Photo: Sister Saint-Alfred (Délia Clément) during the Spanish Flu epidemic, [Montreal, Quebec], [1918?]. Archives Congrégation de Notre-Dame – Montreal (200.100.018)
Spanish Influenza: Excerpt from Histoire de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame, Volume XI, book 1: 1900-1950, 1972, p. 35-37.
In 1918, throughout the world, and particularly in Canada, an influenza epidemic known as the Spanish Flu, brought grief to thousands of families and decimated the population. Because hospitals, doctors and nurses could not help all the afflicted, the Archbishop of Montreal asked the religious communities to organize free volunteer services for the poor and all who could not get help. A Circular letter from the Superior General called on the sisters in Montreal:
These months of COVID-19 and racial unrest have invited us to witness a new awakening to the systemic injustices in our society and to act consciously as Christ would want us to. We, CND sisters in White Plains, Cathy Molloy, Peggy Doyle, and Maco Cassetta, have responded to the cries of our neighbourhood by feeding the poor, connecting with parishioners who have been in isolation, and marching with our neighbours for equality because black lives matter. We stand in solidarity with the many who respond to the current call to care for our common home. On this 400thanniversary of the birth of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, we are propelled to go to the peripheries and respond in hope to the cries of our wounded world.
The folks at de Sève residence have weathered these past months of COVID-19 together… here we are! The occasion was the Feast of the Visitation and Pentecost, following the Mass we viewed from St. Monica's Parish in Montreal. We enjoyed lunch prepared by our weekend cook, Jeanne D'Arc. We have truly enjoyed some leisurely communal meals and meaningful prayer times these past weeks. Are we not fortunate? We keep each other in mind and heart as we ponder what our loving God is saying to us through all of this. Are we listening? Be well!
Kay Duffin, CND