ALL SOULS DAY

Why We Remember…

Photo: Mercedes Bosquet

Today within the Catholic tradition and many other Christian traditions we remember those we have known who are not longer with us as we continue this journey.  In the Catholic Tradition we call this All Souls Day. And we often speak of them as being in the Communion of Saints.  The reflection below is adapted from Doris Klein, an artist and member of the Sisters of St. Agnes.  She writes:

“As we stand on the edge of this sacred journey, the layers of memories and stories [of those we have known and loved] become our teachers.  We wear a coat of many colours, woven of our days and nights of living and loving.” 

Those who are no longer with us have taught us in so many ways how to live and love and have added to the colours of our coat.  They offered us gifts of faith, trust, and courage, which are intertwined with our doubts and fears as we stand between what we have known and what is yet to be.  Today we remember each of them. Their faith gives us courage to continue.  They are our guides and mentors as we breathe into the centre of our being and touch the Wisdom of God offered us though their example and reaching our hearts.  For each of them, we give thanks.

-Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ

Saluting Hospice Volunteers

The days leading up to Thanksgiving formed an appropriate time for the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospice of London to pay tribute to their generous volunteers in a method that has become popular during the pandemic months.  On a sunny Wednesday morning, staff invited volunteers to a drive-by in front of the hospice area. 

As the volunteers approached the circular driveway, they were greeted by vivacious young staff members dressed as cheerleaders in bright green, waving green pom poms and displaying placards of praise and support.  They surrounded the cars and delivered words of praise and appreciation to the volunteers.  From their brightly colored stands, they offered special coffee and refreshments. The expressions of gratitude were graciously received by those who came to be acknowledged for their generous assistance.

The hospice organization and staff recognize that volunteers are crucial to the ongoing operation of underfunded hospices. They work at the reception desk and help in the kitchen area. They give direct support in the hospice wing and in the wider community.  They also take part in fundraising initiatives. Even the enclosed garden and grounds are thriving under the capable hands of volunteers. In fact, some volunteers are giving back to hospice in appreciation for the care given to a family member who spent his/her final days in hospice.

Volunteer appreciation day was a beautiful occasion for staff to reach out and recognize people who see how they can make a difference. They put their plans into action.  Volunteers make a city a strong, vibrant, caring place to live.

Thank you for bringing your generous spirit to St. Joseph’s Hospice of London!

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

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St. Joseph’s Hospice of London is our neighbour here in London, Ontario. To find out more about the incredible work they do, you can visit their website here.

A Fine Fall Fair

Ilderton’s Fine Fall Fair

Who can resist attending a fall fair on a sunny October Saturday?  Apparently, not Sister Florian and me as we found ourselves driving a short distance north of London to attend Ilderton’s Fall Fair.  Although I didn’t meet the town’s famed Scott Moir of ice dancing fame at the little gas station as I did several years ago, I did see his, and dancing partner, Tessa Virtue’s names emblazoned on the large arena wall as we neared the fair venue.

Already, at 10:30am, the entrance lineup was forming as excited children were eager to run and take part in the day’s events.  Florian and I headed to the large agricultural building where we were welcomed by happy volunteers. Looking around the venue, we met a couple of interested llamas, an Angus cow and her calf as well as several other animals.  One large wall featured a display of quilting patterns alongside information booths and huge implements.  Upon leaving the building, we jumped to attention with the loud, formidable bray of a nearby donkey.

The enticing aroma of grilled hotdogs and hamburgers whetted our appetites to partake of traditional fall food fare.  As we sat at picnic tables alongside the food pavilion, we were awed by the obvious fact that fair day is family day.  Happy, enthralled children sat with their loving, attentive parents. Many were infants and toddlers. I know that Ilderton is a growing community and so many young families assure me of its continued growth.

Our final walk was through the busy Midway.  For a small-town fair, the number of vendors was considerable and the diversity of rides, amazing. A huge Ferris wheel and the stomach-churning, whirling, dipping octopus rides kept the young crowd in screaming hilarity.  Meanwhile, adoring grandparents took their tiny charges on a carefully turning teacup ride.  Since neither my companion nor I were brave enough to spend time in the air and our feet were tired, we decided to head for home.

Looking back, I marvel that after many decades, rural country fairs continue to survive even in the face of constant societal change.  Fall fairs speak to the strength of community ties and the resilience of local people who keep it alive.  They are a testament to the hard work and solidarity of rural neighbors and the timeless values of sharing and caring that are crucial for every age and time.

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj 

From a Grateful Heart

Thanksgiving is a special time of gratitude: vibrant fall colours, cool fresh days and nights, thoughts of family gatherings, and abundant fresh harvest. Rumi writes, ‘Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.’

Stop for a moment and say thank you for two gifts in your life right now. Life is full of opportunities, of gifts, it happens that sometimes we have the experience but miss the meaning.  This summer a group of meditators met each Thursday for prayer and community sharing.  Recently we commented on the peace and harmony we are experiencing during this time together.  One said, if only the whole world were praying like this how different life would be. Another commented, it feels like we know the secret for peace.

God gave us this beautiful earth out of love for our happiness.  Everyone desires happiness, and happy people are grateful people.  We live gratefully by becoming aware that every moment in our day is valuable, even those difficult and challenging.  Those times are an invitation to transcend self in the interest of the other and live a more mature and productive life. We know by faith that this is only possible with grace.  Jesus says, ‘apart from me you can do nothing’.  -John 15:5

Gratitude is a heart muscle that grows through use, and Meister Eckhart says,’If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that is enough.’

Guaranteed. Happy Thanksgiving!

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj

No News but Bad News

This has been a summer like none other. The world is full of doom, destruction, and agony given to us in living color, compliments of the media.  Most evenings, as I tiptoe to the tv and gingerly tune in to CBC’s The National, I ask myself, “Why am I doing this”?  As much as I want to learn what’s happening in our world, usually, I shield my eyes from the plethora of horrors unfolding on the screen.  By now, we know the routine by heart.  Hundreds of forest fires are blazing across Canada, the United States, and parts of Europe.  Floods rampage through cities and towns. Haiti is torn apart by earthquakes. Tornados blitz the Florida coast.  The fourth wave of the global pandemic is rearing its destructive head.  To add insult to injury, Prime Minister Trudeau has called a federal election for September 20th, seemingly oblivious to the fact that neither disgruntled Canadians nor screaming opposition parties want to go to the polls.

Lately, to save my sanity, I’ve been turning off the nightly litany of a world falling apart at its seams.  I hear myself sighing, “Where are you, God”?  In the silence, the answer appears.  “I’m right here beside you; I am with you always”. Always?  Yes, God always is living in us, beside us, and among us, even amidst the devastation we humans have created.  My faith tells me that this is true, and I believe it, but the road ahead looks ominous.

“God always is living in us, beside us, and among us, even amidst the devastation we humans have created”

We don’t need to spend our time looking back to why the world has arrived at this juncture.  What we need is for the governments of the world and rich countries to lay down their arms and stop the proliferation of weapons. Furthermore, we need people to live simply in harmony with Mother Nature to counteract climate change.  Until then, we’ll muddle along until we learn to subdue our great big egos which urge us to be something, to know something, and to have everything.

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj