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The Huron Expositor, 1989-04-05, Page 3THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 5, 1989 — 3A Father Caruana celebrates 40 years An anniversary was marked at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Seaforth on Sun- day, April 2, when Father Caruana celebrated 40 years of priesthood. This week Father Caruana looked back on the career he began 40 years ago, at a time when priests did much of the work taken over by social service agencies today -work which helped people in their daily lives. Of Malian descent, Father Joseph Charles Caruana was born August 4, 1922 in Vit- toriousa, Malta. He was educated by the Missionary Society of St. Paul, and at St. Aloysius College. He studied for the priesthood at the Royal University of Malta under the tutorship of the Dominican Fathers. Father Caruana was ordained by the Ar- chbishop, Sir Michael Gonzi, on April 2,1949 at the Co -Cathedral of St. John. He was or- dained with 50 others in a cathedral built by the Knights of Malta. Father Caruana began his work as a priest with the task of preparing Maltese immigrants for life in english speaking Australia. In 1952 he worked on a passenger ship as a welfare officer and chaplain. His ship, the Sydney, was an aircraft carrier converted to a passenger ship, which car- ried Maltese who were leaving their families on their crowded island home, for the opportunities in Australia. In 1954 he became the national chaplain for migrants in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia. His job at this time was to solve problems for his people, and speak for the Maltese in Australia who could not communicate in english. He says it was an interesting job, living in Australia and helping the Maltese cope with problems in their new home, and acting as an interpreter for them in court, in hospitals and when dealing with the govern- ment. And he helped his people deal with leaving their families -the Maltese have closely knit family units- and with leaving 'their bustling island of 17 X 5 miles for the wide-open but scarcely populated Australia. Father Caruana says this type of work is part of the reason he was attracted to the priesthood 40 years ago. "I think it's more concern, My nature is like a social worker's and I'm very concern- ed about the welfare of people," he says. But not just a social worker, the priest had 15 different churches at which he alternated giving services on Sundays, giving the Maltese immigrants a continuance of religion in their home tongue. In 1962 the Society of St. Paul wanted to open a branch in Canada and Father Caruana volunteered to travel here. The reason: "for a change, just to see another country." Father Caruana says he came to Canada with the intention of working with the Maltese, and helping them to integrate into Canadian society. He was made Superior of the Missionary Society of St. Paul in the Diocese of London, Canada in 1962. He worked as an Assistant Pastor in St. Thomas and Seaforth, and then became Pastor of Kingsbridge Parish with two Mission Churches, St. Augustine and Lucknow. In January, 1968 he joined the London Diocese and was appointed Pastor in Tilisonburg, and then in LaSalle, Windsor. On April 5, 1970 he was appointed to Parkhill and Bornish as Pastor. "My job is my pleasure." On August 1, 1980 he became Pastor of St. James Parish, Seaforth. He has been here for nine years, but says he could still get transferred. He does, however, expect to re- main in Canada. Many priests retire at the age of 70, and that is only three years away for Father Caruana, but he hopes to remain at work for several years. Father Caruana says he has seen changes in the church over the past 40 years. "The way I see it, the approach of the Church to people is much different," he says, "in the old days the laws of the church were more severe." As an example of the stricter church laws of former days, he uses fasting. Formerly one had to fast from midnight on before communion. Now, he says, people have only to fast for one hour before communion, because many people now work a night shift, and would have to work on an empty stomach. Another example of a change he has seen is that latin was the official language of the church, and priests could travel to any coun- try and give a sermon in Latin. Now the language of the people being preached to is used. • "I think it's a better approach to pray in the language of the people, so they can pray with you," says Father Caruana. "But I still like latin singing, it's often more appropriate." Father Caruana sees a difference in the way people regard priests today as well. ''I think people are used to us, and that we are just human. In Malta especially they are very conservative, and expected a lot from a priest." Asked what he has enjoyed most about the past 40 years of priesthood Father Caruana replies: "I think it's the joy of helping people, and seeing the effect after, like if you stop a separation and then watch the family grow back together." Father Caruana says he prefers working in the one-man parishes, where only one priest does all the work. "To be busy is one thing that helps you en- joy your work," he says. "You have to get involved in your work, and'you have to look for work sometimes. My job is my pleasure." To celebrate his 40th anniversary, Father Caruana was visited by some 27 priests from the diocese. Services were held at St. James Roman Catholic Church, with the Knights of Columbus, dressed in their finery, forming an honor guard, and a ban- quet was held at the Seaforth and District Community 7entres where gifts of apprecia- tion were presented. FATHER CARUANA in March 1955. IN THEIR FINERY the knights of Columbus form a guard of honor for Visiting priests and Father Caruana. Corbett photo. FATHER CARUANA marches past a Knights of Columbus guard Roman Catholic Church Sunday, to celebrate Father Caruana's of honor for him at the anniversary service held at St. James 40th year in the priesthood. Corbett photo. FATHER CARUANA cuts. ,one of three cakes presented to him by the students of St. James School, Seaforth. Father celebrated 40 years in the priesthood, this week. Mcllwraith photo. 