Some of our Sisters in the Charlottetown area had the opportunity of attending the 27th annual Daniel O’Hanley Memorial Lecture held on Sunday, October 28, in Our Lady of Assumption Parish Hall in Stratford. The topic was “If You Love This World: Climate Justice and Indigenous Wisdom.” The presenter was Hon. David MacDonald, a well-known United Church of Canada minister and also a former MP. In the late 1980’s, he chaired the first House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment. As a United Church minister, he has also worked as advisor and facilitator in issues concerning our indigenous peoples. Our UN Sustainable Development Goals regarding the health of our planet are not being met, and the next few years are CRUCIAL. Our indigenous brothers and sisters have long cared for this Earth. It was most fitting that Dr. Judy Clark, a Mi’kmaq from Epekwitk, member of the Abegweit nation and Elder in Residence at UPEI, had been invited to respond and share the indigenous wisdom we have so ignored and are lacking today. The presentations ended with a fruitful question period followed by a time for entertainment and refreshments. It was a very informative and challenging afternoon.
When one door closes, another opens! For several years the Vocation/Formation Resource Committee has been hoping to have a community in Toronto which would welcome persons who wish to nurture their faith life and/or learn more about religious life. Today, we are delighted to tell you that our dream is becoming reality.
In the early new year, Marguerite Residence will become a House of Welcome. Many details remain to be worked out, but two members of our committee have agreed to get this project off the ground. Sisters Josephine Badali and Sheila Sullivan have agreed to take responsibility for this initial stage. As the project evolves, it is their hope to invite others to participate in this ministry. Please pray for this new mission.
The Fourth Annual Blessed John Henry Newman Mass and Dinner was held Friday, October 26, 2018. Like the previous three years, the Provincial Leadership Team bought a table local sisters and associates to attend with students. The theme this year was “Going Global with Faith and Knowledge” and 4 students shared their experiences of Honduras, Mexico and Malta. All excursions were the beneficiary of previous Newman Dinners. Also at the dinner were the four women from Visitation Place as Elizabeth was a speaker and Emily concluded the evening with song. Arranging the photo proved challenging with a lot of laughs and a few photo crashers but our perseverance was rewarded with this great memento of the evening. Having the four from Visitation Place in the same place at the same time was another perk of the evening.