News from Visitation Province (Canada)
Toronto Celebrating!
Sisters and associates have been visiting schools and parishes to speak about St. Marguerite’s life as we celebrate her 400th birthday. Here are a few of those experiences:
On January 10th Notre Dame High School celebrated St. Marguerite’s Feast Day: As part of the 400th celebration, Sr. Eileen Power spoke at the school Mass of Marguerite’s history and legacy. The Mass and reception which was attended by Congregation de Notre-Dame sisters, associates, staff, students, alumni and donors, celebrated “her spirit, courage, determination, love, light and compassion have been beacons for each of us as we navigate our careers either high school or professional.” (Sandy Soave, school chaplain)
"The St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Mass was an amazing experience that reinforced our school theme for this year "Do something." Sr. Power's speech gave me newfound motivation to keep helping others in 2020.” (Grade 11 student Maria Petersen)
REMINDER – A Guided Retreat is being offered at:
Our Lady of Hope Retreat Centre
67 Reid Road, RR#1
Stanley Bridge, PE
Date: June 8-15, 2020
Theme: My Life – My Gift
Director: Michelle O'Rourke
Retreat fee: $550.00 [Make cheque payable to Marguerite Bourgeoys Centre]
This retreat is jointly sponsored by the Congregation de Notre Dame and the Sisters of St. Martha. Michelle is a native of Chatham, Ontario. She has years of experience in nursing, parish ministry, hospice and more recently in facilitating workshops and retreats. She and her husband are parents of four grown sons.
Please register with Sister Joan Marie Chaisson at jchaisson@cnd-m.org
On January 11th, a presentation on St. Marguerite was given by 3 associates at St. Pascal Baylon parish
January 13th saw a presentation at the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School given by another associate trio. Students also received charms at this presentation.
Submitted by the 400th Steering Committee
Book Recommendation
No Ordinary Time: A Book of Hours for a Prophetic Age. In seeking a resource during these weeks of what we call “ordinary time,” I came across this book by Jan Phillips (2011). Ordinary time is generally understood to be those times in which we live our lives, with neither special feasting nor fasting. Jan, in this book, invites us to look at a wider understanding. “These are no ordinary times,” she writes. “We are witnessing and participating in an evolutionary leap unlike anything in our history.” The Book of Hours has been helpful since the Middle Ages for daily spiritual practice. Christians adopted the Jewish way of praying during the day, and over time, hymns and prayers were added – antiphons, poems and readings. Jan offers her poems and reflections, her prayer, her woman’s wisdom. The “form” is a bit different. The product is our t of the ordinary.
Eleanor McCloskey, CND