Chabad NDG
This time to Chabad* NDG, a Hasidic center located in the popular student neighbourhood of NDG in Montreal. There was a need for somewhere for young Jews and questioners to come. "My Rabbi" Yisroel Benath welcomes--with a warm heart and warm arms--everyone who comes.
And, RHOTO went with the Chaplaincy group. The simple room IS the synagogue. It is often PACKED with students. Lots of classes are offered: Hebrew, French, Cooking, Marriage Prep. And "My Rabbi"'s "favourite" activity? Matchmaking, of course!! (Three marriages, so far ;)
We asked questions, we saw a real, hand-written Torah scroll, the songbook in Hebrew. We shared, we laughed, we felt at home... ;)
RHOnda
*Chabad is a large missionary Hasidic movement known for their hospitality, technological expertise, optimism and emphasis on religious study
RHOTO attended this Chaplaincy visit to the Gay Village of Montreal. A Village filled with restaurants, cafes and EVERYONE walking around, just enjoying themselves--gay and straight.
There is a beautiful, huge Church of St. Peter the Apostle that is directed by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (since 1848). Oblates are laypersons or clerical members of the Catholic Church, not professed monks or nuns. They do not constitute a religious order--and are not, therefore, under the laws/rules of the Montreal Diocese.
This church is the spiritual hub for the Gay population in Montreal. There is a very touching chapel inside--The Chapel of Hope. It has bronze plaques for every man in the Community who has died from AIDS. There is also a painting of Saint Damien, the unofficial patron saint of people with AIDS. As the Saint to the untouchables--the lepers---, the Gay community feels that Damien could also identify with them.
In another area is the "Chapel of Non-Violence", consecrated to victims of violence of all sorts.
This magnificent church stays open and accessible to the public.
All of our Concordia group who joined us on this Site visit are openly Gay. Our host is a Gay professor of Religion at Concordia. We stopped and had a refreshment and shared/listened. I, RHOnda, asked why none of the Gay couples walking by were holding hands--in this Gay Village, in 2010. She replied, "Oh, Rhonda, it's a hassle. People look at you, and then look again."
As "My Rabbi" * said (when asked about Judaism's stance on homosexuality), "Well, there IS the Law and the Law speaks clearly about homosexuality. But, it is PEOPLE first... Always PEOPLE before the Law!"
Amen.
Edited to include Kay Y's comment/correction: "Hi Rhonda - the Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a religious Order within the Roman Catholic church. You're right that they are not subject to diocesan control; their head reports directly to Rome as I understand it. Most Oblates are ordained brothers or priests. I learned too much about the Oblates when working on the Indian Residential School file - the majority of these schools (more than 60%) were run by the Oblates. Nice. Not."
Thanks, Kay!! Next visit: The Grey Nun's Mother house...
RHOnda
* See our visit with "My Rabbi" above...
(The opinions expressed here are only ours--RHOTO'S RAG is a journal of our lives together that we have chosen to share with our friends...)
1 comment:
Hi Rhonda - the Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a religious Order within the Roman Catholic church. You're right that they are not subject to diocesan control; their head reports directly to Rome as I understand it. Most Oblates are ordained brothers or priests. I learned too much about the Oblates when working on the Indian Residential School file - the majority of these schools (more than 60%) were run by the Oblates. Nice. Not.
Post a Comment