POSITION OPENING

Position: Director of Development & Communications

Institution: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy

Location: Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada

Reports to: President

Supervises: Development Office employees and volunteers

Liaises with: All Academy departments, especially the President’s Cabinet, Admissions, and the Board’s Finance and Development Committees, as well as subcontractors and consultants.

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

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.

President Dr. Warner congratulating Kelly Sanders of Manitoba, receipient of the Divine Infant of Prague Scholarship.		Vice President Dr. Christine Schintgen presenting Sean VanBakel with his Basic Certificate of Christian Humanities.

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.
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.

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

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.

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 Brébeuf 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: 

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.

By Christine Schintgen
Interim Vice-President

When tragedy struck our academic community in early February, we were thankful to have in place our newly-arrived, first full-time President, in time to lead us during this difficult trial. Guiding us as a shepherd, a scholar, and a spokesman, Dr. David Brian Warner inspired Christian hope and a community spirit while managing a crisis that has brought out the best in all of us.

Dr. Warner had impressed the presidential search committee with his substantial experience in academic administration and leadership. During his on-campus interviews in November, he made a positive impression on the board members, staff, instructors, and students.  Cardinal Newman’s motto, cor ad cor loquitur (“heart speaketh unto heart”), is one that Dr. Warner has adopted as his own, resulting in an ability to connect with others in a personal way. He and his family are excited to be joining the Academy team—and we are certainly delighted to welcome him on board.

With a doctorate in Theology and Religious Studies (Ph.D., 2001) from Maryvale Institute, England, in collaboration with Greyfriars, University of Oxford, Dr. Warner is a specialist in the theology of education. The title of his doctoral thesis suggests a good fit for our post-secondary academy:  John Henry Newman’s Idea of a Catholic Academy: Contributions from his Life and Work Towards a Theology of Education, with Reference to Recent Documents of the Catholic Church.

A former ordained Protestant minister, Dr. Warner and his family returned to the Catholic Church in 1988 while he was completing a second Bachelor’s degree (Theology, 1987) and the M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry (1991) at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.  While teaching Theology, History, and Education courses for Franciscan University (1990-95), he became an Assistant Professor and Director of Administration for their Austrian Semester Abroad Program.  Having held the rank of Associate Professor since 2001, Warner will continue to teach part-time as an integral element of his presidential duties.

An experienced academic administrator and teacher since 1979, Dr. Warner has lectured in nine states and eight countries, while teaching for ten higher education institutes including visiting or adjunct professorships on the faculties of: Mary Immaculate College (Ireland), Maryvale Institute (England), the University of Sacramento (California) and the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary (Denver, Colorado), an affiliate of the Lateran Pontifical University in Rome.

Dr. Warner’s leadership skills were further developed as the Director of Catholic Adult Education for the Archdiocese of Denver and as Academic Dean for Ave Maria College of the Americas in Nicaragua. He was the first Director, and continues as a non-resident Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, founded in Steubenville by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Born and raised in northern California, and most recently residents of Virginia, Dr. Warner and his wife Patrice have five children and four grandchildren. They have been homeschooling since 1984. Their youngest son, Elliott (16), is excited to be here with his parents as they embark on their new life in Barry’s Bay. The Warners already seem right at home, with a genuine love for the rugged northern beauty of Canada. They say it reminds them of their life and work in the snowy Alps, the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevada. 

It has been my pleasure to serve the Academy as Interim President during the five-month presidential search period.  I was recently appointed Interim Vice President for the Spring semester to support Dr. Warner during this time of transition. Please pray for us and the entire OLSWA community as we move towards the next levels of faithfulness and growth with God’s guidance.