News from Visitation Province
10th International Conference on Ageing and Spirituality:
Challenges and Choices: Dignity and Spirituality in Later Life – June 4-7
It was a delight to gather in person, to connect with persons from around the globe, including 10 Sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame from Visitation Province, and to explore together topics of great interest. Our days were filled with keynote speakers and dialogue, engaging workshops, field trips, contemplative landscape, and nutritious meals and conversations. Our days were also ‘spirit filled’ with in-depth, intercultural, innovative, experienced researchers, teachers, practitioners and eager participants. The richness of the conference stimulated each of us uniquely. It will take reflection time, creativity and collaboration to seed new opportunities at home for wellbeing and meaning from what we learnt
A collage of HOPE: increase connectivity, recognize strengths, create awe, offer wholistic spiritual care, affirm personhood in the face of decline, tell a new story about faith communities and dementia, dying has its own wisdom-who knows what you want?
On my first day walking in downtown Waterloo, before the conference, a homeless woman
and I caught one another’s attention; she offered me only one sentence. “Grandma, I ain’t
done yet!” I would say she summed up generously a final message for all of us: We ain’t done
yet!! Gratefully,
Nina Glinski, CND
Michelle Good, author of the well-known novel Five Little Indians, has a new book out; it’s called Truth Telling. She offers seven essays that spell out, clearly and strongly, with hope and optimism in acknowledging the efforts we (settlers and descendants) have made, what needs to continue and what has not yet begun. She invites conversation, not confrontation, as she shares how colonialism continues to influence our institutions and the lives of today’s Indigenous Peoples.
“It seems so daunting, looking at what is needed to set things right. And it is,” she writes. “But I look at the tremendous successes Indigenous peoples have achieved…. When I was asked recently if I am hopeful about the future, I replied, ‘How can I not be’?”
Eleanor McCloskey, CND
A Welcome Visitor at Mary of Peace Community in Montreal!
On June 5th, after a three-year hiatus zootherapy made a comeback at Résidence Bon Secours. The Mary of Peace Sisters enjoyed their time with this cute and friendly pug. They played fetch with him, provided treats and tender loving care. Joyfulness filled the room!
Carmie Rizzo, Co-coordinator
