Saint Valentine's Day

I recall with fondness those Valentine’s Days of my youth. How exciting it was to fill out little Valentine cards for all my classmates and then to receive so many in return. Art class was dedicated to making hearts & flowers, cards for Moms & Dads. And of course, there had to be treats; little hearts with messages on them or chocolate, or both if one was very lucky.

The fact that the feast was originally named after the 3rd century martyr St. Valentine of Terni paled with the excitement of the day. History remembers him as a priest, some say bishop, who died at the command of Emperor Claudius II Gothicus because he would not renounce his faith. He is remembered as the patron saint of healing and epilepsy. I’ll share one lovely story of how our practice of sending Valentine cards may have started.

St. Valentine is said to have healed a young girl of her blindness. On the day of his execution legend has it that he wrote a letter to that young girl and signed “from your Valentine”. Sounds like a loving soul, doesn’t he?

May you feel loved and offer love to all you meet this Valentines Day, and maybe some treats!

-Maureen Condon, Associate

Images: Becca Tapert/ Unsplash

To Work Towards Justice is to Persevere

As someone who spent her life in the heart of Africa, where the sun’s warmth lasts throughout the year, I am fascinated by Canadian seasons and the profound life lessons they carry. My work is to look at the state of the world daily and what a sight it is today. From the grueling violence in the Middle East to the threats faced by Indigenous communities and our natural world, it is easy sometimes to feel as though our world is crumbling, and human rights an unattainable quest. Have we not learnt anything about history, one might ask? Is humanity destined to always repeat the same mistakes, and for injustice to prevail?

The fall season with its gorgeous trail of auburn, copper and crimson leaves dropping on the ground, one at a time, giving way to the long silence of winter, and eventually an astounding rebirth in the spring have been a source of deep comfort in my work on human rights. They remind me that like the seasons, injustice comes and goes, and rebirth is always within our reach. The pursuit of justice is demanding. It asks us to be patient and diligent, to cultivate hope against all odds, to never give up. Just as we know with absolute certainty that spring will come, we must trust that a more just world is possible.

This week I was overjoyed to learn that Brazil had finally convicted two former police officers for the murder of Marielle Franco, a prominent young female politician killed in a drive-by shooting in 2018. Our team in the Brazil office has devoted much of its work to this case. Marielle may not be back, and her family remains forever shattered, but this conviction breaks a culture of impunity that had engulfed Brazil for too long. It took six long years of mobilizing, advocating and campaigning in what seemed like an impossible case for this conviction to emerge. My first thought upon hearing the news was the wise words of Martin Luther King, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” What a privilege to bend the arc daily, with the support of so many of you, even in what seems like a cold winter for human rights.

To work towards justice is to persevere, to doubt, to stumble and to get up and start again, always guided by those most impacted, breaking the silence cast around the unheard, and casting light on the most forgotten wrongs. It is to look at the falling leaves, and to trust, without the shadow of a doubt, in the return of the spring.

Guest Blog by: Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada

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Images: Michael Starkie/Donnie Rosie/Annie Spratt c/o Unsplash

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18-January 25, 2025

As children we were invited to learn what it meant to be Christian: who we believe in and why. As a young Catholic I didn’t know we were Christians! We generally learned about our religion for marks or holy cards in school, stars in Sunday School or pats on the back at home. Memory work is a wonderful skill but when did we start really believing in what we have learned?

The theme this year for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites us to answer the same question Jesus asked both Martha and Mary as they grieved their brother Lazarus “Do you believe this?” (John 11:11-26) He was of course asking if they believed that HE IS the Resurrection and the Life. They did.

As children, our knowledge of that phrase was rote memory. As an adult, what is the deeper meaning for me today? What did I learn in the past that made sense or didn’t make sense. What do I truly believe in my heart of hearts about Jesus, unity, resurrection and life now? Do those beliefs guide my daily interaction with all God’s creation?

To start the week of Christian Unity this year I will be joining many others at a Sing, Sing, Sing event at a local United Church; after all, those who sing pray twice! 😊 For the rest of the week I will rest with Jesus and answer, Yes Jesus I believe, help my unbelief; there is still so much room for growth.

-Maureen Condon, Associate with the Sisters of St. Joseph

Image: Amaury Gutierrez @amaury_guti/Unsplash

Happy Friendship Day

World Friendship Day - JULY 30th

Some may say it was merely a coincidence. For me, it was more like a Godincidence. A couple of weeks ago, a dear friend asked if I might write a blog for the International Day of Friendship. Being my friend, I gladly agreed to do so. Today, July 22, is the Feast of Mary Magdalene, my patron saint, a fitting day to write about friendships. Among the cards I received for my name feast day, one stood out as it speaks about friendship.

