Sisters and Associates on PEI joined together in Summerside, in Stratford and at Andrews in Charlottetown to catch the excitement generated by the Climate March in New York so well expressed by Monica Lambton, JPIC Coordinator, in her presentations. It wasn’t hard to catch the fever but it was also evident that this is a very overwhelming crisis. We were encouraged and challenged, however, by Monica’s ability to connect all this to Marguerite’s call to us to be committed “at least among ourselves” to do what we can to address the climate change issue as well as other interconnected issues. Another highlight of her trip was her visit to the Chaplaincy Center at UPEI. We were warmly received there by Sister Susan Kidd and appreciated the participation and interest of the students as they assessed the ramifications of Climate Change. We were particularly pleased that Rob Dennis, Chair of the Religious Studies Department, Anne Brathwaite, Chair of Diversity and Social Justice Studies and Carolyn Peach Brown, Chair of Environmental Studies, joined us. We have been left with much to think about.
We are reporting on the visits that we made to some of the Associate Groups in Nova Scotia in September. All the groups were so hospitable and welcomed us into their homes. They are also excellent cooks – we enjoyed birthday chocolate cake, biscuits, squares, breads, jams at their gatherings! Yum Yum!
Our first visit was in Truro, NS, at the home of Joan Fraser on September 14 in the afternoon. Six Associates were able to attend. In addition to prayer and their regular meeting, they celebrated the Truro Associate September birthdays. As it turned out, it was Roby Barrett’s birthday! At the September meeting each year, one of the Associates brings red roses (one for each Associate) in honour of Sr Anne Gillis, CND, who always gave each Associate a rose on their birthday.
Standing: Mary Lou Chaisson, Marjorie Allison-Ross, Trudy Cox, Bev Brazil, Joan Fraser. Sitting: Anne Marie MacDonald, Roby Barrett.
Grace, upon Grace, upon Grace... These words summarize a movement of God’s Grace in the Province’s 40WomenForward movement. It begins when Sister Ann Marie Strileckis offers to be a member of the Province Vocation Committee. It continues at the Summer Assembly at a lunch meeting of the Committee. Sr. Ann Marie mentions that she has had a group of young women who have been asking for “more” in their faith development. Sr. Mary Ann Rossi suggests Quonnie, the perfect place for this. These young women had been gathering with Sr. Ann Marie: hence the “Pray and Play” day at Quonnie. As a follow up to this great day, Srs. Ann Marie, Kathleen Dorney and Mary Ann Rossi traveled to Federal Court in Hartford to witness Mary Oo and her brother become citizens. Mary’s family is part of the Karen Community who worship at Sr. Ann Marie’s parish. Mary is also a student at St. Joseph’s University where Sr. Kathleen Dorney served as Campus Minister.
