On October 27, 2018 at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough, the inaugural Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Awards event took place, organized by Honourable Maryam Monsef, the local MP and Minister of Status of Women, and featuring 54 area women who had been nominated. In the filled- to- capacity audience were a number of Sisters of St. Joseph as Sister Ruth Hennessey CSJ accepted from Maryam the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award for her notable contribution to refugee resettlement in Peterborough. In presenting this award, Maryam noted that she and her family were recipients of Ruth’s hospitality and care when they arrived from Afghanistan in 1996, and expressed gratitude to her and to the Sisters of St. Joseph for their generous response to newcomers. Ruth thanked the people of Peterborough for the welcome they have extended to new arrivals, and for the many ways in which this ministry has been supported.
Sister Ruth’s involvement with this work began in the 1970s as a participant in the local welcome to Vietnamese boat people. In the early 90s the congregation undertook to support a transitional house for refugees in Fort Erie, Ontario, and Ruth took responsibility for the occasional family who came to an apartment on the Mount property. Aware of the tremendous need, the congregation purchased a house on Downie St. in 1994 and Ruth was asked to take charge of this new ministry, known as Casa Maria. Here refugees were welcomed from any religious or cultural tradition, of any race, sex or social background. In 1997 Sister Ruth retired from teaching, and devoted herself full-time to the service of refugees. With the support of an advisory board, numerous Sisters and volunteers from the lay community who helped with fund-raising and responding to the many needs of the newcomers, this ministry flourished. Within five years two more transitional homes for refugees were added. Not only was temporary housing provided, but this ministry included assistance with legal processes, language training, schooling, obtaining health care and eventually employment and permanent housing. Sister Ruth’s passion for this work and her unflagging commitment to it has touched many lives in unmeasurable ways. Casa Maria Homes has welcomed more than two hundred people from almost every continent in our world, and a few of these who were present at this celebration were pleased to be recognized. In the recent influx of refugees from Syria and the Middle East to our area, Sister Ruth played a leading role, as new and ardent sponsors took advantage of her vast experience generously shared. With the standing ovation that accompanied this Life Achievement Award, the highlight of the evening, the audience acclaimed the choice of Sister Ruth Hennessey.
-Joan Driscoll, CSJ
Pictured above, Sister Ruth Hennessey with Maryam Monsef, MP