News from Visitation Province
Ottawa Sisters and Associates Gather at Lac McGregor, QC
Another glorious retreat day was enjoyed by Ottawa CND sisters and associates on October 1st at the Oblate Community’s summer residence for a prayerful gathering “Welcoming Autumn into our heart, life home and mission with freshness.” The theme was Wisdoms Path: “Come to Wisdom and Follow her Path. Search out and seek and she will be known to you” (Sirach 6). This peaceful and tranquil day offered each of us, time to enjoy and reflect, listen and share where wisdom is leading us now in our lives.
The facilitators were Bill Fehlner and Sisters Clara Nasello and Nina Glinski. Bill introduced us with a mindful meditation stressing the awareness of our physical movements to our long-term memories both awake and while sleeping. Clara centered our group with a song from Psalm 42 called “like a deer that longs for living streams, my soul longs for you God.” A large bowl of fresh water lay before us to reflect on what each of us was thirsting for and what God desires for us.
Following a quiet time to wander the land or sit on an old tree stump or dock by the crystal-clear water, a hearty lunch was enjoyed by all. In the afternoon associate Patricia MacNeil shared her spiritual attachment and feelings of loss to a life–giving tree and shared the lively song “My Roots Go Down” by Sarah Pirtie and sung by Anne Patterson.
Sister Nina opened the afternoon with prayer and the song There is a place (In the Quiet by Liam Lawton) and a reflection focusing on our present experiences with God and spirituality, facing impasses in our life while we continue our sacred journey.
Following more quiet reflection and sharing we concluded our day together over a bountiful supper thanking our facilitators and each other for the offering of the day’s gifts of friendship and visitation, and gratitude, honouring our foundress Marguerite Bourgeoys, each other and God’s love.
Wendy Brown, Associate
Blue Communities
In 2016, the Council of Canadians published a document to promote the establishment of Blue Communities, joining a growing global movement to protect water – water service and water resources. Two years ago, our JPIC Committee undertook extensive education and encouragement. We arranged a webinar (October 2020), and after a 2-year pause, we hope now to complete the steps to being recognized as a Blue Community. Blue Communities recognize water as a human right, try to phase out bottled water and reject all forms of water privatization. Perhaps we tend to take water for granted; its abundance, its necessity, its power. We are seeing that more and more communities everywhere are experiencing extreme weather, including record levels of drought, intense rain and flooding.
JPIC Committee
To recognize the International Day of Older Persons, October 1st, Third Age Centre at St. Thomas University sponsored a conference on the topic of ageism.
Dr. Deborah van den Hoonaard of St. Thomas University spoke on “Learning to be Old: Ageism in Everyday Life.” Ageism is prejudice or discrimination against older persons. It is found in society, in communities, and in individuals. We were challenged to speak out against stereotypes and demeaning language (commonly called elderspeak). Older people continue to contribute to society; we all need to address some of the excluding policies and practices in our systems. The Conference was well attended, and we were delighted to see a number of students present.
Eleanor McCloskey, CND