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Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy Acquires New Building |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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On June 30th, the former Health Unit building in Barry’s Bay became the property of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy. Many residents of Barry’s Bay will remember this new building, located right behind the Academy’s main facility, as their elementary school, St. Mary’s. It has now “been promoted” to serve the needs of students in higher, post-secondary education. On July 1st, with faculty, staff, and parishioners present, Fr. Chris Shalla of St. Hedwig Church held a special ceremony to bless the new premises.
The building’s area measures approximately 5,000 square feet and will house much-needed lecture space, the computer lab, library, and some administrative offices. Also, it will be the centre for the music program, headed by Maestro Uwe Lieflander of Ottawa’s Sacred Music Society. It will be linked to the main building by a gravel pathway.
In addition, the Academy’s main building, the former St. Joseph’s Convent, is undergoing renovations – a new reading-room is under construction, and a more spacious student lounge is planned. Recently, the grounds were re-worked to address a flooding problem.
Also, in sight of the school, on Stafford Street, a new student residence is under construction. At nearly 3,000 square feet of space, the house will be comfortable and pleasant, in view of the bay, with open green space right across the street.
As the Academy expands, the school administration wishes to thank the Township of Madawaska Valley, the merchants, and the people of Barry’s Bay for their on-going encouragement, support, and services.
Donations to help support our expansion project can be made through our website, by clicking on “Contribute” in the main menu; or by cheque to: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, 18 Karol Wojtyla Square, P.O. Box 249, Barry’s Bay, ON K0J 1B0. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, contact: 756-3082.
gall bladder surgery
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Spring Graduation Ceremony is a Celebration of Hope and Thanksgiving |
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Written by Elizabeth O'Brien
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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
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 Close to three hundred students, alumni, family, and friends of the Academy packed St. Hedwig’s Parish this Saturday, May 3rd, to celebrate the closing of the 2007-2008 school year at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy. Over the course of the afternoon, event speakers referred to the many great challenges that the school has endured throughout the past year, yet the entire community radiated a sense of unity, joy, and gratitude for God’s many blessings upon them, most especially the return of our President, Dr. David Warner.
 Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast was the main celebrant at the mass, which was accompanied by the Academy choir directed by Maestro Uwe Liefländer.
Directly afterwards, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jean-Paul Patenaude, presided over the inauguration ceremony of Dr. David Warner as the Academy’s new President.
The following graduation ceremonies were dedicated to the memory of the late Paul Sanders and Janine Lieu, who were awarded honorary Basic Certificates in Christian Humanities. A Pro-Life scholarship in memory of Paul Sanders was awarded to first-year student Cassie Farrell, and first-year student Kelly Sanders received the $2,000 Divine Infant of Prague Scholarship for the highest average of a first-year student proceeding into second year.
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President Dr. Warner congratulating Kelly Sanders of Manitoba, receipient of the Divine Infant of Prague Scholarship.
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Vice President Dr. Christine Schintgen
presenting Sean VanBakel with his
Basic Certificate of Christian Humanities.
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During afternoon’s events, politicians representing all three levels of government expressed their warm support for the Academy and their confident hope in its future.  The Honorable Mrs. Cheryl Gallant, MP, addressed the gathering, saying, “You will be making a difference.” Local MPP John Yakabuski also underlined how the Academy is a testimony to faith, determination and commitment. Finally, Barry’s Bay Mayor John Hildebrandt voiced the local community’s support for the Academy and encouraged students to go out and spread the good news that they are learning.
Addressing students and staff in his keynote address, Archbishop Prendergast touched on the tragedies of the past year, saying, “You have lived the Paschal mystery in a particularly powerful way…” The Archbishop went on to describe his own experiences as a student and later as a teacher during the tumultuous times of moral confusion that began in the 1960s. The Archbishop further described a future pastoral letter in which he plans to remind the Catholic faithful of the importance of Church teaching on human sexuality. Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae, this letter would challenge Catholics to embrace the truth of Catholic teaching surrounding sexuality and the dignity of the human person. The Archbishop concluded by underlining the great privilege enjoyed by Academy students who are able to study the truth of Church teaching. Recalling the words of Pope Benedict the XVI, he emphasized the unity of the truth and its continuity with the past. He urged them to commit to learning the wisdom of the past and to tackle the challenging task of “passionately and articulately” sharing this truth with the world.
 The graduating valedictorian was Nikolaas Zylstra, the Academy’s hard-working Residence Assistant from Brampton. Over the past three years, he could be found studying furiously, helping out his fellow-students, driving the Academy van on school trips, or raising smoke on the volley-ball court and hockey rink. Basing the theme of his speech upon the school’s motto, Veritas Vos Liberabit, he stated, “We now have a great responsibility that the truth places upon us…We must witness to the world so that the truth that has set us free may, likewise, set others free.” He noted the Academy’s remarkable ability to deal with the recent tragic deaths of Paul and Janine. He attributed this recovery to the fact that as Catholics, the community possesses the truth—the assurance of hope in the resurrection—that has freed them from despair, thereby allowing them to come to grips more easily with such a devastating blow.
