Kingston Area Gathering
The Kingston Congrégation de Notre-Dame community of sisters and associates gathered at Providence Mother House in Kingston, Ontario last Friday, February 16. With great joy the group welcomed our process facilitators, Sisters Becky McKenna and Eileen McQuaid for an area gathering that would help each one of us own the Chapter Orientation and take that one small step forward in implementing it in our daily lives. Monica Lamton, JPIC coordinator for Visitation Province helped us unpack the word “peripheries” in a variety of ways. Our time together was dynamic, gentle, challenging and energizing. Words such as “intentionality,” “encounter,” “contemplative consciousness” opened the door of new possibilities for our personal and collective CND lives and ministry. How could we not end dancing to Linnea Good’s “How Then Shall We Live?”
I have been an Associate since the early 1980's. My first husband, Jerry Gauthier, was also an associate. He died suddenly on his birthday May 29, 1990. We have 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. I married again in 1997. My second husband died in 2008. I married for the third time in April, 2017. So, I have step children and step grandchildren. I never planned to marry a second time let alone a third but the Spirit brought these special men into my life. My Associate group, the Linden Group, Charlottetown PEI, approved both. Aha.
In addition to these grief journeys, I have been part of a team couple for World Wide Marriage Encounter and marriage preparation. I have also been a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. I have been involved in Ignation Exercises and sharing group. Also, I have been a team member for New Beginnings and Cursillo. Currently, I am a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society of St. Pius X Parish and a volunteer with Pastoral Spiritual Care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital where I visit cancer patients. I listen to patients, pray, read scripture, or just "be" whatever the patient and the Holy Spirit guides me to. I receive much more than I give! All these life experiences and the book studies I am involved in help me grow in the awareness that God loves me no matter what! He still has me under construction! ---Jeanne
Photo: Sisters Libby Osgood, Marie de Lovinfosse and Maco Cassetta
Inter-Novitiate Program
Dear Friends,
The Novitiate has been hopping since December with lots of activity, Visitation moments and intercultural experiences. We are truly in the “thick” of formation. We are feeling nourished by the many opportunities that validate the purpose of our existence in White Plains! It has been full and all good! While I will attempt to give you the highlights, know that this summary reflects the many journeys and some moments of encounter in support of one’s discernment of religious life with the CNDs.