Bishop Moses Costa, CSC, of Bangladesh Visits Canada

Bishop Moses Costa, CSC, assisted by Father Victor Boiragi of Bangladesh, offering Mass at St. Dunstan's Catholic Church in Toronto

Bishop Costa speaking to the Mass attendees at St. Dunstan's, while Father Boiragi looks on

Photos (Toronto: July 28, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Bishop Moses Costa, CSC, of the Diocese of Chittagong, Bangladesh, visited Canada recently. Among his other engagements, were his meetings with Bangladeshi Catholics in Montreal, Toronto and Mississauga of Ontario.

In Toronto, he offered a Mass on Saturday, July 28, in Bengali language for about 60 Catholics at St. Dunstan’s Church in Toronto.  Next day, he went to Mississauga before leaving Canada.

Bishop Costa of the Diocese of Dinajpur was transferred to the Diocese of Chittagong in 2011, after Bishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC, the incumbent bishop of the diocese, was nominated the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka. Bishop Costa had served the Diocese of Dinajpur for 15  years.

The Quotation of the Week (July 24-30, 2011)

Some car lights from a distance, in Montreal

Photo (Montreal: October 31, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (April 24 - 30, 2011)

Specks of light


Photo (Montreal: Oct. 31, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (January 30 - February 5, 2011)

A mime entertaining passengers of subway trains
in a station in Montreal, Canada

Photo (Montreal: October 30, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (January 2-8, 2011)

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A bronze statue of Saint Margaret Bourgeoys
in a subway station in Montreal, Canada

Photo (Montreal: October 30, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

Solemn Thanksgiving Mass in Montreal In Honour of St. Andre Bessette, CSC

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In honour of Brother Andre Bessette, CSC, who was officially canonized in Rome on October 17, a special thanksgiving and jubilation Mass was held on October 30 at the Olympic Stadium of Montreal, Canada. The main celebrant was Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte (Archbishop of Montreal) and his co-celebrants were Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana (Apostolic Nuncio to Canada), 58 Canadian Bishops and about 100 priests.

Among the government dignitaries present were Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Quebec's Lieutenant Governor Pierre Duchesne, and Quebec's Premier Jean Charest. Among about 45,000 attendees were also present a strong contingent of priests, Brothers and Sisters of the Congregation of Holy Cross in which Brother Andre also belonged. Thirty relatives and kins of Brother Andre were an added attraction.

The two-hour ceremony was mostly conducted in French. In his homily, Cardinal Turcotte said: "Brother Andre was a man of attentiveness and compassion. He left it up to all those who were unhappy -- rich or poor -- to approach him. Very often, he went to those who could not come to him. Almost every day, in his office, for hours and hours, he lent his ear. He made himself attentive to those who confided in him their misfortunes, their sufferings, their illnesses, their disappointments, their failures, their unhappiness... After listening, he comforted them. He called them to courage and hope. He exhorted them to trust in God. He prayed a lot for those who spoke to him. He prayed to God. He prayed to Mary. With fervour, he prayed to St. Joseph, he prayed before Christ on the Cross."

Cardinal Turcotte further added: "Brother Andre was convinced that God could use him to accomplish wonderful things. For many decades, people came to him as a worker of wonders. It never went to his head. In fact, he often said, 'The world is silly if it thinks that Brother Andre is doing miracles. It is the good God who does the miracles. Saint Joseph obtains them.' And, following Saint Paul, he said, in reference to God, 'An artist makes the most beautiful paintings with the smallest of brushes.'"

Finally, Cardinal Turcotte commented: "This is not a small Saint that has been canonized, but a great, great one. This great saint -- Brother Andre -- is from our home. Among our parents and grandparents, or among the friends of our parents and grandparents, many knew him. He lived close to us on Mount Royal and said, 'When I die, I'll be much closer to the good God than I am now, I will have much more power to help you.'"

On his way to the Olypmic Stadium before the Mass, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, for the first time, visited St. Joseph's Oratory for half-an-hour. Father Claude Grou, CSC, the rector of the Oratory, accompanied the prime minister in his visit to Brother Andre's original small wooden chapel, the main basilica, the tomb of Brother Andre, the relic containing the heart of Brother Andre, and the votive chapel having hundreds of lighted candles.

The Bangladesh Delegation

The Bangladesh Holy Cross delegation came to Montreal after attending Brother Andre's canonization ceremony in Rome. This delegation comprised of Bishop Patrick D'Rozario of Chittagong, Brother Binoy Gomes (Provincial of the Brothers of Holy Cross), Brother Jarlath D'Souza, Brother Nicholas Thielman, Brother Rodney Struble, Brother Robi Purification, Brother Placid Prodip Gomes, Brother Sylvester Mridha, and Brother Hamlet Francis Gosal.

Several dozen Bangladeshi Catholics from Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa also attended the ceremony in the Montreal stadium.

Before the Mass, the procession of bishops and priests toward the
main altar in the Olympic Stadium

A view of the participants of the Mass

Another part of the procession

The main altar where the Mass is being celebrated

A section of the participants in the stadium

Another section of the participants

Some other concelebrating priests among the participants

More participants!

Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, the main celebrant of the Mass

Some members of the Bangladesh Holy Cross delegation and
some Bangladeshi Catholics from Toronto can be seen
in this section of the crowd

Some other members of the Congregation of Holy Cross
among the participants

Waving white linen participants express their solidarity

Members of a family waving their white linens

The crowd leaving the stadium after the ceremony
Photos (Montreal Olympic Stadium: October 30, 2010)
© Jerome D'Costa and Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Brother Andre, CSC: The Little Man from Montreal Is Set for Canonization in October

Brother Andre Bessette, CSC,
of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Montreal, Canada

Photo courtesy: www.cbc.ca/

Pope Benedict XVI formally announced in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican on February 19, that Brother Andre, CSC -- less than five feet tall in stature -- of Montreal, along with five others, will be raised to the sainthood in coming October. The formal canonization ceremony will take place in the Vatican on October 17, 2010, reports CNA.

