Campus Ministry
Father Peters was the campus chaplain. His apartment was directly behind my residence. I had known him for years, as he was a family friend, and it was nice to run into him often during my time there.
Monte never locked the door to his apartment. He made it available for any who wanted to have a meeting or crash on a couch. He also had a spare bedroom for those who were visiting or passing through.
On occasion, while making our way back from a pub, my buddies and I would stop by to see what he had in the fridge. A late night peanut butter and jam sandwich was the usual fare. I would always leave a thank-you note.
Father Monte loved to tell the story of the evening he came home to find a meeting was underway, in his front room. When he entered, the conversation stopped and everyone looked at him. He didn’t recognize a soul. He was the first to speak.
“Hi. Have any of you seen Monte?”
People shook their heads or answered, No.
“OK, thanks. Have a good meeting.”
Monte turned and retired to his bedroom.
Monte has the greatest laugh and a good sense of humour. He is loved by all.
What a great guy.
Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today, let us begin.
— Mother Teresa
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Published by Gary Caines
Gary Caines is a retired teacher. During his 32 year career he taught in Newfoundland and New Brunswick and in private and public schools. He has been a principal, vice-principal, district supervisor and, something of which he is quite proud, has taught at least 1 subject at every grade level – yes, that includes kindergarten.
Over the years he has served as Aide-de-Camp for three Lieutenant Governors and retired as a navigator from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. He directed and produced school musicals and coached rugby at four different high schools (he was still playing the game at 58). He is a recording artist, a past-master of the Masonic Lodge and, for ten years, served as a volunteer ambulance driver. He has climbed mountains in BC and been bitten by mosquitoes in Labrador. He has backpacked in Europe and sung in Irish pubs. Gary has sailed from Halifax to Thunder Bay and return.
He once taught a class in Appenzell, Switzerland and twice performed with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He is a part-president of his curling club and of Imperial Theatre. Currently he is the founder and artistic director of the Fundy Sea Shanty Festival. Oh, and something else of which he is proud, he has two beautiful children and three incredibly beautiful grandchildren.
He has a lot of stories to tell.
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