Page 10 - Fruit of the Vine issue no. 1

Fruit of the Vine | June 2021 FRUIT OF OUTREACH
The Telegraph Creek Project was an opportunity for catechists across Canada to bring new life in response to a devastating tragedy. Denise Grimard and her husband, Joshua, serve as lay pastoral administrators in Telegraph Creek and Dease Lake, remote
communities in Northern British Columbia where they live with their seven young children. The parish serves mainly the Tahltan First Nations who make up the majority of the practicing Catholic population.
Several years ago, the community came together to build an atrium, a special place of prayer. However, in the hot and dry summer of 2018, while the Grimard family were in southern BC having their sixth child, a forest #re swept through the community. Both the rectory where they had been living, and St. Theresa’s Mission in which they serve, were completed burned to the ground.
Upon losing the atrium and all the beautiful materials, Denise surrendered the work of rebuilding to God. In February 2020, Susan Perna heard of the devastation while facilitating a Level 1A course in Edmonton. She brought the idea of a Canada-wide outreach project to the board. Diane Payoe made a list of the materials needed to re- establish the atrium. The project was launched through the website in November 2020, inviting catechists from across Canada to donate materials. Some of the fruit of this initiative can be seen in the photo gallery on the next page. It was truly a community effort that brought new life out of devastating loss.
With a humble and grateful heart I send these pictures of ‘love’!
We have received ‘love’ from near and far across Canada and even from Washington! I call the materials we have received ‘love’ because indeed every box received and opened that is what myself, my husband and members of our community have felt opening them, love. We feel so loved!
The time in making such beautiful works has touched all of our hearts here at St. Theresa’s Mission in Telegraph Creek, BC and indeed was instrumental in giving
the courage for us to begin Catechesis again.
Each time I lay out the materials I offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the works of each person’s hands.
May we continue to pray for one another! Thank you and God bless you all,
In Christ,
Denise Grimard on behalf of St. Theresa’s Catholic Mission Telegraph Creek, BC
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