News from Visitation Province
Dream Catcher Workshop, Woodstock, NB
Saint John the Baptist Parish in Woodstock, NB hosted a presentation on February 21st on the topic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Pamela Mantour from Fredericton was invited to speak about the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. She included information about “Red Dress Day”, May 5th, the day that recognizes the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Red dresses are displayed outdoors, i.e. hung on clotheslines or in trees. The empty dresses serve as a symbol of the lives that have been lost. At the end of the presentation, Pamela showed the 21 women gathered for the presentation how to make a Dreamcatcher. Woodstock Associates, Ellen and Marjorie, participated in this event. Ellen and Marjorie, along with Mary and Myrna and other parishioners are involved in the Parish Truth and Reconciliation Committee. This Committee is in the process of planning a Kairos Blanket Exercise for late April. There is also a plan to offer the Jesuit developed resource, “Listening to Indigenous Voices: A Dialogue Guide on Justice and Right Relationships” later this year.
Marjorie Allison-Ross, Associate
Friday, March 1, World Day of Prayer
The World Day of Prayer is generally celebrated on the first Friday of March. World Day of Prayer is a prayer movement that invites us to enrich our faith experience with the experience of Christians from other countries and cultures and to bring hope to women touched by injustice. Each year, a different country writes the service materials. This year (2024), the writing committee is Palestine: “I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love” Ephesians 4:1-3.
Experiencing Interculturality
Sisters at Parkland were privileged to attend the very special 5th birthday of a young Sikh child, the son of one of our employee. We met several members of the Sikh Community who gathered for this event. Indian culture, music, dance and especially food were part of this very rich experience. This was a happy time for CND’s and Sikhs alike.
Retreat at Parkland
Sisters enjoyed a three- day retreat led by Father Damian MacPherson. We were pleased to have these days of reflection and prayer. Coincidently, there was a group of square dancers entertaining that day so we ended up the retreat by attending, and some of us participating in a square set.
Simone Abbass, CND