Associates at Area Day Meetings with the General Administration
Associates were well represented at the area days. The picture depicts Associates, Sisters and members of the General Administration in Wilton, CT. An Associate commented that she felt most welcome and “felt love, gratitude and experience of sisterhood for being with the Sisters and Associates”. One Associate commented that “experiencing face to face the openness, acceptance and appreciation of the General Leadership for the Associates was affirming and positive”. Associates valued the prayer, sharing and connecting with Associates from different areas. The slide presentation on the history and development of the Congregation presented by the General Administration was a learning experience and much appreciated. “The courage and grace that runs through so much of the Congregation’s history continues today in the lives of Sisters and Associates”. At Wilton, Sisters Agnes Campbell and Danielle Dubois, who are the liaisons of the General Council with the Associate Relationship, were invited to spend additional time at the end of the sessions with the Associates. The conversation was marked by keen listening and openness and willingness to look together at sustainability issues for the future of the Associate Relationship.
Take Action on Climate Change
Sisters and Associates on PEI joined together in Summerside, in Stratford and at Andrews in Charlottetown to catch the excitement generated by the Climate March in New York so well expressed by Monica Lambton, JPIC Coordinator, in her presentations. It wasn’t hard to catch the fever but it was also evident that this is a very overwhelming crisis. We were encouraged and challenged, however, by Monica’s ability to connect all this to Marguerite’s call to us to be committed “at least among ourselves” to do what we can to address the climate change issue as well as other interconnected issues. Another highlight of her trip was her visit to the Chaplaincy Center at UPEI. We were warmly received there by Sister Susan Kidd and appreciated the participation and interest of the students as they assessed the ramifications of Climate Change. We were particularly pleased that Rob Dennis, Chair of the Religious Studies Department, Anne Brathwaite, Chair of Diversity and Social Justice Studies and Carolyn Peach Brown, Chair of Environmental Studies, joined us. We have been left with much to think about.
Associate Relationship News - Coordinators Visits in Nova Scotia
We are reporting on the visits that we made to some of the Associate Groups in Nova Scotia in September. All the groups were so hospitable and welcomed us into their homes. They are also excellent cooks – we enjoyed birthday chocolate cake, biscuits, squares, breads, jams at their gatherings! Yum Yum!
Our first visit was in Truro, NS, at the home of Joan Fraser on September 14 in the afternoon. Six Associates were able to attend. In addition to prayer and their regular meeting, they celebrated the Truro Associate September birthdays. As it turned out, it was Roby Barrett’s birthday! At the September meeting each year, one of the Associates brings red roses (one for each Associate) in honour of Sr Anne Gillis, CND, who always gave each Associate a rose on their birthday.
Standing: Mary Lou Chaisson, Marjorie Allison-Ross, Trudy Cox, Bev Brazil, Joan Fraser. Sitting: Anne Marie MacDonald, Roby Barrett.
