Moms in My Life

There is much wisdom embodied in the Jewish proverb which states, “God couldn’t be everywhere so he created mothers.” The second Sunday in May is designated  Mother’s Day. Each year we honour the unique role of motherhood. The art of mothering is carried out uniquely by birth mothers, but also by others, tagged in the urban dictionary, ‘pseudo moms’. Mother’s Day is a great occasion to give a loving hug or hold a note of gratitude in our heart for our mom. Many of us also owe a debt of gratitude to those ‘special moms’  who lovingly supported us along life’s way, their ‘kids’.

Mother’s Day is an opportunity to be mindful of the many ways in which mom and these mom-like women have touched our lives,  shaped our attitudes and helped formed who we are.  The art of mothering as seen in the poster below is a multifaceted endeavour relying on much love, great care and lots of skills.

Take time to be thankful, relive the memories, and question who could use a little of your care on their life’s journey.

Nancy Wales, CSJ 

What is the Blanket Exercise?

I frequently ask myself, how could I have lived almost all of my life in Canada and never became acquainted with neighboring First Nation people or their struggles? A few years ago, I was blessed with a visit to a good friend in the Yukon and came to know some wonderful women, respected elders of their people. They were very warm and I was welcomed into the fold as if I was family, not the non-indigenous stranger that I really was. I am still deeply touched by their total acceptance and kindness. Since that time I have come to learn more about the First Nation people in this country, and I have wept. We need to have our eyes opened to the injustices and struggles of our dear First Nation neighbors.

One way I/we can contribute to building awareness in others is through an historical re-enactment known as the Blanket Exercise. The Blanket Exercise is an experiential learning tool that helps participants understand how the arrival of European settlers impacted the Indigenous people who had lived here long before these colonists arrived. It traces the history of the relationship between them, exploring how and why their relationship was damaged over the years.

The Blanket Exercise is a teaching tool designed to help both Indigenous and non-indigenous groups gain a more truthful knowledge of our early Canadian history (i.e. the history of the relationship between the Indigenous People in Canada and the European settlers). In this interactive workshop, the participants take on the roles of the Indigenous peoples and some Europeans. The narrator guides the group through the story as the roles are mimed. The participants walk around on the blankets, which represent the land. It becomes obvious as the story unravels, that the once friendly and collaborative relationship between the Indigenous and non-indigenous people gradually erodes as the land is taken through broken treaties and laws made by the Europeans.  This is visibly illustrated by the blankets being folded smaller, the participants leaving the blankets because they have been isolated from each other through the Residential school system, or have died off due to the hazardous health conditions to which they were intentionally exposed. This allows all participants (whether indigenous or non-indigenous) to know the reality and the impact of the injustices experienced by native peoples. A discussion session follows.

Awareness of this untold part of our history can hopefully lead to constructive action that will help us build alliances and create the trust necessary to repair this broken relationship. Those of us who are Non-Indigenous can contribute to the ongoing work of reconciliation by establishing and maintaining respectful relationships with our First Nation neighbours. First we must learn how to reconcile our privileges, our education, our judgment and our unfair stereotypes with the harsh reality experienced by Aboriginal peoples. Reconciliation also calls for personal, group, community and political ACTION. Broadening our own awareness and changing the way we educate our children is an important step toward healing our broken relationships. We hope that The Blanket Exercise event can help in a small way to bring this about.

Dara Hartman, CSJ Associate
Karen Rawlings, CSJ Associate

Note: In light of the Truth and Reconciliation Report that came out from the Royal Commission recently, the Blanket Exercise, created by Kairos, http://www.kairoscanada.org/product-category/blanket-exercise has been offered in many cities and towns for anyone who wishes to experience the more accurate historical story of the relationship between the Indigenous People in Canada and European settlers in a creative and experiential learning format. Look for one in your area.

Hurray for Leamington

“Product of Canada” Label

Heinz Company is no longer in Leamington making ketchup. However, many Heinz products are still made at the former Heinz plant now owned by Highbury Canco. 

The Highbury Canco plant processes tomato paste from the tomatoes grown in Essex County and Chatham-Kent County.  In fact there are a number of Canadian processors in this area who use tomatoes grown in these Counties of southwestern Ontario. So, when you go shopping for tomato products and want to support Canadian made tomato products, look for the label that says “Product of Canada”. The contents of the cans and jars will have been grown and processed in Canada.

