Mercy in the Making: How We Meet Our Moment in History

Poet and philosopher David Whyte makes some pretty provocative statements about the human race, about God, about mercy. He thinks in terms of decades and centuries somewhat reminiscent of the newest book by John Paul Lederach’s, “the centuries wrap round us.”

1.      Does our human conditioning of the past become a present-day obstacle in our evolution into the future? What is the role of stillness on a collective level?

2.      How do we humans discover our common call of belonging to and with each other?

3.      He presents a view of God who refuses to step in [and is unable to], wave a magic wand and solve the dilemmas we are in.

This last point is not really all that new. Walter Brueggeman, author and theologian spoke about this decades ago when he clearly asserted that “What God does first and best and foremost is to trust us with our moment in history.”

David Whyte, along with many of us, wanders through the days sometimes wondering if we are in fact trustworthy. That wondering is followed by,

“How do we make practical choices now that lets mercy guide us?”

-Sister Margo Ritchie, CSJ

Image: NADER AYMAN/Unsplash

Women’s Equality Day 2026

August 26 marks the certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in 1920, which prohibited denying the vote on the basis of sex. However, this milestone did not guarantee full access to the ballot for all women. Many women of colour continued to face barriers until later voting rights protections, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In Canada, women gained the right to vote gradually. Manitoba women were the first to vote at the provincial level in 1916, and federal voting rights followed in 1918. Earlier rules in Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec) often depended on factors such as property ownership and legal status, and these requirements changed over time.

Credit: Library of Congress

We are grateful for the suffragettes who remained committed to equal voting rights until more women were included in these two countries.

We are also grateful for the women in the Bible and in today’s world who continue to model hope and courage in the pursuit of equality for all people, in every area of life.

The Bible includes foundational statements about the spiritual equality of men and women, (Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:28; Acts 2:17) as well as cultural guidelines and structural roles that have been interpreted in different ways regarding church and social life. Inequality remains a reality in our world today—between rich and poor, free and enslaved, housed and unhoused, and many others.

Research, reflection, respect, dialogue, and action are essential steps on the journey toward full equality.

We all have a part to play, do you know yours?

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

Community, Compassion & Connection

Last week our St. Joe’s Café celebrated four years at our new location at 602 Queens Ave in London — and what a celebration it was!

We were honoured to welcome 300+ of our clients for an afternoon BBQ filled with good food, prizes, snow cones, bubbles, laughter and connection. Our guests told us it felt like being at a fair or carnival — a beautiful reminder of the joy that community can bring.

We are constantly humbled by this ministry and incredibly proud of our St. Joe’s Café team - our amazing staff and volunteers who continue to show up week after week.

Thank you to our volunteers, donors, partners, staff and supporters who make this ministry possible. Most of all, thank you to everyone who walks through our doors and makes St. Joe’s Café what it is.

These pictures tell only part of the story. Behind every smile is a relationship, behind every meal is an act of generosity, and behind every successful day at St. Joe’s Café is a community that continues to care. Countless connections, and always a place at the table. 💕

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Rest, Reflect, Refresh: The Gift Of Retreat

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In the middle of your busy day, imagine for a moment a time of quiet on the banks of the beautiful Madawaska River not far from Ottawa or on the lovely shores of Lake Ontario in Cobourg just a short distance from Toronto. The Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada operate two beautiful retreat centres in these locations.

A retreat offers an opportunity to step away for a short time from the “humdrum” pace of everyday life and constant distractions – not as a “running away” but as a time of rest, inner reflection, care and renewal. Retreats provide silence, solitude, clarity in life and spiritual accompaniment. A welcoming space allows us to listen – to listen to God and/or the sacred in life, to our own hearts in joy and in struggle, to the pulse of nature and the world and to ask, “What really matters?”

Corrien Coker, Administrator of Stillpoint House of Prayer says, “For thirty-seven, years, Stillpoint has welcomed retreatants of all faiths. Stillpoint is located along the picturesque shores of the Madawaska River in Burnstown, Ontario. Here retreatants can embrace the silence designed for spiritual renewal and reflection, receive spiritual direction while nourishing the body with simple, meals and refreshment. Stillpoint has five comfortable rooms with private ensuites, along with two apartments situated in an ancient barn equipped with mini kitchens for additional privacy. The main house has a beautiful river view chapel, restful grounds and a well-stocked library for spiritual minds.” Stillpoint House of Prayer, pictured below.

Set on 10 beautiful acres along the shores of Lake Ontario, Villa St. Joseph Ecology and Spirituality Centre in Cobourg (pictured below) , similarly offers a welcome, inclusive of all faith traditions and those too who are more generally spiritual seekers. Retreat opportunities are varied, some completely silent and others with input to help deepen faith and/or life experience. In addition to retreats, the Villa provides workshops in ecological awareness and practice, evening prayers for special feast days of the church, and spiritual and ecological reading groups among other diverse events. Compassionate, non-judgmental spiritual accompaniment is offered. Rooms are comfortable, there is a peaceful chapel and library, and home-cooked meals have been described by retreatants as “love on a plate”.

We invite you to consider a retreat in one of these lovely centres. Come and know deep hospitality, belonging, peace, rest and renewal in these turbulent times. To view or register for our retreats and/or events visit:

- Sister Mary Rowell, CSJ and Corrien Coker, Stillpoint Administrator