The 3 R’s

No, I am not referring to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ but to ‘receptivity, reflection, response’. In her reflection for the 4^th Sunday of Advent in the Living With Christ (Novalis) misselette Ella Allen offers, “Our passion for justice, our desire to alleviate suffering, to support the poor, the homeless and the abused, to teach, to heal, to create, to nurture are calls from God inviting receptivity, reflection and response.”

First, God calls us to be receptive, that is, to be open to what the world is showing us. After opening ourselves to being receptive, we move to reflection on ‘what is this about?’ ‘What might God be asking of me or us?’ ‘What is God trying to show us?’ 

The third is the call to respond to what we have been receptive to and reflected upon. Ah, sometimes that is when we can become overwhelmed with the needs of the world and end up stifled. We all know the expression ‘Think globally, act locally’ so this last week of Advent is a perfect time to consider how we can respond. ‘Our passion for justice’ could lead us to write a letter, to pray for a situation, to attend an event. ‘Our desire to alleviate suffering’ may call us to do something to relieve the loneliness of a neighbor. ‘To support the poor’ may invite us to sign a petition to support a living wage. ‘To nurture’ may invite us to foster an attitude of non-violence, peacefulness, non-judgmentalness.

As we move through these last days of Advent leading to Christmas, let us continue to practice the 3 R’s wherever we are planted.

Nancy Sullivan CSJ

Santa Claus - the Real Story

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, "From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share,
HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus! 
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.... It's learning to dance in the rain!

Author Unknown

Write for Rights!

On December 10, 2014, the Sisters of St. Joseph in London gathered to trim the Christmas tree and join in a world-wide letter writing marathon.

Every year, for the past three years, the Sisters in London have participated in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights. This event is always held on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day. This day marks the signing of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948.

This year is the 66^th anniversary of this ground-breaking document which has been translated into almost 500 languages and which is the foundation of human rights world-wide. Interestingly, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by a Canadian, John Peters Humphrey. The United Nations Commission which saw the document signed by the nations of the world to become international law included Eleanor Roosevelt.

This year, the Sisters of St. Joseph wrote 47 letters for human rights. The letters demanded a national plan of action to stop violence against indigenous women in Canada; the release of a Chinese woman Liu Ping who was imprisoned this year for organizing a protest against corruption; and the opening of Canada’s borders to more Syrian refugees.

The Sisters also signed a petition demanding the end to torture. You can learn more about how to join in the campaign to stop torture here http://www.amnesty.ca/stoptorture

To read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, visit http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Mary Kosta

FULL CIRCLE … BUT NOT QUITE

In 1967, ten aboriginal students from a Residential School near Winnipeg earned the honour of collectively running 800 kilometers with the torch that would open the Pan Am Games. As they arrived at the entrance of the stadium to what would be the cheers of the crowd, the torch was taken from them and given to non-aboriginal runners. The boys were given money to buy lunch before they got on a bus to return to their Residential School.

In 1999 at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, the men were invited to carry the torch into the stadium in a gesture intended to undo the injustice of thirty years earlier.

Fast forward another 15 years. The young boys, now nearly 70 years old came to Guelph for the premiere of the film, FrontRunners, which chronicles their story. They spoke of abuse and deprivation. They spoke of how the experience of Residential Schools has affected their intimate relationships. They also spoke about the healing they experience in having their story received.

Some stories continue to reveal primary truths.

• There is always the possibility to write a new chapter of a story.
• We carry the weight of some distressing stories all our lives. “We’re sorry”, while meaningful, does not fully repair damage done.
• The capacity for human truth-telling and for reframing of our stories makes artists of us all.

For more information: http://www.anglican.ca/relationships/resources/niiganibatowaad

Niigaanibatowaad: FrontRunners Movie Trailer

Margo Ritchie CSJ

“Wake Up the World”

On November 30, 2014, the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year, Pope Francis has declared this coming year as one dedicated to Consecrated Life.  

What does this mean? It probably means many things. First of all Pope Frances calls all women and men in Consecrated Life (those who are vowed members of religious congregations and orders) to “wake up the world! Be witnesses to a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!” This is made possible through the partnership and unity with others who are living out their particular and personal call from God in love, justice and fidelity. Some may think that this year does not pertain to them. I would like to suggest just the opposite. This special year invites:

• Women and men in consecrated life (sisters, brothers, and priests who are members of religious communities and others who are consecrated by vows like those made by religious) to re-examine and renew their commitment to this way of living.

• The whole church to express their appreciation and thanksgiving for the lives of service and witness of religious.

• To the next generation of young people who are Catholic “to be courageous” in the words of Pope Francis, “to wake up the world to a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!” through considering a call and commitment to religious life.

Many do not even consider such a way of life because they do not understand who we are. As someone who has lived in a religious community for more than 40 years, lived through the many changes in our world, in our Church and in our community, we have a rich, full and exciting life, offering many opportunities to work with others to make our world better for all. It is as challenging a way of live, as any. Religious life has offered me many opportunities that alone, I would not have had.

I live with women from many walks of life, many professional backgrounds, and diverse life experiences. Sometimes our conversations together evolve into new ideas that give birth to new projects. We do not work alone, but seek out others who share our values to make a difference. Let me give you one small example. A Sister in her eighties, was concerned about the many refugees as a result of the conflict in Iraq and Syria. In watching the news each night she was moved to do something. As we talked, along with others, we found a way to bring a family from one of the camps to settle in Canada. It does not matter if this family is Christian, Muslim, or any other faith. Everyone has a right to live in dignity. This is more than finding some money to do this. It also means calling many others to help welcome them—find a home for them, help them get appropriate clothing, help them with learning English, public transit, and a host of other things. It also means reaching out to many others to accomplish this. She thought it would be one small effort in what Francis wants us to express this year—showing a different way of doing things. This woman understands what our life is about. I hope she, and many of us are a little more awake, because of this way of acting.

Joan Atkinson, CSJ

Sister Laura Bufano, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, answers "What is the source of your joy in religious life?" and "What keeps you going as a religious sister?"