REMEMBER – CELEBRATE – BELIEVE

In a recent reading of Embers – One Ojibway’s Meditations by Richard Wagamese, I was struck by the following passage from his writings. 

“Missing someone is feeling a piece of your heart gone astray… there’s a gap in the everyday things around you…You seem to move a little less gracefully… and you now move out of gratitude for the gift of their presence in your life…”   

In the courtyard at Boyle Street Community Services located in the inner City in Edmonton, folks gathered to remember and recall the life of Vegas – a community member who died. In the centre of the circle was a bowl of sage burning which would be used by the Elder to smudge each of us who gathered as well as the offering of food which was to be left for the spirits following our time together.  The gathering was about the Boyle Street Community sitting in silence to ‘fill the gap’ they were feeling from this death of a friend. Not a lot of words were used but the sense of accompaniment was evident as I too was invited into the Circle.  Stories were told of Vegas  -  a friend, a card player, a man of few words and a man who had overcome his alcohol addiction after many years – and his time with the Boyle Street Community was the ‘gift of presence'.

The following evening Sister Kitty and I attended the Annual Memorial sponsored by CEASE (Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation).  This was the 30^th year that CEASE has organized this Memorial Service to gather and remember those who have lost a mother, a daughter, a sister, a partner, a relative or a friend from sexual exploitation and/or an abusive relationship.  A litany of over 150 names is read and silence is evident as people tear up remembering special relationships as the name of their loved one is spoken aloud.  The simplicity of this gathering is highlighted when balloons are sent skyward wishing peace and freedom to those who have died… and the line from Embers comes alive – “now you move out of gratitude for the gift of their presence in your life…”

On Sunday, Kitty and I gathered with some members of the Scarboro Community of Boyle-McAuley who knew and loved Father Rene Fumoleau, to recall and remember times they shared with Rene on his visits to Edmonton. Again, the theme of ‘being a gift of presence’ came through as stories were shared, some of his poetry was read and words that he spoke while in their presence came alive in recalling his passion for the people of Northern Canada for so many years and his commitment to social justice for many years.

These three events struck me as a connection with the circle of life and a deeper realization that I, we, are part of the sacred energy - moving, growing and  bringing everything into harmony. 

Contributed by Sister Ann MacDonald, csj

Peace on the Porch

This summer, I’ve rediscovered the joys of the porch.  For too long, I’ve hurried past that cool, inviting open-air expanse on the back of our home.  Last Sunday, I wandered aimlessly through the entrance way and found myself and my latest reading material tilted back into the comfort of a large outdoor recliner.  “Ahh”, I sighed as a warm, gentle breeze tickled my cheek, “it’s almost like being at the cottage”.  Imperceptibly, I felt my body relax and the day’s cares melt into nothing.  Soon, my eyes grew heavy, the book fell to my lap and my eyes closed in reverie.  My mind wandered back to the cool porches of my childhood days where we lazed on the lounge reading the funny papers, playing quiet games and enjoying the mist when a summer shower watered the plants at our feet.

During vacation, when we children holidayed in Stratford at my uncle and aunt’s home, every house on Downie Street had a front porch. Daily, my aunt waited on the porch for her husband to return from work while the delicious aroma of supper wafted from the kitchen through the screen door.  On almost every summer evening, most porches on the street were occupied by couples reading the newspaper or simply restoring energy after the long day’s work in the 40s and 50s.  Sounds of children playing filled the air.  Fun was the order of the day until the streetlights beckoned them back to their home porch.  How luxurious it was to close those summer evenings with popcorn and maybe lemonade on the sturdy front porch.  We sat enthralled as crickets chirped, June bugs hit the porch light and the silvery moon smiled down upon us.  Here we learned of life, love, comfort and the true meaning of family.

As my drowsy eyes brought me back to my own comfy porch, I realized that vacations aren’t necessarily those costly trips for which we plan and save all year.  Vacations can be a joy and energy restored right at home on the ever- present porch.  All we need do is decide to use these resting spots as our parents and grandparents always did.  Peace and serenity are as close as the porch on your home.

- Sister Jean Moylan, csj

NO ONE PUTS THEIR NOSE IN OUR BUSINESS

Summer, winter, spring and fall – I have seen it all.  It sounds like the perfect ditty I could sing about the things I have seen on my morning commute to work these past eleven years, until yesterday morning. Now I’m not a morning person, but I am a sensate, aka Eagle Eye.

