Looking at the New Year through the Lens of Belonging

I am reading the book Cherished Belonging by Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle. For over 30 years he has worked with street gangs in Los Angeles in what is called Homeboy Industries. They provide support in trauma and employment in their social enterprises which include electronics and recycling, homegirl café, homeboy bakery, catering, silk and embroidery work to name a few. Mostly, they are laser focused on belonging as the prime mover in edging people closer to wholeness.

Belonging [and not belonging] is a primal experience in our bodies, in our minds and in our spirits. It cuts across every form of relationship possible: belonging to my family and friends, to my neighbourhood, to my country, to Earth herself and ultimately belonging to myself. This sense of belonging is one thing we mean by the phrase experiencing the Sacred in life.

And yet one might use the lens of not belonging as a way to describe the violence of our time, the polarization of our time, the dislocation from oneself of our time.

As we begin this new year that many of us hope will not be simply “more of the same”, perhaps the lens of belonging will reveal something new to us.

Looking for a good read - try Cherished Belonging.

-Sister Margo Ritchie, csj

Moral Ambition: A Book Review

Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman (2025)

I was surprised—and grateful—when the public library notified me that Moral Ambition was ready for pickup. I had no memory of placing it on hold, but I’m very glad I did. Rutger Bregman’s book is compelling, thought-provoking, and one I highly recommend.

Drawing inspiration from the quote, “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall” (Allen Raine, 1836–1908), Bregman explores what it means to use one’s talent in service of the greater good.

This isn’t just a book about inspiring individuals—it’s a call to action. Bregman introduces readers to people who are directing their considerable skills and energy toward solving the world’s toughest challenges. Along the way, he challenges us to do the same. Chapter titles alone give a taste of the book’s tone and urgency:

• No, You’re Not Fine Just the Way You Are

• Lower Your Threshold for Taking Action

• See Winning as Your Moral Duty

• Find Out What the World Needs and Make It Happen

• Expand Your Moral Circle

• Make Future Historians Proud

Bregman doesn’t merely celebrate moral ambition—he insists it’s within reach for each of us. As he writes, “If you choose to go the moral ambition route, the ripple effect can be enormous. Your behaviour is contagious, so a better world does indeed begin with you. Moral ambition isn’t a trait; it’s a mindset.”

This book will challenge your assumptions, spark ideas, and leave you rethinking how you spend your time and talent. It’s an invitation to live more boldly—and more purposefully.

-Sister Nancy Sullivan, CSJ

Image: Martin Adams/Unsplash; Book: https://rutgerbregman.com/books/moral-ambition

Leisure Reads

“The thing about books,’ she said, ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.”
― Evie Woods, The Lost Bookshop

For many of us, one of the pleasures of summertime is that it affords us more time for leisure reading. Just in case you are on the lookout for a new book or author, may I introduce you to Evie Woods. Evie Woods is the pen name of Evie Gaughan born in 1976 in Galway, Ireland. Though, perhaps we can claim some Canadian closeness  to her since before her writing career she studied business and marketing and lived in Canada in her twenties.

Evie Woods is an author who truly understands the transformative magic of storytelling. However, not wanting to be a spoiler, but wanting to entice you to go in search of “The Lost Bookshop” by Evie Woods, I quote Goodreads:

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives. But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

Copies of “The Lost Bookshop” can be found in your local library. I found a used copy on Amazon which I have shared with several others who have found it a good read. Evie Woods' other notable works include The Story Collector, and The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris.

Happy Reading!

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Whimsical Wisdom

Every once in a while you unexpectedly come across a book that is a catalyst for great reflection.

Finding the thoughtful little book, Chasing Dreams, written by Kobi Yamada, is one such book. The author offers wisdom as the subtitle suggests on “how to add more daring to your doing.”

The illustrations by Charles Santoso enhance Kobi Yamada’s words of wisdom. His creative visuals add a purposeful addition to this delightful book, through his portrayal of the  whimsical antics of an active, inquisitive, and playful raccoon.

I offer you two wisdom nuggets from Chasing Dreams to whet your appetite for this delightful, yet challenging read.

“Spend your energy wisely,

Fill your time with things that fill your heart.

Breathe deeply into the possibilities of your life.”

“Put work behind your good intentions.

Keep the promises you made to yourself.”

I am quite confident in putting a good word in for this inspirational read. The book jacket aptly states that the book is recommended for anyone ages ninety-nine or younger. Happy Reading!

Sister Nancy Wales, Reading Enthusiast

IMAGE: Sincerely Media @sincerelymedia/Unsplash

Worth Losing Sleep Over

I just finished reading “The Circus Train “ by Canadian novelist, Amita Parikh. Her debut novel earned her instant recognition as Toronto Star’s pick as best historical fiction of 2022. “The Circus Train” is a captivating read that kept me up until midnight intent on finishing the last seventy-eight pages.

Not wanting to be a spoiler, I offer the following general comments hoping to spark your reading curiosity. “The Circus Train” introduces us to the daily workings of the travelling circus, World of Wonders, and the daily life of a circus troupe travelling through Europe in the 1930s and 40s on a specially converted steam train. As a sideline, the tale reveals polio therapy in its infancy.

The plot revolves around three main characters, Lena, Theo, and Alexandre. Lena Papadopoulos, the central character, is a young polio survivor. Theo, a renowned illusionist in the circus is the overprotective father of Lena. Alexandre is a young orphan runaway. Alexandre’s Jewish identity within the circus milieu is protected. With Theo’s encouragement, Alexandre becomes Lena’s best friend and supporter.

The story skillfully intertwines the threads of circus life, father-daughter relationships, war time dilemmas, bonds of friendship, secrets, and true forgiveness born of understanding.

I present to you a delightful reading experience!

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