D & P presents mining initiative to student association

Catholic New Times, Nov 26, 2006 by Sheila M. Dabu

TORONTO -- "The windows are opening this way," says Alia Mahabir, gingerly cutting the outlines of two windows and a door on neon pink bristol board.

Mahabir, along with about 40 representatives of Ontario Catholic chaplaincies from Waterloo, Kingston, Sudbury, Ottawa and Toronto, was participating in an interactive workshop for the Canadian Catholic Students Association regional conference in Toronto Oct. 13-15. The conference theme was "Come Build the City of God."

Lori Ryan, coordinator for youth programs at Development and Peace, the Catholic Church's social justice and development arm, gave the keynote address. Her presentation focused on her organization's current campaign targeting Canadian mining companies. She believes this is part of putting her "Catholic faith into action."

According to Ryan, in Tambogrande, Peru Development and Peace became involved with the local community's campaign against the Canadian mining company, Manhattan Minerals. The company disregarded the results of a local referendum rejecting the company's project of building a mine in the middle of their community.

"This year, we are launching a mining campaign to ensure that Canadian companies are engaging in equitable work with our sisters and brothers in Latin America," she said.

Mark McGowan, principal of the University of St. Michael's College at U of T, said during his address on Saturday that the meaning of "church" has expanded beyond being merely a physical space.

"If you asked this question to someone 10 years ago, he or she would say it's a building, priests, the pope, and bishops. But 10 years later, it's right to denote it as the people of God," McGowan said.

He also alluded to Catholic social teachings on economic and social justice.

McGowan ended his speech by referring to a quote from Jean Vanier, the founder of L'Arche, a community for physically and mentally challenged individuals: "People in our world find hope when they find credible witnesses."

Another presentation was by Kim Gottfried, co-chaplain at Ryerson University in Toronto, who, with her staff, organized a discussion about the pope's speech in Germany, which garnered much Muslim response. Gottfried said the controversy surrounding Pope Benedict's comments on Islam was a catalyst for inter-faith dialogue with Muslim students on campus.

"We felt the need to address that because a lot of students had questions," said Gottfried. "Based on Vatican II, the Roman Catholic position is that we respect and hold in high esteem the basic tenets of the Muslim faith and every thing that is true and good and wise in it."

The Ryerson chaplaincy initiated efforts with the Muslim students' group at Ryerson by "extending greetings for Ramadan," added Gottfried.

Among the activities of the weekend, students carved out their own interpretations of the conference theme, "Come Build the City of God," on the bristol board. Mahabir's group constructed a house, complete with a chimney and doors emblazoned with the words human dignity, justice, and community. Another group "rebuilt" the World Trade Center twin towers. A third group labelled George W. Bush as "an obstacle to building the city of God."

Mahabir can relate well to the event's focus since the Catholic chaplaincy at Carleton University in Ottawa is in the midst of a re-building phase, having restarted its work a year and a half ago.

Catholic students do not have a church or building designated for faith-related activities at Carleton. For Mass, students gather in a small prayer room during weekdays and in a classroom each Sunday.

For Mahabir, building the city of God means "being open to what's happening around you ... being accepting of others, taking a stand against issues that you think are wrong."

As for the lack of a physical church on campus, Mahabir said it is a challenge but it is also "an opportunity to grow in our faith."

"Sometimes we feel vaguely oppressed, pushed down in the Tory offices in that tiny tunnel," Michael Beaupre, 19, another student delegate from Carleton, said with a laugh.

Beaupre, a second-year math major, said he is thinking of becoming a priest. Although some members of his family and friends "don't understand the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty," Beaupre said that would not deter his consideration of the priesthood as his "calling."

He said he is open to being a missionary "wherever I'm called, wherever the need is greatest."

Sheila M. Dabu attended the conference as part of the student delegation from Carleton University, Ottawa.