News from Visitation Province (Canada)

Summertime Event in Woodstock, August 19, 2020

Congrégation de Notre-Dame Associates gathered in Woodstock, on the pool patio at the home of Helen. We received two new Associates, Myrna and Ellen. Marjorie Allison-Ross led us in a prayer service that included a reading from Marguerite’s Writings, a poem from Janet Malone’s work, and an inclusive listing of prayer intentions ranging from local concerns to issues from the peripheries. Father Martin Arputham, newly installed pastor, was present to share in our celebration. He appreciated learning about Saint Marguerite and Congrégation de Notre-Dame Associates.

Bouquets of daisies were presented to the new Associates, to Helen, our hostess, and to the “out-of-town” Sister, myself.

Sister Eleanor McCloskey, CND

Looking ahead to 2021 – 40th Anniversary of Associate Relationship

Across the airways, highways and seaways the Congrégation de Notre-Dame Associates of NB, PEI and NS are living mutuality with our Sisters, mindful of the little shoot that sprouted in Marguerite’s garden in 1981 called Associate Relationship. Leaning on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, we live “visitation” as a community, proud to bring the charism of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys’s light to the next generation. We are a much alive group, prayerful in solidarity with everyone and with a desire to be of service to others, while trusting and embracing the future. We are very open to internationality with a global awareness of our world and the values of justice, peace and integrity for all creation.

Winnie Odo, Associate

Thanks to our Leadership Team for continuing to provide Occasional Papers from LCWR. The Summer 2020 edition seems especially timely. I particularly appreciated David Cinquegrani’s article, The Allure of What We Are Becoming, and the interview with David Whyte: Living and Leading from a Place of Immense Horizon.

David Whyte was the guest on CBC The Sunday Edition (August 14th). He was speaking about relationships; he believes the pandemic we are living through offers us a unique opportunity. "I feel this incredible worldwide intimacy is being created," he said. "All of us in years to come, we'll all talk about this time and we'll all be at dinner parties and in the pub and saying, 'What did you do during the pandemic?'"

Eleanor McCloskey, CND