News from Visitation Province (Canada)
West Kootenay Associates celebrate Marguerite Bourgeoys
One big highlight in the life of West Kootenay Associates is our annual celebration of Marguerite Bourgeoys on her Feast Day. When we gather on her feast, you can sense the elevated feelings of joy among us, especially as we enter prayer and song, and then afterwards a delicious pot luck meal. This year, with the restrictions, it was different, and there were a few twists but still how wonderful that Zoom permitted us to be together, we could see one another and speak to each other and it was with great joy that we shared a beautiful prayer service we found on the cnd-m.org website (created for Feast Day 2019). That prayer service spoke beautifully about Marguerite’s great trust in God despite difficulties and challenges. How fitting a reminder for us at the onset of 2021! In addition, we enjoyed some extra lovely touches to our celebration. For the first time, we welcomed into our midst our two Co-Coordinators, Teresa and Dolores! And we were able to welcome our former Associates Bill & Jacquie who also joined the group on that day and helped us celebrate, while adding to our joy! The pot luck feast was not possible, but only temporarily, as that will be the first item on our agenda when the restrictions are lifted. Happy Feast Day, everyone!
Maureen Wiley, associate
January 12th, 2021
Sisters and associates gathered at the Pastoral Centre in River Ryan, NS, to hear a presentation on Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si.’ Sr. Eileen Roach, CND, gave a wonderful account on this significant letter. This was the first of three sessions on Laudato Si’ that Sr. Eileen plans to present. We were also blessed to be able to come together in Visitation, this day being the Feast of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys.
Theresa Ann MacNeil and Dianne MacAskill, associate co-coordinators, Visitation Province East
Feast of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys
For the weekend, Mary Hanson and I put up an exhibit at the Church for the coming Feast of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys. We also prepared a Bulletin insert about Saint Marguerite. It feels so weird not to be making plans to gather for the Feast Day on Tuesday, January 12. Saint Marguerite is journeying with each of us as we continue through this time of pandemic. Marjorie Allison Ross, associate, NB
Feast of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys – Kingston
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys and all who have devotion to her, have been denied some elaborate and well-planned events due to COVID-19. However, she was surely pleased with the simplicity and depth of the celebrations in Kingston. To mark her special day, her statue and a beautiful floral arrangement stood in the Narthex of the Chapel greeting all who passed that away. The Mass of St. Marguerite was celebrated and Chaplain, Friar de Bono, spoke eloquently of her place in Canadian history and to the works of the Congregation of Notre Dame throughout the world. After Mass all went to the dining room where at each place was a special favour – a small plastic envelope containing cards of Marguerite, a pamphlet with the story of her life, and a 400th Anniversary pen. A simple and delicious meal accompanied by a glass of wine and ended with dessert a la carte. Several times throughout the day greetings and congratulations were offered by the Sisters of Providence and Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph. We were pleased to have these Sisters celebrate with us and that Marguerite is constantly the blessing of these three congregations united with such strong bonds.
Sister Barbara Prior, CND
Sister Violet Belair’s Legacy at Résidence-Bon-Secours
From Richmond, Québec, to the mother house in March 2020, subsequently to Résidence-Bon-Secours by June 2020 and now in God’s eternal embrace. Although your precious time with us at Résidence-Bon-Secours was brief Sr. Violet, you touched our lives. We praise God and give thanks for your sweet smile, kind-heartedness, thoughtfulness and gentle manner. Always demonstrating care and compassion for the other whether it be a staff member, a Sister or a neighbour. Consistently concerned whether someone was hungry or needed a nap or if her piano playing was disturbing her next-door neighbours. We have fond memories of you. You were appreciative of the movies, the lemonade served on the veranda after a stroll outside with Sister Monica McKenna. You loved your crosswords and word puzzles. The energizing melodies you shared with us motivated the Sisters to come out of their rooms and join in the fun! You were our own private piano player! Songs like «Jesus, Shepherd», «Precious Lord take my hand», «Christ, be our Light» to the funnier tunes «Zip-a-dee-doo-dah» and «Five foot two, eyes of blue», (that we would chuckle over). Ultimately, the last song was the prophetic, «Good night, ladies». Special thanks to all who prayed and are still praying for our Mary of Peace Community, all residents/sisters, frontline and all staff of Résidence-Bon-Secours. We appreciate all the courageous, hardworking préposées, nurses, doctors, caregivers, receptionists, community aid workers, administration, laundry, kitchen, and all support staff. Many thanks to the Red Cross.
Carmie Rizzo, Coordinator of Pastoral Care & Community Life, Mary of Peace Community
Webinar Invitation
Polluting water and then cleaning up the mess generates economic activity and is therefore counted towards economic growth, while protecting water is passive and is seen as economically static and therefore not contributing to our financial prosperity. If this sounds backwards to you, sign up to the Marilyn Waring, "Beyond GDP" webinar and explore different ways to measure our quality of life.
"From Crisis to Care: Reimagining Economics for our Common Home." This session with guest speaker Marilyn Waring speaking on "Beyond GDP" will be the first in the series. Even if you can't make the date, I encourage you to sign up so that you can receive a link to the recording which you can view when you wish. So far, we have over 250 registered from a variety of places – CND NGO Rep Sr. Pat Flattery and members of the Religious at the UN group, members of the social justice committee at the parish of a CND Associate and students studying sustainability at York University and the University of Toronto, just to mention a few. We will be a diverse group for sure! Don't miss out! Register here: https://tiny.cc/BeyondGDP
Monica Lambton, JPIC Coordinator