40 YEARS A PRIEST - Father Caruana celebrated his 40th anniversary as a priest this week, and included in the celebrations was a party of sorts at St. James School. Students presented Father with a number of homemade gifts, then everyone indulged in some cake, Seen with the cake and Father Caruana are St. James Principal Gary Birmingham, and teacher Fran Craig. Mcllwraith photo. AT SUNDAY SERVICE at St. James Church in Seaforth Father priesthood, and is seen here with some of 27 visiting priests from Caruana was recognized for having served 40 years in the the diocese. Corbett photo, County angered by government request for study BY BILL HENRY An angry Huron County Council last week refused an llth-hour provincial government request to further study its Huronview reconstruction plans. The current plan to gradually phase out Huronview while building 'a new, 100 -bed facility in Clinton and 60 -bed units in both the north and south of the county within eight years is unllktely to gain provincial ap- proval, a community and social services ministry official told council. But that proposal, expected to cost more than $14 million, was reached after years of studies. The most recent was a 10 -month project which surveyed the county, studied services elsewhere in the province, and finally outlined last June the direction Huron's seniors' housing would take. Last month, council approved a budget which begins setting aside its 50 per cent share of the capital cost of the project. Ministry spokesman Linda Girard's re- quest that Huron now rethink the plan to in - elude tkie,lnew concept of alternative hous- ing for frail eldery residents caught coun- cil�by surprise. ` I am disappointed because 1 think -the ministry is leading us into another study," said Warden -Dave Johnston, who vacated the chair before thoroughly expressing his concern and calling on council to stick to the original proposal and hear "from the horse's mouth" whether the minister of community and social services rejects the plan. Alternative housing was described as a bridge between extended care (seniors in in- stitutions requiring extensive bedside and other care) and seniors living in their own homes. Girard said the concept has seniors living collectively in either new or renovated apartment -lace complexes, sharing services such as prepared meals in a common space. As well, each facility would have 24-hour nursing. Councillors said the plan sounds good on the surface, but arrives at the lith -hour, with sketchy details, just as Huron wants to get on with Ruronview's reconstruction. Councillors in the north of the county also said the plan considered but rejected last week, which would have again centred all 181 licenced extended care beds again in Clinton, ignores the northern needs. Others argued that the ministry request was also ignoring what the people of Huron County had clearly asked for during the Seniors Care Facility Committee's lengthy study. "I think the ministry is not facing the pro- blem," said Exeter Deputy -Reeve Lossy Fuller, who ehaired that committee. "We heard the voice of the people and the peo- ple said what they wanted...the ministry is avoiding it." Fuller and others told Girard that Huron residents no longer want a sprawling, cen- tral complex. Instead, they want smaller centres spread throughout the county. That would mean they could remain in their own communities. But Girard, a London-based MCSS pro- gram supervisor who clearly was not prepared for the stormy session, insisted the ministry does not expect Huron to abandon its original concept. She said most of her coneern centred on plans to build a 60 -bed unit in the southern part of the county. With the govertunent cur- rently supporting the charitable Bluewater Resthome in Zurich, funding another facili- ty would be unacceptable. "Two homes of 60 beds each would be very, very difficult to support," Girard said, adding "We do as much as possible want to foster decetraiizatlon." That angered some councillors, including Turn to page 13A • f Wed . , April 5 1-4 p.m. — Senior Shuffleboard 1-3 p.m. — Parents and Tots Skating (last one for the year) 7:30-8:3Q p.m. — Adult Ringette. All ladies Welcome 0:30-10 p.m. — Tuesday Nlghters vs Bayfield Thurs . , April 6 1:30 p.m. — Senior Citizens' meeting at the Legion 8:30-10 p.m. — Queen's Tavern Oldtimers vs. London Fri . , April 8:30-10 p.m. — O.M.H.A. Bantam Finals Seaforth vs Oak Ridges (Game 5) Sat., April 8 1:30 p.m. — Story Hour at the Library 4:30.6 p.m. — O.M.H.A. Atom Finale Seaforth ve Six Nations (Game 3) Sat., April 8 9 - 4 p.m. — Huron Genealogical Society's Beginner's Workshop. At Holmesville Public School Sun., April 9 2-4 p.m. — Seaforth Bantams vs Oak Ridges (Game 7 1f necessary) Tues., April 11 1:30-4 p.m. — Senior Shuffleboard 8 p.m. — Hospital Auxiliary meeting In the Board Room. Two speakers from Al Anon. Wed., April 12 5 p.m. — Eric Nagler Show et Arena 7 p.m. — Eric Nagler Show at Arena NOTE: NO SHUFFLEBOARD - held on April 11 8 p.m. — Seaforth Horticultural Society meeting at Seaforth Public School. Topic will be water gardens d orchids. h A