On Fire for Mission
Message from Sister Maureen MacIsaac, CND
On Fire for Mission" saw 63 associates and sisters gather at the Motherhouse on the Victoria Day weekend for the First Visitation Province Associate Assembly! The assembly began with a very beautiful and moving opening ritual. One could feel the love for St. Marguerite Bourgeoys and the strong desire for carrying out the mission. Sisters Ona Bessette and Josephine Badali led us through a process in which our hearts were inflamed. On Saturday evening, we were blessed to be able to celebrate a beautiful Eucharist at Bon Secours to renew our commitment and vows as associates and sisters, respectively. It was a joy to have witnessed and experienced such a spirit-filled assembly. I am sure that St. Marguerite was beaming! Heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our associate co-coordinators Anna Rowley, Marjorie Allison-Ross, Karen Volpe, Sr. Nancy Hurren and Pat Weicker for their vision and creative energy. How fitting that we gathered on the Feast of Pentecost as the Spirit was indeed present!
Photo: Sister Eleanor McCloskey
Summerside CND Associates gathered Monday evening, May 28, for their annual retreat and renewal of commitment. In a celebrative spirit Sister Eleanor McCloskey facilitated the session on the topic of “our common home” as called upon by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’ and as selected as one of our directions at the last Chapter.
On Saturday, May 12th, the Cranbook Associates were blessed with a visit from the provincial leadership team. Sisters Rebecca McKenna and Catherine Walker met with the Cranbrook CND Associates to bring Marguerite’s message of love for 2017—the result of a collaborative workshop between CND associates and sisters held during the CND Chapter in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The message was twofold: One, to take more of a contemplative stance and two, to respond in hope to the peripheries in our lives. After brief introductions, Becky, Catherine and Cranbrook associate Teresa Knight shared their personal reflections about the Chapter experience. The universal theme among their reflections was that of gratitude for the opportunity for both Associates and CND sisters to come together in prayer, song, deep listening, contemplation, and ‘play’ in the drafting of a new mission statement for the next four years.