What can we do to love our neighbour in this situation, to offer hope and kindness in this very uncertain and fearful reality?
• We can pray for those who are most vulnerable at this time, those lacking adequate employment or finances, people suffering great physical pain or loneliness.
• We can show our appreciation for health care workers whose load is now significantly heavier.
• We can sit with the contemplative invitation to consider how to “be” human, loving, Christ-like in this time of great uncertainty, vulnerability and fear.
• We can further expand our experience of communion through alternative spiritual practices, as the liturgy of the Eucharist is less available.
• We can observe the recommended protocols of our Government Health Authorities. The gesture of withdrawing from regular social contact (i.e. “social distancing”) reveals in a concrete way the depth of our care for the entire, interrelated community of life. For most of us, this way of being feels contrary to our identity as Visitation women. Could this restriction offer us opportunities to expand our understanding and practices of encounter?
On March 20th, Sr. Catherine MacPhee celebrated her 105th birthday with residents and staff at the Health Care Centre. Sr. Catherine is very grateful for all the cards, calls and best wishes she received. – Arlene Rutledge, coordinator CND Health Care Centre
Literally millions of people are faithful to this yearly way of joining in an environmental movement to show we care about the Earth. We shut off our lights for one hour – at 8:30 pm – or other time, if necessary, on Saturday, March 28. This is an opportunity for us to collectively speak up for the preservation of a natural healthy world. It’s also a time to reflect, with gratitude, on our “place and space.” We have abundance of water, clean air, good food, essential services and we enjoy natural beauty around us. Earth Hour is a good time to join with the entire world to appreciate the universal effort to care for Mother Earth.