Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Keeping warm without costing a fortune




The power poles are finally in place, and soon electrical
access to the property for Mary Our Morning Star retreat house
and the new rectory will be switched on.

 
Construction in the North is complex and expensive.


Thus, construction for our retreat house and rectory is focused on three essentials:

1) Sustainability
2) Conservation of energy
3) KEEPING WARM without COSTING a FORTUNE!!!

So, what looks like a giant Lego block is really
a Styrofoam block 8 feet x 20 feet, which is the
wall and insulation and vapour barrier all in one.



Once the blocks are all stacked up, they are filled with concrete. The most important aspect of this construction is, it is built to last! And even better, has a working "R" value of +50, which, in construction-speak, means the value of the insulation in the wall.


The heating/ventilation contractor said: "You will probably be able to heat this building with a candle."

This is very good because the church has lots of candles!


Dana Sellinger gunning nails onto insulated concrete wall.


Here I am sitting on the floor joists with Dan Sellinger.


Above, I am using the screwdriver gun to put the floor down. Everything is in a bishop’s job description!

For now, this may be a lot of science and technical data. However, it is very important as we try to be good stewards of
God’s creation.


Nothing like a rainbow over Takhini valley to remind us
 to be mindful of caring for and being respectful of all
the wondrous beauty that God has created for us.

Friday, July 16, 2010

May not be Mount Carmel, but getting there



On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I thought of posting a few photos of the developments at the site where the Bishop’s house is being constructed.


The proposed Mary Our Morning Star property on the banks of the Takhini River may not be Mount Carmel; however, it will be a place of encounter with the Lord through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.


Next week, the property will have electric power with the building of the power line.


The Bishop’s house building project has been a great way of working out the bugs and complications of building in the North. The challenges of a sustainable energy-efficient building that minimizes impact on the environment are many and not that simple.

But, as people would say, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”


Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

God bless!

Bishop Gary

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

'Planting seeds of faith': Salt + Light TV Perspectives Interview, July 8, 2010

Here’s a video link to Salt + Light TV’s Perspectives program on July 8, 2010, featuring footage of my interview, ‘Planting seeds of faith,’ with Pedro Guevarra-Mann.


Architectural drawing of our future
Mary Our Morning Star Retreat Centre.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

For the MacKinnons, a first visit to the Canadian mission in Atlin, B.C.

Our first week of July visitors, the MacKinnons from Toronto:
Hugh and wife Laura and their youngest son Peter.

July 1st weekend provided a wonderful time to welcome Hugh and Laura MacKinnon and their youngest son Peter to the diocese, for a five-day experience at St. Joseph’s mission in Atlin, British Columbia.

Boat mascot and guide: Celty, my Golden Retriever.

The MacKinnons travelled more than 5528 km from Toronto to live in our Northern mission diocese for a few days to see and encounter in a brief way the Catholic community in this small village. They saw firsthand the dedication of Catholic Missions In Canada and our many supporters to keep these isolated small Catholic communities and their churches open and vibrant.

St. Joseph's mission church in Atlin, British Columbia.


Good folks like the MacKinnons who support Catholic Missions make the life of our faith and celebration of the Mass and sacraments possible for the far-flung northern missions. Though we were unable to catch a lake trout in Alton Lake, we experienced together the work of the Lord being fishers of men and women in the kingdom of God.

On the boat to fish for lake trout in Alton Lake.

Checking out Peter's fishing tackle.

The trout, the Mackinnons discovered, were also out on another
mission: to stay scarce when they came to fish.

 
The bald eagle and the sheer beauty of this corner of God’s kingdom were a sign of welcome, and the gracious love of God experienced through the tiny Catholic community will, I hope, leave a lasting impression in their hearts.