CND Associate Newsletter Visitation East February 2023
January 12, 2023 was a special day for Holy Angels and St. Theresa’s group in Sydney, N.S., Beverley was welcomed as a journeying Associate. She was presented with the Brave Beginnings Book by Patricia Simpson, CND, and a journal from her mentor Theresa. Theresa will guide Beverley through the steps prior to making her Commitment to become an Associate. Beverley is a former student of the Congregation de Notre-Dame and is devoted to St. Marguerite. She has also volunteered with the Associates at the Fortress of Louisbourg at the exhibit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. Our prayers follow Beverley on this journey.
Candlemas is one of the Christian church's oldest Feast Days, dating back to the 4th century AD when it was first celebrated in Jerusalem.
It is celebrated 40 days after Christmas, the celebration of Jesus' birth.
The Feast of Presentation, therefore, happens on February 2nd because, according to the bible, after spending 40 days at home with her Son, Mary, together with Joseph, brought Jesus to the Temple on this date where he was consecrated to God. At that point, there was also a sacrifice of either a pair of doves or two young pigeons.
While Mary and Joseph were at the Temple, an old man named Simeon visited the holy place looking for the Messiah. When he held Jesus in his arms, he declared him to be the light who came to save the world from sin and darkness. This inspired the tradition, observed since the 7th century, of blessing candles during Mass on this Feast Day, which originated the term Candlemas.
The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site for Heritage Day, welcomes everyone to a free day of family fun on Sunday, February 19 from 12 pm to 4 pm! This celebration will include indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family, including roasting marshmallows, children’s activities, and a virtual reality experience! Please note that they will be accepting donations for the Louisbourg Food Bank.
Woodstock Associates Celebrate the Feast of St Marguerite
Submitted by Marjorie Allison-Ross, Woodstock Associate
Third attempt to gather was a charm for the Woodstock Associates! We had planned to meet mid-December for our annual Advent Pot Luck Lunch, Prayer and social time but due to weather conditions and illness we postponed getting together until January. Then in January, we had to postpone again due to the inclement weather. Marg hosted Woodstock Associates for a delicious Potluck Lunch on Saturday, January 21. Everyone expressed how good it was to gather with each other. Since March 2020, our group has only met a few times for special occasions. The group decided that we’ll now return to our monthly meetings and hope the weather and viruses will cooperate. During COVID, Gladys expressed interest in journeying to become an Associate. Gladys has been joining our group when we’ve met. Ideas that came up for the group to discuss at future meetings were: the 2021-2026 Mission Orientation, Visitation Province Elements of Deepening, Listening to Indigenous Voices, asking a local elder to come and share her story.
For the Feast of Marguerite Bourgeoys, the Woodstock Associates created an exhibit about Marguerite Bourgeoys, Congregation de Notre-Dame, Associate Relationship and the recent special anniversaries that were celebrated. Marjorie gave a short presentation on the life of St. Marguerite, her congregation, Associate Relationship, and history of the Congregation in Woodstock at the weekend Masses on January 21-22.
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, Caritas Canada
One essential dimension of the life and ministry of Jesus was His commitment to creating a just and inclusive community. He deliberately moved to the margins to embrace the excluded. He evaluated social structures in first century Palestine from the perspective of the excluded. And He acted to change the structures — structures that applied the Roman occupation, structures that sustained the privileges of the Judean ruling class, structures that excluded the lepers, the women, the others called “unclean”—with such dedication that it got Him killed. He was one who went out into the peripheries. His vision was that of an inclusive community. He set out to make it real, and He invited us, called us to follow Him.
The Share Lent Campaign Create Hope—Stand For the Land 2023 begins Ash Wednesday and ends on Solidarity Sunday, March 26th. Your support is needed and as always will be received with grateful hearts. Without your generous support the hopes of Development & Peace, Caritas Canada, for our neighbors in the Global South would never come to fruition.
A Solidarity Visitor from Cambodia, Ramy Chan will visit the Atlantic provinces from March 16 – March 27 2023. She is Executive Director of Youth Resource Development and will share her work to educate and promote youth in her country on her visit to us. It would be wonderful if you could be present when she visits your area. D & P representatives from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland will be announcing her presence in an area close to you in the not too distant future.
New Victoria Associates Rosary group celebrated Christmas at Parkland Cape Breton with CND Sisters, Associates and Residents. Carolling and stories were shared followed by a visit from Santa.
Lorrett shared Christmas ornaments with Santa who decorated the tree while re-telling the Christmas story. Sister Connie MacIsaac thanked this amazing group of Associates who have been sharing their gifts of a monthly rosary for over 12 years at Parkland Cape Breton. A festive lunch followed.
Mass for Shut-Ins to honour the feast day of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys took place on January 7, 2023 with celebrant Father Jim Oliver and Producer of Mass for Shut-Ins Rev. Bedford Doucette. The choir from St.Leonard’s Parish was led by Associate Lorrette. Readers were Sister Simone Abbass and Lorrette. Father Oliver spoke of the history of St. Marguerite and the work of our Congregation de Notre-Dame Sisters and Associates. A gathering followed.
While no one is sure of who the original Saint Valentine was, many believe that the character is created from a combination of Catholic Church saints and martyrs who lived in ancient Rome. The most popular theories are of a Priest who lived in the 3rd century during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius outlawed marriage for young men, as he believed single men would perform better as soldiers, and it was harder for married men to join the army. However, Valentine continued to marry young men and women in secret and was sentenced to death by Emperor Claudius II for it.
Another Valentine who may have lent his name to this holiday is one that was also killed in ancient Rome for helping prisoners escape prison. A prisoner himself, he is known for writing a card to his prison guard’s daughter, who visited him while he was incarcerated, declaring his love for her. He signed it “From your Valentine”, which is still the most popular way for people to sign their cards today. Every February 14th, we remember St. Valentine who is the patron saint of love, lovers, couples, young people, travellers and greetings.
St. Valentine’s Prayer
I said a Valentine prayer for you and asked the Lord above
to fill your heart and bless your soul With the precious gift of love.
I asked Him for sincere love The kind that's meant to stay Just like the generous love
You give to those you touch each day.
I prayed for love from family
And from every cherished friend
Then I asked the Lord to give you
His love that knows no end.