Mulhern tackles Charles Sylvestre case
By Kate Hargreaves
Lance Writer
October 31, 2007
BookFest, which takes place at two venues in downtown Windsor, the Art Gallery of Windsor on Riverside Drive and the Windsor Public Library on Ouellette Avenue, features events to appeal to every age and interest. There is the Children’s BookFest on Saturday afternoon and a booklet making workshop, “For Kids, By Kids,” on Sunday. In addition to the numerous readings over the course of the weekend, BookFest offers workshops and hands-on exhibits to bring adults closer to their books as well.
One of the featured authors this year is St. Thomas-born poet Mary Ann Mulhern. With the success of her first two books, The Red Dress and Touch the Dead, BookFest asked Mulhern to give readings at the festival, and she was once again invited back this year. “I live here now, in Windsor,” she says when asked what keeps her coming back. “I think that it is one of the most friendly cities. People here are accepting, and the University’s creative writing program is phenomenal.”
Selected to be mentored by University of Windsor writing professional Marty Gervais after winning a poetry contest, Mulhern is now publishing her third book with Gervais’ Black Moss Press.
he was drawn to the topic, the victims and trials of Charles Sylvestre, a local priest convicted of molesting young girls within the church for decades, after hearing the radio reports of his conviction in court. “I could not stop listening to it. I couldn’t get out of the car,” she explains. “It was almost an unreal experience to listen to it. I thought, ‘Okay, this happened and now they are grown women, but how did they survive?’ It’s incredible.”
Obviously dealing with a sensitive topic, Mulhern describes the writing process for The Chosen Ones as smoother than expected. “I thought it was going to be difficult,” she concedes, “but I met four of the women and they were very forthcoming with me. Then I met [crown attorney and prosecutor in the Sylvestre case] Paul Bailey. He has been extremely supportive. He gave me all the court documents, which are now public record.” Later she calls Bailey “an amazing support” for the victims. “He is their protector,” she says. “What Paul is saying now is that this cannot continue, that this has to stop. I believe that and I think the church has to make some changes.”
What Mulhern does not mention is that she also has a hand in protecting the victims by bringing attention to this terrible problem. Using her poetry, she gives the victims of this priest’s sexual abuse a voice. The Chosen Ones will be published by Black Moss Press in April 2008.
Mary Ann Mulhern will be a mentor at the Saturday session of BookFest. You might also bump into her at the main concourse and book sale to kick off the festival on Friday, Nov. 2. “I’m going to be at the opening,” she enthuses. “The opening is always great.”
|
