Blessed and Poised for a Future Full of Hope

Brescia University College in London, founded by the Ursuline Sisters of the Chatham Union in 1919, just one year after women received the right to vote federally in Canada, celebrated its centennial on January 27^th, the feast of St. Angela Merici, the Sisters’ foundress. From its humble beginnings, Brescia grew and flourished throughout the decades until today, a century later, amid continued growth and development, it is time to pause and celebrate Brescia’s centennial. Brescia’s longevity and prominence are the result of dedicated, far-seeing women religious who believed that anything was possible.

The centennial festivities began with the Brescia Choir and Brescia Chapel Choir. Dr. Susan Mumm, Principal, welcomed the lively guests who crammed the St. James Auditorium to pay tribute to the Ursuline Sisters who “founded Brescia to educate women to respond with wisdom, justice and compassion in a changing world”. A special highlight was the presence of the Sisters who labored tirelessly throughout the decades to make Canada’s only women’s college the fine institution of learning for which it is known.  Although the Ursuline Sisters no longer work at Brescia, their presence and values are alive and evident in the daily life that exists on campus and indeed in the lives of the alumni, many of whom were present for the celebrations.

Fittingly, Bishop Ronald Fabbro, Bishop of the Diocese of London, presided at the centennial celebration of the Eucharist.  At the beginning of mass, the Ursuline Sisters, together with staff and student representatives, presented symbols representing gratitude and specific values of the Ursuline charism which have held fast in Brescia throughout the years. In his homily, Bishop Fabbro paid tribute to the Ursuline Sisters.  He noted the friendship that developed between Mother Clare and Bishop Michael Fallon who had issued a call to establish a university in London for women.  He praised the remarkable women who founded and staffed Brescia College over the decades.  They worked together through good times and often challenging situations to make the dream for a women’s college a reality.

The event included a celebratory mass; Art Exhibition & the unveiling of a painting of Ursuline Hall by Group of Seven artist, A.J. Casson. Following the conclusion of the Centennial Mass, a reception was held in the large St. James Living Room.  It was a joyous time for congratulations and renewing long time friendships and meeting present day staff and students. 

On display in the Beryl Ivey Library, was a remarkable centennial art exhibit. The exhibit titled, “Compassion and Right Relationship Lead to Justice and Peace”, reflected the values of Brescia now and into the future.  The Curatorial Statement explains, “The exhibit is created to engage the community and to invite dialogue as we celebrate Bold Women Leading Justice with Compassionate Voice.  We invite you to explore the interplay of wisdom, justice, and compassion, to consider Angela Merici – a woman for all times and to uphold the value of women’s education”. 

Today the college has 1,500 full and part-time students. The women who attend Brescia University College are blessed indeed and poised for a future full of hope!

 - Sr. Jean Moylan, csj

Ordinary People Love This Book

While relaxing at our lake house in mid-December, I came across New York Times’ bestselling author Matthew Kelly’s 2018 book, “The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity”.  The jarring title together with the claim on the book jacket that “ordinary people love this book”, piqued my interest and I began my search for the answer.  The book’s short, entertaining chapters kept me turning pages, until in chapter six, I found the answer.

In referring to the biggest lie, Kelly explains, “This lie is not one that non-Christians tell.  It’s a lie we tell ourselves as Christians”.  The lie concerns holiness. Kelly asserts, “The great majority of modern Christians don’t actually believe that holiness is possible”.  We think that maybe grandparents and saints of old reached holiness but never us.

The author spends the rest of the chapters debunking the notion that holiness is not possible for everyone.  He also explains in practical terms how to strive for holiness.  Such holiness is the antidote to the anger and ill will that is consuming today’s society and thwarting positive attitudes and the desire for peace.

Take up this easy to read book and you will learn the art of what Kelly calls the “Holy Moment”.  I think he has rebranded a concept that is as old as humanity.  In referring to the holy moment, Kelly cautions, “This single, profound, beautiful truth will change your life forever”.  It has the possibility to transform our ailing world.

I’m so convinced of the value of reading “The Biggest Lie the History of Christianity”, that this Christmas, I sent a copy to all ten of my nieces and nephews.  I’m a believer, trying to live Holy Moments every day.

