Charism Connection

Associate Pin-crafted by artist, Marg Maheu CSJ Associate from Sarnia

In the Associate pin, pictured left, the heart is surrounded by deep roots, representing being rooted in God’s love; the tree symbolizes all creation (including humankind); the bridge in the centre expresses the desire of Associates/Companions to connect neighbour with neighbour and neighbour with God.

Recently, on Saturday June 17, 2023 some of the Sisters and Associates of the London Community of the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) gathered with family and friends to welcome four new Associate members.

Associates are lay women and men who form small communities to be contemplatives together and to share in a common mission, one of transformation in and through love.

In the morning, the candidates and team met to step back and prepare to take this final step towards full Associate membership.  

The Charism Connection Ceremony, held in the afternoon, was a joyful celebration.  This celebration is held as new candidates become ready to connect to journeying alongside the Sisters after a process of study and discernment.  

The Sisters and the Associates are drawn together by God's call to live by a Charism of 'unity and reconciliation'.   We recognize the oneness of ourselves, others, and all of creation with God.  We live this out in our everyday lives and in our ministries. We are enriched by regularly coming together in sacred spaces to share our experiences of God working in our lives.  Our practice of sharing the State of the Heart and the Order of the House keeps us on the path originally given to our CSJ ancestors.  

We Associates are nourished by living life in communion with God and the Sisters who give us strength to live counter-culturally in the world.  We are Eucharist for each other, and we are grateful.

-Jean Bowden, Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph

Interested in becoming an Associate or Companion? More info here.

Celebrating 100 Years with Sister Olga

Olga’s birthday cake with edible flowers

On April 20, 2023, our dining room was set in festive array to celebrate Sister Olga’s 100th birthday. The tables were adorned with white tablecloths and yellow roses. Nearby, on a long table stood an impressive display of congratulatory framed messages from Pope Francis, Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Being born and raised in Edmonton, the Alberta government agencies also sent official greetings to Sr. Olga.

Special guests included members of Sister’s family from Edmonton and Mississauga.  It was beautiful to see Olga engaged in lively conversation with two of her young great- grand nieces. In addition, close friends and our sisters filled the dining room as the party continued throughout the afternoon.

Heartwarming pictures of Sister Olga as well as accompanying documents, indicated the life of love and service that was hers. The photos attested to Sister  being a woman of love in action. As a young woman, she was a teacher and loved sports and many other activities. Sometime later, she joined the air force and served on the East Coast.  Before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph, in 1959, Olga earned a degree in psychology which later led to a doctorate.  This enabled her as a woman of great faith and compassion to pour out her love in varied service throughout her many years in ministry.  Included in her postings were teaching and counselling at Brescia College, St. Joseph’s School of Nursing London, Faro Yukon, McKenzie Diocese YK, and healing ministry among Indigenous peoples.

Sister’s final seventeen years of ministry were at London Psych Hospital where she ministered to vulnerable people in need of a healing presence and as Carl Rogers taught, with “unconditional positive regard”. This Sr. Olga did with gentleness, peace, and joy.  How wonderful to gather and praise our newest centenarian.

Congratulations, Sister Olga!

  -Sister Jean Moylan

Light Up the Night

On Dec. 1st as the bright, waxing moon looked down on our neighbours St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, a group of special people gathered outside the hospice to celebrate Light Up the Night.

Supporters of hospice, staff and people who had lost loved ones who had spent their last days within those loving walls, gathered to distribute lanterns in memory of their loved ones.  Amid brightly lit candles, a huge lighted LOVE sign, singing and camaraderie, the crowd sipped cocoa and joined in the activities.

Inside hospice, the doors were adorned with paper lanterns highlighted with names of deceased loved ones printed on them.  Some contained messages of love.  We Sisters who live next door to hospice, purchased two lanterns for the celebration.  One, for all the Sisters in our Congregation who have died this past year, and the second for all the women and men who are homeless on our streets and who have died this year.

Sister Ann pictured in the middle, between Hospice staff/volunteers.

 As we mingled with the colorful group, some sporting necklaces of flickering Christmas lights, we became part of a heartwarming event that praises the gift of life and gives thanks for wonderful hospices that provide supportive, compassionate care to those experiencing their final weeks of life.

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Pope Francis calls us to a Revolution of Tenderness this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Last year, Pope Francis announced a new celebration in honour of all grandparents and the elderly to be celebrated every year on the fourth Sunday in July.

Watch this beautiful video message from Pope Francis for the 2nd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be celebrated on Sunday, July 24, 2022.

Mohawk Institute - Public Virtual Tour

June was designated as Indigenous History Month in 2009 and June 21st, (originally named National Aboriginal Day) in 1996 and renamed in 2019, as National Indigenous Peoples Day. Both are becoming more meaningful. Greater numbers of Canadians are taking concrete steps towards meaningful Truth and Reconciliation through the righting and building of relationships with Indigenous Peoples. One of the concrete ways we can do this is through truth-seeking and self-reflection on the under-told stories of our shared history with Indigenous Peoples.

The Woodland Cultural Centre is presenting a public screening of the Mohawk Institute Residential School on Wednesday, July 20/22 and Wednesday, August 17/22 at 7 p.m.

The cost is a small donation of $10. Your donation will support continued virtual programming at the Woodland Cultural Centre and ensure that we can continue to deliver the highest quality programs centered on a Hodinohsho:ni worldview, celebrating, and sharing Indigenous cultures, languages, and art.

This virtual tour video was created with local production company Thru the Reddoor, and it follows the guide, Lorrie Gallant, as she gives a tour of the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School. During the video Lorrie provides the history of the institution over its 140- year history.

Viewers will get to see the different rooms in the school, from the girls’ and boys’ dormitories, the cafeteria, laundry room, and other rooms throughout the building, as well as hear interviews from five Survivors of the Mohawk Institute.  To view: Register Here

 -Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Credit: Text on Virtual Tour directly from https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/events/