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A Pentecost Novena: “Come, Holy Spirit” in Haiku Prayers
Fiery Spirit,
melt my frozen, stingy heart.
Thaw my ice-filled veins.
Prodigal Spirit,
pry open my fists, carefully
closed against your gifts.
Upside-down Spirit,
fill my overfull mind with
your foolish wisdom.
Journeys to Justice: Reflections on Canadian Christian Activism
Journeys to Justice
Sunday, May 20, 2018 7:00pm - 9:00pm
All Nations Christian Reformed Church, 2535 Robie Street, Halifax
News from Visitation Province (Canada)
Karri Munn-Venn, Senior Policy Analyst at CITIZENS for PUBLIC JUSTICE (CPJ) recently wrote to thank us for our participation in the Give It Up For the Earth campaign. The thanks belongs to each of you who took the time to make changes in your life to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and return the postcard to CPJ letting the federal government know that you want them to end all subsidies to the fossil fuel sector right away. Karri wrote, “We were thrilled by the number of organizers that participated. There were 150 of you in at least 80 towns and cities in every Canadian province, plus the Yukon. We also had a few participants in the United States. All told, nine major denominations were represented and nearly 20,000 post-cards were distributed. That’s almost double over last year!” The postcards will be delivered to Minister McKenna in the next few weeks and Karri will pass on the final tally at that time.
“You are called to care for creation not only as responsible citizens, but also as followers if Christ.” – Pope Francis
Anna Rowley
News from Visitation Province
Take Action to Protect our Waterways!
Five years ago, the former government removed protections from most bodies of water under the Navigable Waters Protection Act, now named the Navigation Protection Act (NPA). While campaigning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government would “restore lost protections and incorporate modern safeguards” in the Navigation Protection Act and other environmental laws. There will be a vote in Parliament on the new law - Bill 69 - on May 22. The Council of Canadians and other groups are concerned that the new law does not go far enough and does not fulfill the election promise. Please consider writing the Prime Minister, with copies to the Transport Minister and your local MP, asking for a stronger law. You can find more information here: https://canadians.org/media/groups-across-canada-urge-trudeau-government-protect-100-lakes-and-rivers
Monica Lambton, JPIC coordinator
Pre-Pentecost Prayer Service
Day 1
Opening Prayer:
Dear God, Creator Spirit, today we want to become more aware of Your place in our lives. Some people call You “the forgotten God,” because we usually pray to God, the Father or to Jesus, the Son. But You are the one who “overshadowed Mary” and made her pregnant with Jesus who grew within her womb for nine months. You are the one who lives in our hearts, making us holy—yes, we are holy because You are within us. Thank You for this and for each of the seven gifts You give us.
A Pentecost Reflection
(Article first published in the May issue of The Rhode Island Catholic)
Within the past few weeks there was an amazing rescue of a twelve year old boy whose foot got caught in a drain at a water resort. It was only a few feet of water but the boy’s head couldn’t reach the surface with his foot caught. A man jumped next to him and gave him mouth to mouth air for eight minutes under water until the emergency personnel freed his foot. The boy has recovered and appears to have no harmful effects of the ordeal aside from shortness of breath which is also improving with time...
Let Us Not Forget Honduras
Since the election of last November and the subsequent swearing in of the President this January, Honduras has been living a painful chaos, worsening again still after years of strife following the 2009 coup. The Congregation de Notre-Dame Sisters in Honduras issued a statement about the situation last November.
As we approach the 9th anniversary of the coup (June 28th), I invite you to pray for the people and the land of Honduras.
To Accompany in Joy and Hope
The first bilingual conference of the National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (NAVFD) took place in Hamilton, ON, from April 22 to 25.
The Congregation de Notre-Dame, Visitation Province, was represented by Sisters Sheila Sullivan and Josephine Badali, as well as Susan Kidd who was the facilitator. Tom Rosica, CSB, from Salt and Light, set the stage with a presentation on Youth Evangelization and the Synod. In an engaging talk, he illustrated how the topics of the last synods: The Word of God, New Evangelization and The Family, have prepared the path for this synod on Youth.
Official Visit to Japan
Photos of the official visit to Maria Province (Japan).Indian Horse
Indian Horse, is based on the award-winning novel by Richard Wagamese. The movie shows, with deep compassion, the long-lasting effects of the cultural alienation experienced in the misguided educational goals pursued in our country in the 60’s.
In a residential school, young Saul Indian Horse secretly teaches himself to skate and he learns hockey...
Associate Relationship
Announcement of new co-coordinators in Central and the West/North
We are happy to share that Jacqueline Fehlner from the Ottawa area will be the new co-coordinator for Central, while Dolores MacGillivray from the Calgary area will be the new co-coordinator for the West/North. Their mandate will begin August 1, 2018.
