The world as it could be: a springtime story

Catholic New Times, May 4, 2003 by Brian Joseph

A late winter storm stretching from Ontario to the Atlantic coast almost ended our plans to reach the small village of Whycocomagh in northern Nova Scotia that April evening. We had been given a chance to join in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of L'Arche in Cape Breton and were relieved that the snow and ice held off until we arrived.

The celebrations stretched throughout the weekend with events in the villages of Whycocomagh, Iron Mines, Orangedale and Mabou. This evening's celebration was in two parts. First an ecumenical prayer service of Thanksgiving in a small country Church and then a "Coffee House" at the nearby Cameron Hall.

The ecumenical prayer service began with Jenn Power's welcome and call to prayer. After an opening prayer by Abbie Ingraham calling on those present to continue the pioneering work of the Gunn family, co-founders of L'Arche Cape Breton, Crystal Nicholls read from St. Paul's first letter to the Christians in Corinth, Greece: "C0nsider your own call, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards ... for God chose the weak to shame the strong ..." [1 Corinthians 1:26-31]

The reading from St. Paul was followed by a short reading from Jean Vanier's writings given by Cathy MacMillan. In this reading, Cathy re-presented to us Jean's feelings surrounding the original invitation he gave to his first house guests at TroslyBreuil, Philippe and Raphael. In this reading we could almost sense Vanier's own fear at what he had begun and his deep intuition that this "new form of family" was God's work from which there was no turning back.

After a moving rendition of the Beatitudes as sung by the L'Arche chorus, "Joyful Noise," gifts of Thanksgiving were brought forward by community members and placed on an offertory table. These gifts included candles giving thanks for the guidance and light L'Arche had received presented by Kim Steis-Tasse; a fiddle symbolic of the many good times shared by all in the last 20 years presented by Angus MacInnis; a photo of David MacNeil, a deceased, much beloved, community member representing all those no longer living at L'Arche Cape Breton presented by Bernadette Duffney; and, a smiling group portrait of present L'Arche Cape Breton members presented by Keiko Veda.

Sister Theresa Parker, a member of the Sisters of Saint Martha, reminded the congregation of the war and unrest filling the world. She led prayers from all those present with special intentions. With deep gratitude and joy, Lindsay Quimb gave the closing prayer followed by Joyful Noise's rendition of "You Shall Go Out With Joy." We certainly did.

Let the music begin

Once the last of those gathered for the prayer service had moved to the church hall next door, the second part of the evening's activity began with strong country tea and homemade oatcakes. We had little idea of the wonderful entertainment in store for us!

The L'Arche communities in Cape Breton, like the original L'Arche communities founded by Jean Vanier in France, are clustered together in separate houses located close enough to co-operate in shared work and recreation. Each house has its own name, history and character. And sometimes, as in Cape Breton, there are actually houses in other nearby communities.

Tonight we were introduced to the entertainers by MC's Crystal Nicholls from Saskatchewan and Mary Leblanc from Sydney. It wasn't long before their informal and official welcome made way for the first act of the evening: "The Women of the Deeps," dressed head to toe in miners' garb complete with hard hat lanterns lit by happy-face flashlights. Their leader, 'Rita MacNell'--that famous chanteuse of the working man--seemed to have acquired new rectangular: body angles and some very untraditional gyrations on the dance floor as she performed her classic hit "It's A Working Man I Am".

"These reminders of hard times in the Cape Breton coal mines and of fierce labour battles waged against often brutal absentee owners from Britain and the United States were left far behind in the next act. In the best traditions of an old fashioned Church hall variety show, we were treated to the romantic sounds of two young lovers in Springtime. Els from France and Kim from Quebec were accompanied on guitar by Christian from Germany as they sang the praises of young love in Springtime. Mario Lanza eat your heart out! French-German relations never looked or sounded so amicable.

European rapprochement continued with a flourish of flamenco as Mike from Britain and John from Germany thrilled the friends of L'Arche with their original piece titled "Hesitate." The irresistible rhythms of this Spanish style composition were first noticed and responded to by the smallest members of the audience, the wee children who began to clap and sway while sitting on their parents' laps.

The village of Whycocomagh lies at the intersection of many different cultural zones. And no one who has seen Acadian music and dance performed live could doubt that "Acadie", would field a worthy musical representative. Angela Cormier and Kim Steis-Tasse offered us a beautiful medley of Acadian songs.