News from Visitation Province (Canada)
Members of Conversations of the Heart group in PEI met via ZOOM: Many of us grew up — at least in religious life — hearing and saying, "The only constant in life is change."
Sunday, I allowed myself to unite with others to participate, at age 83, in a virtual Congregation de Notre-Dame meeting. That is a change for me! I saw and spoke with members of our Conversations of the Heart group as we did our sharing for our General Chapter. We were a ZOOM group!
Some members had experience using this medium. Not me! I accepted some tutoring and then risked it! To be truthful I felt anxious.
Now that I have done it once I know I will be less reticent next time and I also know there will be more times. We are now being called to live in a different world. A new normal will be our daily bread. Our Foundress faced them and so will we, for the fuller and new life of our planet.
Alice Long, CND
Let us remember in prayer all residents of Nova Scotia as they mourn the loss of their relatives, friends and people they didn’t know personally who died during the tragic events of April 18-19, May God, Mary and Marguerite Bourgeoys journey with them during this very difficult time.
Marjorie Allison-Ross & Theresa Ann MacNeil, associate co-coordinators in the East
Praying for the victims
The sisters of Mary of Peace residence have been praying very especially this week for the victims of the mass shooting in Nova Scotia. To assist them in their contemplation and prayer, Lina Farinaro prepared a lovely prayer table for the sisters. It consists of: a Red Maple Leaf for each victim (one which has an RCMP pin attached for the slain Mountie who died), a picture with shoes and boots, a piece of plaid tartan material, a picture of Nova Scotia with a cross on the shore, a vase of flowers, and a candle.
Donna Kelly, CND
Happy 400th Birthday, Marguerite Bourgeoys!
Undaunted by Corona Virus limitations, all the Sisters at Providence Motherhouse in Kingston joined with the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame in celebrating simply and joyfully the 400th anniversary of St. Marguerite’s birth. On Friday, April 17, while maintaining the prescribed social distance, all present at the noon meal shared in the festive atmosphere honouring our beloved foundress. Sister Pat Arsenault began by sharing excerpts from the thoughtful letter from Pope Francis in which he sent his sincere congratulations to the Congregation and encouraged us to continue the work of Liberating Education begun so long ago by St. Marguerite. This was followed by Sister Eleanor Monahan, accompanied on the piano by Sister Rita Gleason, SP, singing two of her own compositions: the first, “The Birth of Marguerite,” and the second, a new song composed on the General Chapter theme, “Together for the Life of the World.”
Eleanor Monahan, CND
Celebration at the CND Health Care Centre
On April 17th sisters at the CND Health Center in Sydney gathered to celebrate the 400th birthday of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. A poem by Sr. Louise Finn was read, followed by a prayer to St. Marguerite. Each sister lit their 400thanniversary candle in recognition of the occasion.
Arlene Rutledge & JoAnn MacLean health care coordinators
April 17, 2020 – Happy 400th Birthday Marguerite Bourgeoys!
Celebrating Marguerite Bourgeoys 400th at Residence Bon Secours started with a 9 a.m. celebratory announcement by Sr. Claire Bouchard. Then, an 11 a.m. French service which consisted of Praise and songs. Also, an English translation of Sr. Denise Lamarche’s text was read perfectly by our Sr. Dorothy Maher. (Special thanks to all those who helped, participated, wrote, translated, edited the text and made sure the day went smoothly). Lastly, later that afternoon, the Magnificat was a central part of the festivities.
The sisters were all in their individual rooms viewing the Chapel channel and listening attentively. Lunch was accompanied with wine served by the hard-working préposées. All the Sisters of the Résidence were gifted a handmade paper daisy creation by the Resident Artist, Sr. Margaret Guay. These decorations were displayed on each Sister’s front door. Pretty portraits and delicate daisy decorations adorned the corridors and dining rooms on all the floors prepared by the community workers. We felt Marguerite all around us!
We learned that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, extended his congratulations to the Congrégation de Notre-Dame via a letter which included an apostolic blessing and signed it simply, François!
May God bless you Marguerite, all the CND’s and all the staff.
Carmie Rizzo, health care coordinator
April 17 – Zoom Associate Meeting: Associates from Truro, NS, Woodstock, NB, and Fredericton, NB got together for a Zoom Birthday Party for Marguerite Bourgeoys. 20 members, including Sister Eleanor and Sister Karen, joined in, through computer, iPad or telephone. We took time for prayer, Gospel reading, music, petitions for our world, reflection on a few specifics from Marguerite’s life, followed by individual sharing. We concluded with singing Happy Birthday and a virtual blowing out of candles on a cake in Truro! 2nd cake in Woodstock! Thanks to Anna Rowley for organizing our event!
Eleanor McCloskey, CND
EARTH DAY 2020…continued.
Beautiful photos of Earth, Our Common Home, were circulated on April 22.
A picture showed Planet Earth as a tiny speck suspended in a sunbeam against a backdrop of empty nothingness. Like no image before or since, the Pale Blue Dot underscored just how tiny our home planet – the only place in the universe where we know for certain life exists – really is. "That's here. That's home. That's us," begins Carl Sagan in this powerful three and a half minute video about the image. "Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives." – Carl Sagan
Eleanor McCloskey, CND