How fitting it was a few days ago, to celebrate the dear neighbor, our friends, the Ursuline Community in Chatham Ontario. In 1901, 117 yrs ago, their Leadership of the day, answered a request to take on a new direction, more responsibilities in a new territory. For some it meant leaving everything behind. It meant moving to the bilingual parish of St Anne in Tecumseh Ontario, and there to teach children. They arrived with very little, but brought ample faith, their talents, generosity, commitment to prayer and a longing to help those in need. Over all those years I believe they did much more for the church than educate. They above all, reflected God’s love and grace poured forth in them and passed on hope, peace and joy to others.
To celebrate this milestone, a liturgy of thanksgiving and social followed, radiating joy as did the networking and conversations. The spirit of those dedicated women religious women of long ago, rooted in the spirituality of Angela Merici, lives on. It continues to impact the lives of countless families raised in that parish over the years.
As I soaked in the gratitude and celebration in the room, the words, “Well done good and faithful servant,” “come to me all you who are weary,” came to mind. The painting to the left, entitled Behold, symbolizes the God of all creation, the Risen Christ, shouting out to all those who have ears to hear, “Behold, see what I have done for you.” “I am with you at all times”, “Listen to me,” even now this day, in the chaos and stressors of your life, in our world, in our Universe, “I am with you”. Allelulia Allelulia.
- Sister Patricia St. Louis, csj