News from Visitation Province
Joseph Street Housing in Kingston
On December 13th, welcome bags containing toiletries, warm clothing, dish soap and cloths, candies and cookies were delivered to Joseph Street housing in Kingston. Monetary donations had been collected from Sisters and Associates. Barb Quinn, Associate, then purchased the products to fill Christmas bags for five women and ten men. Included was a card wishing peace and love from the CND sisters and Associates. The staff met the associates with smiles and repeatedly mentioned how grateful the residents will be with the lovely bag of goodies.
Mary Myers and Kathi Colwell, Associates
KAIROS Blanket Exercise, Toronto, December 1
Terry, associate submitted this reflection following the experience… “I was honoured to walk with my feet on the land of the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe relations. Sage, tobacco, sweet grass and cedar are four of the sacred medicines used in this area representing concepts of gratitude, calming, healing and purification. Tobacco is offered to make a request of someone. If it is accepted, you will get an answer in the best way possible. If the tobacco is not accepted it is nothing personal, there is just a reason that they cannot accept. Tobacco was offered and accepted by Mim and Alicia.”
We began the Blanket Exercise. There were 25 CND Sisters, Associates and guests participating in this journey through history. Our fabric on the floor represented the land now called Canada, the northern part of Turtle Island and home to the First People, Innu and Metis.
We were introduced to the history of the First People and the effects of the explorers and the results of the treaties that were used to claim the lands away from the People. We saw the land expropriated bit by bit until there was little left except that as Reserves.
It was an eye-opening experience for us as observers of the history of this country. We hope that Truth and Reconciliation will continue until there is a new balance that can be accomplished between all Peoples.
Rose Marie Gauthier, Associate
KAIROS BLANKET EXERCISE COMES TO MONTRÉAL
On December 13, facilitators of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) came to Montréal to offer this meaningful experience to the Montréal Visitation Associates and Sisters.
For those unfamiliar, this exercise is both powerful and poignant, commencing with participants standing on a blanket that symbolizes the existence of Turtle Island prior to European arrival. As the exercise progresses, additional blankets are folded and removed, representing the treaties imposed by Europeans, which resulted in the displacement of First Nations communities and their members. Participants are invited to sit down, signifying the loss of life due to illness and conflict. Ultimately, only a few individuals remain standing in the center of the room, clinging to small corners of blankets—representing the scant remnants of land that remain.
Despite the painfilled history, I came away with a sense of hope for the future. It reminded me in a way of the dramatic movement of the Easter Vigil readings which begin in the garden and end with the resurrection.
The facilitators left us with some excellent resources. As the promotional materials emphasize, the KBE serves as an excellent foundation for future learning and educational development. It is not intended as a singular experience but rather as a preliminary step toward Truth and ReconciliACTION. May this heightened awareness inspire both individual and collective action.
A happy and blessed Christmas to all.
Charles Taker, Montréal Associate
From Sydney, Nova Scotia…
December 11th Parkland Cape Breton, CND Sisters and Associates and residents celebrated their monthly Rosary with a Christmas theme. Christmas poems, stories and carols were enjoyed. Sister Simone Abbass. explained Saint Catherine of Bologna’s thousand Christmas Eve Aves, which is the praying of 1,000 Aves spread out over 25 days. The devotion begins on Saint Andrew’s Eve (November 29) and ends the night before Christmas Eve (December 23). A lunch was provided by the CND Sisters.
CND Sisters and Associates attended the early taping of Mass for Shut-Ins for the Feast of Saint Marguerite next month. This Mass will air on CTV Mass for Shut-Ins, Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 11:30 am AST.
Dianne MacAskill, Associate Coordinator