News from Visitation Province
The Sisters in Toronto came together to begin the Christmas season by creating 100 Blessing Bags to be distributed to our unhoused sisters and brothers in the city. All the Sisters in the city, (including visitors from Bedford!), were involved in some way with the resourcing, gathering, preparing and the distribution of the bags through community agencies.
Each Blessing Bag contained hygiene items and a handwritten card of blessing for the recipient. We hope that receiving this little gift will remind our sisters and brothers that they are seen and loved. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!
Debbie Warner, on behalf of the Toronto Sisters
Preparing for Feast Day Liturgy
Mass for Shut-Ins sponsored by the Congregation of Notre Dame Sisters and Associates in celebration of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys’ Feast Day was taped at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church, Cabot Street Sydney, NS, December 16th. Father Bill Burke, presider, shared the legacy and trust our foundress had in God. Music was provided by choir director Associate Lorette Campbell of New Victoria and the St. Leonard’s choir. Sister Simone Abbass and Associates Theresa MacNeil and Alexa Smith were our readers.
Following the liturgy, Associates and Sisters gathered at Simeon’s Restaurant for conversation.
This Mass will air at 11:30 on CTV Mass for Shut-Ins January 7th, 2024. (Access on YouTube – Mass for Shut Ins, Diocese of Antigonish.) Dianne MacAskill, Associate Coordinator
Bethlehem is closed this Christmas
This year there will be no Christmas in the city that is synonymous with the birth of Jesus. Last month, Palestinian leaders of Christian denominations came together, and because of the war in Gaza, made a unanimous decision to cancel public celebrations. The Church of the Nativity was built in the fourth century by the Roman Emperor Constantine. It is usually packed, with long line-ups. Not his year. We pray this situation is temporary and one day, there will be peace.
Osama Al-Alli, a Muslim taxi-driver, misses the annual tourists at Christmas-time. “But I am praying for peace, for Israel and Palestine to come together, he says.”
Eleanor McCloskey, CND
Movie Recommendation
Past Lives is a semi-autobiographical romantic drama directed by South Korean-Canadian Celine Song. It starts in Seoul with two close twelve-year-old friends who are separated when the young girl’s family immigrates to Toronto and she moves later to NYC to pursue a writing career. After 12 years the two friends connect for awhile online. Twelve years later she is married and her childhood friend who has never forgotten her comes to NYC to see her as he still remembers their close friendship of 24 years previously. It’s a good story, well-acted, captures aspects of the immigrant experience and as the title suggests the reality of relationship memories of “past lives” don’t fit into current realities. Parts are in Korean with English subtitles.
Kathy Kelly, Associate