Saturday, September 23, His Excellency Bishop Stephen Hero, Diocese of Prince Albert, invited the faithful to a special Eucharistic Celebration at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. With delight and gratitude he acknowledged the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary for their 120 yrs of service in the diocese. Their first mission started in Duck Lake in 1903. They had built schools and convents in different parishes to teach the young and the old by following Saint Marie Rivier’s example. “I would like to have a thousand lives to make known Jesus Christ.”
At the beginning of the Eucharist liturgy, the celebrant, Bishop Stephen and other ministers entered in procession to preside the celebration, while the lively choir with their musical instruments played and sang, ‘We are called to serve one another to walk humbly with God”.
After the Readings of the Word of God, Bishop Stephen explained in his homily how the painting of Mother Rivier was done on a canvas, painted by Mrs. Elizabeth Yonza with the help of Rivier students in 2017. They used a technique of art called pointillism where tiny individual, thousand points or dots of different colors side by side of paint were applied to a canvas, when viewed from afar it created a unique picture of light, the one of Marie Rivier. For the bishop these bright points of light on Marie Rivier’s habit reflected like tiny jewels, they signify touches of grace that God showered on her to make her become an ‘open gospel.’
The letters on Marie Rivier’s desk represent the letters of her rule of Life which she used to encourage and guide her sisters during her lifetime as Superior.
With great joy, the Bishop finished by honoring the works of the Sisters and recognizing their tremendous contributions that they have carried out to do in the diocese, and far beyond, “un GROS merci.”
He then blessed the image of Saint Marie Rivier and her relic which was placed in a small alcove in the cathedral where the parishioners can pray to her.
“ Lord bless this image of Saint Marie Rivier in this new small chapel dedicated to her memory, let it remind us of her love and devotion to us, as we ask this grace to you Lord Jesus Christ”.
Mass continued as the two Sisters brought in the offerings while Sister Re-Anne Letourneau sang in many different languages, the hymn, “We come to share our story as we come to break the bread.”
After Communion Sister Mary Woodward gave an overview of the life of Saint Marie Rivier, thanking her for the canonization and for all the helpers that contributed successfully for this wondrous celebration. After the solemn blessing everyone enjoyed a happy and a festive lunch.
“The lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” Ps. 126, 3
