News from Visitation Province
Pre-Christmas Celebration in Sydney
On Friday, December 8, 2023, twenty CND Sisters, CND Associates and friends at the CND Health Care Centre, gathered at Holy Redeemer Convent for a Pre-Christmas Celebration.
After a warm welcome at the door, we were ushered into the Chapel for a beautiful Advent Prayer Service. Once again and to the delight of all present, the hymns were accompanied by Sister Elaine Hawrylak on the organ. This was followed by a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Not to forget Colleen’s decadent
plum pudding and heavenly sauce. The joyful atmosphere in the dining room was filled with lots of chatting, re-connecting and laughter. It was truly a lovely community experience.
Gwendolyn O’Neil, CND with the sisters of Holy Redeemer Convent
Christmas Gathering in Kamloops, BC
Greetings from Kamloops, BC: We celebrated Christmas with a potluck food and a potluck prayer service. A few times a year we bring to our gatherings a prayer, or quote or video or even song that has touched us. We enjoy doing this, it lets us grow closer as we learn more about each other. At our January meeting, which we try our best to hold close to January 12th, the Kamloops group always renews our commitment to Associate Relationship.
We still sometimes have hybrid meetings, so that is why I am on zoom and the rest are in person. Our next meeting will also be hybrid. We are trying something new, a Tuesday evening zoom meeting. We will be discussing “What does Marguerite mean to us”, with the prayer service being led by Roger and Dianne.
Teresa McKerral, Associate Coordinator
Feast Day Celebrations in PEI
CND sisters on PEI gathered in various places at different times to celebrate the Feast of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys. One celebration was at Holy Redeemer Church, a local parish in Charlottetown. Sister Alice Long and longtime CND friend Anne Marie (who shares a birthday with Marguerite) planned and decorated. Sister Alice offered words of welcome along with a brief history of Saint Marguerite. Other CND Sisters gathered later that day for a festive Chinese food meal.
Sue Kidd, CND
Feast Day Celebrations in the West Kootenays, BC
Janet & Maurice hosted West Kootenay Associates in Castlegar on Sunday, January 21, in celebration of Marguerite’s Feast Day… and “feast” we did, with a celebration pot-luck ham luncheon and joyful camaraderie, followed by time of prayer. A new experiment worked out for us whereby we connected with 2 Associates who were unable to join us — by way of video calling with our phones. After joyfully greeting each personally, they could then both could hear and participate in our prayer time as well! Ken, in this way, was also able to share with us from his recent trip to Montreal where he celebrated Eucharist on January 14 with Sisters & Associates at Bon Secours chapel. He also attended mass on January 12 at the Mother House, praying and connecting with many including Congregation Sisters from other countries. He could not speak highly enough of the fabulous hospitality he received, injecting us too with that same sense of being united with all, and adding to the pleasure of our wonderful celebration of the person of Saint Marguerite.
Maureen Wiley, Associate
Celebrating St. Marguerite at Regiopolis/Notre Dame High School – Kingston, ON
Celebrating the Feast of St. Marguerite is not just a day in Kingston, but a series of events. On January 17th Sisters Eileen McQuaid, Pat Arsenault and Rosemary Shannon joined the staff and students at Regiopolis/Notre Dame High School for their annual Mass in honour of St. Marguerite.
Arriving on site, three young men hurried out to our car to walk us into the building and entertained us until Mass time. Liturgy was celebrated by Friar Reto Davatz, OFM and the homily given by Fr. Michel Quenneville. The choir sang, the band played and over nine hundred students responded loud and clear to the principal’s invocation, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, “PRAY FOR US!”
A reception followed in the staff room where coffee and treats were served and we had time to chat with the principal, members of the Student Council and some of the teachers.
Rosemary Shannon, CND
Tea & Talk in Sydney, NS
The first Tea & Talk of 2024 took place on January 16, at Holy Redeemer Convent. Sr. Simone Abbass welcomed everyone to the gathering on a very cold morning. The women were all bundled up in this double- digit temperature and were ready to chat about their hopes and dreams for the new year. The lunch was provided by Horizon Achievement Centre, a Centre for adults with intellectual or various disabilities.
Dianne MacAskill, Coordinator