Becoming a Blue Community!

The video we just posted on the homepage of  our website promotes becoming a Blue Community. Sisters of St. