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NEWS AND EVENTS
A Day of Celebration
In a moving ceremony within the celebration of the eucharist, Sister Mary Rowell made her first profession of vows before members of our congregation, relatives and friends. The theme of light permeated the liturgy as candle bearers and "starlight" led the entrance procession. Before the celebration began, Sister Mary lit a candle in memory of her former novice director, Sister Marilyn Meraw, who died in March, 2006, and "in gratitude for the love and generosity of all our deceased sisters, families and friends whose fidelity makes today's joyful celebration of profession possible". The homily, given by Sister Kay O'Brien, CSJ (Boston), in keeping with the theme of the epiphany, centred around "The Story of the Other Wiseman" by Henry Van Dyke. In this beautiful tale, Artaban spent thirty years searching for the King, and over that time gave all he had to help the needy. Faithful to the light that had been given him, he found deep peace. Through this story Sister Kay called us to rejoice with Mary in the journey that led her to profess her vows as a Sister of St. Joseph, and challenged us to live, as Artaban, with love and reverence for all.
Before she pronounced her vows, Sister Mary's readiness to live the vowed life was joyfully attested by the Director of the Novitiate, Sister Gloria Theobald. Sister Joyce Murray, General Superior, accepted her vows in the name of the congregation, and Sister Mary received a ring as a symbol of her wholehearted commitment to God, and of her single-minded service of her neighbour, and a congregational medaillion as a reminder of our call to unity in love.
At the close of the rite of first profession, Sister Mary was affirmed by those present, not only with applause but with a formal statement of gratitude, support and encouragement made first by the Sisters of St. Joseph in attendance, and then by her family and friends, and the Associates of the Congregation. All were invited to our dining room where 125 sisters, associates, friends and family joined Sister Mary for a festive dinner.
NOVICE RECEIVED INTO CONGREGATION
Many of our sisters gathered at our Motherhouse on August 28th, 2005 to take part in a private ceremony at which Mary Rowell was formally received into the congregation. In a simple but profoundly moving ritual of prayer in our chapel, Mary asked to become one of us, was accepted by Sister Joyce Murray, General Superior in the name of the congregation, and received a copy of our Constitutions and our community symbol. After the ceremony Sister Mary was congratulated at a reception in our dining room.
SUMMER GATHERING AT MOUNT ST.JOSEPH, PETERBOROUGH
From July 4th to July 7th, our sisters gathered at the Motherhouse in Peterborough. From various ministries across western Canada, from Zambia and from the far East, we came together to celebrate our 115th anniversary, to reflect and dialogue on our call as CSJ's in today's world, and to continue a process of strategic planning for the future. Carol Zinn who is our CSJ representative at the United Nations facilitated a 3 - day conference: CSSJ MISSION AND CHARISM for the GLOBAL NEIGHBOURHOOD. She challenged us and associates who joined us to live in our world as global neighbours, to receive wisdom from the universe, to recognize the mystical nature of our charism and to take the steps that lead to prophetic action. In a spirit of unity on the final day, we came to the difficult decision that we are called to let go of our beautiful motherhouse, and we left this gathering with a spirit of trust and hope for the future.
 SISTER MARGARET PELLETIER RECEIVES AWARD
During their annual convention , Kinark Child and Family Services honoured Sister Margaret Pelletier on June 15, 2005 for her contribution to their Northumberland programme. A quotation from her recognition award reads as follows:
Her unselfish attitude and constant desire to give to others has been a wonderful gift for our clients. Sister Margaret has been pivotal in providing a supper to the families who are enrolled in our incredible Years group, ensuring all are nurtured through this time together. She also provides support to the children in the group and demonstrates unfailing enthusiasm, humour and caring. Sister Margaret has a contagious perspective on the value of life and the beauty of the human spirit.
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 JUBILEE CELEBRATION
On Saturday, June 11, 2005, relatives and friends joined our community to honour six sisters who marked significant milestones in their lives as religious.
Our jubilarians were as follows: Sister Kathleen Corkery who celebrates 70 years in religious life, Sisters Noella, Mary Harris, and Vianney , 60 years, Sister Isabel Heffernan, 50 years and Sister Linda Gregg, 25 years. They led our sisters present in a renewal of commitment at a moving Eucharistic celebration, were thanked for their faithful service by Sister Joyce Murray, General Superior, who spoke for the congregation, and enjoyed a festive dinner with many invited guests.
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ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE IN BARRIE
The Peterborough congregation was well represented at the Associate/Companions Conference in Barrie as 38 of our sisters and associates formed part of the 180 that gathered to celebrate in ritual and conversation the gift of our common charism. Noted theologian and historian, Sister Patricia Byrne, CSJ Baden facilitated the study of significant documents of Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ written for our founding sisters in the 17th century. For a further description and photos of this rich and enjoyable gathering, see What's New at www.csjfederation.ca
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| EVENTS TO COME |
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Trafficking of Women and Children
A workshop to learn, pray, discuss, strategize around this global issue.
Saturday, November 19, 9.00 -4.00 p.m.
Mount St. Joseph, Peterborough
Facilitators:
Sr. Frances O'Brien, SP and Barbara Baker
To register:
please call 750-1688
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Community Days
West: November 3, 2005
Edmonton, AB
East: November 10, 2005
Peterborough, ON |
 September
Congratulations to The School of Hope
In the September issue of Today's Parent Magazine, The School of Hope was chosen as one of the Top Forty Great Schools in Canada! The magazine received more than 600 nominations from across Canada and then chose 40 schools that shine because of their teachers, special needs programming, community involvement or uniqueness. Identified in ten categories as a result of research from a panel of 60 educational experts, including principals, counsellors, teachers and parents,
School of Hope placed in the "One of a Kind" category. Congratulations to The School of Hope and to Sister Irene Baker, who teaches in this virtual school.
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September 9-10
100 Years of Heart- Saskatchewan Centennial 2005
More than 300 Sisters who had served in Saskatchewan gathered to
remember and celebrate the contribution of Catholic sisters on the
occasion of the 100th anniversary of this province.For a full description
of this festive occasion, please see A
Celebration of Ministry on Our
Mission & Ministry page. |
 October 9, 2005
Sister Patricia Cavanagh featured in Catholic New Times
In a well written article by Rosemary Ganley, Assisant Editor of
Catholic New Times, the title, Valiant Woman of the North,
sets the tone for a beautiful description of Pat's ministry in "the
world's largest land-mass Catholic diocese .... the size of the
province of Quebec." Pat speaks of her work in Yellowknife, NWT:
"I travel a lot - sometimes by small bush plane - to our 35 communities,
assisting with lay leadership development and sacramental preparation.
We also bring lay leaders here to our retreat centre on Trapper's
Lake for weeklong courses." Her comment: "In so many ways, it is
a woman-led church" is backed by a long list of women who have taken
on leadership roles within the church community. Congratulations
to Pat on this fine portrayal of her person and ministry, and thanks
to Rosemary Ganley and New Times for creating it. |
October 16, 2005
"Open House" at Afton Road
Sisters Helen Russell and Pauline Shea extended an invitation to our Sisters from the area to join them on September 16 in celebrating the opening of a new residence on Afton Road in Peterborough, ON. A large turnout gathered to enjoy the pleasant decor and the warm hospitality of their hosts, and to admire the result of their many hours of work that went into the transformation of this recent purchase by our congregation.This residence is to be a place of welcome for women who are considering significant life choices.
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 October 22
Associate Retreat - "Mary Through New Eyes"
Sister Helen Russell spoke of Mary (Miryam) as a Jewish village woman of faith, thoroughly human, a prophet and friend of God. She is a woman committed to life. Our world has a tragic history and Mary is in the centre of this tragedy. She stands in solidarity with the poor all over the world. Her faithful love and devotion to God was proclaimed by Mary's Magnificant of Acceptance in Luke 1:38. Mary was a woman of courage and liberation, and she brings newness of strength, hope and peace to today's world. She is our friend and inspires us with hope and confidence. Most likely Mary lived a very harsh, impoverished life. Her flight into Egypt is like that of so many refugees moving to avoid being killed. The loss of her son also parallels the lives of peasant women then and now.
After Sister Helen's talk we quietly reflected on some questions
and later in the morning shared our thoughts in small group discussions.
The afternoon session ended with a prayerful reflection using The
Circle of Mysteries by Christin L. Weber. In the chapel, Mary
Meade, a Nazareth associate, made her commitment to the Peterborough
CSJA's in a very joyful and reflective ceremony.
Submitted by Brenda Butchart, Nazareth Community
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November 11-13
Large Numbers Attend O'Murchu's Lecture and Retreat
More than 200 people crowded into the chapel at Mount St. Joseph
on Friday evening, November 11th, to hear a public lecture sponsored
by the Spirituality Centre, as Diarmuid O'Murchu, Catholic priest
and social psychologist, challenged his audience to a new understanding
of the human person in his presentation entitled Spirituality:
the Shifting Foundations. On Saturday and Sunday,
he continued to develop his theme, Evolutionary Faith:
Rediscovering God in our Great Story, for the 100
retreatants that filled the auditorium. Through a consideration
of such topics as Awakening the Dream, the Kingdom of God, Growing
in Faith and the Spirit Gives Life, O'Murchu provided an integrated
approach to the new paradigm, made use of his wonderful facility
as story-teller to illustrate his themes, and responded to questions
with a wealth of understanding of the vision he has embraced. Challenged
to "a greater awareness of God arising in the Creation story and
in human history", many participants felt enthusiasm and hope in
the light of this new awareness, and expressed their desire for
more gatherings on the theme.
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November 19
Trafficking of Women and Children
Saturday, November 19th saw a small band of determined and committed women gathered in the auditorium at Mount St. Joseph, Peterborough, to consider the ever growing phenomenon of the trafficking of women and children. The presenters were Sister Frances O'Brien, SP and Barbara Baker, an associate of the Sisters of Providence. Both women have worked for over ten years in the facilitation of justice groups in the Kingston area. They presented a day of prayer, input and discussion. Representatives from Development and Peace and the Catholic Women's League were present, as well as several of our Associates and Sisters.
The day began with stories that helped us to realize the magnitude and severity of the problem. We understood now how poverty is such a real cause of the trafficking issue. A power-point presentation showed us the economic, social and political realities which contribute to the increasing movement of young people captured for the purposes of the sex trade, organ transplants, drug trafficking and war. Rape, beatings and other forms of cruelty are commonly inflicted on the victims, as their passports are taken and they are left with no resources. They are instead burdened with an illicit debt to be repaid with their own immature bodies. The facilitators encouraged us to express our feelings of horror and revulsion, anger and sadness. "Disbelief" was a common word heard during the first discussion session. To combat the hopelessness of the situation, we looked at strategies for action against trafficking. Those included research, awareness-raising, prevention through education and reintegration through safe houses.
During our closing ceremony, we prayed for an end to trafficking; we celebrated our personal commitments by receiving a carnation which was symbolic of the young persons who are held captive each day in such great and appalling numbers. We ask that our congregations and our Associates continue to address this issue of injustice in whatever way possible.
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Celebrating a Century of Life!
About 60 people from her congregation, family and friends gathered at Mount St. Joseph on February 23, 2006 to honour Sister Catherine Levair on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Bishop Nicola de Angelis was among the local dignitaries present for the celebration. Sister Catherine who still comes regularly to her meals in our dining room has been a faithful member of the congregation for 75 years and spent 58 of those years serving in St. Joseph's Hospital, Parry Sound where she was in charge of nursing for many years. In her tribute to Sister Catherine, Sister Joyce Murray, General Superior praised her as a hard worker, eminently practical and one who has stayed interested in life.
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Nurses Celebrate Anniversary
Sister Mary Connelly was among sixteen graduates of the class of 1956 in attendance as they were honoured at the annual reunion of the Nursing Alumni of St. Joseph's General Hospital in Peterborough on April 29. This celebration also marked the 100th anniversary of St. Joseph's School of Nursing, founded in 1906 with a class of seven students, and continuing in operation until 1974. One hundred and eighty graduates gathered for the celebration which began with Mass at 3.00 p.m., followed by a social and dinner at 5.00 p.m. Among those remembered on the 45th anniversary of their graduation were Sister Alice Geneau and Sister Margaret Amyotte. Special activities organized for the 50th graduating class carried on until Sunday noon.
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Making a Difference for Women" Award
Congratulations to Sister Ruth Hennessey who received this award on March 1 from Soroptimist International of Peterborough! The award is presented to women in our city
who make a difference in improving the lives of women and children. Sister Ruth was nominated as a most deserving candidate "because she has dedicated her life to helping women and children from war-torn, corrupt and violent countries throughout the world , assisting them in rebuilding their shattered lives."
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