The Third Sunday of Advent

The Responsorial Psalm for the liturgy of the Third Sunday of Advent carries the theme for the day.  In fact, Psalm 146 outlines the reason for this holy season because we are promised one who will teach us about the transformation of all the ills of a society.  Today, more than ever we need to cry out again and again, “Lord, come and save us.”

Psalm 146 (7-10)

“It is the Lord who keeps faith forever,

Who executes justice for the oppressed;

Who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind

And lifts up those who are bowed down;

The Lord loves the righteous

And watches over the strangers.

The Lord upholds the orphan and the widow,

But the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,

Your God, O Zion, for all generations.”

Lord, come and save us.

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen/Unsplash

Psalm 146 is a powerful declaration of God's character and compassionate actions, emphasizing His faithfulness, justice for the oppressed, provision for the hungry, liberation for prisoners, healing for the blind, support for the weak, love for the righteous, protection for foreigners, and care for the vulnerable (widows/orphans), concluding with His eternal reign and a call to praise Him. (AI Summary)

Standing in More Than One Place

Standing in More Than One Place — at the same time.

In 2009, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie presented a TED talk that made the rounds in social media. It was called The Danger of a Single Story and reflected on how seeing from only one point of view or from one cultural context creates a very distorted story of the whole. Certainly, the work of the Truth and Reconciliation experience or Black Lives Matter or the Feminist movements agree with Ngozi Adichie.

There is also its opposite which might be called the Challenge of Holding More than One Story at the Same Time.

Enter 45 year old Mandy Gull-Masty who is the current Minister of Indigenous Services in Canada.

She was elected Deputy Chief of the Cree Nation of Waswanipi during which time she held portfolios in finance, housing, mining and administration.

In 2017, she was elected Deputy Grand Chief of the Cree Nation government.

By 2021, she became the first woman elected as Grand Chief of Grand Council of Cree Nation government representing Cree People in Northern Quebec. During this time she expanded protected lands, advanced a moose conservation initiative, revitalised Cree language and culture as well as promoted transparent governance and economic planning.

Naming all these positions, lets us see clearly that she is well rooted in the story of indigenous history.

In what seems like a sharp turn in the road, she is now part of the liberal caucus that is negotiating an oil pipeline. Many, though not all, indigenous leaders are opposed to such a move.

Ms. Gull-Masty, from indications so far, is a grounded, astute and very articulate leader. Is she perhaps a newer generation of leader learning how to navigate the complexity of more than one story at a time? Is she perhaps a leader who will find a path toward integrity each step of the way?

The building of a new pipeline is not a given yet. The most interesting part now are the conversations, the various points of view, the engagement that is hopefully authentic. It is simply not clear where it will all land.

I for one will be cheering for Ms. Gull-Masty in all the twists and turns yet to come.

 -Sister Margo Ritchie, csj

Image: Javier Allegue Barros/Unsplash

Second Sunday of Advent

At the beginning of the year, Pope Francis opened the Jubilee Door to the pilgrims of the world to begin a Jubilee Year of Hope.   

Today on this Second Sunday of Advent, St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 15:4-9 focuses our attention on Hope.  The reading explains how the early patriarchs adhered to Scripture.  The Scriptures encouraged them to be steadfast in their faith so that they “might have hope”.  They lived their lives hoping for a promised Messiah who would bring them lasting peace. 

In Matthew’s Gospel, John the Baptist is roaring in the wilderness “You brood of vipers. . . bear fruit worthy of repentance,” when he sees the Pharisees and the Sadducees coming to him.  John, the last of the ancient prophets, proclaims that the one who is to come will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire”. 

Jesus was the fulfillment of the promises given to the patriarchs.  Jesus came so that now we might live in harmony and praise the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one voice. 

We are not there yet. 

We still need “hope”, an energy that keeps us consciously engaged, alive and moving forward and at the same time keeps us patiently waiting, desiring, and longing.  For what?  Do we even know? 

To live energized by hope and love could be the fire that makes us one earthly family, living in peace and harmony desiring the good of the other and sacrificing whatever it takes to sustain that “peace on Earth to all people of goodwill”.  May our human family soon turn to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Teilhard de Chardin’s life discoveries considers love and hope as necessary energies moving the cosmos forward to greater consciousness and unity. 

Hope is a reminder that a longing/desire has not yet been realized.  Therefore, like Teihard we can agree that hope is an energy and that it keeps us consciously engaged, alive, and moving forward. 

Years ago, Henri Nouwen gave a series of meditations on The Spirituality of Waiting and showed how all the people in the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel were waiting in Hope—Zacharia, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon.  

Jesus has fulfilled the promises given to the patriarchs.  Jesus came so that now we might live in harmony and praise the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one voice.   

We are not there yet.  We still live in hope.  During this season of Advent we are waiting, we are practicing living in hope by waiting in hope that someday soon we might live in harmony and praise the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one voice. 

-Sister Elaine Cole, csj

Images: wisconsinpictures/Unsplash

✨ A Feel-Good Story We Just HAVE to Share! ✨

Cafe Coordinator Tracey, with Jillian, one of the Socktober Sisters

✨ A Feel-Good Story We Just HAVE to Share! ✨
Meet Audrey and Jillian — lovingly known around our St. Joe’s Café as The Socktober Sisters 🧦💙

Seven years ago, these incredible young women first came to St. Joe’s Café with King’s University College volunteers. Even then, their hearts were already set on helping others. Their journey truly began when they noticed a guest walking into the café with no shoes. By the time they tried to help, he was gone — but the moment stayed with them. It opened their eyes to the challenges many in our community face every single day.

From that moment, Socktober was born.

Since then, Audrey and Jillian have:
🧦 Created donation bins in businesses across the city
🤝 Partnered with local nonprofits
🌆 Built beautiful community connections
💙 And collected over 14,000 pairs of socks for our guests here at St. Joe’s Café

And this year? They’ve outdone themselves again.
In October alone, they brought in 3,264 pairs of socks — their most successful year yet! 🎉

To Audrey and Jillian: thank you for your kindness, your dedication, and your giant hearts. Your work reminds us that even the smallest items can make the biggest difference.

To everyone who has supported Socktober along the way: thank you. One pair of socks may not seem like much, but to someone facing hardship, it can mean warmth, comfort, and dignity.

We are so grateful. 💛
Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it.

— St. Joe’s Café 🧦✨