News from Blessed Sacrament Province
CND 150th In Waterbury 1869-2019 Liturgical celebrations
Saturday, September 8, 2018, 4:15 pm; Sunday, September 8, 2019, noon (the actual 150th) both at Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury. We are still in dialogue with Fr Ford as to how much input we can have in the parish's regular liturgy and will let you all know when we do! It is our hope to have contact with all the chairs of graduating class reunions of both Notre Dame Academy and Waterbury Catholic High School to help identify and invite the alumnae. Immediately following this year's liturgy, officially opening the year of celebration, we hope to gather in the church basement or hall to show the movie Stephanie and Marie Claire have produced, share a light informal lunch and gather information from alumnae. Ann Marie Strileckis, CND.
News from Visitation Province (Canada)
A Touch of History
Apparently on May 29, 1700, Sr. Marie Barbier, Soeur de l'Assomption, received what is believed to be the first mastectomy in North America. This procedure was performed by Dr. Michael Sarrazin at Hotel Dieu in Quebec. In Dr. Sarrazin's own words:
"No matter what option I choose, I see my Sister de l’Assomption in danger of an imminent death. If we don’t operate, she will surely die within a few days, since she is getting worse by the day; and to attempt an operation will nearly inevitably lead to her death, since there is hardly any hope that she could sustain it and even less hope that she could recover from it” Vallée, Arthur (1927). Un biologiste canadien: Michel Sarrazin 1659–1735
The operation was a resounding success, and Sr. Marie Barbier lived for 39 years, passing away at the age of 77.
Living Charity Volunteer Program June 23 - July 1, 2018
The Sisters of Charity – Halifax and the Congregation of Notre Dame are recruiting university students for the Living Charity Atlantic Volunteer Program.
Living Charity Atlantic is a nine day volunteer service program — an opportunity for you to participate in the mission of charity to those in need. Along with Sisters, you’ll have opportunities for hands-on experience of service, for reflection on justice and strategies for change, and for living and praying together.
Experiences include working with women and children, seniors and community centres.
The registration deadline is May 10, 2018.
Official Visit to Maria Province Sisters
April 22: Welcome Ceremony – Meiji Gakuen
Open House at the Mother House
Come and meet us!
News from Visitation Province (Canada)
Photo: Sisters Lorraine Costello, Regina McQuaid, Eleanor McCloskey, Eileen McQuaid, Marijke Gerretsen, Dolores Kennedy
Vocation Formation Resource team
"Do you remember the last time you opened a door? Probably not! Doors are a natural part of daily life. We rarely notice the movement of passing through the space they allow for our coming and goings.
Think of the physical door that is part of your life, particularly the ones since you awoke this morning. Undoubtedly there are many. A door can connect us to events and people.
This Sunday April 22 is World Day of Vocations. The Holy Father said 2018 is a special year for vocations, because the Synod of Bishops will reflect on young people, especially "the relationship between young people, faith and vocation." The pope invites us to open the doors of our lives reflecting on three aspects of every vocation: listening, discerning and living.
“VOCATION IS TODAY! THE CHRISTIAN MISSION IS NOW"
(Pope Francis)
Sisters Becky, Gwen, Joan, Jo, Sheila and Sue
Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day
Earth Day 2018: This year's theme is End Plastic Pollution. Individuals, groups and schools can get more information on the extent of the problem and concrete actions they can take at https://www.earthday.org. Montreal, Victoria and other municipalities have banned plastic bags and Vancouver and other municipalities are taking steps to ban single use plastics such as take-out drink and food containers. Plastic doesn't compost so "recycled" plastic ends up in landfill
Earth Day is probably the largest civic observance in the world now, observed in some 195 countries. This is a day to enjoy fresh air, contact with soil, and touching nature in some way. Gratitude for nature and a desire to appreciate the natural world help all of us to live with more joy.
Mission Day
This year, at the invitation of the General Council, the Congrégation de Notre-Dame’s Mother House sisters and staff assembled to celebrate Mission Day on the theme of “The Common Home.” This day, April 17, highlights the birthday of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, the Congregation’s foundress. What better way to wish her a happy birthday than to deepen our understanding of her mission?
Movie recommandation: Love, Simon
Love, Simon is entertaining, funny in spots and reflective at times. It’s a story about a young man – a rather privileged affluent teen, with a good home, a stable family, and a secret he hasn’t shared. He’s gay, and he lives with the not uncommon fear that he may not be accepted in society. The characters resemble people we teachers (and one-time students?) can recognize – the class-mates, the principal, the drama teacher, the kid sister – and we walk with Simon through his days of seeking to be his real self, even while he experiences a loneliness and a fear of revelation of that real self. Teachers, and parents of teens and tweens, would do well to see this film. The world is becoming more tolerant of differences and this movie is gentle, leading to a happy ending and an at-peace Simon, comfortable and confident in counting the days to graduation and whatever will come after that.
