From the Canadian CND Vocation Committee
Change is essential in our lives.
A few years ago, Visitation Province Vocation Committee reached out to Sisters in Marguerite Bourgeoys Province with a proposal to collaborate on vocation initiatives. The leaders of both provinces spoke, and the Canadian CND Vocation Committee came to be.
Our first project was a Come and See weekend planned for the Motherhouse, in May 2020. The pandemic bumped us to an online format. Zoom and See was held in English in the spring and in French in the fall of 2021. Planning, promoting and executing was the work of the committee.
Our second project was in the spring of 2022 – a bilingual two-part gathering of young adults leading conversations on the Synod on Synodality. The committee reached out to young adult leaders we know and we worked together on hosting this event. Many from STIR, a monthly online young adult prayer group participated.
Our committee sent a proposal to General Chapter 2021 for CNDs to participate in World Youth Day 2023. The theme for this international event is “Mary arose and went in haste”. The proposal went to the General Conference in January 2022 who approved the proposal. A WYD committee was formed as we plan for a group of CND Sisters to travel to Lisbon.
This fall, our Vocation committee continues to participate in young adult gatherings. The Archdiocese of Toronto Office of Catholic Youth hosted Renew Toronto, a young adult Catholic conference. 6 Sisters were present at the CND booth. Another sister participated in the NRVC gathering for vocation animators and directors around the theme “Called Beyond Borders”. UPEI and the Diocese of Charlottetown Youth Office offered a WYD 2022 event at UPEI and 3 Sisters attended. The Archdiocese of Montreal had a whole week of events leading up to this year’s WYD/JMJ on November 20. The Sisters at the Motherhouse opened their door for Café Marguerite twice during the week.
Like many committees in our provinces and congregation, The Canadian CND Vocation Committee is alive and well. Blessed Sacrament Province has expressed a desire to collaborate with us. We have been asking ourselves how sustainable our committee is as we consider and plan future events. How will our committee continue as our demographic as provinces and a congregation shift? In some areas that are important to us as CNDs, for example JPIC and health care, we hire lay professionals to exercise leadership in our committee structure. Is that an option for our vocation committee?
Our committee has looked at job descriptions from congregations who have taken the brave step of hiring lay vocation animators. And at our meeting in September 2022, we welcomed the Vocation Animation Team from the Sisters of St Joseph in Toronto to learn from their experience. Three Sisters and an Associate from Blessed Sacrament joined us as well. It is exciting to consider this possibility for us.
We realize that a new venture has the potential to generate energy among us. For some, the question of vocation promotion is important. We want to be attentive to the voices that may wish to weigh in on this initiative. The committee recognizes the need to take our time as we consider hiring a lay vocation animator. Collaboration among one, two or even three provinces is complicated. We know the challenges of language, culture, and geography. And we know our CND commitments to interculturality and intergenerationality.
Committee members, in collaboration with the Leadership Teams, will continue to pray with this new idea. We will work on a job description that reflects our reality and our desire for growth. Financial implications are also being considered. We commit to keep each of you in our provinces informed and involved in the process. So, we ask you to pray with us. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to the committee.
Blessings!
Visitation Province Sisters
Josephine Badali
Karen Kelly (Liaison to Visitation Province)
Susan Kidd
Joan Lewis
Marguerite Bourgeoys Province Sisters
Jacqueline Beaulac
Lorraine Henault
Emilie Maddix (Liaison to Marguerite Bourgeoys Province)
Violaine Paradis