Shepherd of the North's flock pour out their love

Aboriginal people come from far and wide to Chatlain's ordination

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Bishop Murray Chatlain greets an Aboriginal woman in a wheelchair following his ordination as coadjutor bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith Sept. 14

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Yellowknife

Father Murray Chatlain became coadjutor bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith Sept. 14 amidst a display of love and admiration from the people he was ordained to serve.

School children, native drummers and local musicians and cantors sang hymns and prayers during his episcopal ordination. Aboriginal chiefs and ordinary people welcomed Chatlain as a friend, presenting him with gifts and telling him how happy they are to have him as their spiritual leader.

During the ordination ceremony, dozens of people surrounded the stage to snap pictures of the new bishop, including a young woman who operated two cameras simultaneously.

Northern pastor

The popular Chatlain, who had served as pastor of several native communities in Mackenzie-Fort Smith in the past, was ordained coadjutor bishop of the diocese at the gym of St. Patrick's High School in front of about 1,400 people, many of whom flew or drove from remote areas.

Chatlain - whose motto is The Almighty Has Done Great Things For Us - will succeed Oblate Bishop Denis Croteau, who is retiring at age 75 next month after 21 years as bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, geographically the world's largest Catholic diocese.

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Children from two Catholic schools in Yellowknife sang at the beginning of the ordination Mass.

A dozen bishops from Western Canada, including Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton, and 29 priests attended the Mass along with community leaders and local leaders of other Christian traditions. Also present were about 40 members of Chatlain's family.

"The Dene people will always be great believers in our faith and we are very happy to have you being ordained a bishop," Chief Edward Sangris of the Yellowknife Dene First Nation told Chatlain in his welcoming statement.

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the papal nuncio, assisted by Croteau and Bishop Albert LeGatt of Saskatoon, presided at the ordination Mass. Yellowknife deacon Brian Carter, chaplain of St. Patrick's School, emceed the ceremony and assisted the ordaining bishops.

In his homily, Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg thanked the Diocese of Saskatoon and the Chatlain family for having given the Mackenzie Diocese "a wonderful gift" in the person of Chatlain.

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez

"You will find in Murray a wonderfully warm human being," Weisgerber said. "He is a deeply spiritual man; a good disciple of Jesus - one who walks the talk."

Ventura prayed to God to give Chatlain the mind, the heart and the leadership needed to lead the Church of the North and thanked the retiring Croteau for his years of service as a priest and a bishop. "We are confident that Bishop Murray (Chatlain) will continue your outstanding work."

'Thanks be to God'

After the reading of an apostolic letter from Pope Benedict appointing Chatlain a bishop, the congregation gave their assent by saying "thanks be to God" and then applauding.

During the ordination ceremony, Chatlain, kneeling before the consecrators, promised to uphold the faith and to carry out his duties as bishop to the best of his abilities. While Chatlain lay prostrate on the stage in front of the ordaining bishops, the congregation sang the Litany of the Saints.

Slippered feet

Children pointed with pride to Chatlain's feet: throughout the ceremony he wore a pair of typical Aboriginal slippers made by Valentine Robillard from Black Lake, one of his former parishes.

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez

Then Ventura, followed by the other bishops present, conferred the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders on Chatlain by the laying on of their hands. The new bishop was later anointed on the head with chrism oil and was handed the Book of the Gospel from which he is to preach constantly.

Chatlain was also conferred a ring, which Ventura placed on his finger, and a mitre - made by Bernadette Williah from Behchoko - which the papal nuncio placed on the new bishop's head.

Ventura then handed Chatlain the crosier, a symbol of the bishop's authority, thus closing the process of transition from one bishop to another.

It began on June 23 when Pope Benedict announced Chatlain's appointment as spiritual leader of nearly 20,000 Catholics in the Mackenzie-Fort Smith Diocese.

"I'm deeply honoured," Chatlain, 44, said at the end of the ordination liturgy. He expressed his deep gratitude to the congregation for their love and support and thanked them for having travelled from afar to be with him.

He also thanked Croteau for his support and his guidance, calling him a remarkable man.

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Helen Laurent of Fond-du-Lac, Sask. greets Bishop Chatlain

"He is generous, creative and strong in his leadership. I look forward to his advice and friendship for many years to come," Chatlain said to applause and cheers from the congregation.

Visit the people

Chatlain, who has already moved into the bishop's residence in the Trappers Lake Spiritual Centre, said first and foremost on his agenda is to "visit all the communities in the diocese and to start to get to know the people and the land."

Following his ordination Chatlain spent time in the school's lobby chatting with Aboriginal parishioners, blessing them individually and posing for photographs with them. Many kneeled in front of the bishop and kissed his ring.

2-day drive

MaryAnn Fern, her husband Victor and some friends drove for two days from Fond-du-Lac, Sask., to be at the ordination. "He was our pastor for four years and we love him," the woman said after kissing the bishop's ring. "He is nice and kind to everybody. I'm sure he'll be a very good bishop. We are very happy for him."

Jane Weyallon, one of about 100 people who travelled by bus from Rae-Edzo, said Chatlain is the ideal bishop for the North. "He is humble and patient and he loves Aboriginal people," she said. "He lived among them and speaks their language."

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Bishops Murray Chatlain and Denis Croteau

Christina Clark, a young woman from Stony Rapids, Sask., one of the communities served by Chatlain in the recent past, described the new bishop as "very humble, caring and down-to-earth. He was good to us in the North. My hope is that he'll be able to send us a priest."

At a reception that followed, Aboriginal people and others paid homage to their new bishop and presented him with innumerable gifts - from paintings to items of clothing - made especially for the occasion.

"Every stitch in this garment represents the love we have for you in Fond-du-Lac," said Dene band manager Rose Pacquette after presenting Chatlain with a hand-made chasuble.

'Dene need healing'

"We are happy to be part of this celebration today," said Grand Chief George Mackenzie from Rae. "As Dene people we need a lot of healing. You will serve our people and we are grateful for that."

Chief Freddy Throessie from Black Lake said his people were deeply sad when Chatlain left the community to become pastor of St. Patrick's Parishin Saskatoon over a year ago.

"We were so sad I didn't even have the guts to say good-bye to you," Throessie recalled. "But you have to feel sorrow to feel joy. And we are happy today. The Dene people feel joy today."

Faith, wisdom, patience

Croteau described Chatlain as "a beautiful man" who will bring new talents and gifts to the Mackenzie Diocese just as he himself did when he replaced Bishop Paul Piche 21 years ago. "You will bring the Church forward," he said, wishing his successor the faith of Moses, the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job. "You will need it."

"I'm very grateful for all the good people who are part of our Church," Chatlain told the WCR following the reception. "Those are the things that fill me most with hope and confidence in the good things that lie ahead."

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