By Jean Moylan, csj

Stepping into a New Year

If you have been listening to any talk shows on the radio or TV this is the time of the year that we hear about people making New Year’s Resolutions.  Most of these are personal.  Things like shedding extra weight, putting down our devices to have a real conversation with someone we care about.  These are all good in their intent and some even life changing.  However, I stepped into this new year with a heavy heart given the very serious issues that are facing us in Canada and around the world.

I wonder if we could make a resolution that could have real impact in Canada and beyond for 2019.  Here are few thoughts to consider:

Climate Change – Canada is in real danger of failing to keep its commitments to lower its greenhouse emissions.  Somehow many Canadians do not take the threats to our country and planet as real.  It makes wonder if we are just too busy to change our patterns of living.  There is no shortage of choices we can make -like using our cars less, or supporting public transit, or lowering our house temperatures, or supporting more efficient building materials.  We can ask ourselves - What is one thing I can do that I am not already doing?

Truth and Reconciliation – We have heard more conversations acknowledging Indigenous peoples and lands and teaching a more truthful story about Indigenous history and culture.  This is good.  However, of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of 2015 only 7 have been realized fully.  There is still much work for all of us in Canada to do.  We can ask our government both federally and provincially to take this work seriously.  We can ask our federal government to live up to the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People that Canada signed.  Our Indigenous people must be at the table to negotiate any agreements that affect their lands, water and resources.

Use of Social Media – We can make use of these tools for honest and respectful engagement with people, on issues, and work towards a better world for 2019.

These are only a few thoughts…and we are all responsible for and can make Canada and our world more peaceful, open and inclusive for all one choice at a time.

- Joan Atkinson, CSJ | Office for Systemic Justice

On The Street Where I Live, I Met Him.

It was not on “Some enchanted evening … across a crowded room,” I saw the stranger. No, I saw the stranger on the street where I live, on a cold winter’s day just after Christmas.

At first it was a matter of mistaken identity.  You see, I was driving very close to home when I saw this person, bent over a rollator, lumbering up the hill at the edge of the road, as cars zoomed by. My heart constricted.  Was it who I thought it was?  The woollen toque pulled low over the bent head made it hard to see if it was indeed who I feared it was.

I parked in the drive way and ran to bring my elderly friend safely home, and stopped in my tracks, startled by what I saw.  A breathless man lumbered towards me. Poorly clothed, without gloves, unkempt there he stopped in front of me, his face radiant.  He caught his breath, and I caught mine.   Lost for words I took in what I saw.  In the ten years I have lived in this suburb, I have never seen a homeless person on this street.  Where had he come from, where was he going, I wondered.  So, I asked.   And he began at the very beginning, to tell me his story.

It wasn’t long before I recognised some of his mental health challenges.  While I buttoned up my coat and flipped up the collar against the icy wind, the stranger spoke of a miracle that saved him as a child.  As I listened, my mind wandered. I wondered about the Christ whose birth we had just celebrated a day ago.  Who was this stranger, I pondered?  Was ours merely a chance meeting?  What really was this encounter all about?  My question about where he was going, went unanswered. Though I began to shiver, he seemed oblivious to the cold and continued to tell his story.  So, I listened attentively, as it became evident that what the stranger was looking for, was a fellow human being with whom he could share his story.

In time, I knew I needed to end our encounter and told him I had to leave.  I would have happily given this man money and my gloves, which would have been a poor fit for his large hands, but he wanted neither.  “I do not want anything but thank you for your time” were his parting words. Then he turned around and lumbered back down that same hill, on the road, with cars zooming by. 

I stood and watched him for quite a while, feeling blessed by this encounter, thankful for meeting Christ on the street where I live.  

- Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps

A Mystery for the New Year - A Book Review

To Die But Once   by: Jacqueline Winspear

This is the latest book in a series of mystery stories, woven around tales during the months of the second World War following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany. Maisie Dobbs, the main character, is a private investigator, in England, who has two assistants, Sandra and Billy.

The combination of fact, events detailing the second world war, and fiction, the mystery story that has been threaded through this novel, results in a very interesting read.

I look forward each year as Winspear continues to involve Maisie Dobbs in the next adventure in such a way that it like listening to yet another new and suspenseful tale told by a friend.

Although the Maisie Dobbs books are published yearly 2003 -2018  (with one exception, 2014), the author keeps the reader informed about past events in a very succinct and helpful manner. Her novels have been on the New York Times bestseller several times and readers wait for the next book in the Maisie Dobbs series to appear. I encourage you to join the Maisie Dobbs fan club!

- Sister Valerie Van Cauwenberghe