“Cannelize those funds for other purposes – bring that inspiration into the community and make a difference.”
As a longtime property owner in Whistler and a Catholic, I was appalled by Father Andrew L’Heureux’s proposal regarding the future of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church (prick, July 14: “Whistler Catholic Church Seeks to Expand Footprint…”). To suggest that God is not in the church is absurd. As a spiritual representative of the Catholic Faith, Father Andrew strays from fundamental Catholic beliefs, [as pointed out in]GD Maxwell’s article, [which]from the book of Matthew: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am in the midst of them.” Our church is a holy place meant to offer acceptance, love and serenity to all attendees, visitors and locals.
I have a particular strong objection to our church’s collaboration with the Napa Institute and to the Father’s vision of a pilgrimage similar to the Camino de Santiago. For those in the know, that inspiration came from the biblical apostle St. James. The famous pilgrimage site in northwestern Spain has become a symbol of the struggle of Spanish Christians against Islam. Santiago de Compostela is one of the three holy cities of the church where Catholics obtain absolution for their sins by making the pilgrimage (the other two cities are Rome and Jerusalem) and by honoring Saint James, whose relics are there. Whistler does NOT have a St. James or a holy town. Please, Napa, stay where you are!
Our beautiful church in its mountain setting is inspiring and should remain as it is. The church is vital – sharing its joy with music, hosting weddings and funerals, and supporting our spiritual needs.
Channel those funds for other purposes – take that inspiration out into the community and make a difference.
