Good People Make Good Things Happen

While I enjoy discussing such topics as sports and politics, I would not be a reliable source regarding true facts related to these two subjects. Teaching school has always been most fulfilling for me, but I would never claim to be an authority in Education.  And while secretly, and mostly for fun, I like to read articles and watch documentaries surrounding the mysteries of “The Paranormal”, I have yet to discover any astounding insights into this “realm of the unknown”.

However, there is a topic in which I do proclaim to be an EXPERT!  Yes, it is right here in our own home. We refer to it as our CARE CENTRE. Now while I am far from being a hypochondriac, the frequency of my “stays” in the Care Centre (a “break” here and a fall there) qualifies me to express my observations and feelings. So pleasant is the atmosphere and so complete is the care I receive, that I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

When first built, I believe this Care Centre was primarily designed for Retired Sisters requiring nursing care, but today any of us can approach a nurse, twenty-four hours a day or seven days a week.  A Sister’s problem could be as small as a toothache or as serious as chest pain and still she would receive full attention.  I have yet to meet a staff member in the Care Centre who indicates to me that I am inconveniencing her. Whatever your request may be, the common response is always -“Not a Problem”.

Image: unsplash/Nick Fewings

Teamwork is at the heart of the Care Centre staff. They know each other’s job(s) and can move in and out of all tasks with great ease and proficiency. And all of this is done amid life changing to death, cords being pulled, and phones ringing to assist in another location. The dedication and kindness of the staff, who treat everyone as family, reminds us all how hurts and pains can be absorbed by efficient and loving people who create a positive environment.

It is for this reason that I wanted to recognize the present and past staff of our Care Centre and to express our gratitude to the many good people - who make good things happen.

Thank you.💗.

-Sister Paulette Mellon

Celebrating Our Centenarian

Celebrating Sister Rita Heenan: Our Centenarian

On April 19th, an elegant afternoon tea in our front foyer was the setting for the celebration of the 100th birthday of Sister Rita Heenan.  She arrived from the care centre on the arm of her loving sister, Rose and looked radiant in her special suit on the lapel of which was pinned a stunning white orchid.  Amid smiles and clapping from family, friends and community members, Sr. Rita took her place in front of the decorated mantel.

The celebrations honouring Sr. Rita included the presentation of a framed Papal blessing from Pope Francis. Michelle Vermeeren, local administrator, spoke in absentia of the yet to arrive greetings from Queen Elizabeth and Governor General, Mary Simon.  Other presentations included congratulations from our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Premier Doug Ford of Ontario. 

There was a nostalgic moment at the end of presentations when a former graduate nurse of the class of 1967 presented Sr. Rita with a beautiful basket of flowers from the graduating class of that year. This was to honour Sr. Rita, then known as Sister St. Roch who was teacher and director of Sisters of St. Joseph School of Nursing in London from 1946-1969. 

As birthday cake was cut and shared, Sister’s guests rejoiced in her becoming a centenarian. In fact, living to the age of 100 puts Sister Rita in a unique class of her own.  Although more people today are living to reach the 100 milestone, only about 1 in 4,500 people in America are centenarians.  In Canada, that relates to about 0.0173%.

Sister Rita is a poster person for the outline of how to live to be 100: eat a healthy diet, manage stress, don’t smoke 😉, think positive, and sleep well. No doubt she would add,

“Live a life of deep faith and service to the dear neighbour”.

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj 

World Book Day Canada - April 23

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. (John 1:1)

When we were teens, my grandmother gifted each of her granddaughters with a white bible – the kind with the leather cover that zipped up on the side with a cross as the pull tab. She had spent her childhood polishing the pews of the old Scottish kirk where her grandfather was groundskeeper and believed with all her heart in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. She wanted this for us. It was such a meaningful gift that I carried it with an orchid attached as my ‘wedding bouquet.’

I am looking through it now and am surprised to find the yellowing newspaper notice from my parent’s wedding in it. Curiosity made me turn it over only to find that the flip side of this happy notice holds part of a news article about a tribunal examining the Nazi treatment of their Jewish prisoners. It is hard to take in this juxtaposition of opposites: descriptions of taffeta gowns, orange blossoms and nosegays of violets and sweetheart roses opposed to our inhumanity toward others, with Jewish prisoners forced to stoke the fires of the death chambers of those who preceded them in the line of death.  My heart sinks and folds unto itself, wondering if we have learned anything in these intervening years. Wars continue; violence and inequity are rampant. In my own life, I do not always live up to the ideals of Christian love and each day is a lesson in humility and growth. How do I face this reality with the equanimity of gentleness, peace and joy that allows compassionate action?

As I flip through the pages of this precious Bible and take in the fact that it is split into two parts – Old and New Testaments – the structure of the book itself seems to be teaching the lesson of our being given a choice between opposites such as love and hate, peace and violence, life and death. All is one; the coin cannot exist without both its sides.  We each contribute to the Oneness that is life. Nothing is wasted or invaluable.  There is always movement to the ‘more’.

Where do you focus your attention? 

What book has been your guidepost through life?

- Susan Hendricks, Associate, Peterborough Neighbourhood | former librarian and lover of books since early childhood

Earth Day

Each year on April 22, we observe the birthday of the modern environmental movement, which began in 1970. Earth Day celebrates its 52nd anniversary this year.

“In the decades leading up to the first Earth Day, Americans were consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through massive and inefficient automobiles. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of the consequences from either the law or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity...America remained largely oblivious to environmental concerns and how a polluted environment threatens human health.”

I remember the publication of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, in 1962, “which raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the inextricable links between pollution and public health.”

Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin had already been concerned about environmental deterioration in the USA, when, in January 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California ravaged the area. Wanting to harness the energy of the student anti-war protests and direct them into consciousness about air and water pollution, the Senator came up with the idea of a teach-in on college campuses. April 22 was chosen as it occurred on a weekday between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.

Denis Hayes who did the initial organizing realized that all Americans could participate in this movement. As ever more organizations, faith groups and others joined in the various events across the country, the name was changed to Earth Day. National media coverage resulted in “20 million Americans... taking to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a legacy of serious human health impacts... By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws... “

In 1990 “Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries...30 years on, Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders a loud and clear message: Citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on global warming and clean energy.”

But more challenges faced the environmental community in 2010, as climate change deniers and well-funded oil lobbyists, etc. continued their opposition. But Earth Day continued and EARTHDAY.ORG prevailed, making Earth Day a main proponent for global action for the environment.

Today, as the climate crisis grows and the fight for a clean environment is even more urgent, it is imperative we do our part to work for our planet and its people.

-Sister Patricia Cataldi, CPS/The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood

(Adapted from www.earthday.org)