Going Electric

Our Sisters of St. Joseph’s London, Ontario LEED building with its emphasis on everything sustainable, recyclable, and reusable is now over thirteen-years-old.  We compost and shun plastic bottles. Recently, we became a Blue Community, espousing water as a human right and all that such an endeavor requires. Since the 2007 opening of our residence, our staff has embraced these climate-friendly efforts and often practice them at home.

Victoria, RPN

Last week, as I sat comforting a dear friend in our care centre, Victoria, one of our RPNs, announced that she and her husband Josh are awaiting the arrival of their newly purchased electric car.  Her excitement was palpable as she thought about the amount of time and effort that they put into making this decision.  After explaining that the 2021 Ford Escape electric SUV is somewhat more expensive than a fuel-driven vehicle, she stated how important it is for them to invest in this electric model due to ever-increasing climate change.

Victoria eagerly outlined the unique features of the couple’s new purchase. As is no surprise, the vehicle needs to be plugged into an electric outlet every night.  A full, all-night charge provides 380 kilometers of carefree travel.  Of course, the battery is recharging during driving, braking and coasting.  Not only is the Escape pollution-free but it’s gas-free as well.

Victoria’s new vehicle has another neat, new technological feature.  The SUV is so quiet, that it has a beeping reversing signal system especially for pedestrian awareness.  In addition, if the electric vehicle driver follows too closely to the vehicle ahead of it, an automatic braking system will be activated.  For yet another perk, this SUV can parallel park by itself!  I have no doubt that when the happy couple finally receives the much in demand electric Ford Escape in February, even more exciting features will be revealed. 

Well before Victoria and Josh considered purchasing an electric vehicle, they were already eco-friendly and reducing their carbon footprint. They use reusable grocery shopping bags plus reusable mesh bags for produce.  A Culligan water filtration system eliminates plastic bottles.  Stainless steel straws are a must and conscientious recycling, has reduced weekly garbage from three bags to one.  A composting initiative is on the horizon.

Victoria reflected that over the past five years, gradual adjustments to daily living have benefitted the couple’s lifestyle. They know that they are working to reduce climate change and create a healthier environment for their future children and the earth. Happy motoring Victoria and Josh!

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

Winter Solstice 2020

IN THE DARKNESS, BE THE LIGHT!

The cycle of the seasons includes times of darkness and times of light.  Winter Solstice is associated with renewal, a time of rebirth of the Sun and Light.  The first day of winter, December 21st marks the time of the year when the darkness will give way to the light.  Together with all creation in our Northern Hemisphere, we remember that the longest night of the year is a sign and a promise that the sun will lengthen our days once more.  In this Advent season, we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ who is “the true Light, the Light of the World.” 

In the beautiful prologue to John’s Gospel we read: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”  The theme of darkness is a common thread running throughout the course of our lives.  Even our body was formed in the darkness of our mother’s womb.  When we were born, we passed from darkness into light.  In fact, I was born on the Winter Solstice and light and darkness are part of who I am.  Since birth, I have had an inoperable cataract on my right eye.  While I have vision in my left eye, I do not have sight in my right eye.  I was given the precious gifts of sight and light and not total blindness and darkness.

Some of my most treasured memories of growing up near Lake Huron include the awesome sunrises and sunsets which continue to speak to me of God’s faithfulness.  When a thunderstorm was brewing, my Dad, siblings and I gathered the animals into the barn.  In the safety of our cozy farmhouse, we watched fascinating lightning streak across the tumultuous sky.  Even today I feel deeply safe and secure amidst the storms of life.  God’s embrace shelters me in the depths of my being.  When I witness a rainbow arc across the dark sky, I am filled with delight remembering God’s covenant with us.

In the cool of the evening, after the work was done, my family would often relax in the backyard gazing at diamond-like stars in the summer night sky.  Sometimes we would catch a glimpse of fireflies flitting around us.  During an annual retreat, fireflies became symbols of faith and hope flickering in the darkness.  

People too can be tiny sparks of light bringing hope to others in their stormy night skies.  I remember light-filled people who have made a difference in my times of darkness.  We carry our greatest treasure within us.  It is the Christ-light which will forever shine.  It is an inner radiance which lights our way home to God.  Let us trust the Christ-light; it will never fade.  This 2021 let us be light in the darkness!

-Sister Kathy O’Keefe, csj

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2020: O Key of David

On the fourth Sunday of Advent King David comes into special focus.  The first reading is just one of the prophecies where God promises David that the Messiah will be his heir, as in this excerpt,

And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'” (2Sam 7:12-14)

In the gospel, God is shown to fulfill this promise, after one thousand years, as the angel Gabriel announces God's request to Mary to be the Mother of the Messiah,

"Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk 1:31-33)

Moreover today, December 20th, in the O Antiphons, Jesus is hailed as Key of David. What is it about David that was so important then?

We could say that of all the Jewish kings, it was David who is featured in a heart to heart relationship with God. Throughout his life, he is shown to reverence God in a personally intimate communication with God and God with him, through the prophets.  David’s reign is held up as an ideal, one of faithfulness to the Lord, protection of all the people, extending justice and mercy. Despite all his flaws and his sins, David’s immediate recognition of them and his sincere repentance from the heart, are all part of his sincere love for God.

These prophecies of a Son of David, to sit on his throne, seemed so difficult to maintain in the peoples' oppression, and poverty and yet they remained a sacred hope. Now, after a thousand years, Jesus the Messiah was to enter our world and take the throne of David his father.  The joy of Christmas is on our doorstep!

As the Key of David, Jesus opens up our full inheritance as God's children to join him in bringing about the Kingdom of God that is peace, love, care for all, forgiveness, and new life, far surpassing what could have been imagined by his devout ancestor King. Come, Lord Jesus!

-Sister Wendy Cotter, csj

Contemplative Sitting Network Reflection

I wanted to share with you this article written for the Institute of Contemplative Sitting Network from Sister Nancy Sylvester, an IHM Sister from Michigan.

-Sister Pat St. Louis, csj

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Bruno Barnhart was a Camaldolese monk who died in 2015. In his book The Future of Wisdom, he states, “The Christian history of the past two thousand years has been characterized by a continual tendency to reverse the event of the incarnation and separate once again the divine and the human, Trinity and humanity, God and Creation.” 

David Bohm was a physicist, in fact, one of the most significant in the 20th century, who died in 1992.  He said, “What is preventing mankind from working together….is a kind of thought that treats things as inherently divided…Each part is considered to be essentially independent …It’s similar to a virus…a disease of thought.”

In this time of COVID19, we do well to remember every time we sit in contemplative silence, alone or with others, we are generating antibodies to the above “thought disease” of both church and society.  Intentionally dwelling in oneness with ourselves, others, Earth, and the Divine, however much we are assaulted by thoughts or other distractions, we are in fact about immersing our consciousness in the source of ultimate unity.  We imbibe the correcting antidote.   We experience the unification of ourselves and our fractured Universe.  The Christ is once again being reborn in both ourselves and our world.

-Margaret Galiardi, OP and Nancy Sylvester, IHM

Reprinted with kind permission from Nancy Sylvester, IHM Detroit, MI.    

The Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue is offering 3 programs via Zoom in January, February, and March 2021. To learn more about the newest program, click here: Enter the Chaos: Engage the Differences to Make a Difference.