News from Visitation Province (Canada)
Charlottetown Birthday Celebration-100 YEARS YOUNG!
June 10th was a very eventful day for our Sister Sally MacPherson. Her 100th birthday had arrived. It was also special for her sister Magdalene who is a resident here. Her brother George paid a visit in the morning. In the early afternoon, the PEI Sisters gathered in the entrance where Sally met them. She was greeted with a Happy Birthday song and the presentation of a beautiful poster. She was then escorted to the dining room where birthday greetings from Federal, Provincial, Diocesan and Visitation Province leaders were read and all the residents enjoyed cake and ice cream. In the evening, our community gathered, sang songs composed for the occasion, read special greetings from American and Canadian Sisters and enjoyed refreshments and socializing. We thank God for the gift of Sister Sally’s life.
Réjeanne Bourque, CND
Good news to share!
We did it! Thanks to all who wrote letters and signed petitions in favour of Bill C-15. Bill C-15 cleared the Senate Wednesday with a final vote of 61-10; nine senators abstained. This is a landmark piece of federal legislation aimed at harmonizing Canada's laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The UNDRIP bill was challenged by Conservatives in both chambers raising concerns about potential negative impacts of the legislation, particularly with regards to access to natural resources. Having the bill pass before a possible federal election (where the process would have ended and we would have had to go back to step 1) is a huge relief and cause to celebrate. It's a small step on the road to Reconciliation, but it is a solid step indeed!
Monica Lambton with the JPIC Core Committee
ROOTED IN JESUS CHRIST LET US CULTIVATE LOVE AND COMPASSION
Compassion is defined as the capacity to feel another’s pain and the desire to respond to it in a practical way.
In response to the pain of our wounded indigenous brothers and sisters, the Riverview CND Associates have sponsored a garden box in the Peter McKee Community Garden in Moncton, NB. The produce from this garden box will go to the food bank or a family in need. A sign will be posted close to our garden box. It honors Marguerite and is a memorial to the indigenous children who lost their lives at the residential schools. We hope that our garden will cultivate love and compassion for the survivors in their daily struggles. In the Spirit of Marguerite,
The Riverview CND Associates
"Blessed are You, our God, the Breathing Spirit of the world."
The recent breaking news of the 215 children's remains on the grounds of the Kamloops residential school lay very heavy in my heart and we know there is more to come. I felt displaced by this shocking news and needed to ritualize in some small way my solidarity with a grieving nation, world, and perhaps, all of creation. I was moved last week to make a pilgrimage to the Centennial flame and the memorial that was growing on Parliament Hill to honour these children. I remembered a treasured gift of tiny blue moccasins I had been given while in Cranbrook and carried them carefully as I set out on my journey. Crows, cardinals and sparrows encouraged me on my way. The Peace Tower area was under construction…that seemed fitting. Quietly, I contemplated the memorial gifts that had been preciously placed around the ever-burning FLAME…so many, so meaningful, and so moving!
There were people "visitations" I received: an indigenous mother and her precious son, a prayerful Jamaican man descendant of African slaves, an anxious woman clutching and playing her singing bowl which she left behind, a construction worker removing her hard hat and silently bowing, a trinity of African women whispering this unbelievable story to one another from a distance and MORE. Breathing Spirit, courageous Marguerite, associates and sisters, you were with me as my tiny blue moccasins found their new home in a new world coming to be. Our healing journey continues…
Nina Glinski, CND
CRC-JPIC Atlantic met in a virtual meeting June 14, 2021
Sabrina Di Matteo, CRC Executive Assistant, led twenty-some members from Atlantic religious communities in sharing on this question: Was there a particular challenge experienced during the pandemic? What project or accomplishment in your JPIC work are you most grateful for handling in the context of the pandemic? Everyone spoke, and the input showed similarities as well as diversity, and all positive! I think all of us left the meeting with great hope, with a sense of gratitude for all the action JPIC members undertake in our connections, and with more good ideas to add to our own. Next meeting will be in October.
Eleanor McCloskey, CND, for JPIC
Fredericton Award on June 1, 2021
Sister Charlotte Lockhart was presented with a Restorative Care Award in recognition of her “dedication, passion, and hard work.”
Charlotte Lockhart is a 100 year old RC participant. She has faced many incidents during her time here at Windsor Court, including a broken hip and a fractured pelvis. Charlotte has miraculously recovered from both incidents and is back at her baseline.
Charlotte is mostly independent and very cooperative in restorative care,
receiving it twice a day Monday-Saturday. After Charlotte’s pelvis break, she thought she would never be able to walk again but with her dedication and determination, she is now walking daily with us in restorative care.
We are so honoured as an RC team to be working with someone who is so dedicated to better herself. Not only are we honoured to work with her but proud to see Charlotte getting stronger every single day. Keep up the great work Charlotte!
Keesha Ouellette, Occupational/Physiotherapy
Sr. Norma Gallant, of Wellington PEI, is the Coordinator of Evangeline Community Consultation Group (ECCG). She was involved in creating a program for Seniors living in PEI, to help them deal with the difficulties of life during the pandemic. The program was called (Soyons BRAVE! Vivre autrement) Be Brave! Living Differently. Between Feb 26 and April 20 this project facilitated 28 small group meetings (79 people) across PEI. Some of the meetings were intergenerational, with grandparents, parents and children talking together about the difficulties of life during the pandemic. When restrictions prevented people from gathering in public places, the program shifted and took the form of “kitchen meetings” where people gathered in homes, according to the prescribed limits.
Norma was the facilitator and coordinator for the program. ECCG created a PowerPoint Presentation in French and English and put the presentation on USB keys, which were distributed to groups interested in following the program.
The following are some of the comments that were shared by participants of the program:
- We have lived a period of our lives where we had to stay away from family and friends.
- Grand-parents missed rocking their grandchildren, hugging and kissing them. Children missed grandparents visits and caresses.
- The loss of a close family member or friend by death during the pandemic is very hurtful. Delaying of funerals plays on the emotions of all concerned. Mourning/grieving continues for longer than we were used to.
- We must be BRAVE!
- We are learning to live differently … together. “Building bridges as we go forward.”
The Leave no one behind: Vaccine equity in the Global South campaign webinar was presented on June 15 by Canadian Jesuits International. It provided background and actions needed to make vaccines more accessible to people in low and middle-income countries. You can access the video and more information about the campaign at https://www.canadianjesuitsinternational.ca/campaign-for-vaccine-equity/
Mary Myers, Kingston associate