Monday August 30, 2010
We’re Back
By Steve Jalsevac
BARRY’S BAY, Ontario, August 30, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – LSN staff have gradually returned home and to their duties yesterday and today after our successful, first ever, all staff planning event in the beautiful Canadian hamlet of Barry’s Bay, Ontario.
Latin American reporter Matthew Hoffman was the last to return after being driven to Toronto’s international airport very early this morning. Five of our US staff arrived home late Sunday night after their 13-hour drive to Virginia. Patrick Craine flew back to Halifax, our US board chairman and his lovely wife returned to Minnesota and John-Henry Westen and Ted Baklinski did not have to go anywhere since they live in the Barry’s Bay region.
It was a very productive two days of intensive meetings plus evening socializing. I can confidently relate that our readers will appreciate the many new developments you will be gradually seeing as a result of our discussions and the subsequent decisions that were made.
The gorgeous Barry’s Bay countryside with its silence, wooded hills and pristine lake certainly gave us the respite needed for our discussions. The humble and lovely Our Lady Seat of Wisdom (OLSWA) campus and student dorm houses provided the perfect venues for all events.
I must also relate that the Friday and Saturday sessions confirmed the high calibre of LSN staff members. They exhibited an amazing unity of spirit and purpose. Several of them revealed quite the expertise in philosophy, used that knowledge in some of the discussions, and indicated that they also regularly apply it to their writing. Things got quite deep at times during our meetings or out on the porch in the evening. They are also a rowdy and fun bunch who know how to kid around and laugh. It was a wonderful experience.
We were grateful to have a key member from both the US and Canadian LSN boards participate in all discussions and events. Their input was greatly appreciated.
Frequent LifeSiteNews advisor and sometimes story contributor Michael O’Brien helped us to discern how we should each view and personally respond to the challenges of often confronting and reporting on great evils. We really needed that. This is not easy work to do. The emotional, spiritual and even physical drains that we experience are no small difficulty for all of us. However, Michael’s comments and personal testimony about his own struggles with the same challenges were most helpful. It is much clearer now what we must do to carry on and bear good fruit through this news mission of reporting truth to the world.
And so we carry on – for you.
P.S. Unfortunately, due to an unavoidable travel conflict, European and Rome reporter Hilary White was the only staff member unable to attend the meetings. She was certainly missed.