The Challenger

Co-Lay Message

2011-11-17T22:41:00.001-05:00

My name is Marianne Casey, and I made my Challenge in March 2005, and I sat at the Snap Crackle Pop table. It’s scary how time flies; it doesn’t feel like it has been that long! Way back when I made my Challenge, I have to admit that I was strongly encouraged-if not forced to attend the retreat by my eager and enthusiastic family members already involved with the movement. I'm sure many challengers can probably relate in that someone strongly recommended that you attend. If you’re like me, you won't regret the decision you made in attending the retreat weekend! Throughout the years, I have gone through periods where I have lost touch with the Challenge Community, but every time I returned, I was welcomed by kind and familiar faces. I have also had the pleasure of serving on the Service Team and this past year, serving with Karim as Co-Lay director has been such a blessing, and the service team we had of faithful and dedicated young adults has been such a witness. They, along with many other Challengers, often answered the many requests for many ongoing projects!

My name is Karim Khouzam and I did my Challenge in September of 2006 and I sat at the bottom of the food chain table; the last shall be first. Even if already five years past since my retreat weekend, I feel like it was not so long ago when I first joined the Challenge community. I started as a candidate who enjoyed the company of other young adults seeking to deepen their Faith in a welcoming catholic environment. Later on, I decided to stay involved to nourish my thirst to live by the Christian ideals and to devote as much time as I can to an unconditionally loving God. Being part of the Service team of Challenge and being Co-Lay Director of the movement for the past two years has been a blessed experience that I was able to share with a dedicated team of young individuals who were always willing to participate and showcase their talent in all the projects that we would suggest to them over the year.

We would to take the opportunity to thank the 2010-2011 Service Team who served this past year. We are grateful for all of their hard work and service to lead other young adults to Christ. They are:

Fr Stephen Otvos, Spiritual Director
Patricia Dumberry and Eric Pawlusiak, Outreach Coordinators
Christina Durocher and Elie Dagher, Social Coordinators
Jessica Perreira-Pawlusiak, Ultreya Coordinator
Mary-Jane Blais and Terrel Joseph, Special Events Coordinators
Susanna Cere and Magdala Porter, Pre Challenge Coordinators
Kelsey Moore and Leon Mwotia, Social Justice Coordinators
Liz Vicente and Cristina Marin-Aponte, Newsletter Editors
Skyler Veazey and Troy Cunningham, Music Coordinators
Aaron Warnongbri, Secretary/Treasurer
Jacqueline Casey, Palanca Coordinator

To the Service Team of 2010-2011: Thank you all so very much because over the years, friendships formed brightening this journey with laughter and spiritual growth. Our sincerest gratitude goes as well to each service team members over the years, veteran challengers and our spiritual director who inspired us, through actions and advices. There is still much to learn to strengthen this movement but everything is possible with God by our side. The true foundation of the movement in Montreal is all thanks to the effort, time and dedication of each one of you!

Life is an open road and although we may sometimes feel like we don’t know where it might take us, our involvement in Challenge has helped us realize that we were never left without a roadmap. We are proud to announce that two new Co-Lays accepted the challenge to steer behind the wheel and continue to direct this movement in its ultimate direction which is to bring young adults into communion with Christ and His Church.

The new Co-Lay directors for 2011-2012 are: Skyler and Aaron! Congratulations! Please pray for them over the next year and as they start to form their new service team. We have no doubt that it will be a great year for Challenge!

Most importantly, we want to thank our almighty Father, the beginning and the end of all things. We served this movement with great joy because He called us to further His Kingdom here on earth through our ministry. Thank you Lord, for all the blessings and the opportunities you give to each and everyone of us everyday. All glory is offered back in Your name.

Finally, through friends, retreats but most importantly ultreyas, Challenge became a home for us and will remain a lighthouse. As we both complete our service as Co-Lays for the 2010-2011 year, we can proudly and humbly say that it has been and always will be an honour to serve this movement and be part of this family.

De Colores,

Karim Khouzam and Marianne Casey
2010-2011 Co-Lay Directors of the Montreal Catholic Challenge Movement

Esta Es la Juventud del Papa! JMJ 2011

2011-11-17T22:35:00.001-05:00

Bonjour, mon nom est Karim Khouzam et j’ai participé à mon premier Challenge en Septembre 2006 à la table ‘‘The bottom of the food chain table; the last shall be first’’. En août dernier, j’ai eu le privilège de partir en Europe et participer à mes premières journées mondiales de la jeunesse. Le pèlerinage c’est étendu sur plus de deux semaines où, avant de passer une semaine complète à Madrid pour la rencontre avec le Pape, j’ai eu la chance de visiter plusieurs villes et villages aux patrimoines religieux remarquables. Notre voyage commença par Fatima, où une visite guidée nous a permis de retourner sur les lieux même où les apparitions de la vierge à l’endroit de trois jeunes enfants (Jacinthe, François et Lucie) se sont produites en 1917. Ce premier lieux de culte a été magique non seulement par la rencontre étonnante que nous avons faite avec le neveu même de François, un des trois jeunes enfants bergers, mais surtout par le respect, la quiétude et la conservation de ces lieux aujourd’hui encore dédiés au recueillement de la vierge Marie et non envahis par une exploitation commerciale démesurée. Par la suite, notre pèlerinage nous amena sur le chemin de Compostelle où pour l’instant d’une journée nous avons pu marcher sur ce parcours de ressourcement mythique pour arrivé à la cathédrale de Santiago; lieu ultime de tous pèlerins à travers la planète qui tentent ce périple dans l’attente d’un renouveau.

Cependant, de tous les endroits visités, notre séjour à Avila fut des plus agréables. Avila a été désigné comme une des villes hôtes, pour plus de 9000 pèlerins, pour les journées en diocèse. Pour cette raison, il va sans dire que nous dûment loger dans les villages avoisinants cette petite ville fortifiée. Les rencontres que nous avons faites avec les villageois de Muñana et les nombreux bénévoles qui nous recevaient littéralement dans leur chez-soi étaient marquantes grâce à la bonté de chacun, leur écoute, leur accueille et leur disponibilité envers nous, pèlerins. Mon moment le plus mémorable de ces journées en diocèse restera toujours la vigile tenue pour l’Assomption de la Vierge Marie, cierge à la main, le 15 août 2011, sur le parvis de l’Église d’un petit village montagneux d’Avila en contemplant, à la même occasion, le coucher du soleil.

