ARCAN – Atlantic Religious Congregations Associate Network
Atlantic Religious Congregations Associate Network consists of associates and sisters. It began in 2002 “to support the relationship between associates and sisters.” The 2017 ARCAN Conference will take place June 2 & 3 at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. Presenter will be Dolores Hall. Theme is “Greening Our Hearts: Christian spirituality today.”
Registration required by May 1st, 2017.
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and share with associates and sisters from other congregations in Atlantic Canada. We hope to see the Congrégation de Notre-Dame community well represented at the conference.
Global Teacher Prize nominations
Maggie MacDonnell, niece of Sr. Margie MacDonnell, CND is one of 10 teachers from around the world to be nominated for the Global Teacher Prize. The prize, established by the education charity Varkey Foundation, highlights the importance of teachers while awarding the top educator with $1 million US. Nominees will attend the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai in March, where the winner will be announced.
Maggie has always been interested in the way sport and recreation can improve many aspects of a person’s life. When she was asked to develop a life-skills program to improve school enrolment for the Kativik School Board in the arctic region of Quebec six years ago, she did much more by establishing fitness programs as well. In a community where the risk of developing diabetes is high and youth suicide is a concern, she wanted to teach kids healthy coping strategies. Maggie worked with the municipality to build a fitness centre that is open to adults and the local schools, and she started a running club to keep kids motivated. The runners are now the faces of the Healthy Choices tour, visiting schools across the region to offer peer-to-peer presentations about issues of mental health, addiction, dropping out of school, and using physical activity to help overcome some of these challenges. The runners are gaining new skills of leadership and public speaking in the process. If Maggie wins, she said she would establish non-profit runs and environmentally-focused programs for northern youth. Visit website www.globalteacherprize.org/top-10-finalist/maggie-macdonnell
Lenten Reflection
CND Associate Sharon invites us to see the loving God as always searching for ways to reach through to us. Blessed Lent!
A reading from the Book of Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7.
I have listened to the story of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace from varying perspectives over the years, as a child, a parent, and now a grandparent.
The Parent in me echoes:
Never take candy from a stranger!
Be home by 10.
Don’t text and drive.
Just say no!
Don’t eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
