Last Fall we engaged in a book club conversation on Maria Cimperman’s book, “Religious Life for our World: Creating Communities of Hope.” The idea to have these conversations got started from our Provincial Chapter last June. One of the desires of the delegates was to engage more intentionally in conversations of the heart. At that point, I thought it would be a great idea to have a conversation around religious life and this book came to mind. A total of 24 sisters signed up to participate. What a great experience it was to share with one another on the book. It is my hope to offer another opportunity for conversation around religious life and our future. We are definitely at a crossroad and this moment in religious life has generated a lot of interest and energy around how congregations can adapt to what is been asked of us today as we respond to the cries of the world and cries of the earth.
"Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile,
In the warmth of your greeting--Don't only give your care,
but give your heart as well"
In late November, COVID numbers were pretty stable in Montreal. Plans were underway at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel to have two feast day celebrations – one in English, the other in French. We seized on this opportunity and were interfacing with the chapel team to include our Associate Relationship 40th anniversary celebrations and the welcoming of our new associates. What venue would be more fitting than Marguerite Bourgeoys’s Chapel, right?
The plan was set (a schola was recruited, readers, intercessions written, etc.). Just before Christmas, Omicron arrived, and daily cases went from about 600 to 16,000 overwhelming testing capacity. The government declared a shutdown, including churches, as of New Year’s Eve. So, we decided to take the whole celebration online. The result that you might have witnessed on January 15 on Zoom exceeded our wildest expectations. Not only was it dignified, prayerful, and intimate, it also allowed us to add many leaves to the eucharistic table, to bring so many of you who would most certainly not have been present had it been in-person. For that we are wonderfully grateful.