Believe Me

I am going to risk telling you a story. After you read what I write you will have two choices, either to believe me or not to believe me. That is the risk I am willing to take.

On May 21, I went to pick up a prescription at the drug store and used my debit card to pay for it. I left the pharmacy drove to another store to make a quick purchase only to find that my debit card was missing. I checked through my purse and my pockets and thought I either left it in the machine at the pharmacy or dropped it somewhere en route between stores.

After pursuing both possibilities and realizing it was too late to go to the bank I returned home planning to contact the bank in the morning. However, coincidently I received a phone call to say that suspicious activity had occurred with my Amazon Account. Needless to say, I panicked and stopped payment immediately on my debit card.

I was able to get a new debit card in the morning and was assured that no money had been taken from my account. Now here is the risky part of my story. On July 7, I took my car to the dealer to be serviced; I reached into my purse, pulled out my debit card to pay and it was rejecting payment.

I tried it twice with no luck. And so I reached into my purse to pay with an emergency Mastercard and there was my new debit card right beside it. I had been trying to pay with the cancelled card that I was carrying around invisible in my purse.

My challenge was searching for the lesson I was to learn which was very clear for me. I carried something invisible in my purse but you and I carry the invisible God in our person at all times. Our eyes can be held from seeing.

At exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, my eyes are held from seeing the invisible God. I risked telling you my story but living my story has given a boost to my faith may it also touch your faith. Believe me.

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Knockdown

Knockdown

“…In the wilderness,

Prepare the way of the Lord.”

Is.40.3

Prophet Isaiah seems so fitting

 during this time of lockdown and concern.

Indeed, we are isolated

and thrown onto our own devices

to cope day by day.

Prayer and more prayer if one answer,

and hearken us back to our forefathers

who hung on with trust

in the Providence of God.

Is there a lesson here for us?

- Sr. Eileen Foran, 95

-in lockdown -

A Christmas Message

Merry Christmas from the Sisters

What a memorable year this has been! One thing the pandemic cannot change though is the anticipation and the joy that is Christmas. While all our celebrations will be more low key this year, we still rejoice in the goodness found in people around the world which has perhaps never been so evident as than during this world crisis. People putting their health on the line every day to provide care to those suffering from the virus or some area of life with ramifications of the virus. Individuals and organizations and congregations continue to reach out to the dear neighbour in whatever ways they can.

Jesus came to earth those many years ago as a vulnerable child: let us risk being vulnerable too in solidarity with others.

On behalf of all the Sisters of St Joseph in Canada,

we wish all of you a joyous Christmas and a New Year filled with hope.

In the Company of Birds

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Psalm 84

Throughout the year a variety of birds spend time in my yard. This past summer I was visited by pairs of Purple Finches, Western Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I was delighted when a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers decided to build their home in a poplar tree close to my back deck. I was able to observe them every day as they tapped for two weeks making a hole for their nest. Before I knew it, the chirping of baby birds could be heard. I watched as the parents took turns bringing food to their young.

As autumn set in, many birds began migrating and the yard was quiet and empty, almost lonely. But soon, as the snow arrived, the winter birds returned. 9 to 12 variety of birds visit the feeders every day. The vibrant colours of the summer flowers are replaced by the warm colours of rose, rust and ruby feathers.

Set against the whiteness of the snow, the male pine grosbeak is resplendent in his rose plumage with silver-grey wings. The Common Redpoll sports a beautiful ruby patch on its head. On a sunny day, it shines like a jewel. Last March the Snow Buntings visited the front deck for almost two weeks. It is difficult to see these little birds up close since they swirl and fly quickly as you come near them. I was able to see the beautiful brown dotted necklace on their breast. What a treat!

Birds have taught me many lessons over the years. Two experiences are very vivid in my memory. The first memory happened in the summer of 1972. I was making a 30 - day retreat prior to my profession of Final Vows. As I was walking on the grounds of the retreat centre, I came upon an adult robin lying on the ground under a tree. At first glance, I thought it was injured. But I could also hear chirping coming from above. I watched in amazement as the mother robin would raise one wing and lower it and then chirp to the young chick on a branch in the tree. The little one would stand, flaps its wings, and then promptly sit down. This went on for several minutes. I presume the chick did eventually fly as I continued my walk.

The second memory is more recent. I was experiencing grief as my sister had recently died quite unexpectedly. A redpoll had hit the front window. The sound of the thump alerted me to look in the snow. The tiny bird was lying there. I went out, picked it up from the snow and cupped its body in my hands. If this happens soon enough, often the bird will recover its breath. For several minutes there was no change. I was thinking that this one had hit the window too hard.  But then, I felt the tiny beat of its heart. It was an incredible moment. Keeping the bird on its side in my cupped hand I soon felt it begin to move its wings. When the fluttering seemed stronger, I opened my hands, and the redpoll flew away.

One of my many visitors

As I reflect, lessons of patience, co-operation, hope, and perseverance come to mind. My heart is filled with gratitude to the Creator for the beauty, variety, and companionship of these feathered friends. I appreciate why Jesus used parables to teach.

The season of Advent has been likened to a nest. A nest provides shelter, comfort, and new life. The last nine months of the COVID-19 virus have been stressful. There has been loss, uncertainty, anxiety, but also opportunities for new ways of seeing and living life. As I prepare my heart this Advent season, my “nest” will be made of the “twigs of my everyday life” for the indwelling of my God.

Blessings in this season of Advent.

-Sister Maggie Beaudette, Hay River, NT

Come on, Folks

Come on folks, we can do this….

United Nations Covid response

I feel like Rick Mercer wanting to rant a bit concerning the Covid Pandemic.  We have been on this journey for eight months.  In the beginning, we all felt it would pass like the flu.  But that has not been the case.  This virus, the enemy we can’t see, can kill us.  But why do we seem so ready to tempt fate and ignore the very simple and possible guidance we hear day after day about washing hands, social distancing, wearing a face mask, and stay home?  It is not perfect, but these behaviours can make a huge difference.  I don’t understand why so many seem to ignore or push against this simple guidance.

Those who claim these guidelines are violating my rights, I want to ask what if exercising your rights are endangering me or others around me?  Our rights are not absolute, nor are they only personal.  These human rights assume we live in communal settings and we have to balance the personal and the communal.  We must work together. 

Are these guidelines inconvenient?  Yes, sometimes they are, but we are strong enough and mature enough to weigh what will benefit all of us.   Are we tired of the impact this virus has had on our lives?  Yes, but if we value our own lives, and the lives of loved ones, and neighbours in the towns and cities and rural areas around us, we can encourage each other to keep living in safety. And we know that many scientists working in labs in Canada and other countries are working long hours to find a vaccine to help all of us.  The motto we see on TV in our schools, at our health care facilities, and in our businesses, and written on sidewalks in chalk by children – WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER – are not empty words.  We need to listen to each other, see the multiple perspectives that need to be considered, and we can hang in together until a vaccine is available to help us resume our usual activities.  In the meantime, help each other at home, call a neighbor or friend and family member, facetime or zoom someone you care about, and encourage each other.  And as we all stay close to home in the weeks ahead, we will get through this.  And those of us for whom faith is important, we can turn to those spiritual centres within and find some peace and calm to help us through the day.  Really all we have is the present moment and it can teach us a lot about ourselves, and it is full of many blessings.

-Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