Mais les JMJ furent bien plus que de simples visites guidées. Les JMJ ont été le moment de savourer la grâce de Dieu dans l’instant présent. Même si les métros étaient bondés de pèlerins et les restaurants comptaient plusieurs heures d’attentes avant de pouvoir s’assoir à table, les moments de purs plaisirs étaient sporadiques, nombreux et inattendus. Les JMJ pour moi c’est deux semaines où j’ai pu gratter des notes sur les cordes d’un youkoulélé, m’assoir dans un parc et profiter des rayons chauds du soleil, me baigner dans la piscine chaude d’un village accueillant en entendant les cloches de certains animaux de ferme dans un pâturage non loin, siroter du porto sur une plage du Portugal en regardant un époustouflant coucher de soleil, etc… Mais c’est surtout deux semaines en Espagne dédié à un périple religieux, où j’ai pu assister et participer à la messe tous les jours dans une église ou cathédrale différentes toutes plus belles les unes que les autres que ce soit d’une part grâce à l’architecture romane, gothique et moderne ou grâce au passé historique que ces lieux représentes. Les JMJ c’est la rencontre de milliers de pèlerins à travers le monde entier tous réunis dans un seul but commun; la rencontre avec le Pape. Cette rencontre avec le Saint Père fut bien plus qu’un simple rendez-vous planétaire; c’est l’Église d’aujourd’hui enracinée et fondée en Christ et rassemblée en communion pour que tous les jeunes puissent bénéficier d’un temps de réflexion avec le clergé pour approfondir et affermir sa foi. C’est JMJ furent inoubliables et énergisantes jusqu’à la toute fin lorsque le Pape Benoit XVI finit son homélie dominicale en nous invitant à ne pas avoir peur d’être catholique, d’en témoigner toujours autour de nous avec simplicité et sincérité; que l’Église trouve en nous les missionnaires joyeux de la Bonne Nouvelle! Comme nous nous époumonions à le crier avec enthousiasme à Madrid, je continu à affirmer que ‘’Esta Es la Juventud del Papa!’’

A New Journey

2011-11-11T17:43:00.001-05:00

By Karen A Snair

As many people are aware, I grew up United, was part of the Pentecostal church for about eight years until I became Catholic last March. My Christian journey has been blessed by the many different groups I have had the honour of joining as well as the various important people who have touched my life deeply.They include my friends inside Concordia’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, McGill Newman Centre, Challenge, Duc in Altum, Singles for Christ, St Wilibrord’s parish as well as countless other friends inside my Pentecostal circles and beyond who encouraged me during my various stages of my faith journey. Thankyou all for your support.

My contact with the Catholic Church began at Concordia’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy back in 2003. I met a nun who had a huge impact on my life because she taught me that God loved me and that the Catholic Church was a safe and holy place. She saw me struggle inside the Pentecostal. (I had joined it about a year before I met her.) Two months before she died, she told me: “You aren’t like rest of Pentecostals I know. I don’t see you being like them, have you thought of trying the Catholic Church?” I disregarded that statement. Her death two months later ended my affiliation with the Catholic Church. When she died (in 2007), I didn’t have the spiritual maturity to realize that her teaching about the Catholic Church would be fundamental to the journey God had planned.

Read more »

2011-09-06T13:35:00.000-04:00

*Special thanks to Linda and the various Challengers on Facebook whose pictures made this video possible*

Pray to end abortion – God is listening!

2011-04-17T17:58:00.000-04:00

As we begin Holy Week and see the end of the 2011 Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign, we are forcibly reminded of the need for prayer, especially in the fight to protect all human life. Prayer must precede and guide all of our efforts, and when it does, God often uses our faithfulness to change the world in ways we could have never imagined.

The incredible fruits of this past 40 Days for Life campaign alone demonstrate this in a powerful way. On day 40 of the international campaign of prayer and fasting to end abortion, the tentative count of babies spared from abortion is 483—that we know of. Here is just one story from a 40 Days for Life location in Montana, taken from the 40 Days for Life website:

"The Missoula vigil coordinator and two other 40 Days for Life volunteers were praying outside the abortion center when a car pulled up.

A couple was seated in the front, and their children were in the back. The mother spoke to the prayer volunteers in a somewhat abrupt manner. “I’m pro-choice,” she said. “Why should I be pro-life?”

The vigil participants answered, covering many points. But the woman didn’t seem convinced.

So the vigil coordinator asked her, “May I pray with you?” She answered “yes,” and they prayed.

One of the others then offered the woman information about the local pregnancy resource center, which she took.

The prayers must have had an effect.

“Choice might be fine for someone else,” the woman said. “But I’m keeping my baby.”"

Through the 40 Days for Life, God not only spared so many of our smallest brothers and sisters, but also their mothers and fathers from the pain of abortion. Through prayer volunteers’ peaceful presence at abortion facilities and messages of hope and compassion, God allowed these individuals to reach out to mothers who otherwise felt driven to abortion by lack of support. So many other lives have been touched, as prayer volunteers helped those suffering from past abortions begin healing and seeking the peace of Christ.

The humble beginnings of the now-worldwide 40 Days for Life campaign that has saved over four thousand children from abortion over the last several years further reveals the power of prayer and faithfulness in this fight for Life. A small pro-life group in Bryan/College Station, Texas met one evening to discuss their plans to promote Life in their community. Discouraged by the still tragically high abortion rate, despite their past efforts and events, the four decided to spend an hour in silent prayer, asking for guidance. At the end of the hour, a sheet of paper in the middle of the table that they sat around had two small notes: “pray” and “40 Days.”

Thus, the first 40 Days for Life campaign was born. A year later, a national campaign was launched with over 80 participating cities, and this Lent saw 247 cities from around the world—from Canada to Ireland to Australia to the nation of Georgia—simultaneously standing vigil. The lives saved, mothers helped, healing sought, abortion facilities closed, and employees who have left the abortion industry because of these prayer campaigns all started with just one hour of prayer.

And so, this 40 Days for Life campaign might be ending, but our prayers cannot! Even as we praise God for all He has done in the past several weeks, we have a chance to reflect on all that remains to be done and the inconceivable number of lives that are lost through abortion each day.

There are many ways each of us can and should be a witness for Life. Prayer is an essential way to start. Whether from home or outside of an abortion facility, praying and fasting for the protection of human life at all stages and ages is something each of us can commit to doing on a regular basis. And, we can start planning for next fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign!

Natalie Fohl

A snapshot of a Lenten Journey

2011-04-10T21:09:00.000-04:00

Many had warned me that after my conversion I would feel a dip, a kind of spiritual low and perhaps it was naive of me to think that it wouldn’t happen. Not to me anyway. Besides, I’m not them, right? But in the process of striving to live out this Catholic life, I can’t help but notice more flaws in me that are being brought to the light. Things I wish I could change, habits I wish I could let go of...emotions I wish I just didn’t feel. I turn to the crucifix hanging in my room wondering how many of my bad habits I have tried to nail to the cross throughout this liturgical period. Some habits I wish I could nail there and have die, never to return into my heart again.

