service. It’s a complete action to those who are in need.”
He said the whole reason for the church to exist “is to keep alive in people’s thoughts the memory that God loves them. It exists to show everyone, even those who are far away, that God loves you.”