If you don’t see this label “Product of Canada” on the tomato products or on other agricultural products on your local grocery store shelf, then express your concern to the store manager.

A New Partnership

Leamington, Ontario Mayor John Paterson and Caldwell First Nation Chief Louise Hillier entered into a partnership not known to exist anywhere else in Canada.

On March 31 the two leaders signed an agreement to begin a Skills Development Initiative.  This is a mentoring program where Caldwell employees and affiliates will job shadow Leamington municipal staff who perform the same duties.  The new partnership initiative is going to produce about 50 new jobs.  The departments involved in job shadowing are engineering, public works, finance, and possibly planning such as marina management. 

This partnership could become a model for the whole country. 

Hurray for Leamington.

Elaine Cole, CSJ

Have You Seen MERCY?

Pope Francis has declared from December 8^th, 2015 until November 20^th, 2016 an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.  Desiring to delve further into my understanding and appreciation of this quality of mercy, I have been reading and reflecting.   Elizabeth Davis, RSM, a Sister of Mercy, has provided a series of seven inspiring talks on the Roman Catholic TV network:  http://www.romancatholictv.com.  These approximately seven minute long videos are wonderful for faith sharing in small groups.  The titles include:  God is Mercy and Justice:  God is Mercy:  God is Justice:  Doing Mercy:  Doing Justice:  Mercy and Justice Together: and, Radical Inclusion.  Sr. Elizabeth, a Scripture scholar, has provided a wealth of mercy passages from God’s Word that are effective for use in personal prayer.

Who is this God of Mercy?  Pope Francis, in conversation with Vatican Reporter Andrea Tornielli, has offered some clear answers in the book, The Name of God is Mercy.  Our God is faithful, compassionate, responsive, showering us with lovingkindness. “God is a careful and attentive father, ready to welcome any person who takes a step or even expresses the desire to take a step that leads home.  He is there, staring out at the horizon, expecting us, waiting for us,” (p. 51).  “God’s mercy is like a great light of love and tenderness because God forgives not with a decree but a caress … by caressing the wounds of our sins,” (p. xvi). 

Pope Francis goes on to say, “This is the time of mercy.  The Church is sharing her maternal side, her motherly face, to a humanity that is wounded … she looks for them, she gathers them in, she embraces them, she takes care of them, she makes them feel loved,” (p.6).  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is to be “an encounter with mercy,” (p.8).  Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated this past weekend.    

Pope Francis instructs us:  “God is so merciful toward us.  We too should learn to be merciful …”   Our Sunday Visitor has published a pamphlet entitled, “Eight Ways to Live a Merciful Life.” Mercy is described as entering into “the other person’s suffering.  We feel the other person’s pain, see through the other person’s eyes, and place ourselves inside the other person’s heart and mind.  When that happens, we are moved to respond in a merciful way.”   

When have you experienced mercy?  To whom have you reached out to in mercy?

Kathy O’Keefe, CSJ

Mr. & Mrs. Buggaboo

Something new has been added to my declining years. I suppose it seems reasonable that something different should enhance my enjoyment of life on this planet.

With so much talk of the environment, ecology, the wellbeing of all living things, one must get on the band wagon or perish. What did our ancestors do? I guess they just endured the sticks and stones and foibles that befell them.

Anyway, as it happens, Mr. & Mrs. Buggaboo are here to stay. Mr. Buggaboo arrived first after much testing and reading aloud about the nature of the common carrot. With this technological apparatus I can hear distinctly the rattling of a sheet of paper, the tick of my desk clock or my shoes hitting the trail.

Mrs. Buggaboo has also arrived and this is the clincher. To get these objects of mercy properly ensconced in right and left ear is a real balancing act. No more dashing about fully dressed and prepared for the day in twenty minutes, flat. At times it is agony inserting these foreign objects into the ear canal, praying to the angels and saints, focusing dead on for success.

Yes, what did our ancestors do when their hearing faded and Mrs. & Mr. Buggaboo had not been invented? Perhaps, this is where the expression came from. “I’m Canadian, Aye?”

Eileen Foran, CSJ