Christmas Greetings from the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada

Christmas has come once again in a world that holds so much violence and has caused so many in our world to flee their homelands seeking a place where they will be welcomed and offered shelter and safety. We long for the peace and harmony that seems implicit in the message the Angels brought on that first Christmas morn. If there is to be healing and love then something has to change. Perhaps more accurately a question we each must ask ourselves is, “how do I need to change?”

Recently, I read a piece on Facebook posted by Parker Palmer, an educator and a Quaker. He offers a bit of wisdom that might serve all of us well and carry us into a new year. He calls it a principle that he says applies to every part of his life—personal, professional and political: Nothing new can grow between us when we speak to one another from “the place where we are right;” He goes on to suggest that this requires the virtue of humility. The root of the word humility is the same root as the word humus. Humus helps plants of grow and humility helps new thinking grow!

No matter where we meet one another or what the history is between us, things change for the better when we talk with each other not from our certainties but from out doubts and loves. Shining the light on our differences rarely resolves these disputes, but understanding that even with our differences we love the same things—our families, our communities, our country and our natural world. 

We may differ on what ought to be done. But, instead of beginning by arguing about solutions—about the place we believe we are right—what if we began by sharing our loves and our doubts? This is where we find a rich and human common ground.

Many of us will gather in churches and communities and with our families—with the people with whom we live and work, to celebrate the feast of Christmas. Here we remember that God has come to dwell among us and invites us to learn how to live in new ways.

The Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada wish all who follow us through our Website, Facebook and Twitter a Christmas full of peace. May the hope that was born that silent, holy night remain in your heart throughout the year.

Sister Joan Atkinson, on behalf of all our Sisters.

A Spirit of Hospitality

As I reflect on the gospel of the 4^th Sunday of Advent, I think of the warm welcome Elizabeth extended to her cousin Mary who had travelled far while herself pregnant in order to assist her cousin. These days ‘warm welcome’ calls to mind and fills me with gratitude and joy the arrival of the Syrian refugees and how so many individuals and communities and our country are reaching out with a spirit of hospitality. As well, at this time of year people are in the throes of preparing their hearts and homes to welcome others for celebrations.  Advent is a time of welcoming.

Just as the wombs of Mary and Elizabeth protected precious lives so are each of us and all of us called to protect God’s creation.  We have a long way to go but we leap for joy at the agreement reached at the Climate Change meeting in Paris last week. We recall that Elizabeth’s child John leapt with joy at the sound of Mary’s voice which was also good news.

Fr Bill Clarke, SJ said on a recent retreat that Mother Earth never gives up on us, we are all siblings held in the womb of Mother Earth and that everything we needed we had in the womb.

As we approach the end of this Advent season, in these very difficult times, it is good to leap for joy and appreciate the blessings we see all around us. This is indeed good news.

Nancy Sullivan, csj

Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

Where have all the flowers gone? (1)  Well might we apply this question, from the song made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary, to the First Nations peoples in Canada in regard to the violence against children?

Recently, Chief Justice Murray Sinclair, who headed up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report (2) to the Federal Government, spoke at the London Museum, hosted by Atlohosa, a Native Family Healing Service in London.

Tara Overholt, from CTV, was the MC for the evening as Justice Sinclair heartfully presented some of the findings the TRC and their ramifications for our consideration.

His focus was on violence against children, as the com had been asked, “What happened to the children?”  He highlighted the commission’s motto “For the children taken, for the parent left behind”.

For 130 years, Aboriginal children in Canada were kept under the government’s thumb.  Over seven generation of Aboriginal children went through our Residential Schools, and each time there wasn’t the capacity to treat them well.  Aboriginal children who went to Public School fared little better.  Aboriginal children were demeaned so that not only were they themselves affected directly by being made to feel inferior, but furthermore the non-indigenous kids were also affected in believing themselves superior.

Of the 80,000 children in care, 50% are Aboriginal.  Reconciliation within families, as well as, nation to nation is urgently needed.

Justice Sinclair stressed that the country has an obligation to provide all of its people with an opportunity to find the answers to the following questions:

Where do I come from?  What is my creation story?

Where am I going?

Why am I here?

Who am I?

Who do I want to be?

Justice Sinclair gave some suggestions as to what individuals and groups can do, education being a key component.  He commended those groups who are tackling one of the reports 94 recommendations. (3)  Some positive effects can be seen on google where there are 130 YouTube videos of students reading the TRC report. (4)

In closing, Sean Couchi presented his art piece to Justice Sinclair as a sincere thank you from Atlohosa and those in attendance.  The painting included here depicts 94 butterflies symbolizing the reports ninety four recommendations and pointing the way to a more hopeful future.

The evening was inspiring, hopeful and very energizing as we all want to move forward in sowing and nurturing the seeds of reconciliation.

Kathleen Lichti, CSJ

(1) http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/peter+paul+mary/where+have+all+the+flowers+gone_20107752.html

(2)http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Exec_Summary_2015_05_31_web_o.pdf

(3) http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf

(4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY2JfsEQ4fo

A Time for Housecleaning

Everywhere we turn these days we are painfully seized by the images of fleeing Syrians and Iraqis searching for a place of safety, security and peace.  Whole families with children, parents and grandparents are filled with fear for their lives as they abandon their warring homelands.  Our times are heart-wrenching!

As we enter this third week of Advent, I ask, "How can we make a difference?"  

We could consider doing some personal "housecleaning".  This idea was meaningful for me when I heard a homilist recently refer to the seasons of Advent and Lent as times of "housecleaning".  In both cases we find ourselves approaching major events in the life of Jesus, his Birth, his Death and Resurrection. During most of the year, we are "housekeeping" but in these weeks of Advent we are invited to be about "housecleaning" so as to be ready and open to receive again Emmanuel dwelling among us.  

How open are we to receive the suffering Christ in the persons of refugees? Imagine the forced "housecleaning" thrust upon these people fleeing their country. What could "housecleaning" look like as we prepare to live this week?  

Presuming that refugees are being anticipated in our environs:

We can pray that all Canadians welcome warmly their arrival.

We can be part of the gathering of resources to address their needs.

We can encourage those around us to open their hearts and their wallets to assist them.

We can accept well, in the spirit of Jesus, whatever the day brings.

Sister Betty Berrigan, csj

www.stillpoint.ca/

A Different Kind of Human Rights Day

December 10, 2015 certainly was a different kind of Human Rights Day for those of us working to advance human rights protection in and from Canada. Political change has truly opened up some real possibilities and opportunities for reversing troubling setbacks and advancing long-needed reforms with respect to Canada’s foreign policy and domestic record on the human rights front. First time we’ve been able to say that in quite some time.

As such, the annual review (the 14^th edition) we always publish on Human Rights Day, our Human Rights Agenda for Canada, is the most ambitious and comprehensive yet.  We’ve endeavoured to put a wide-ranging vision and set of recommendations in front of the new government.

#Rights4All  #pourtous There is much for us to do together over the coming year to hold the government to encouraging commitments already made, highlight areas where we need to hear and see more, and watch carefully to ensure that the promise of new tone and new approaches becomes reality.  We look forward to continuing to work with you in those shared efforts.

Guest blogger, Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada   www.amnesty.ca/

Links to the press release and full report:

http://www.amnesty.ca/news/defending-rights-all-amnesty-international%E2%80%99s-human-rights-agenda-new-canadian-government-0