The five other candidates are: Mother Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Australia; Father Stanislaw Soltys, a 15th century priest of Poland; Sister Giulia Salzano and Sister Battista Varano of Italy; and Sister Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola of Spain. Representatives from these countries were present in the Consistory Hall at the time of the official announcement.

Jubilant Canada

Canadians received the announcement of the canonization with jubilation. Montreal's archbishop Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte at a press conference at St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal said that the Vatican announcement was "the best thing that could have happened this year for the Church in Montreal." He also said: "I have always been impressed by this man [Brother Andre], both a humble man and a visionary, a man of deep faith. An example of determination, still relevant today in 2010."

Father Jean-Pierre Aumont, CSC, Provincial of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Canada, called the announcement a "wonderful gift." He further said: "For the Religious of Holy Cross, it represents more than ever a source of inspiration, a model of faith and trust in God and in the human condition. He shows us how to envision great things and how to look toward the future!"

Bishop Pierre Morissette of Saint-Jerome in his capacity as the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) said that the bishops of Canada welcomed the Vatican announcement. On the saint-to-be he said: "Brother Andre lived his life with great humility. Guided by a deep faith and devotion to Saint Joseph, he dedicated his life to praying, serving the poor, welcoming strangers, healing the sick and comforting the suffering. To this day, his memory remains an important witness to all Canadians of faith and love."

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is a Protestant, in his statement on the same day said: "Brother Andre's life shows us the power of faith and the importance of concern for the sick and others in need. In this solemn act, the Roman Catholic Church is honoring a Canadian who achieved greatness through humility, determination and service to others." He further stated: "Brother Andre's devotion to St. Joseph, the patron saint of Canada, led to the building of the magnificent Oratory on Mount Royal. Today's news heightens the inspiration we feel on seeing that religious landmark, a symbol and center of faith in Montreal and all of Canada."

His Humblest Life

Brother Andre, CSC, was born on August 9, 1845, in Saint-Gregoire d'Iberville, 40 kilometres (25 miles) to the east of Montreal, Canada. His birth-name was Alfred Bessette (after he become a Brother, he was given a new name "Andre"). He was one of the 12 children in a poor family. When he was nine years old, his lumberjack (woodcutter) father was killed by a falling tree. Three years later, his mother died from tuberculosis. After the parents' death, his siblings were divided up among relatives. His family situation prevented him from being a literate. He had difficulties in reading and writing.

From very young age he had to work for six years as a farm labour, shoe-repairer, baker and blacksmith in the province of Quebec, Canada. Then he went to neighbouring New England State in the USA where he worked for four years in textile mills and agricultural farms.

On his return to Canada in 1867, he, barely literate and with frail health, expressed his willingness to join a religious Order. His local parish priest, who knew him well, sent him to the nearby Holy Cross Brothers assuring its superior that "I am sending you a saint." His forecast has come to be true with the recent announcement at the Vatican.

The superior placed the 25-year-old novice at College Notre-Dame, a high school for boys near Mount Royal in Montreal, as a porter (doorman). Even after being a Brother, he remained in this same post -- for a total of 40 years.

School boys, their parents and other visitors became attracted to him due to his unusual humility, prayerfulness and cheerful spirit. They used to request him to pray for their problems and sicknesses. Many of them attributed their healing to him, but with his usual humility, he would say that it was his prayers to St. Joseph that the healing occurred.

His extraordinary devotion to St. Joseph inspired him to build a church in his honour. With small amounts of money, received mostly as donations, he built a small church in 1904. Due to ever increasing number of devotees and pilgrims, Brother Andre set to build a large church which got built gradually in stages. Ultimately it was completed in 1966, about 30 years after his death on January 6, 1937. This impressive church -- now a minor basilica -- on Mount Royal, overlooks the city of Montreal. It is interesting to note that when Brother Andre proposed to build a bigger church, many of his confreres laughed at him because such a gigantic idea was coming from a mere door-keeping Brother, who was almost an illiterate!

The process of canonization of Brother Andre, CSC, started in the 1940s. In 1978, he was declared a "Venerable." In 1982, he was declared a "Blessed."

The statement of Father David Tyson, CSC, the Provincial Superior of the Indiana Province of Holy Cross, published in the South Bend Tribune, aptly summarizes the life of Brother Andre: "We are honored and moved beyond words at Brother Andre's formal recognition as a saint. Not only because this immensely humble man is the Congregation's first recognized saint, but because he is such an ordinary example for every Catholic of every age. Not for him the trappings of power and status, of money and prestige; he simply did everything and anything that was needed, from cleaning the floors to fixing shoes, from doing students' laundry to cutting hair. What an example of prayer in action, of active service to others as the most eloquent and powerful prayer for all!"

Brother Andre: A Member of the Congregation of Holy Cross

Brother Andre, CSC, the newly minted saint, belonged to the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Religious Order of Catholic priests and Brothers. This congregation has its missionaries in over a dozen countries, including Bangladesh, on five continents. Father Basil Moreau, CSC (1799-1873) founded the congregation at Sainte-Croix (Holy Cross) village near Le Mans, France. Father Moreau himself has been beatified in the Vatican on September 15, 2007.