Throughout this Lent, I felt like something was missing and I lacked the drive to change. It was so strange to feel that within such a vast and loving community such as Challenge, I could feel so alone. Hoping to find a bit more strength to hold strong to my Lenten sacrifices and to keep persevering, I turned to an author whose reflections are what helped guide me to the Church in the first place. As I opened Home Tonight: Further Reflections on the Parable of the Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen, the following paragraphs caught my attention:

It is paradoxical but real. The more I find intimacy with the Creator of my life, the more loneliness I experience. And at the very same time this loneliness offers me a new sense of belonging to the family of a Divine Love that is much greater and more intimate than any belonging that the world can offer...The greatest loneliness and the greatest solidarity with the Divine Lover and with the human condition are coming together. Once I accept this passage as a call to be deeply, deeply connected with the Unconditional Love, with my own fragile humanity, and with brothers and sisters everywhere, something shifts within. Allowing God’s love to be the primary for me changes the way I live my existential loneliness, mainly because I am more rooted in the truth, and thus more able to live my suffering while standing as a full, human person.

After reading this my heart seemed to be a little more at peace with my loneliness, my struggle to find love, give love and love myself. Maybe walking alone with Jesus is just His way of reminding me that regardless of the unmet needs that continue to scream within me, looking for healing from others, that my confidence and trust should always be in Him...that He is enough. As I look to the cross as a source of strength, I am reminded of the beauty that the cross brings to our salvation. I am reminded of the confidence and trust our Lord had in the Father. I’m reminded of His free, total, faithful and unconditional love for each and every one of us. I’m reminded that my brokenness and my wounds are what are staring me back in the face, and as I close my eyes and imagine myself at the foot of the cross, I picture, as vividly as I can, His fragile, broken body. These wounds were suffered for my wounds...This pain was suffered for my pain...And this body and this death is given up for me, out of love and in order to give rise to a new life.

As we prepare ourselves for the final stretch of Lent, to enter into the journey of the Lord’s passion with Him, I encourage you all to, in prayer, express your desire to walk with Him, persevere with Him, trust in the Father with Him, and in the end give yourself up for Him for the glory to rise with Him once again.

Wishing you all happy reading of the below articles as well as the grace to persevere in the last weeks of Lent with the words of wisdom my best friend once told me...a little Hope, a little Faith, and a little Trust,

Liz V.

And the 2011 Challenge Newsletter Co-Editor is...

2011-03-31T22:14:00.000-04:00

Last fall I was asked to be one of the Challenge newsletter co-editors and I gladly said yes!

My name is Cristina Marin-Aponte. I did my challenge in November 2009 and I sat at the Pink Elephants table. I found out about Challenge through my parish priest. He had been involved when he was younger and told me it was a good community to meet other young Catholics. I wasn't to sure about going because that would mean I would spend my weekend with a bunch of strangers, but, I got over my shyness and just took the Challenge! It was one of the best decisions I ever made and it opened a whole new world for me.

My Challenge retreat was absolutely amazing even though I didn’t know anyone on my weekend. I was so surprised to see so many young Catholics just like me. They were all so welcoming and genuinely nice! I thought it was a little odd at first... There was a lot of singing involved and at the time, singing was not my thing. Let's just say Challenge grew on me and I've learned to love it!

Since that mind blowing weekend in 2009 I've been very involved in Challenge. I've been able to lead Ultreyas on topics such as Opus Dei, Love, Prayer, Happiness and the Rosary. I was surprised to see the amount of people that attended Ultreyas. In Challenge, there is always this great thirst to know more about our Catholic Faith. It's beautiful to see so many young people grow together in their Faith and help each other along the way.

One of my favourite Challenge moments was on the Challenge 24 weekend. It was about midnight and everyone was enjoying a late night snack. The music director and another Challenger pulled out their guitars and started to jam. Everyone started singing songs from Lean on me to the Backstreet Boys. It gave everyone this sense of community. I realized that we are the Challenge movement. We're all so different; we come from different backgrounds, we all speak different languages but there's one thing that we have in common: We all share the same Faith. The Catholic Church is indeed universal and you can clearly see that in Challenge.

Moments of Reflection with Karmen Chan

2011-03-31T22:08:00.000-04:00

"When we forget we are sinners, we forget our need for Christ. And when we forget Christ, we forget everything". -John Paul II

I spent another full Saturday at Duc in Altum with my new extended family of Duc-ers. After every session God always gives me a message to take back home. Our session was on 'Reconciliation with oneself, others and God'.

My main take-aways were:

[1] Our wounds from our past can subconsciously affect our future.

I was always under the impression that our past does not necessarily define our future. I've come to realize that subconsciously the events from our past, whether they were deep wounds scarred by something or someone or small hurts and challenges we face, all of our experiences can and will surface one day without us being aware of it. In order to 'reconcile' with these hardships, we need to recognize these very real wounds, claim them and with God's grace learn to let them go. It's not easy, but it starts with self-awareness.

[2] The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is a repeated opportunity to go back to Jesus.

I left the session with a greater appreciation for this sacrament. Simply put, this sacrament allows us to restore our relationship with God. All He wants from us is to be in constant union with him. When we recognize and acknowledge our sins, we can 'reconcile' and re-attach ourselves to God.

[3] Going to confession is our way of telling God that we trust Him completely through our vulnerability and openness.

I walked away from my confession with the priest feeling very renewed as always. If you let God's love and mercy into your heart you will radiate and be transformed! What a great feeling!

[4] Easter is a time of celebration!
Just like when the Prodigal Son came home, his Father celebrated for his son was 'once lost and has been found'!

Dear Lord,
Thank you again for your gracious mercy and the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. May you always remind me that all you need from me is a relationship with you.
Amen

ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE?!?!?

2011-01-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

The next Challenge weekend is coming up! And it’s coming up soon...I’m excited yet I bounce back and forth asking myself how on earth I even got nominated to Co-direct the next retreat weekend...Am I capable of this? Am I qualified for this? It’s a month away and I find myself literally counting down the days, praying that everything will fall into place and work out but...I’m still stressed, I’m still afraid of the unknown, I'm still struggling to constantly say "Jesus, I trust in You" and mean it. And then...Then I read this...And all I can say is thank you for the reminder Leon.
God bless you,
Liz

The days after the weekend before...
by Leon

My friend Steve insisted that I attend the Challenge retreat and was so persistent that I had no choice but to relent. I thank God for him. Because I had no expectations and little understanding of how the weekend would unfold, each activity was a pleasant discovery; of others and self. I told my friends and family (and anyone that would listen) the whole weekend was an incredible journey -and I use the term purposefully as we did travel together- because it was so interactive in nature.

For young people in a tempestuous, unforgiving world, a spiritual retreat offers a safe port in stormy seas. But conventional retreats can become even more trying than the dangers they are supposed to offer respite from. And there, in business speak, lies Challenge's value proposition: an openness and honesty that heals broken hearts, a reluctance to judge and everywhere a fierce desire to emulate Christ's example by offering Love and accepting it in return.

I noticed that in every presentation lay the implicit acknowledgement of the universal truth: "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God..." But in witnessing others strive to glorify God by facing down their fears and finding the best part of themselves; I came to see Christ alive in me... in all of us.

Thank you all for welcoming me into your family, may we continue to strive to glorify God and grow in His Love.

