The Perfect Storm

Every time we turn our attention to the news, we hear of one crisis on top of another – rising food prices, cost of gas, gun shootings in several cities in the U.S. and war in Ukraine.  Each of these events alone present new challenges, but when they all seem to be happening at the same time, we can feel overwhelmed as we try to emerge from COVID 19.   And I have heard several people say they feel depressed and helpless as they we live this reality in one way or the other. 

Image: Unsplash/Louis Reed

However, one of the messages coming from the Climate Movement is to remind us that all life is interdependent.  When one part of our Beautiful Blue Home thrives, we are all better.  The reverse is also true.  We also experience the pain and sadness of the effects of climate change, war, and sickness.  We are all interconnected and what happens to one also impacts others.

In the past few weeks, I have been working with some wonderful people who have just arrived in Canada after fleeing conflict in their home in the Congo and then living several years in a refugee camp hoping to come to Canada.  Their life has not been easy, and they are people filled with hope, gratitude, and love. They are eager to settle, improve their English and find work.   Their positive outlook has been a blessing - a kind of visitation from God. 

“Sometimes God shows up in our lives in human form and visits us in a way we do not expect.”

Sometimes God shows up in our lives in human form and visits us in a way we do not expect.  If we open our minds and hearts to welcome the human face of God, not as I expect it, but as God choses to visit we might discover more wholeness and hope. 

Rumi, the poet expresses this so well in the poem called The Guest House.  I will offer a few lines…

…This being human is a guest house,

Every morning a new arrival, a joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected guest …

Be grateful for whoever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond…

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of furniture, still treat each guest honourably. 

He may be clearing you out for some new delight… (by Rumi)

 -Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ

Mother Martha

Remembering Mother Martha von Bunning | 1824 – June 13, 1868

In recognition of the 170 years since the Hamilton foundation, I was asked to reflect on why Mother Martha is so significant to the Hamilton sisters. Her story is poignant and instructive, and its meaning is still unfolding. Her story as a Sister of St. Joseph reflects the pascal mystery of death and resurrection. Martha followed in the footsteps of Jesus who died an apparent failure.

We first heard Martha’s story following Vatican 11 when Rome directed all religious congregations to revisit their founding charism.  On hearing Martha’s story for the first time there was initial shock, surprise and a sense of embarrassment which gave way to anger/resentment.  Remember this was an era of awakening for women containing new truths and insights. We symbolized our support of Martha by the removal of a large picture of the first Bishop of Hamilton, Bishop Farrell, which had been hanging prominently in the Mother House and gifted it to the Chancery Office where it now hangs in the Diocesan library named after him. A more appropriate home for His Grace.

Martha was born in Germany, emigrated to the USA, and entered the Congregation in 1845 at the age of 21. She was missioned from St. Louis Missouri to Toronto and from there to Hamilton in 1852.   At 28 Martha was named the superior of the Hamilton community.  Martha understood that love is expressed in service of the dear neighbour and readily accepted the challenge of caring for the typhus and cholera victims of arriving immigrants but at a cost of the lives of the sisters.  Ten years into the foundation, in 1862, unjustly accused Martha was banished from the community by the Bishop. This resilient and humble woman made a second attempt at reconciliation in 1868 even though her health was failing but was again denied a meeting with the Bishop and made her way to Toronto, walking all the way. The archives are silent on this detail, however, she was warmly received by the Toronto community and died 9 days later.

I said earlier Martha’s story is instructive.  She was courageous in responding to unmet needs, resilient in the face of adversity, humble and forgiving in the dark night of unjust condemnation, and uncompromising in living the charism of unity and reconciliation. It seems to me that Martha’s short life reflects our own congregation’s Chapter Statement: Moving with Love and embracing each moment of possibility as a graced path to Transformation.    Amen.

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj

Sister Mary reflects below on Sister Ann’s words and the words of Mother Martha herself:

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Thank you, Ann.   You have expressed very beautifully exactly why we honour Mother Martha today: I quote: “courageous in responding to unmet needs, resilient in the face of adversity, humble and forgiving in the dark night of unjust condemnation, uncompromising in living the charism of unity and reconciliation.”  

What more is there to say?   I was asked to speak about why all of us, not just Hamilton, honour this woman today.    Well, I was having trouble coming up with anything to add to Ann’s wonderful words.  So, I asked Mother Martha what I should say, and here is what  that very humble woman had to say to me and to all of us:

 “My dear Sisters, please don’t celebrate me because of the one very painful experience I had.  Rather celebrate the amazing love and providence of God, acting in each moment of our lives to shape and transform us into the image of Jesus.   If you must honour me, then do so for God’s action in the ordinary  life I lived before that painful time:  the many times I moved to new places when I was sent, the way I did my best to adjust and give myself to the ministries that presented themselves: caring for orphans, and immigrants, teaching, care of typhoid and cholera victims, and, of course,   leadership.  It was God’s grace in my daily life in the years before that shaped within me the strength, resilience, courage and reconciling heart that ultimately allowed me to get through that last and most painful experience.  Sisters, this is what each of us does each day.  In faith we see all that happens in our lives as allowed by the loving Providence of God, and somehow meant to shape us.   It is that day- b-y day fidelity in the small moments and little sufferings of our lives that deepens the well within us, allowing it to be filled, drop by drop, with love for God, love for every kind of neighbour, love that gives itself in service, fidelity and humility that ultimately allows us to forgive and reconcile.  Father Medaille urges us, in honour of the Holy Spirit, to become “All Love”.  It is precisely in living our daily reality with love and faith that we are gradually transformed by “each moment of possibility” into the living image of Jesus in our life, our world, our reality today.  So, dear Sisters, when you honour me, know that you are celebrating yourselves, as each of you is doing exactly what I did, trying to live each day and each moment as a graced moment of transformation into Christ.”

 Mother Martha, pray that we may be faithful to this glorious call.

- Sister Mary Diesbourg, csj

Grateful Jubilarians of 2022

Gratitude is a hallmark of our Sisters as we celebrate significant milestones in our lives as Sisters of St. Joseph.  This year was no exception as many of us gathered in joyful celebration on June 11th to honor our jubilarians of 60, 70, 75 and 80 years of living and serving God in prayer and good works in many and varied ministries as the Spirit beckons. 

Please join us in giving thanks to God for the life shared and the faith commitment of our Jubilarians of 60, 70, 75 and 80 years - as Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sister St. Bride - 80 years | Sister Nora - 60 years | Sister Kathleen - 75 years |

Sister Mary - 60 years | Sister Doreen - 70 years | Sister Veronica - 60 years |

Sister Wilhelmina - 70 years | Sister Yvonne - 60 years

Sister Yvonne Parent, celebrating her diamond jubilee, expressed gratitude on behalf of the celebrants:

With Thanks

With a spirit of deep gratitude, we thank all who have travelled with us through this journey of sixty, seventy, seventy-five and eighty years.

Our parents, siblings, cousins, and friends who have loved us through all the stages of life.

Our Sisters in community, who have taught us to pray, to ritualize loss, and to celebrate God's abundant blessings.

Our colleagues in ministry, who have encouraged us to mature our gifts and talents for the good of the world.

Our God, continually calling us into deeper relationship and drawing all things into Divine Mystery.

For all - we give thanks.

-Shared by Sister Jean Moylan, a Sister of St. Joseph for 55 years

Vote!

We Can Do Better

Whatever your political leanings are it’s time to exercise your right and responsibility to cast your vote in the 2022 Ontario Provincial Election. If you have not voted yet the polls are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow. Our democracy needs stronger support than the 2018 turn out of 58%. Ironically, this scant voter turnout was lauded with the hope that there was a rising trend of increasing citizen engagement. Not a very high passing grade for citizen engagement. There however remains much room for better turnout and greater participation in our democracy.

As viewers of the daily news, we witness the many sacrifices and challenges that Ukrainians endure and undertake to protect their countries democracy. Can we not do so little by taking time to exercise our freedom and value our democracy by casting our vote?

Each voter helps create the final percentage of voter turnout. Be sure to add your voice and your ballot to the count and the 2022 election results.

Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Image: Unsplash/Element5Digital

A Day for Trees

National Love a Tree Day – May 16, 2022.

With every tree there is a story. Tree Day was actually started quite recently by the people of Hyderabad in India. On 15 May 2016 the group Hyderabad Rising rose to protest against the government's plans to cut down thousands of trees around the KBR National Park, to make way for an expressway. Thousands of people of people from all walks of life rallied to protest. Successful, millions of trees were planted as the city residents became more devoted to and appreciative of their trees. It is now a recognized “Tree City of the World” by the UN & World Arbor Day.

But trees also become intertwined with our lives.

Some years ago, at our local St. Michael’s church, an old and respected maple tree was standing in the way of a parking lot. There was a great uprising from parishioners when the pastor announced that the maple tree would have to come down. The old tree held so many memories for the people. They had come to the venerable tree often to have pictures taken at significant and special occasions in their family - First Communions, weddings, funerals and reunions. The old maple tree was a part of their own family history, it had been with them and witnessed the most significant milestones in their family’s life.

An arborist was consulted to assess the health of the tree. It was reported to the congregation that the old tree was failing and there was concern that a branch might fall or the tree might collapse and cause injury to someone or a car. Insurance cost now became part of the concern and rationale. Eventually the pastor said that it would have to come down but in a nod to the concerns, a new tree that was 15 years old would replace it, planted to the side of the parking lot. We did lose old the tree and were consoled by the arrival of a new one was planted for the future generations. But that old maple, still in the hearts and treasured family photos of many had taught us a lesson. That tree is now kin to us all.

Sister Linda Gregg, csj