Here am I on my way to work, driving along behind this humungous vacuum truck.  Large black letters you can’t miss advertise its contents – SEWAGE WASTE.  Instinctively I wrinkle my nose and squint to decipher the smaller print underneath SEWAGE WASTE.  And I laugh out loud as I decipher the clever slogan, “No one puts their nose in our business.”   I mean, who would want to?  As the ponderous  stinky truck and I drive in tandem for quite a while, I can’t help but ponder the idiom emblazoned on its rear.  You see, in an odd sort of way, you might say that is what I do in my ministry as a hospital chaplain many a day, put my nose in other people’s business.  Where else but in a hospital is a chaplain at times the only person in a patient’s life privileged to be invited into ‘their business’ not only to hear their story but to hold their pain. If this isn’t sacred, this gift of ‘putting one’s nose into another’s business,’ then what is?

No one likes a nosy parker.  Yet, we are meant to be “our brother’s keeper” (Genesis 4:9). Obviously, there is a very fine line between being nosy parkers who put their noses in someone else’s business or offering support to those in need.  We can find ourselves on treacherous ground whenever we try to strike a balance between being nosy and reaching out to help our sister or brother. There are the familiar stories of Cain and Abel; Esau and Jacob; Joseph and his brothers; the brothers in the Prodigal Son, all stories of brothers who refused to be their brother’s keeper.  Yet, here we are, meant to be our brother’s and sister’s keeper.

And how about this? When we are in trouble and turn to God in prayer, are we not asking God to put his nose in our business, which can at times compete with the smelly waste in that sewage truck?  Of course, God knows about our ‘stinky’ business long before we ask God to put his nose into it.  God is always seeking us out.  There are many familiar stories about God pursuing us, but perhaps none is as poignant as the haunting poem ‘The Hound of Heaven’ written by the English poet Francis Thompson.

I fled Him down the nights and down the days. I fled Him down the arches of the years.

I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind, and in the midst of tears
I hid from him, and under running laughter.   …….

Rise, clasp my hand, and come, halts by me that Footfall.

Is my gloom, after all, shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?

Ah, Fondest, Blindest, Weakest, I am He whom thou seekest.

Whatever our story may be, God never gives up on us. In the same token, let us never give up on each other. As our sister and brother’s keeper we are responsible for each other.  In appropriate, caring ways we are meant to put our noses into each other’s business.

 - Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps

The Hound of Heaven, David Torkington

We came in peace

One Giant Leap

Fifty years ago on July 16^th 1969 at 9:32 am (EST) Apollo 11 was launched from Kennedy Space Center and on July 20th we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing.

The three occupants referred to as “Three Amiable Strangers” were Moon Commander Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin as Lunar Module Pilot and Mike Collins as Command module Pilot.  Written on a plaque and placed on the ground where Neil and Buzz walked were the words:

“Here men from the planet Earth

First set foot upon the moon

July 1969 AD

We came in peace for all mankind”.

In an article written by Mark Aloysius SJ entitled “Encountering the Self in Space” he poses a question for us to ponder:  “Has space exploration deepened our understanding of our own selves as human beings within the cosmos?”. To read his entire article click here.

“That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." -Neil Armstrong July 20, 1969.

Click here for Memories of Apollo from people all over the world

FUN FACTS: 18 Apollo Facts You've Never Heard Before 

-Sr Mabel St. Louis, csj

Photos: Source: NASA

Go Beyond

No doubt, you’ve noticed the rise in TV ads highlighting the advent of plant-based foodstuffs. This newest food trend is positioning itself to grab our attention, tempt our wallet and perhaps satisfy our taste buds.

A&W ads tout their team up with Beyond Meat, plant-based product titan, and became the first national burger restaurant to serve delicious plant-based proteins as noted by the Financial Post. Other food chains, including Tim Horton’s quickly began following suit.

A recent front-page article in the Business section of the Toronto Star drew my attention to the fact that our own Maple Leaf Foods Inc, the Canadian meat processing mammoth, has bet hundreds of millions of dollars that plant-based meat alternatives will become mainstream as flexitarians make different food choices in restaurants and grocery aisles. The new “meatless” protein looks, cooks and tastes more like ground meat than ever before. With the addition of beet juice the faux beef even bleeds. There's even a move towards "faux fish".

The article goes on to state that the move to the creation of plant-based protein sources is supported by the spotlight on the health benefits of a more plant-based diet and the conscious move by many to reduce their reliance meat as their source of protein to be more in sync with reducing their impact on the environment. Recent Mintel polls confirm that 60% of Americans say they are trying to eat less meat, while a Nielsen survey found that 40% are trying to eat more plant protein. Food companies are seeking to move beyond the traditional 7 to 10 percent (US stat) who identify as vegetarian or vegan and recruit consumers from the remaining per cent of the mainstream and claim their buying allegiance.

Whether it’s for your health, the planet or just plain curiosity you might want to try the new plant-based products now available as a take-out choice or at your local supermarket.

-Sr. Nancy Wales, csj