Celebrating Two Paths to Nationhood

Canada Day is celebrated every year on July 1st to commemorate the birth of Canada as a country. It marks the day in 1867 when the British North America Act came into effect, joining three colonies — Province of Canada (which became Ontario and Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia — into a new federation called the Dominion of Canada. This event is known as Confederation.

Originally called Dominion Day, July 1st was a day to recognize Canada’s creation and the beginning of its journey toward becoming a self-governing nation. Over time, Canada continued to grow, with new provinces and territories joining Confederation and the country developing its own identity.

In 1982, the holiday was officially renamed Canada Day when the Canada Act 1982 brought Canada’s Constitution fully under Canadian control.

Today, Canada Day is a time to celebrate the country’s history, diversity, and shared values. It is marked by ceremonies, citizenship celebrations, concerts, community gatherings, fireworks, and expressions of pride in being Canadian.

At the same time, many Canadians use the day as an opportunity for reflection and reconciliation, recognizing that Canada’s history includes the experiences and contributions of First Nations peoples, Inuit, and Métis peoples, as well as the challenges created by colonization and past injustices.

Some people celebrate this day by attending a Pow Wow in recognition of our shared responsibility to forge a country mindful of its responsibility to create harmonious relationships with the Indigenous peoples of this land.

Canada Day is celebrated close to July 4th (Independence Day in the United States) because the two dates come from two separate historical events that happened around the same time period, not because one was created in relation to the other.

So, while the celebrations happen only three days apart, they represent different paths to nationhood: one through revolution and independence, the other through federation and political evolution.

On July 1st, I will proudly sing “O Canada, Glorious and Free” and “we stand on Guard for thee”, for it is so necessary in these days of chaos and land grabbing, to be ever vigilant and mindful that we ARE two independent nations with common values and rich connections that bring us together as having the potential of being true neighbours.

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj

image: Hermes Rivera/Hudson Thomas courtesy of Unsplash

Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, London, ON

Crowds don’t usually gather on a Monday at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London, Ontario, but on June 29th there will be great festivity, and a joyful celebration of the Church as we install Bishop Daniel Miehm as the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of London.

There is an interesting fact about this Feast of the martyrs St. Peter and St. Paul. The Anglican Cathedral – St. Paul’s is located one block from St. Peter’s Cathedral. The two parish communities have a practice of celebrating Evening Prayer together on this feast. So, on June 29th this added nuance of common prayer is expanded with the presence of representatives from the Anglican Diocese of Huron, the United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church.

As we consider the Installation Liturgy of Bishop Miehm, there are a number of ritual moments that reveal a more expansive understanding of the universal Church.

Once Bishop Miehm enters the cathedral, he will be presented with a crucifix which he kisses and then he will sprinkle the people around him with holy water. Receiving and kissing the crucifix is a reverent sign of the Bishop’s willingness to accept this particular call, in this particular place and time. The Diocese spans far and wide throughout southwestern Ontario, but the cathedral is positioned in the heart of the city of London, neighbour to the Anglican Cathedral, Metropolitan United Church, and First Baptist Church. Beautiful Victoria Park provides God’s abundant green space adjacent to these churches. In the year 2000, we celebrated a major ecumenical gathering on those grounds resonating with song, faith, and gratitude. The call of this particular place at this time perhaps proposes a synodal approach to ecumenism!

With the sprinkling of holy water, we are reminded that Baptism unites all of us in the one Body of Christ, here represented by the full assembly: laity, bishops, priests, deacons, ecumenical leaders. “There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so, we are formed into one body.”  (1 Corinthians 12: 12, 13)

When the Apostolic Letter of appointment is read, the assembly acclaims their acceptance and the bishop is ritually seated in the cathedra (chair). Now the fullness of the Body of Christ shines as representatives are presented to the bishop: members of various presbyteral and pastoral organizations, laity of the local church, representatives from the education system and health care institutions, youth and outreach personnel. Later as the bread and wine are processed to the altar, persons suffering poverty are remembered as a donation to alleviate homelessness is presented.

As the liturgy comes to its final note, the church has gathered, praise has been sung to our loving God, the Word has been proclaimed, intercessions have been voiced for the needs of the world, the banquet of Christ’s selfless gift has been shared. Now the gathered community goes forth to serve as Jesus with justice and compassion striving that one day “all may be one”.

-Sister Loretta Manzara, csj

The Significance of National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day, observed on June 21 in Canada, is a time to recognize, honour, and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, traditions, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the deep connection Indigenous peoples have with the land, waters, and all of creation, as well as the wisdom and teachings that have been passed down through generations.

This day also invites reflection on the experiences of Indigenous peoples, including the impacts of colonization, residential schools, discrimination, and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation and justice. It reminds all Canadians of the importance of listening, learning, and building respectful relationships based on understanding, dignity, and mutual respect.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is not only a celebration of Indigenous identity and resilience; it is also a call to recognize shared responsibilities in creating a future where Indigenous rights are honoured and where all peoples can walk together in healing, respect, and hope. 

It is with deep admiration and respect that I acknowledge the Indigenous and Metis peoples with whom I have been privileged to journey as we work together to proclaim TRUTH by facilitating the Kairos Blanket Exercise (KBE) together as well as providing other platforms for the Truth of the harms caused by colonization.

The resiliency of these wonderful peoples is admirable, and they certainly model a people who truly wish a better future for our world.