Dear Challenge Newsletter readers,

2010-11-25T10:31:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

By the time many of you will have the chance to read this latest post, I imagine I will already be on my way to Edmonton but I wanted to write one last time before the end of the liturgical year and announce that I have been asked to serve another year as Newsletter co-Editor for the Challenge Movement! Also, I urge you to stay tuned for the next post as I will be interviewing and introducing to you all my new Newsletter co-Editor Partner! I look forward to it and hope you all are as well!

As I prepare for this short trip, I must admit that although I am excited to be heading to Edmonton for the 98th Grey Cup where the Montreal Alouettes will face the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a second consecutive year, my main concern was where the closest parish was so I could celebrate mass on Sunday morning. With November marking the end of the liturgical year, I am reminded that Advent, much like Lent, is a time of preparation and prayer. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the faithful are asked:

• to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love,
• thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
• thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world.

It’s a time to think of the journey we’re on, where we’re headed, what we’re preparing for, what we believe is yet to come… As much as I try to focus on what I’m journeying towards, I can’t help but find myself still at times looking back at what I’m journeying away from. It can be scary at times but I can just imagine myself tripping over, falling or bumping into something if I try to walk forward while simultaneously looking back... As I celebrate mass on Sunday at St-Patrick’s Parish in Edmonton, I will be thinking of you all, thanking God for sending me such great people who continue to help, push and encourage me along the way. The next 4 weeks are sure to ignite a sense of excitement in me as I wait in joyful anticipation for the celebration of the birth of our Saviour and King. I look forward to my return to Montreal (hopefully once again hoisting up the Grey Cup) but more so to journey the rest of the Advent season with you all. A new liturgical year awaits us; let’s remember what we’re waiting for and celebrate!

Blessings in Christ always,

Liz V.

A Christmas Event Not To Be Missed!

2010-11-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

***Calling all past, present,future Challengers, family and friends***

Challenge invites you to...

A CHALLENGE CHRISTMAS BALL!

Where: Restaurant Ruby Rouge (1008, rue Clark corer Viger, Montreal)
When: Friday, December 17th @ 7pm
Cost: $35

There will be dinner, dancing, possibly karaoke and part of the proceeds are going towards the construction of St.Agnes Catholic Church in Kenya.

Tickets may be purchased through Christina Durocher (514) 812-8462, Cristina Marin-Aponte (514) 991-7897 or myself, Liz Vicente(514)799-0438. The deadline to purchse tickets is December 10th so make sure to get your tickets!! Looking forward to seeing you all there!!!

Letter from the Editors...actually it's just a letter from me...

2010-09-15T18:17:00.000-04:00

I write you this letter solo, as my newsletter partner in Christ has taken on a new challenge with NET ministries. On behalf of myself and Challenge, I would like to wish Sean all the best in his new journey and simply say that I thoroughly enjoyed the short time we had together to work as Challenge newsletter co-editors.

As the summer fades away and I sit on my balcony half reading and trying my best to enjoy what feels like the last of the hot weather before fall, I can’t help but feel as though a chapter has come to end and the start of something new is in its beginning stages.

September has always marked for me, the end of summer, the end of the rugby season, the half way point of the CFL season and the time where most people revamp their daily schedules. The laid back feeling of the summer months must now be replaced with a stricter schedule giving way to what feels like less “free time”. A more disciplined routine is required of us as many of us return to school or work and although I feel that not much change is required of my own personal schedule this year, I can’t help but feel the effects of this time change as well.

Sitting here on my balcony, I realize that the next big batch of reports I will be writing up at work are for the 3rd quarter of 2010 and it dawned on me that that meant that ¾ of 2010 will be done, leaving 3 months until the end of December and the end of the year. I tried to look back at all I had accomplished over the last months and wondered if God would at all be pleased with my progress or lack thereof.

2010 has brought forth many great moments in my life; I am now going on 5 months of being Catholic and cannot recall a time where I felt so proud or happy to assume such a title, my involvement with Challenge is still on the rise along with my Hope, Faith, and Trust in God, my spiritual journey is supported by many loving friends as well as a more prayerful lifestyle and through my newly forged Christian friendships, I find myself talking about God, the life of Christ and His parables more and more often. But in the midst of these spiritual highs, I find myself struggling to grow in virtue and struggling to let go of the life I once knew. A life I once thought would lead me to happiness and although I know that that road leads only to a dead end, a counterfeit of true happiness, I continue to at times feel trapped in my own failures, desperately trying to become someone better. A close friend of mine reminded me of the following:

struggle = growth

and although I know this equation speaks truth I can’t help but feel as though I am at times moving backwards in my quest for the Kingdom of Heaven. I thought to myself however, that if I were in the wrong direction, would it not be logical and quicker to turn around and find my way back towards the right path rather than trying to push my way forward in the wrong direction, hoping that the detour will somehow lead me to where God wants me to go? Although I don’t doubt His ability to do so, I’m always grateful when I choose to stop myself from going any further in the wrong direction and make my way to Confession. The parable of the return of the prodigal son has been one to touch my heart in the most profound of ways and whenever I meditate upon it, I fall more and more in love with the Catholic Faith.

I suddenly notice the decrease in sunlight, which forces me realize that the sun is setting, night is coming and a new day is in the making, regardless of whether I want it to happen or not. Tomorrow will become today and today yesterday. I sigh knowing full well that God doesn’t work on my time; I must learn to work in partnership with His, that He is constantly calling out my name, patiently awaiting my “yes” to return and follow Him, that He is praying I will continue to leave that life I once knew behind and seek Him in the midst of the jungle of a world I feel I live in. The anxiety I feel over the change in season, the change in pace and the uncertainty of what my future holds begins to lessen. A calm and safe feeling, the feeling I imagine the prodigal son feels once he finds his way back into the loving arms of his father, begins to find me in that moment. As I leave my balcony, I fold my chair and bring it back into my apartment along with a reassured feeling in the unknowns of tomorrow and remembering the words of wisdom of my loving God-Mother who once reminded me that as the future turns into the present, that future is God’s present, God’s gift, to me. And like any gift, it is meant to be treasured and enjoyed.

Although this article describes but one day of my new journey as a Catholic, I can say with complete honesty that I am grateful for both the struggles I have been faced with as well as the many graces I have been blessed with thus far in my pursuit towards becoming a perfect Christian. As the summer season come to an end and my future involvement with the Newsletter remains unknown to me until after the upcoming Challenge weekend, I would invite and encourage you all to write in (newsletter@montrealchallenge.ca) and share your 2010 summer journeys, pictures, favorite moments or short stories with other Challengers through the Newsletter. Even if it ends up being one line beginning with “My favorite thing about summer 2010 was…” I still aspire and believe that the Newsletter can be both a creative and inspirational way to encourage others to persevere in the Faith.

God bless,

Liz V.

Sean’s “farewell for now” e-mail...

2010-09-15T18:15:00.000-04:00

Hi, everyone!

I never was a big fan of mass emails, but I thought it was necessary in this case. The truth is, ever since I came back from Spain, it has been a roller-coaster ride of craziness! So what has been keeping me so busy? Here's the answer: I'm volunteering with NET Ministries for the next 10 months and I leave tomorrow morning! So goodbye Montreal (for at least the next 10 months)!