“The friendship we share is a rare and remarkable thing. The easy, natural way we relate to each other means so much … it's what makes me comfortable just being myself. I believe that ours is one of those friendships too wonderful to have happened by chance. Common interests may have brought us together, but I know it was the grace of God that made us friends!”

It most certainly felt like more than a coincidence to be gifted with this card on the day I was about to write about friendship. A Godincidence. “The grace of God made us friends.”

““Whatever our souls are made of yours and mine are the same.” ”

— Emily Brontë

While I was thinking about friendship, I paged through John O’Donohue’s book, Anam Cara, Gaelic for Soul Mate. This reminded me of a beautiful quote Jeopardy host Alex Trebek shared in his book “The Answer is…”  To describe his relationship with his wife Jean, he mentions the quote from their favourite movie, Wuthering Heights: “Whatever our souls are made of yours and mine are the same.” Alex then describes his relationship with Jean with these words, “That’s the way I look at our relationship. We are one soul in two bodies.” Soul mates share enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust. Friendship is a lifeline. Connecting with like-minded people who genuinely care about one another is a gift from God. Indeed, “The most wonderful places to be in the world are in someone’s thoughts, someone’s prayers, and in someone’s heart.” (Helen Barry)

““The most wonderful places to be in the world are in someone’s thoughts, someone’s prayers, and in someone’s heart.” ”

— Helen Barry

I consider myself hugely blessed. I have amazing friends and soul mates. Nothing could replace what their friendship has meant and means to me. Their love, support, and care are invaluable treasures. I am blessed to have such dear friends who have known me for decades and we have shared both the light and shade of each other. Friendships of any length are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness. In one of Richard Rohr’s recent daily meditations, he speaks of the dance of repair, a healing dance between friends. Anyone who is blessed with dear friends knows that without tolerance and mercy a friendship can die. As David Whyte puts it, friendship is a mirror to presence and a testament to forgiveness. Friendships support us and enrich our lives. Furthermore, according to science friendships can, among other things, slash our risk of mortality in half.

The Age of Innocence Credit: Marco Mancinelli

On this International Day of Friendship, connect with your friends and give thanks for the gift of friendships, especially those that survived hiatuses, silences, distances. They are the connections that never die.

-Sister Magdalena Vogt, cps | Guest Blogger

Gladwish: A Summer Soap Opera in Three Acts

Unbeknownst to me, a simple request while on holiday at Bright’s Grove with a couple of friends, began an epic journey. How difficult could it be to drive into Sarnia to pick up two boxes of soap bars? My friend Sister Mabel’s earlier attempt had proved unsuccessful. After consulting a city map, she and I soon discovered why she had not succeeded on her first attempt. Now, we confidently set out. Heavy summer showers should have been an omen that not all would be well. Despite the downpours, initially we made good progress. In the pouring rain, we found Gladwish Drive but had no luck finding the address. We consulted a helpful man at a mechanical services place and learned that Gladwish Drive consists of two unconnected sections. We were on the wrong section. So, once again the mission was aborted, and we decided to return home.

After more extensive research, we discovered the section of Gladwish Drive where we needed to go. Ever more confidently, we set out for the third attempt, determined to be successful this time. A veteran of Toronto how could the much smaller Sarnia outsmart me? Surely the gorgeous sunshine was a good omen for success. All went well, until, to my dismay, we turned onto a road under construction. Road Closed! Local traffic only! Not deterred by this sign we soldiered on. However, luck was not on our side. We drove as far as we were able but there was no sign of Gladwish Drive. Finding our destination continued to elude us.

As we were about to turn around, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a partly toppled road sign. You guessed it! Gladwish Drive! We had almost missed it. I had mistaken the little dirt road for the access to a business. Could this road lead us to success? Indeed, it did! However, though we found our destination, a note on the door of True North Distributors advised customers to pick up their order at the warehouse. Oh no, was my first reaction! Undeterred once again, we entered the office. There, on a low table, stood two boxes with Sister Mabel’s name on them! Mission accomplished! Finally, on this third attempt to pick up the soap bars for the homeless, this epic journey came to a successful end. The grand finale of the Gladwish Summer Soap Opera.

-Sister Magdalena Vogt, CPS and friends