On Thursday, November 27th, approximately three hundred friends, supporters and members of the Academy gathered together in the John Paul Yakabuski Arena to celebrate American Thanksgiving. The tradition of holding an Academy celebration on this date was started by the Ferrant family five years ago.  The festivities honour all of our southern students, staff and friends, but most importantly, the event is a way for the Academy and the local community to come together for a time of thanksgiving and fellowship.  This year Dr. David Warner opened the evening by addressing the crowd, and a letter from the Barry’s Bay Mayor, John Hildebrandt, was read. The mayor regretted being unable to attend and spoke warmly of the relationship between the Academy and the community.

Our beloved American students

Afterwards, the American students sang "America the Beautiful" and a resounding round of the American National Anthem. Finally, everyone settled in to enjoy a delicious home-cooked feast of Turkey and pie. After the dinner, students Jenna Henry and Kathleen Molto led the crowd in traditional, folk ceilidh-dancing which lasted until late in the evening.

The Academy would like to thank all the volunteers who made the event a great success. Great thanks to Kathleen Molto, Jenna Henry and Mike Hayden for helping with the music and dancing, to Maja Polic, Maria Reilander and Maria Henry for coordinating , to the Platt family, to Lois Losole for organizing the food preparation, to Wendy Zakrzewski and Anne Bonnah, and especially to the Ferrant family—the event’s generous founders and benefactors. Thank you also to everyone who threw in a generous hand for dishes and hall clean-up afterwards.

See below for more photos.

On October 19th the Academy made its annual pilgrimage from Barry’s Bay to the shrine of St. Mary’s Church in Wilno.

Enjoying the glowing autumn colors, the walkers sang hymns and prayed the rosary during the three-hour walk along a former railway track that winds between the two villages.

After a final steep climb, the pilgrims were able to enjoy a sweeping view of the surrounding farms and lakes before concluding with prayer before an image of the Divine Mercy inside the church.

Afterwards, the hungry walkers feasted at the Zakrzewski home on steaming Polish stew, mashed potatoes, fresh bread, and homemade pie. Finally, in the evening, they gathered around a bonfire, where people savoured spiced cider and enjoyed  one another's company. The sense of being united in purpose and prayer, the glorious sunlight, the merry company,and the delicious food combined to produce an event that was truly blessed with many joys and graces.  Many thanks to the Zakrzewski family for their generous hospitality!

On Sunday, September 21st, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy hosted an open house for the local community.  Students, faculty, and staff greeted the visitors who were invited to tour OLSWA’s two main buildings:  St. Joseph Hall, the former convent that has been OLSWA’s main building since the year 2000, and St. Mary Hall, a former elementary school building which stands next-door and which was acquired by OLSWA this past summer with support from the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation.  The main reception, library, computer lab, music room, and a few classrooms are located in St. Mary’s, while St. Joseph Hall continues to house faculty offices, classrooms, and now a new study room as well as additional lounge space.  The basement now features a student lounge and St. Clare’s Cafe.

On this sunny and cheery day, visitors were entertained by some of the Academy’s talented students.  Jazz piano and old-time fiddling entertained over 200 new and old friends who came from around the community and as far as two hours away. 

Entertainers Elizabeth O'Brien and Elliott and Ben-David Warner

Guests were also treated to hotdogs and ice cream, baked goods, and there were even games and face-painting for the children.

Thank you to all who stopped by!  It was great to see you!

On Monday, August 25th, Bishop Michael Mulhall officially opened the Academy’s ninth academic year.   The mass was followed by a special celebration dinner and address by Academy president Dr. David Warner.

During the mass Bishop Mulhall directed his homily to the staff and students as he spoke about the sense of hope which a new school year brings. He referred to the sight of fresh faces and the embarking upon new studies as part of a continuing rhythm of life. He spoke about the “exhilaration of the first days” when we have a “goal before us appealing to something noble within us.” Especially within the context of faith, he said, the studies teach students what is important in life. Referring to the holy temple of the Old Testament, he said, “It’s not the gold that’s important. It’s the sacredness of the place that makes the gold important.” In this way, he indicated that the studies are important because of their eternal significance as they help people live a more fully human life. In this way, a liberal arts education becomes a tool to realize what’s important and what’s not important in life. He stated, “It’s a gift that never goes away.”

Directly after the homily, sixteen faculty and adjunct faculty members of the Academy teaching staff knelt before the bishop at the front of St. Hedwig’s Church. They made a Profession of Faith and swore an Oath of Fidelity, pledging to faithfully uphold and promote the teachings of the Catholic Church through their example and work as professors.

Faculty making Oath of Fidelity

New students enjoying a pizza lunch on the lawn in front of the new St. Mary Hall.