News from Visitation Province (Canada)
The folks at de Sève residence have weathered these past months of COVID-19 together… here we are! The occasion was the Feast of the Visitation and Pentecost, following the Mass we viewed from St. Monica's Parish in Montreal. We enjoyed lunch prepared by our weekend cook, Jeanne D'Arc. We have truly enjoyed some leisurely communal meals and meaningful prayer times these past weeks. Are we not fortunate? We keep each other in mind and heart as we ponder what our loving God is saying to us through all of this. Are we listening? Be well!
Kay Duffin, CND
Update on the Margarite Bourgeoys 400th Anniversary Retreat
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, time flies! It has been more than a month since we received the printed copies of the Marguerite Bourgeoys 400th Anniversary Retreat with possible suggestions of using this wonderful and inspiring material. Recently, the Visitation Province Spirituality Resource Group had a ZOOM meeting and shared the different ways the sisters around the province are engaged. There are a few ZOOM groups and some telephone conversation groups. There are some sisters who are anxiously waiting for “in person” sharing possibilities. There are others pondering the material personally. Also, some sisters feel that during this uncertain time we are living in, this is not the right time for them and are leaving the retreat for a later date in the coming year. There is no time limit. May Marguerite continue to inspire and guide us during this special year! http://margueritebourgeoys400.org/retreat/en/
The Visitation Province Spirituality Resource Group
Clara Nasello, Joan Lewis, Marijke Gerretsen, Nina Glinski, Mary Morris and Catherine Walker, PLT liaison
POSTPONED
Regretfully, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we announce the postponement of Sr. Catherine MacPhee’s 85th Jubilee celebration, which was to take place on Saturday, July 4, 2020. A future date has yet to be determined. Sr. Catherine’s spirits remain high as she looks forward to a future celebration.
JoAnn McLean, coordinator, CND Health Care Centre
Everything is connected at the roots
June is National Indigenous History Month – a time for all Canadians – Indigenous, non-Indigenous and newcomers – to reflect upon and learn the history, cultures, contributions, and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. There has been much focus on the fact that the Corona Virus is a more significant threat to people who are older with more fragile immune systems and to people with pre-existing conditions, because co-morbidity exacerbates the lack of immune response to the virus. Ecological activist, teacher and writer Bill McKibbon (co-founder of 350.org), says that “Societies, too, come with underlying conditions, and the two that haunt our planet right now are inequality and ecological turmoil.” We can see this in the racial injustice that has taken the spotlight in the United States and around the world in the Black Lives Matter movement, and in the serious fear with which isolated First Nations community regard COVID-19. Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations observed that “one fact is becoming clearer by the day: Inequality is a comorbidity and often determines who lives and who dies. This pandemic exacerbates the already dire circumstances in which too many of our people live.” Lack of access to clean water is one of the more obvious, and unfortunately, long standing examples of the inequality that First Nations people experience in Canada. There have been many reports highlighting these problems as well as calls to action to address the situation. https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/06/07/make-it-safe/canadas-obligation-end-first-nations-water-crisis The Pandemic only worsens this crisis of lack of access to clean water. https://canadians.org/analysis/fighting-covid-19-starts-universal-access-water-and-sanitation
With all of these issues inter-connected – inequality, racism, ecological crisis – we recognize that if we are to create real change, it will be necessary to identify root causes and take action. It is an opportunity for us to merge our commitment to Caring for Our Common Home with Going to the Peripheries.
JPIC Core Committee
Activity for This Week
Watch the film, “Reserve 107” https://www.reserve107thefilm.com/ (Canada) or webinar, “Damaged Heritage” https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/education/damaged-heritage (USA) that invite us to uncover personal connections to root causes of inequality and racism.
Movie Recommendations: Both of these deal with environmental issues
Dark Waters unfolds as a 20-year mystery for justice to occur. It is based on the true story of a corporate lawyer, Robert Billet, who uncovered the Dupont Corporation dumping of a dangerous chemical used in the making of Teflon products in West Virginia. The contamination resulted in illness, death and deformity in people and animals and the cover-up.
2040 is an entertaining and informative Australian documentary by the father of a young girl who travels to view current projects in different countries which are successfully reducing and capturing carbon. 2040 is the year his daughter will be 21 and is a positive look ahead to her future based on the possibilities these current projects present.
Kathy Kelly, Ottawa associate