I know I had planned things with many of you for the next year, but unfortunately those things are going to have to wait or be cancelled indefinitely. Hopefully I'll be able to make it up to you later on.

I want to wish each and everyone the best of luck with your daily endeavours and a fantastic year! Take care, everyone!

Sean

Featured Article

2010-09-15T18:06:00.000-04:00

I really love where my apartment is located...Not because I’m across from the Russian Embassy or because I’m a 10 minute walk to my work but because I’m next door to one of the men’s Opus Dei centres and had the opportunity one morning, to run into Fr. Fred Dolan, the head of Opus Dei in Canada. We exchanged email addresses and that morning, he sent me an article entitled Betting on the Afterlife. I asked him if I could share with you all because I enjoyed it very much and he graciously agreed. So, here it is...Happy reading!

Betting on the Afterlife

My workouts at the gym are usually routine events, but that day a few years ago was much different. On one of the televisions above my treadmill, George Stroumboulopoulos was interviewing June Callwood, whose terminal cancer was bringing her time on earth to an end. “Dust to dust is the way it ought to be” June said shortly into the interview.

“You’re about to enter that great stage in one’s life when you get to find out what’s next. Do you have an idea?” George asked.

“There’s nothing next,” June replied without hesitation, followed by a pensive “That’s all right.”

George was strikingly poignant as he continued to question his 82 year-old guest. “You don’t believe in God?” The response: “I believe in kindness”.

Here was one of Canada’s leading interviewers questioning one of Canada’s foremost social activists, who was utterly convinced that life simply ends. Full stop. Nothing more. Absolutely nothing.

As I finished my workout, I couldn’t stop thinking about George’s seeming disappointment in his guest’s rejection of an afterlife. Even those who are “convinced” of their final end must have a bit of lingering doubt. I would go further: most of us would do anything to sneak a peak at the next destination.

As Benedict XVI said in his best-selling book Jesus of Nazareth: “What preoccupies man is the hiddenness of the future that awaits him. Man wants to tear aside the curtain; he wants to know what is going to happen, so that he can avoid perdition and set out towards salvation.”

June Callwood’s adamancy contrasts radically with that of Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, three people who were close to Jesus. A brokenhearted Martha said to Jesus: "If you had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

That is the fundamental "Easter question" for Christians. Do they, or do they not believe in life after death? It either does or does not exist. Both positions ultimately require an act of faith; after all, in this life it is impossible to “break on through to the other side”, to use the memorable phrase of The Doors’ Jim Morrison. Life and death come down to weighing our two options and hedging our bets, since it just might be true that death is only the entry point to an unending existence in the afterlife.

A friend, having heard I was writing on this topic, wrote to me: “I look forward to your piece on life after death. I'm not convinced but I am eager to be proven wrong. Nietzsche said life has meaning because we die. But when you see how breezily people throw their lives away, I'm not sure that is the case.”

It's easy to understand why some people equate death with “game over”. They never give a thought to the after-life because they are too busy in the present life, rushing around, chasing time, absorbed in everything they must finish before they die.

The German philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand observed: “Some people are so engrossed in their daily concerns that, though not leading an agreeable life at all, they simply find no time to stop and think. The complete enslavement of their attention to the practical task immediately ahead deprives them of any leisure for feeling their lack of peace. Like beasts of burden, they tread along their path in dull monotony, without ever becoming sufficiently awake to feel distressed by the meaninglessness of their lives.”

Then there is the fact that “eternal life” is tough to wrap our minds around. We can imagine an unlimited data plan for our cell phones, but not unlimited time for ourselves. Much less can we conceive of eternity as not a long time, but a time of pure timelessness.

Benedict XVI took a stab at this in his encyclical letter on hope. Here is his effort to describe heaven: “(It is) something more like the supreme moment of satisfaction, in which totality embraces us and we embrace totality (...). It would be like plunging into the ocean of infinite love, a moment in which time— the before and after —no longer exists. We can only attempt to grasp the idea that such a moment is life in the full sense, a plunging ever anew into the vastness of being, in which we are simply overwhelmed with joy.”

A big stumbling block is the need for faith. Someone could say “I don’t have faith, therefore I am convinced that with death comes the end.” Ironically, that attitude requires quite a leap of faith to conclude that humans are just flesh, bones and chemicals. How can chemicals produce such immaterial concepts as eternity and love? The thought that we are just a sack of chemicals is not especially appealing or even logical. Yet many accept that belief without blinking an eye.

A professor at a U.S. university took a poll before class one day. He asked his students what they thought they were: a composite of immortal soul and physical body or flesh, bones and chemicals. Only two out of the forty students opted for the body and soul composite but then one of the two got embarrassed and yanked his hand back down. Thirty-eight blithely chose flesh, bones and chemicals.

But chemicals can’t possibly explain our yearning for eternal life. The human psyche was wired at the factory for infinity. To paraphrase Augustine of Hippo: “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

A contemporary thinker, Peter Kreeft of Boston College, says: “The big, blazing, terrible truth about man is that he has a heaven-sized hole in his heart, and nothing else can heal it. We pass our lives trying to fill the Grand Canyon with marbles.”

So what if it turns out that death truly is just the beginning?

Joseph Ratzinger spoke about the “moral exigency” that arises when we consider the account we will have to give to our creator. The thought of the afterlife confers to moral decision-making gravity and definiteness. As a recently ordained priest back in the 1980s, I walked into a Cambridge Square printing shop one day. The manager looked up from her desk. She smiled when she noted my clerical garb, and said in a rich Southern accent: “I haven’t seen anyone dressed like that in a long time. When I was growing up, I used to see priests dressed like you and I would always say to myself, ‘Honey, you’d better clean up your act!’"

Christians, particularly, have a compelling reason to believe in eternal life. Not only did Jesus speak often about the life that awaits us in heaven, but he then rose from the dead and, during forty days, appeared to hundreds of people. A betting man would not want to ignore that clue.

Msgr. Frederick M. Dolan

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1952, Msgr. Dolan holds a degree in literature and history from Columbia University. After several years in the business world as a sales representative and a stockbroker, he pursued graduate studies at Harvard Business School. In 1980 Msgr. Dolan moved to Rome where he completed his doctoral studies in philosophy. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983. Msgr. Dolan served as a chaplain at a student residence in South Bend, Indiana, and later worked with high-school students in the Bronx and college students at Yale University. Before his appointment as Vicar, Msgr. Dolan was the Chancellor of the Curia of the Prelature in Rome from 1992 to 1998.

Special Event: Canonization of Blessed Brother André

2010-09-15T18:04:00.002-04:00

Come celebrate the canonization of Blessed Brother André
Where: The Olympic Stadium, Montreal
When: October 30th, 2010
Cost: $5

**Challenge would like to celebrate this event as a group, if you are interested, please let us know by sending an email to:
co-lay.director@montrealchallenge.ca

2010-09-15T18:04:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Theresa Casey-Chiniborch and Jon Chiniborch, proud parents of Future Challenger, Toby Chiniborch who was born at 2:48 am on September 13th weighing in at just under 9 pounds.