Mr. Zylstra also testified to his own well-rounded experience during the past three years, primarily through the intellectual life, but also through daily interaction with staff and students, the routine manual chores that are an intrinsic part of the Academy experience, the personal relationships built up between professors and students during communal meals, and the outdoor sports that students play all year long. Pointing out how the Academy life especially encourages prayer and frequent use of the sacraments, he emphasized that there is “no point in knowledge without Christ.” Click here for the complete valedictorian address.
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Congratulations to our third-year graduates: Matt Gunnarson, Scott Murray
Nik Zylstra, Anthony Burchat, Leslea Cranmer-Byng, Melissa Riese, Rebecca
Mombourquette, Heather MacIntyre, Mary Sawchuk, Lindsay Gallagher |
 The Academy’s recently returned president, Dr. David Warner, concluded the official ceremonies with words of hope and great encouragement. Shortly after weathering the crisis of the two student deaths, the school was struck again when Dr. Warner was diagnosed with multiple-myeloma, a cancerous disorder of the plasma cells. As a consequence, he had to undergo intensive medical treatment that required his absence in the United States for nearly two months. Roaring applause filled the hall, however, as students, faculty members, staff and friends welcomed him back. He thanked the community for their prayers, speaking of the past seven weeks as a “blessed time of healing,” and enthusiastically congratulated the graduating students.
 Academy students are heading many separate ways this spring. They are diving into summer jobs, preparing for new careers, and looking towards further studies in the fall. Some are returning to the Academy while others have been accepted into various universities and colleges throughout North America. Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy congratulates them for all their hard work over the past year, thanks them for holding together as a community during the difficulties of the recent winter months, and wishes them the very best in their future paths.
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From Cross to Cross this Catholic College is Living Out the Way of Christ |
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Written by John-Henry Westen
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Friday, 11 April 2008 |
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anemia levels
 It seems almost like heaven has descended and the angels are in full voice as the Mass which precedes the Gala dinner for Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy commences. The sounds of polyphony reminiscent of Palestrina come courtesy of the Academy Schola choir, under the direction of Maestro Uwe Liefländer - the founder of Canada's Sacred Music Society and the director of the World Youth Day Choir. "I haven't heard music like that since the 50's," murmurs a deacon in awed reverence as he takes his leave.
 After the Mass celebrated by Pembroke Bishop Michael Mulhall, the Germania Hall hosts over 200 enthusiastic guests to hors d'oeuvres and wine followed by a scrumptious meal. Milling about the room are politicians, judges, professors, proud parents and students, friends and benefactors of the Academy, prospective parents and highschool principals. The joy of the music at the Mass and the reverence of the students who participated spreads into conversations over dinner.
But there is another joy about the hall. A joy of true fellowship; of kindred spirits. Talking in friendship without agendas, in brotherly love without vulgarity, jovial and with great peace.
But don't let the opulence fool you. This wonderful event occurs near the end of an academic year that held two of the most severe crises faced by the Academy during its eight years of existence.
The small but extraordinary Catholic college in Eastern Ontario, renowned for its faithful adherence to truth, shocked the Catholic community in Canada with the deaths of two students in a tragic accident only two months ago. Now it is facing another major cross.
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, the only Canadian Catholic college on the Cardinal Newman Society list of the most faithful North American Catholic colleges, has recently welcomed its new President, Dr. David Warner. And now, he has been diagnosed with cancer.
The news came only weeks ago when Dr. Warner slipped and fell on the ice, but sustained three broken ribs. An initial analysis found cancer throughout his bones. Normally such diagnoses mean weeks and months to live rather than years, and so the news hit the community very hard. After all, Dr. Warner had only just arrived at the Academy and within his first few days was forced to deal with the ramifications of the gravest tragedy that the institution had experienced - the sudden deaths of Janine Lieu and Paul Sanders.
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Dr. David Warner with Christendom College President
Dr. Timothy O'Donnell during a visit to Christendom this January.
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He came through that ‘trial by fire’ with flying colors - calming the students and staff, directing media and legalities with a presence which instilled confidence and security. He showed great concern and love with a friendly charm and humility. For two nights during the aftermath he slept in his office by the phone in order to take emergency calls.
Just as the Academy, under his direction, began to return to normalcy, his own tragedy struck. But the bad news was quickly tempered with the finding that the illness is non-infectious Multiple Myeloma, rather than some sort of secondary bone cancer. Myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow blood plasma cells that is treatable at this point, thus permitting a prognosis of many years to live rather than a few months only. Dr. Warner plans to return to the Academy in time to close on their new home they purchased, and oversee Graduation on May 3. During April he is in Virginia receiving urgent, one-time radiological, chemical, and surgical treatments. Remaining therapies (without hair loss) will take place in Canada.
Addressing the guests at the fundraising banquet in lieu of Dr. Warner was famous Catholic novelist - Michael D. O'Brien.
