Each year in the weeks leading up to the Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville, Dunvegan and environs are festooned with the distinctive flag of Scotland. You know the one… an X-shaped white cross on a blue field. For me, the flag was always just part of the backdrop of the Games (and, of course, a key element of the Union Jack). I never really gave it a lot of thought. Until today.
I was taking a quick peek at the Kenyon Presbyterian Church’s web site to see if I could glean a few scraps for the Sisyphusian task of writing a weekly column. And there, splashed across the top of the page, was the flag of the Scots, in its entire azure and white beauty. So I took it as a sign that I was to learn a bit more of its history.
Now, all of this is probably something that is passed from generation to generation of Glengarrians via their mothers’ milk. It may even have been part of the orientation package for newcomers that I probably ignored when we arrived so many years ago. So if you’ve heard the story, simply skip this bit. If not, here’s the scoop.
Saint Andrew started out as a simple fisher (the CBC-approved term for “fisherman”) in the land of Galilee. But it wasn’t long before he and his brother Simon Peter became disciples of Jesus Christ. It’s said that Andrew had a silver tongue, shaming a large crowd who had gathered to hear Jesus speak into sharing their food with the people beside them. As was their wont, the Romans crucified Andrew… in his case on an X-shaped cross at Patras in Greece.
Now, we must fast-forward to 832 AD on the outskirts of what is now Athelstaneford, a village in East Lothian near the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. Legend has it that, on the night before a crucial battle against the Northumbrians, Andrew appeared in a vision to King Angus of the Picts. Then, the next day, an X-shaped cross emblazoned the sky above the battlefield and Angus and his warriors were victorious. As a consequence, the Saltire, or Saint Andrew’s Cross, became the national emblem and flag of Scotland.
Why then was the Saltire adorning the Dunvegan church’s web page? Because this coming Sunday, November 29 — the first one in Advent — is known as St. Andrew’s Sunday. The service, which will include Holy Communion, will be held at 9:30 AM and be presided over by Reverend Julia Apps Douglas.
One final note. While it isn’t mandatory, if you do attend (and everyone is welcome), you’re encouraged to wear a wee piece of tartan.
“The need is so great”
Given that St. Andrew was so helpful in kicking off this week’s column, I’m going to lean on him again. As you’ll recall, Andrew reputedly convinced members of a large crowd to share their food with the people beside them. And I’m going to attempt to do the same… by encouraging you to support our local St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Different saint, same goal.
In last week’s Glengarry News, editor Richard Mahoney talked about ‘food insecurity’ and the need for so many Canadians to rely on a food bank. His facts and figures come from an eye-opening report prepared by Food Banks Canada: HUNGERCOUNT 2014. If you’d like to read it, it’s available on-line at www.foodbankscanada.ca.
Food Banks Canada is a network of over 3,000 food-related organizations in every province and territory… organizations that assist more than 800,000 Canadians each month and provide over 200 million pounds of safe, quality food each year. And one of these member groups is the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Alexandria.
Founded in 1991 by a tight-knit group of ten volunteers, the Alexandria Food Bank serves an incredibly large geographic area… from Moose Creek in the west, to Highway 417 in the north, the Quebec border in the east and Lancaster in the south. According to the 2011 Statistics Canada census, this represents a population of nearly 25,000. By comparison, three food banks serve the City of Cornwall, with its population of 46,000+.
When I asked Claude Brunet, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, why the group established this charitable organization, he replied: “…because we saw a great need. Someone had to step in and help.” Claude and his wife, Hilda, have been involved with the food bank ever since its inception. Hilda was also president… for 12 years. Claude, Hilda and their fellow volunteers also opened the St. Vincent de Paul store on Main Street in Alexandria. It was established in 1994 to convert donated clothing and household items into cash, thereby providing yet another revenue stream for the group’s food bank.
Today, the store and food bank boasts a team of 85 dedicated volunteers. Together they serve 225 registered families a month and provide emergency relief for many more. And they can always use your support. If you can, donate non-perishable food items to the food bank or household items to the store. And whenever possible, slip them a little hard cash as well. With every dollar you donate, the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank can purchase three dollars worth of nutritious groceries for the hundreds of families they support.
Laughing all the way to the (food) bank
Which brings me to my last item of the week. One excellent way to show your support for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank is the Dunvegan Recreation Association’s 2015 “Music & Mayhem” Christmas concert.
Produced by Rosemary Chatterson, with music by Elizabeth Caddell and the singing, dancing and comedy talents of 14 volunteers, this delightful holiday-themed revue will have you rolling in the aisles. As you’ll discover when you attend, the $10 donation at the door is worth every penny for the bare-footed “Christmas in Hawaii” hula dance number alone.
There will be two performances: Friday, December 4th and Friday, December 11th. Both will start at 7:30 PM, but as there are NO advance tickets and seating is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, I’d advise showing up a bit early. The DRA Hall is located at 19053 County Road 24, Dunvegan. And admission is a donation of $10 per person for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank.
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