Welcome!

2010-07-07T03:44:00.000-04:00

Your friendly neighborhood Newsletter Co-Editors and hardest-working Filipino Challengers, Sean Mangahas and Liz Vicente, would like to welcome you to the latest edition of the Challenger!

To keep the ball rolling, we have decided to make a slight change and will be updating the newsletter regularly with new headlines. So enjoy reading about the latest Challenge news and keep checking back!

The Team of Service

2010-07-07T03:11:00.002-04:00

The 2009-2010 Challenge Service is comprised of:
(from left to right, starting at the top)
Mary-Jane Blais (Co-Lay Director)
Karim Khouzam (Co-Lay Director)
Terrel Joseph (Special Events Coordinator)
Marianne Casey (Palanca Coordinator)
Aaron War (Outreach Coordinator)
Andrew Ranjitsingh (Pre-Challenge Coordinator)
Jennifer Untiveros (Pre-Challenge Coordinator)
Fr. Stephen Otvos (Spiritual Director)
Eric Pawlusiak (Social Activities Coordinator)
Christina Durocher (Social Activities Coordinator)
Patrick Boghdady (Social Justice Coordinator)
Paula Casey (Social Justice Coordinator)
Kylah Darwent (Music Director)
Sean Mangahas (Newsletter Co-Editor)
Liz Vicente (Newsletter Co-Editor)
Jessica Pereira (Ultreya Coordinator)
Liz Kattackal (Secretary & Treasurer)

A Reflection from a New Challenger

2010-07-07T03:11:00.001-04:00

Jon may be new to the Challenge Family having done his Challenge in November of 2009 but he is boldly living his Faith and boldly living it Strong. Here’s his take on his involvement with Challenge so far...

A reflection of my involvement with Challenge:

At first I have to admit that I was very reluctant to be on a challenge weekend. After returning to the faith later in my life, I had heard a lot about Challenge through my wife and in-laws, who are very involved in Challenge. Even though both my wife and mother-in-law were very persistent in asking me to do a Challenge weekend, I have to admit that I was quite reluctant. The reason for my hesitation was that I thought I would be like Billy Madison...you know, the old guy coming back to school and I was fairly shy and worried about how I would feel in that situation. Thanks in large part to my very loving and persistent mother in-law and sister I simply could not shy away much longer and finally....I succumbed.
Upon entering the doors of the challenge weekend I knew I was coming into something good. Everyone was so genuinely interested in you and what you had to say....what a refreshing feeling. The weekend was an eye opener for me and I learned a lot about myself and my relationship with God. I learned that there is a great support community out there and so many people who care about you and your relationship with God. It was amazing to later on find out how many of the great Challengers gave up their weekends just for us Candidates to have a weekend free of distractions so that we could soak up every ounce of the love on the weekend. And I can tell you that my life has changed for the better since that weekend!

After my weekend I was already thinking about which talk I would like to give and how I could give back on the next weekend. I initially thought that I would love to be on Front Team and felt that I would have a lot to share as a late bloomer coming back to the faith. It turns out that God had another plan for me. Theresa (my wife) and I were asked to join the kitchen team. As usual, at first, I was reluctant. March is a very busy time for me and I am often occupied with my work but I soon came to the realization that even though I felt like I had no time, the time was now and that you always need to make time for your relationship with God. That weekend of service was just what I needed! Having never been exposed to what Kitchen Team does I was surprised at how much work and team involvement was necessary. I had the most amazing time and was blessed to be working with such an amazing team. We really came together in no time at all and you really get to see the best in everyone when put to the test. It felt great to give these candidates the same opportunity that Front / Kitchen team gave me on my first weekend.

As I continue to grow in my family life, I am very proud to see the involvement of my younger sisters and hope that the movement continues to grow and prosper for many years to come! I'm grateful for all the challengers, past, present and future who have put in many long hours to get this community to where it is today and look forward to serving as much as possible on future weekends.

God bless you all,

Jonathan Chiniborch

Opus Dei? It is My Spiritual Coach

2010-07-07T03:03:00.002-04:00

Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaria. Its mission is to spread the message that everyone can become a saint in their everyday life. Everything that happens to us in our lives are occasions to get closer to God by serving others and improving our society.

So how did it all begin? In 1928, while on a retreat, Saint Josemaria, under divine inspiration, founded Opus Dei. On June 16, 1950, Pius XII granted the definitive approval to Opus Dei. From there, Opus Dei grew all over the world. Opus Dei spread its work in different countries, for example: Germany, Paraguay, New Zealand, Israel and most recently Indonesia, Romania and South Korea. Opus Dei has been known and blessed by the last six popes.

As the Second Vatican Council noted, every baptized person is called to follow Jesus Christ, by living according to the Gospel and making it known to others. The aim of Opus Dei is to contribute to the evangelizing mission of the Church. Opus Dei does so by promoting among Christians of all social classes, a life fully consistent with their faith, while in the midst of the ordinary circumstances of their lives and especially through the sanctification of their work.

One of the main features of the spirit of Opus Dei is divine filiation. “Divine filiation is the foundation of the spirit of Opus Dei,” said its founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá. It means that we are all children of God by the virtue of baptism. It fosters confidence in divine providence and the capacity of having a simple dialogue with God.

“It is in the midst of the most material things of the earth that we must sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind,” said St. Josemaría. That means that in all aspects of our life for example: family, work, study – in all our activities, we have the amazing opportunity of serving others and God. At the same time this makes us a better person. It helps us to deal with Christian and human values such as integrity, patience, charity, humility, cheerfulness and so many others.

Another big part of the spirit of Opus Dei is sanctifying daily work. This means to sanctify our work by having a supernatural outlook in the presence of God. It’s important to do things competently and ethically, to the best of our capabilities and with the aim of loving God and serving others. In the end, what matters the most in God’s eyes is the love we put into our work and not our human successes.

The formation given by Opus Dei encourages people to live with the spirit of prayer and sacrifice in the middle of the world while carrying your ordinary daily duties. This all helps in the process of sanctifying our ordinary occupations. To imitate Jesus Christ a few good steps to take would be to pray, to go to Mass, to go to Confession, and also reading and meditating on the Gospel. Also, devotion to our Lady is also something that takes up a big part in their hearts. Members of Opus Dei also make sacrifices here and there to acquire a spirit of penance. So they might renounce to a small pleasure such as not having desert or fasting.

St Josemaría explained that Christians in the world should not live “a kind of double life”. People must see that you’re a Catholic by the way you act and your example. To give you a concrete example that individuals of Challenge and younger people can relate to. Let’s say you act a different way when you’re out in a bar or with your friends. Then you go home and you seem to be a completely different person. Is that Unity of Life? Shouldn’t you be who you are all the time? You should live your life with integrity and coherence because “There is just one life, made of flesh and spirit. And it is this life which has to become, in both soul and body, holy and filled with God.”

