You and your family are cordially invited to a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday August 26, 2016 at 11:30 am. Confessions start at 10:45 am. Mass will be held outdoors. In case of rain, confirmation or cancellation will be posted on the website by 8 am on Sunday morning. Visit www.copperridgeconferencecentre.ca for directions and more information about the project.
Race for Copper Ridge raises over $20,000
The Race for Copper Ridge was a tremendous success. 160 participants ran, walked and jogged their way to raising over $10,000 for the project. The pledges, matched by a donor, have now reached over $20,000. Almost 75 children participated in races and games. Moms with their children and babies in strollers jogged around the track along with young people, the middle aged and seniors. Everyone enjoyed a variety of ethnic foods for lunch and the all-Canadian hot dog was a hit for the younger crowd. Thank you to all who participated and to all who pledged their support for our 2nd annual Walkathon. Your generosity is building CRCC!
Feast Day Mass of St. Josemaria in Vancouver, BC
The feast day mass in honour of St. Josemaria Escriva was beautifully concelebrated in Vancouver’s Corpus Christi Church on June 26th, 2018. Monsignor Gregory Smith (Christ the Redeemer, West Vancouver) was the main celebrant, assisted by Fr. Julio Lagos of Opus Dei, Fr. John Tritschler and Fr. Anthony Ho.
The large church was filled with families and individuals from across the lower mainland. Every continent of the world was represented and one participant was reminded that each year at this feast day mass, the unity of the holy, catholic, apostolic and universal church is made palpable.
Monsignor Smith began his homily with the humorous observation that, had he remembered the Opus Dei demographic, he might have prepared a few children’s homilies.
Having attended the Jordan Peterson/Sam Harris “debate” at the Orpheum two nights previously, Monsignor Smith explained that the common notion that the Catholic Church is constrained by dogma and tradition was shown to be false by St. Josemaria’s life and teachings. His life was a living example of the great gift of freedom we have been given by God. Monsignor Smith quoted many passages from the books of the founder of Opus Dei showing how every situation in one’s life can become a means to find God and bring His love to those we live and work with.
The mass was accompanied by a choir of exceptional voices which added to the beauty and reverence of the evening; a testament to the significance of St. Josemaria Escriva in the lives of so many people around the world.
Leadership Conference for Students
The first Westward Leadership Conference for university and high school students was held at UBC May 18-20th. Reviewing the weekend, we are inspired to think of the future leadership events that will take place at our own Copper Ridge Conference Centre.
A total of 20 young women from Vancouver and Calgary attended the 3 day event, exploring the theme of “Canada our gift: unwrapping the next 150 years.” Guest speakers included Mayleen Bugarin on “True Femininity”, Vanessa Park on “Four Temperaments” and I.K. Ero who gave an interactive and inspiring session on “Women of Influence.” The attendees held collaborative sessions on topics such as openness and dialogue, fostering constructive conversations, human dignity, the true meaning of life, truth and relativism, and the perennial favorite: fashion. Another highlight was a day-long Sunday excursion to Squamish to hike the Chief. The weather was perfect and the view was stunning. The conference inspired the girls to practice skills and virtues needed in the challenging atmosphere of moral uncertainty they face in day-to-day life.