The <strong>Atlantic</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> — August 7, 2010Membertou 400Page 7Papal Envoy Meets with Mi’kmaqBy Brian LazzuriThe Mi’kmaq communitywelcomed a special guest to itsannual St. Anne mission held onChapel Island July 29 to Aug. 1.Cardinal Marc Ouellet wasa special papal envoy to thecelebrations which also markedthe 400 th anniversary <strong>of</strong> GrandChief Henri Membertou baptism.Membertou was baptised June 24,1610 in Annapolis Royal by Jesuitmissionaries from France.“On behalf <strong>of</strong> the Holy Father,who wanted to bless you in aspecial way today, I am comingto you with his gift <strong>of</strong> peace, <strong>of</strong>faith, <strong>of</strong> faithfulness and <strong>of</strong> a newcommitment to continue this history<strong>of</strong> four centuries <strong>of</strong> belonging to the<strong>Catholic</strong> Church,” Cardinal Ouelletsaid during his opening remarksduring the mission’s closing Mass.Historic meetingThe Cardinal, who was namedthe Prefect for the Congregation<strong>of</strong> Bishops last month, arrivedFriday evening. He was welcomedby members <strong>of</strong> the Mi’kmaqGrand Council, elders, youth andrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Diocese</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Antigonish</strong>. After a Saturdaymorning Mass at Holy RosaryChurch, Westmount, CardinalOuellet met with the Grand Counciland priests serving in First Nationscommunities.“That has never happened in the400 years,” said Grand Chief BenSylliboy. “It is the first time we hadever had a person close to the Popewith us.”He said the three hour meetingwas productive and an opportunityfor Cardinal Ouellet to learn aboutthe Mi’kmaq nation.“The <strong>Catholic</strong> faith is havingits struggles even within theFirst Nations with the residentialschools,” Sylliboy said. “We aretrying to revive the <strong>Catholic</strong> faithin our communities again. This willencourage the people that the faithis still here.”The Grand Chief noted that theFirst Nations people have beentraveling to Chapel Island evenbefore Membertou’s baptism.The island has always beenthe meeting place <strong>of</strong> the GrandCouncil. The Mi’kmaq beganholding missions on the islandin 1742. The gatherings have thedistinction <strong>of</strong> being the longestcontinuous mission in Canada.Sylliboy said the Mi’Kmaq aredevoted to St. Anne, patron saint<strong>of</strong> the nation. The mission includesprocession and veneration <strong>of</strong> a St.Anne’s relic.Cardinal Ouellet celebrated theclosing Mass along with <strong>Diocese</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Antigonish</strong> Bishop Brian Dunn,Halifax Archbishop AnthonyMancini, St. John Bishop emeritusFaber MacDonald, St. John BishopRobert Harris, Moncton ArchbishopAndre Richard, St. John’sArchbishop emeritus AlphonsusPenny and priest’s from the <strong>Diocese</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Antigonish</strong>.Celebratingthe faith“May the Word <strong>of</strong> God that hadbeen transmitted from generationto generation the last 400 yearscontinue to guide consciousnessesand nourish the heart <strong>of</strong> all theinhabitants <strong>of</strong> this country with hope,peace, justice and liberty,” CardinalOuellet said in his homily.He encouraged those present t<strong>of</strong>ollow the example <strong>of</strong> Membertouwho submitted himself to the lifechanges that his baptism implied.“Let us rejoice and continueto be proud <strong>of</strong> our belonging toChrist and the Church. Today,like yesterday, fidelity to ChristA statue <strong>of</strong> St. Anne is carried in procession following the closing Mass at the annual St. Anne mission at ChapelIsland. (Lazzuri photos)and the Church is not automaticand requires <strong>of</strong> each one <strong>of</strong> us arenewed personal engagement inthe line <strong>of</strong> the baptism that we havereceived and we pr<strong>of</strong>ess followingthe Grand Chief Membertou thefirst indigenous chief chosen byGod to testify to Christ on NorthAmerican soil.”Facing challengesCardinal Ouellet said the Churchis aware <strong>of</strong> challenges the FirstNations face since that baptism.These include how poverty,(Please turn to Page 10)Grand Keptin Andrew Denny listens to Cardinal Marc Ouellet as they jointhe procession <strong>of</strong> St. Anne.Elvis Joe (holding flag) and his brother JR Joe both <strong>of</strong> Eskasoni participatedin the closing Mass at the mission.