News from Visitation Province
On Feburary 13, 2023, Theresa Ann and I had a beautiful visit with Sisters at the Health Centre in Sydney. Our Sisters are so happy to see the Associates since COVID had many restrictions on visitors. Our Sisters are in good health and happy!
Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit inspire and sustain us this Lent in our ascent with Jesus, so that we may experience his divine splendour and thus, confirmed in faith, persevere in our journey together with him, glory of his people and light of the nations.
Pope Francis said it best this week when he said:
Do you want to fast this Lent?
Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
A new campaign this year began on Ash Wednesday and ends on Solidarity Sunday March 26, 2023. The broad theme is CREATE HOPE and this year Stand for the Land, in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the Global South who are defending their homeland by protecting their land and water, the environment and human life. Your donationssupport projects that transform lives and communities.
Visit www.devp.org/lent/resources for materials and please give generously this Share Lent!
Monthly Rosary is held every third Wednesday at Parkland Cape Breton.
The New Victoria Associate group has been offering this spiritual time of rosary and music followed by lunch for over 11 years. The Congregation de Notre-Dame Sisters and residents join in this sacred time. During Lent the Stations of the Cross will be held.
Sydney Mines Associates held their monthly meeting on February 8, 2023.
Prayer and Scripture readings followed by group sharing on Sister Joan Lewis’ Lenten Reflection. A delicious lunch was served by Theresa.
Mass for Shut-Ins to honour the Feast day of the Visitation, will be taped at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church, Sydney, N.S. on May 13, 2023 with celebrant Father Bedford Doucette who is also the Producer of Mass for Shut-Ins. This is a special time when Sisters and Associates celebrate the Visitation of our Blessed Mother with her cousin Elizabeth. Readers are Sister Eileen Roach and Associate Geraldine Walker.
Please arrive no later than 10:00 am for a start time at 10:30 am. The viewing for this mass will take place on May 21, 2023 CTV at 11:30 am.
Pope Francis made a heartfelt appeal for peace in Ukraine, saying that the threat of war had caused “great pain in my heart.”
Throughout these twelve months of war, Pope Francis has always asked not to forget the martyred Ukrainian people, to find ways of dialogue and peace. Gestures, tears, words, appeals, questions to not resign oneself to war and to not remain indifferent.
After saying a few words about the war in Ukraine, the pope invited those present to pray with him.
Prayer
“Holy Father, who art in heaven, look at our miseries, look at our wounds, look our pain. Look also at our selfishness,
our petty interests, and the capacity we have to destroy ourselves,” he prayed. “Heal us. Heal our hearts, heal our minds,
heal our eyes that they may see the beauty that you have made and not destroy it in selfishness.
Sow in us the seed of peace. Amen.”