 O'Brien explained the origins of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy as "a small, hopeless, mad venture" where parents concerned for the Catholic upbringing of their children saw clearly the "woeful" state of Catholic higher education in the nation and felt they had no choice but to embark on the impossible.
We began, he said, "on our knees", adding that God likes to bring forth new fruit in impossible places as "flowers in the desert" and "water from rocks" (Biblical references). O'Brien related that from its beginnings the charity that has enabled the Academy to grow from an impossible dream into a shimmering reality that is recognized throughout the continent for its faithfulness, was crowned with sacrifice. "The characteristic gift was sacrifice on every level of its life," he said.
Such is evidently true of the professors and staff of the Academy who pour their souls into the work without the normal financial inducements. Dr. Warner accepted his newfound condition with equanimity telling O'Brien over the phone, "We are going to the cross and that can only be fruitful for souls."
 "Suffering," said O'Brien, "puts us in union with The Vine", and thus it is on the cross where we will be most successful. The dream of those parents nearly a decade ago to provide for young Catholic men and women a place where they could "breathe" the true faith without compromise, is now being lived out at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy. But it has come and continues to come at a great cost.
In his keynote address, Bishop Mulhall also addressed suffering. "You can never go wrong," he said in his concluding remarks, "by suffering for young people who desire the truth."
Sacrifice will be key for years to come as the growing Academy is in need of hundreds of thousands of dollars to continue development goals such as academic accreditation, proper wages for professors, and extra buildings for classrooms and student residences.
Academy alumna, Elizabeth O'Brien, now in a Masters program at the University of Ottawa, gave a final address to the crowd just before Maestro Lieflander and his schola began the evening entertainment. In her address, Miss O'Brien, a former writer for LifeSiteNews.com, recalled fondly the yearly winter excursions of the Academy students to the shrine of the Canadian Martyrs in Midland Ontario. There, she said, she joined her fellow students and professors "kneeling in the snow drifts" at the site of the brutal martyrdom of Sts. Jean de Brebeuf and Gabriel Lalemant, who with great suffering first brought the Christian faith to North America.
 Miss O'Brien described her recent missionary excursion to Honduras where she worked with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal ministering to those living in extreme poverty in the mountains. She noted that her strong formation in the faith assisted her immensely in spreading the Gospel among the poor.
"Even without knowing it," she said of the Academy, "they are making Catholic missionaries of the students."
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Academic Dean Search Underway |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
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After eight years in Academy administration, including five and a half as Academic Dean, Scott Nicholson has decided to leave administration to dedicate more time to his growing family (he and his wife Erin are expecting their fourth child), to teaching, and to the development of the spiritual and intellectual aspects of his life.
He observed that: “While I am very pleased with the development of the academic program, success has caused the Academy to tax my own abilities. I look forward to a successor who will bring new background, insights, abilities, and experience to the position.” Prof. Nicholson will be available in the 2008-2009 academic year to assist the incoming Dean, but hopes to shift completely out of administration and formally commence doctoral studies by 2009-2010.
For the full text of the Position Opening for Academic Dean, click here:
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A Winter Pilgrimage of Grace |
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Written by John Paul Meenan
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Wednesday, 19 March 2008 |
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 Every year now for nine years, on March 16th, beginning in the first year of the Academy in the Jubilee year 2000, we have made the pilgrimage to follow in the footsteps of two great martyrs of our country, Saints Jean de Brebeuf and Gabriel Lalemant, who were captured and martyred on that day in 1649 near Midland, Ontario. We visit the site where the two martyrs were captured (St. Louis) and the site where they were cruelly put to death (St. Ignace). At the latter spot, there is also an altar, where every year on March 16th we have offered Mass (this year was an exception, due to it being Passion Sunday; we went to Mass at our own parish of Saint Hedwig's in the morning, and said Vespers at the site instead).
Now, for those of you from Ontario, you may ask, why go to the shrine in these blustery days of March, when the shrine is not even open, and the snow still deep? I’ve often pondered that question myself as I trudge through three feet of the white stuff with a group of students at my back. The answer returns to me with a forceful tug at my conscience, for by going on the actual day of the martyrdom, we are able to experience a faint image of what these two Jesuit martyrs went through, as well as pray to them on the day of their entrance into heaven. Allow me to briefly explain: |
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The Sisters of Life visit OLSWA |
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Written by Kelly Sanders
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Thursday, 13 March 2008 |
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On February 15 and 16, 2008, OLSWA and St. Hedwig’s parish were privileged to host three Sisters of Life. Students Janine Lieu and Ana Pugh provided the inspiration to invite these vibrant Sisters, who are newly arrived in Toronto, at the request of Archbishop Collins, to discern a mission to serve the people of Toronto and Canada.
 On Friday evening, Sister Mary Clare, Sister Antoniana Maria, and Sister Monica Faustina came with a message of encouragement for our young people, who are discerning God’s plan for them as young men and women of faith.
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July 2008 |
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Visitors: 911810
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Shane Westin, a three-year program graduate who recently finished his fourth year at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, shares with us his OLSWA experience.