In a nutshell, Opus Dei is like a spiritual trainer, like a coach in the spiritual gym of life that can help anyone to become closer to God in concrete ways: one deed at a time, one act of service at a time, one smile at a time.

Cristina Marin-Aponte

Birthdays & Announcements

2010-07-07T03:03:00.001-04:00

Birthdays!

June
3—Veronica Mullavey, Liz Kattackal, Amanda Daly & Line Argentino
4—Sarah Richard Cormier
5—Paula Casey
6—Terrel Joseph
8—Nancy Pino
10—Jennifer Tena-Russell
11—Marie-Linda Boghdady & Dominic Durocher
14—Julie Mancini
18—Paulina Valdes Manzanedo
20—Shannon Joseph & Elisa Pistilli
21—Jessica Peterkin

July
1—Fr. Stephen
7—Pedro Paparella
9—Egon DeRoth
10—Victoria Bednarczyk & Troy Cunningham
13—Tiziana Bontempo
15—Elizabeth Koessler
16—Jason Mansour
19—Ryan Alemao
21—Austin Del Rio
22—Nadine Furtado
23—Alex Graham
24-Diana Nakad
28—Esteban Munoz
29—Linda Buchannan
31-Uneku Haruna

August
5—Chuck Ormsby
10—Patricia Mansour
11—Isabelle Kapiga
15—Joan Marchand
16—Reginald Dubuisson, David Darwent & Chris McGuire
19—Eleonora Cau
22-Cristina Marin-Aponte
24—Teddy Kernisant
25—Tim Johnstone
27—Arpad Nagy
30—Jonas Graham

Announcements!

Congratulations to Victoria Bednarczyk and David Cant on their wedding in May 2010!
And congratulations to Theresa Casey-Chiniborch & Jon Chiniborch as they are expecting!

Letter from the Editors

2010-04-08T01:01:00.000-04:00

The 3rd day...A rise to a new beginning.

Sean and I would first and foremost like to extend a heartfelt welcome!

Easter brings back the whole “Third Day” of a Challenge Weekend feel. It reminds us of a new dawn, a new day, a sunrise...and quite literally, a new beginning. We are reminded of our baptismal vows, we are reminded of our promises and we are reminded of our commitment to God, and to one another. Whether we gave up the sweet taste of chocolate, the indulgence of meat or the uncertain relationship we may or may not have with the UFC, many of us at the time of resurrection remember not only what Christ gave up for us but also what we gained...a new beginning.
Sean and I couldn’t help but see the many connections that this theme of a new beginning had with Challenge. The unveiling of the new website, with its new look and new logo couldn’t be a better representation of a new beginning that every Challenger can and should feel a part of. A new Service Team, bringing to Challenge new views, new ideas and new topics of discussion should spark a new interest in all of our hearts to get involved, come to Ultreyas and feed our souls with Christ’s love through this community we proudly call the Challenge Movement. And of course, your new Challenger Newsletter Editors, Sean Mangahas and myself.
We are happy to share with you the many articles we have compiled for the upcoming spring 2010 Edition of The Challenger but we also have much more in mind for the rest of the year’s editions. We look forward to sharing with all of you, the experiences of past and present Challengers, the news on current and upcoming events and video clips featuring your very own thoughts and inspirations. We would also like to invite you all to send us any thoughts, poems or experiences that you might like us to feature in the upcoming editions of The Challenger as well as any topics of interest or questions you would like Sean and me to look into and report on. This Newsletter is more than simply reporting on who’s doing what and where. Sean and I view this Newsletter as a means to share your creative writing gifts with the rest of the Challenge community. We strive for this Newsletter to be an instrument we can all use and contribute to as a means to inspire and connect us all to one another, and most of all to Christ.
We sincerely hope that you enjoy the spring 2010 Edition of The Challenger (which is on its way), we would like to thank all those who contributed to it as well as featured in it and we also invite you to send us your feedback at: sj.macz@gmail.com. As you enjoy navigating the new website, viewing the upcoming newsletter and meeting the many new challengers that have been added to the Challenge family, we ask that for each morning that your eyes are opened to a new sunrise, a new day, you remember the “newness” that Christ’s resurrection brings to your life everyday.
God Bless & de colores,
Sean & Liz V.

A Little Inspiration

2010-04-06T16:49:00.000-04:00

Exclusive Interview with this year’s Social Justice Coordinators: Monica and Isabel

2009-06-30T03:19:00.001-04:00

A word from a Team member of the last Challenge Weekend

2009-06-30T03:16:00.000-04:00

The kitchen team was great. Honestly I liked it better than being a candidate. Why? Well there are a few reasons. I guess I have to say that I like to be of service to others and the kitchen is all service. Since it was the first time I was "in on it" (the weekend that is), it was nice to see and understand how much hard work is put into these Challenge weekends and for that I am truly grateful. I like how the people in the kitchen are called Kitchen Team because that really says it all. We work as a team. There is no other way around it. Without the help of the other kitchen helpers and other Challenge teams there would not be such a high level of success. Hmm... What else? Skits were fun. They allow a certain amount of creativity to shine forth to provide a good laugh, and of course those serious underlying themes and morals. Many parts of the weekend were very intense and spiritually rewarding as well. I enjoyed it all!

Don

A word from one of our new Challengers

2009-06-30T03:13:00.000-04:00

No one really tells you what Challenge is about. They tell you there will be talks, games and singing... and that’s about it. Most people will just say “I can’t explain it, you just have to come check it out” or you’ll be talking with someone and they’ll say “yeah, you’ll really like Challenge”. So, you end up going, not knowing the schedule, not knowing what to wear, not knowing what they’ll talk about or if you’ll be good, know, or like any of the songs and games. Maybe it’s in the unexpected that makes you feel so free, maybe it’s in the warm welcome that makes you feel so unafraid... maybe it’s just God’s grace. In the midst of not knowing any of the songs, any of the talks, any of the games, any of the people, you find happiness, you find pain, you find friendships, you find forgiveness... you find yourself. You find that you are not alone and that even if these people hardly know you, they love you for who you are simply because you matter.

The best feeling I took away from Challenge is that I am free to be me. That Jesus loves me for who I am and that all he asks for in return is for me to let him into my life and love him right back. I realized that for the longest time I’ve been standing in front of this door, afraid to answer it. Challenge took my hand, placed it on the doorknob and helped me open it.

“Behold, I am standing at the door knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with Me.” – Revelations 3:20

My name is Liz. I did my challenge in March 2009 and I sat at the Lolita table.

Challenge Coffeehouse Talent Show

2009-06-30T03:10:00.000-04:00

This year’s Challenge Coffeehouse Talent Show was a whopping success! Thank you to everyone who volunteered, performed and attended the event. Special thanks go out to Jessica (and Eric) for organizing this massive event. Through everyone’s hard work and generosity, the Coffeehouse raised more than $900. Time to go to Vegas, folks! Just kidding.

