Celebrating January 12
Celebration! It was in the spirit of love, compassion and service that the Sisters at the CND Health Center, on the Feast Day of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, gathered to remember, pray, celebrate and give thanks.
Arlene Rutledge, coordinator CND Health Care Centre
Miramichi, NB
A grand time was had by all of us, happy to see each other after a busy Christmas season.
Frances read a letter from Anna Rowley, Central Office, expressing warm sentiments for celebrating today’s feast. She also showed us photos of the time she attended the canonization of Marguerite forty years ago in Rome.
So, we all had a fine time and send warmest greetings to all of you from freezing Miramichi where Congregation de Notre-Dame sisters and associates, students and friends of St. Marguerite have loved and laboured and lived lives of great heroism for over 150 years.
Frances Connell, Associate
CTV Mass
CND Sisters and Associates from the Sydney area came together in honour of our foundress, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, with Mass for Shut-Ins. The mass was held at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys church in Sydney, Nova Scotia. (It was taped on Jan.7 and can be viewed through YouTube, Antigonish Diocese). The celebrant, Father Jim Oliver, reflected on the history of our Congregation de Notre-Dame foundress during his homily and Father Bedford Doucette, Producer of Mass for Shut-Ins, introduced our spiritual group. Sister Simone Abbass and Associate Lorrette Andrews were our readers for this occasion. Music ministry was provided by
Following Mass, the CND Sisters and Associates shared food, conversation and great fellowship at a local restaurant.
Dianne MacAskill, Associate Coordinator
January 12 – Congregation de Notre-Dame Sisters and Associates from the Kingston area celebrated St. Marguerite Bourgeoys’ Feast Day with a Mass of intention at St. Joseph’s Church.
Father Charles Ogbuagu celebrated the mass with several references to St. Marguerite including a lovely welcome, homily and well wishes to the Congregation de Notre-Dame Sisters, Associates and friends.
Associates supported this Mass as Lector, Eucharist Minister and reading of the Congregation de Notre-Dame prepared Intercessions. Marguerite’s hymn, “Sing Out Her Glory” was played by the organist with a number of participants singing along. Following Mass, all in attendance were invited to join Sisters and Associates for conversation and refreshments with very positive feedback.
Kathi Colwell, Associate
Sunday, January 15 – Kingston Congregation Notre-Dame Sisters and Associates gathered to celebrate the Feast Day and 40th anniversary of associate relationship.
Sisters Rosemary Shannon and Emily Doherty presented on their experiences of having attended the canonization of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys on Oct 31st, 1982. They shared heartwarming stories and photographs of their time in Rome and in Troyes, France. We are reminded Pope John Paul II gave the Canadian Church its first woman saint, our dear Marguerite!
We also celebrated our first associate, Peggy.
Marguerite daisy seeds were shared with our two newest sisters in Kingston and with our newest associate who joins us formally in May. A very blessed gathering and afternoon!
Kathi Colwell, Associate
Montréal Celebrates its Co-foundress:
On a beautiful post-storm Sunday in January, Sisters, Associates, and friends gathered at Marguerite’s Chapel to celebrate her liturgical feast at a bilingual mass presided over by Fr. Guy Chapdelaine, recently retired Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces. Fr. Chapdelaine, in his homily, retraced his connections to the Congregation de Notre-Dame which started with his mother who was a student at Mont Notre-Dame in Sherbrooke, to being pastor of the Canadian Forces Base chapel in Winnipeg which was dedicated to St. Marguerite. At the end of Mass, Carole Golding, the pastoral coordinator of the chapel, reminded us that this year the (rebuilt) chapel celebrates its 250th anniversary. As part of anniversary celebrations on the long weekend of May, there will be the long-awaited oratorio which was supposed to have taken place for the 400th anniversary celebrations which were cancelled due to the pandemic as well as a commemorative Mass to be presided by the Archbishop of Montréal followed by a pilgrimage. Built as a centre of pilgrimage, the chapel is endeavouring to reclaim that former vocation. Following the Mass, the Montréal Visitation Province Associates continued the celebrations at a lunch in a nearby restaurant.
Charles Taker, Montréal Associate
Parkland Cape Breton
In anticipation of the Feast of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys the Sisters in Parkland Cape Breton gathered for prayer on the evening of January 11th. The prayer contained excerpts from the retreat that had been composed for the 400th anniversary of the birth of Marguerite. We were called to moments of contemplative reflection with Marguerite and her simple vision for the Garden of our Common Home. Our personal reflection called us to reflect on our vision today for our Common Home and to remember the calls to action from our General and Province Chapters. The next day we came together to celebrate in true Congregation de Notre-Dame fashion.
Agnes Campbell CND