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, CSJ

On Wings of Wonder

Image: Sagar Kulkarni @sagarkulkarni/ Unsplash

Have you ever felt the whisper of butterfly wings nearby? It is a soft mystery that evokes wonder and delight. It is poetry written on a wingspan. The butterfly is known as a powerful symbol in myth and religion.

In early Christianity butterflies were a symbol of the soul – of spiritual transformation, conversion and life in Christ. In China, butterflies represent longevity and marital bliss. Indigenous wisdom relates how Hopi women of the butterfly clan wore their hair in a butterfly shape. Elders have said that when a butterfly appears in your life it may be calling you to change or transformation. Others have experienced the appearance of a butterfly as a message from a loved one who has passed. A momentary kiss of remembrance.

Yet these creatures remain a marvel of engineering and are unique in the universe. Did you know that butterflies are solar powered? When you see them resting with wings outstretched, they are “powering up” in the sunshine. As butterflies are cold-blooded creatures, they need to soak up the sun to warm their flight muscles so they can fly. But they are also unique in their ability to taste with their feet. Nature equipped them with chemoreceptors in their tarsi(feet). They can taste flowers by” walking on them.” This sense of taste allows them to determine if a plant is safe for eating or to find a suitable place to lay their eggs.

“... poetry written on a wingspan.”

Butterflies see multimedia in a way we humans cannot. They have two eyes, as we do, but they are compound eyes with many lenses enabling them to see in many different directions at once. They have up to 17,000 mini eyes with lenses to empower their vision. We thought our colour perception was notable with our 3 cones (colour receptors) but butterflies have up to nine cones for colour, including ultraviolet. They call us to expand our vision and evolve into a new creation. Our eyes have only just opened.

There are of myriad kinds and colours of butterflies, and they fulfill important roles in nature’s ecosystem. They are key pollinators for many plant species and moths particularly are unique in this role. We need butterflies for our sustenance and to remind us to pause for beauty. How have we silenced this wonder? How can we protect them?

These are critical issues which imperil their survival:

• Habitat Loss: Deforestation, urbanization, and land clearing destroy the native plants butterflies need to lay their eggs and feed. Nurture pockets of creation in your backyard or balcony.

• Pesticides: Chemicals used in agriculture and gardening kill butterflies directly and eliminate the essential host plants they rely on. Use organic garden methods & sign petitions against pesticides.

• Climate Change: Shifting weather patterns and rising temperatures can disrupt the timing of plant blooming and migration patterns, throwing their life cycle out of sync with nature’s harmony. Let us make small but critical personal lifestyle choices.

Yet at the heart of these marvelous and magical creatures there remains mystery and wonder. And an invitation into a sacred communion with all beings.

Butterflies universally symbolize transformation, rebirth, and spiritual evolution. Theirs is a remarkable journey—from an earthbound caterpillar to a chrysalis, and finally evolving into an exquisite, winged creature. Yet these fragile butterflies have the stamina to follow migration routes thousands of miles long. This reality can serve as a metaphor and the butterfly a personal guide for growth, overcoming hardship, and breaking old habits.

If today you feel the whisper of butterfly wings nearby, perhaps the Spirit has come to rest in your soul.

-Sister Linda Gregg, csj

Image: AARN GIRI/Unsplash

Love and the Environment

Outside the windows of my residence, I have witnessed this spring of 2026 as being a spring of many memorable oddities, spectacles, wonders, and disasters.

The pair of Canadian geese came back rather early to nest on the edge of our roof garden again.  Mother Goose sat on her nest for way over a month without hatching a single gosling.  This was odd and yet during her time on the nest there were hot days then snowy days and even a little hail on one occasion.

The wild turkeys are amusing with their flamboyant plumage and careful but intentional moves and behaviours during the mating season.  Usually, three birds travel past the dining room window.  Two males strut side by side with their tail feathers fully fanned while following a female sauntering slowly ahead or sometimes dashing out in front. They are huge birds and to see them fly into the trees where they safely roost at night is a sight to behold at sundown.

Every spring I enjoy watching the leaves grow on the trees turning quickly from a green fuzzy appearance to small then large leaves.  But this year was different.  The fluctuating temperatures this spring caused the leaves to grow slowly.

The fact that the leaves grew slowly had a ripple effect on the bird population.  Two robins chose the tree outside my window to build a nest.  Since the leaves took a long time to develop, I was able to watch the amazing architectural achievement right to the depositing of the four tiny blue eggs into the well-built nest.  Then disaster struck.

The disaster I witnessed took place on a cold, rainy, windy spring night when the mother robin was no longer able to protect her eggs from the wind and water and she was forced to abandon the nest.  The pair of robins assessed the damage, cleared out and cleaned up the nest, and proceeded to lay four more eggs as the temperature warmed up and the leaves began to grow larger.  Not long after the rebuilding and repopulating the nest with eggs, we experienced a tornado passing through the south of our city.  Once again, the mother robin had to abandon the nest, and the pair of robins haven’t been seen since.

Living so close to the environment and seeing the effects of changing weather patterns on the bird population has an emotional effect on me.  The obstacles faced by the nesting birds, the courage they demonstrated while protecting their eggs and the helplessness I felt as a silent observer, profoundly moved me.  Is it love?

-Sister Elaine Cole, csj

Images: Hannah Schulte/Unsplash; Elaine Cole