By Brian Welter
Special to The B.C. Catholic
For some parishes, the synod
confirmed the work they were already doing. They have therefore used
the synod propositions more for program review and affirmation than
for starting many fresh new ventures.
Despite a high level of activity, St. Francis de Sales Parish held
synod-related parish meetings last spring and last October, and
received a lot of feedback.
Thus the spiritual work at St. Francis is continuing as before.
Proposition 1's call directing priests away from administrative
duties and towards more spiritual work was already well in hand.
Though pastor Father Terrance Bileski worked as an accountant for 12
years before studying for the priesthood, lay volunteers have
administered the parish for years.
In addition, regarding the synod call for the praying of the Liturgy
of the Hours (Proposition 31), "We pray the breviary before Mass on
weekdays, six days a week," according to Father Bileski, who added
that the parish is continuing as before to offer penitential
services through the deanery.
While St. Francis does not practise perpetual adoration, as called
for by Proposition 30, Father Terry said that it has "exposition on
Thursday after the morning Mass and on the first Friday of the month
after morning Mass and before the evening Mass."
For years the parish has offered a Sunday 9 a.m. Mass for the deaf,
with sign language.
The pastor said the parish has "a very thriving women's Bible Study
and a smaller men's Bible Study."
A parish strength follows Proposition 8: "Preserve and expand
Catholic presence in health-care facilities and other institutions
as an opportunity for evangelization." The parish has been offering
an Extreme Weather Shelter in the church basement since 2006 in
conjunction with the Salvation Army.
The web site states, "The Extreme Weather Shelter at St. Francis de
Sales will be open during the winter months for homeless persons to
prevent hardships due to extreme winter weather conditions. We
opened for the first night Nov. 20."
It adds, "The Burnaby Weather Response Team is the group that makes
the decision to call an extreme weather alert. They call the parish
office to advise of an extreme weather alert and check the
availability of our church hall. We, in turn, call on volunteers."
Marguerite Goldsmith, parish Religious Education Co-ordinator, was
enthusiastic about the parishioners' support for this project,
overseen by the parish's Social Justice Committee. "When the call
goes out for food and clothes, people are extremely generous." She
sees the shelter as an opportunity for evangelization.
The success of this outreach undoubtedly resides in the energy of
the pastors. The web sight offers a weekly Stewardship Message. One
such writing is particularly powerful: "Share.... The Christian
steward receives God's gifts gratefully, cultivates and cherishes
them, and shares them in justice and love with others."
It continues, "`What is mine is mine!' is the motto of the self-centred
individualist. `What is mine is ours' is the motto of the Christ-centred
steward. St. John Chrysostom vigorously recalls this, `Not to enable
the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive
them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.'"
Goldsmith, a teacher who holds a diploma in pastoral ministry from
St. Francis Xavier University, has been the Religious Education Co-ordinator
for 18 years. She also runs the program of preparation for receiving
the sacraments, helps the secretary with administrative duties, and
acts as resource person for children's liturgy, Bible study, and the
soon-to-be parish library.
Goldsmith, along with the pastors, also acts as a resource person
for Proposition 7: "Make liturgical formation of parish communities
a priority, training leaders in liturgy and catechesis." St. Francis
de Sales puts a lot of effort into the training for ushers, leaders
of the Liturgy of the Hours and Bible Study, and PREP teachers.
The parish's Youth Ministry works for social justice, preparing food
for Union Gospel Mission. It also holds discussions and organizes
sports and think-fasts. The Charismatic Prayer Group, which began
about 20 years ago, evangelizes, especially since not all members
are Catholic.
The elementary school has provided converts from some of its
non-Catholic children. The parish recently had the First Communions
of 79 children from the school.
Catholic education has a long history at St. Francis de Sales. While
the parish dates from 1934, the web site notes, "A parish school
with attached auditorium (to be used for Sunday Masses) was
completed on the present Balmoral Street site in 1954. The Sisters
of St. Joseph, who lived at St. Patrick's Convent on 12 Avenue in
Vancouver, came to teach at the school. They continued in this
service until the new school was built in 1967."
The web site tells of the following mishap: "Shortly after the start
of the new term in October 1967, the school and auditorium were
burned to the ground on a Saturday night, and parishioners arriving
for Mass on Sunday morning were stunned at the sight of the
smouldering ruins! The new (present) school was completed in time
for the start of the school year in 1968."
In 1993 the parish expanded the school building so that Kindergarten
students could study in the same building as the other students.
Today 220 students attend St. Francis de Sales Catholic Elementary
School.
Father Bileski celebrated his 25th anniversary of ordination on July
3, 2007, the feast of St. Thomas. He was ordained at Holy Rosary
Cathedral after studying in English at the Pontifical Beda College
in Rome for four years. This college specializes in educating men
with late vocations to the priesthood. He did none of his
theological training in Canada.
Before entering the seminary, Father Bileski said, in the 12 years
he worked as an accountant, he thought others would do it: train and
become priests. He has served all his 25 years in the Lower
Mainland.