*Special thanks to Karen for the Coffeehouse pictures

What inspires you?

2009-06-30T02:04:00.000-04:00

Challenge Update

2009-06-30T02:03:00.001-04:00

Birthdays

2009-06-30T02:01:00.001-04:00

June
3—Veronica Mullavey, Liz Kattackal, Amanda Daly & Line Argentino
4—Sarah Richard Cormier
5—Paula Casey
6—Terrel Joseph
8—Nancy Pino
10—Jennifer Tena-Russell
11—Marie-Linda Boghdady & Dominic Durocher
14—Julie Mancini
18—Paulina Valdes Manzanedo
20—Shannon Joseph & Elisa Pistilli
21—Jessica Peterkin

July
1—Fr. Stephen
7—Pedro Paparella
9—Egon DeRoth
10—Victoria Bednarczyk & Troy Cunningham
13—Tiziana Bontempo
15—Elizabeth Koessler
16—Jason Mansour
19—Ryan Alemao
21—Austin Del Rio
22—Nadine Furtado
23—Alex Graham
28—Esteban Munoz
29—Linda Buchannan

August
5—Chuck Ormsby
10—Patricia Mansour
11—Isabelle Kapiga
15—Joan Marchand
16—Reginald Dubuisson & David Darwent
19—Eleonora Cau
24—Teddy Kernisant
25—Tim Johnstone
27—Arpad Nagy
30—Jonas Graham

Announcements

2009-06-30T01:58:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Cathy Giuletti and Corey Jolly, who were wed June 13th!

Congratulations to Theresa Mansour and Fred Roumy for their baby boy Josef born June 14th!!

Exclusive Interview with Co-Lay Director Terrel Joseph

2009-03-13T15:06:00.000-04:00

Exclusive Interview with Co-Lay Director Mary-Jane Blais

2009-03-13T13:20:00.000-04:00

Challenge Service Team 2008-2009

2009-03-13T13:14:00.000-04:00

This is your Challenge Service Team for the 2008-2009 year. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, the Service Team is like the "Exec Team" of a company. For the Challenge community, it is called a Service Team because, on top of providing a service, they are ultimately serving God by doing His Will in serving the community. Each person on Service Team has a specific role in keeping the movement running during the year. From left to right and top to bottom, here is each member of the Challenge Service Team and their role:

Mary-Jane Blais: Co-Lay Director

Terrel Joseph: Co-Lay Director

Fr. Stephen Otvos: Spiritual Director

Sr. Susannah Kelly: Assistant Spiritual Director

Tania Matiaszuk: Past Co-Lay Director

Ellie Cau: Secretary/Treasurer

Jennifer Untiveros: Ultreya Coordinator

Chantal Laure-Faneus: Outreach Coordinator

Jessica Pereira: Post-Challenge/Social

Eric Pawluziak: Post-Challenge/Social

Jennifer Richardson: Newsletter Editor

Sean Mangahas: Newsletter Editor

Angelina Mansour: Pre-Challenge

Karim Khouzam: Pre-Challenge

Monica Boulos: Social Justice

Isabel Julian: Social Justice

Stephen Corsi: Music Coordinator

A word from our Spiritual Director

2009-03-13T13:11:00.000-04:00

Hello Challengers,

My Name is Father Stephen Otvos, and I made my Challenge in the spring of 1997 and sat at the “24 Crayon Table.” The last Challenge Weekend I sat at the “Disciples of the Oval-Table Table,” and I was the Spiritual Director of the weekend. As I was introduced to everyone during the invasion mass on Sunday March 8th, it was said that I am the Spiritual Director of the whole Challenge Movement of Montreal. This is correct. The task was given to me by the late Fr Thomas McEntee, of beloved memory, who passed away last year. It is a task that I take with great joy especially since I've been involved with Challenge for many many years.
I have been a priest now for five and half years and was studying for the priesthood when Challenge became part of my life.
My principle task as Spiritual Director is to give guidance to the movement in spiritual and church matters. I do this by making myself available to all Challengers, and to the service team leaders. I ocassionally will provide special masses throughout the year and times for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I am here to help people pray, to offer the sacrament of reconciliation and to help encourage growth in everyone's spiritual life and in holiness.
My full time task as a priest is as Curate (assistant pastor) at St Patrick's Basilica, which is great because we Challengers meet there for our weekly Ultreyas.
I am eager to get to know all of the new Challegers, and am eager to share with all of you the wonders of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here for you,
Your Spiritual Director

Fr. Stephen Otvos

40 Days for Life

2009-03-13T13:08:00.000-04:00

As one of the main events currently happening within the catholic community, 40 Days for Life is a pro-life campaign aimed at bringing awareness to the horrors of abortion. For the 40 days of this Lenten season, this movement has a 12-hour daily prayer vigil across the street from the Morgentaler Abortion Clinic in downtown Montreal. The overall plan of the campaign is based on a three-point program: prayer and fasting, constant vigil and community outreach. 40 Days for Life is an ecumenical Christian effort that is held simultaneously with 124 other cities in North America and Australia.
If you would like to learn more about 40 Days for Life or the abortion issue in general, you can visit their website: http://www.40daysforlife.com/montreal-english/

CHALLENGE UPDATE

2009-03-13T00:22:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday happy birthday, la la la la la la...

2009-03-12T15:40:00.000-04:00

March
Fr. Benoît: March 4th
Shannon Casey & James Carl Edward Snelgrove: March 7th
Gabriella Giancola: March 8th
Jesse Esposito: March 9th
Cheryl Darwent, Dawn Green & Max Metellus: March 14th
Aaron War: March 17th
Shadia Sallit: March 18th
Jen Unti: March 19th
Nica Bouchard: March 25th
Kelly-Lee Bourget: March 26th

April
Karim Khouzam: April 7th
George Pattara: April 10th
Patrick Boghdaddy: April 12th
Marc-André Argentino: April 13th
Mike Gentile & Bob Harkin: April 14th
Don Palmarella: April 19th
Valerie Thomas: April 21st
Carlo Rainua: April 24th
Natalie Fohl: April 26th
Marco Argentino: April 28th

May
Joseph Di Staulo: May 2nd
Alison Bomers: May 6th
Angela Barrett: May 7th
Deirdre Schwartz: May 9th
Roman Gras: May 13th
Rosemary Borrelli: May 17th
Cora Taveras: May 23rd
Kylah Darwent: May 25th
Mary-Jane Blais: May 28th
Marianne Casey & Kayla Janoska: May 29th

Announcements

2009-03-12T15:25:00.000-04:00

Challenge on Ice!!!
Come join the Challenge community for a soirée of ice-skating, merry making and tomfoolery.
Where: The Old Port of Montreal skating rink
When: Saturday March 14th 2009 at 7:30PM
How: $5 to skate and $7 if you need to rent skates
For more information, contact your Challenge social coordinators, Jessica and Eric.

And congratulations to Terry Mansour and Fred Khouzam who are expecting a baby boy in a few months!!!