'He's too young," says bishop's family

Family pledges to support Motiuk as he heads off to Winnipeg

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

They recalled him as an obedient, studious and fun boy who showed priestly qualities from a young age.

"At 40, he is a bit young (to be a bishop) but he'll do okay," said his older brother Ernie Motiuk, a hardware store associate in Vegreville.

"We are all very happy for him, even though a little sad because he is moving away," said Ernie's wife Patricia Motiuk. "I'm very proud of him. I think he'll be a great bishop."

"He was such an obedient boy. He did whatever he was told." - Olga Motiuk

In Lavoy, where the bishop grew up, his mother Olga seemed concerned. "I'm happy for him but I'm also concerned because (being a bishop) is a big responsibility," she said. "Maybe he doesn't want to say it but I bet you it'll be hard to make decisions. I don't think is so easy as being a pastor. "

In Stony Plain, his sister Alice Altheim also expressed mixed feelings. "I know he is going to do a good job but I'm a bit concerned because, in my mind, he is much too young," she said. "But we are all happy for him. We as a family are all going to support him."

Growing up in Lavoy, the bishop always showed a good disposition towards school and Church, recalled his mother. "He liked his school very much (and) he enjoyed attending catechism classes and attending church. When a priest would visit our place, David would listen to him attentively."

Ernie said his brother was so bright at school that he often got honours in the most difficult subjects. "He used to read quite a bit, especially medical books. He wanted to be a medical doctor but changed his mind and became a priest instead."

Accepting his decision to join the priesthood wasn't easy, Ernie admitted. "It was hard to take because he would have no profession," he said. "But then we all got used to it."

Lavoy didn't offer many opportunities for sports so David had to settle for whatever sports were offered at school, where he played softball and sometimes volleyball. "He was more into books and family and friends at the time," recalled his sister Alice. "He really got into sports at age 20, when he picked up racquetball at university."

He worked part-time as a grocery-store clerk in Vegreville and in his spare time he loved helping his dad, John, a carpenter, on the weekends. "He really enjoyed carpentry," Ernie recalled. Among other things, he helped his dad build the Lavoy Catholic church, recalled his mother. "He was such an obedient boy. He did whatever he was told."

David was also fond of cooking, an art he learned at about 11 years of age by watching his mother in the kitchen, said Alice. "It was not just macaroni and cheese but real dishes like baked chicken, mashed potatoes and salads."

"The best thing about him is that he doesn't shower them with money but with knowledge and love." - Alice Altheim

Alice also recalls her brother's penchant for story-telling and his good sense of humour. "He had the gift of humour and the gift of listening. He loved to tell stories about the family history, about our grandparents and great-grandparents to whoever would listen," she said.

"And after he became an altar boy he would tell stories of the Bible." As a child he loved to tell jokes and would carry a book of jokes with him to aid his memory.

"I only have pleasant memories about growing up with David," Alice said, noting that the five Motiuk children never really fought or insulted each other. "My parents wouldn't allow us to fight. They were lovingly firm with us so as a family we grew up very close."

When the family would go to the drive-in for a movie, everybody would fall asleep, except David. "He loved movies. He never missed anything. He liked all kinds of movies, especially those that made him laugh." His all-time favourites, though, are science fiction movies such as Star Trek and Star Wars.

Alice also described her brother David as open-minded and non-judgmental. When she started dating, David never judged her and never got involved in her relationship.

When she married a Lutheran man, David told her to never worry about what people would say because the Lutheran and Catholic faith have the same roots and are similar religions. "He always did want and he still does want to see everybody happy all the time."

Did girls chase after Father David? "Sure they did," Alice said. Did he date? "He dated enough."

He relates well to children and young people, his sister said, noting that he is close to her two children, Candace, 19, and Matthew, 15.

"He is very close with them and is very open with them and he shares his knowledge with them," Alice said.

"He always tells them they are double-blessed because they are both Lutheran and Catholic. The best thing about him is that he doesn't shower them with money but with knowledge and love."

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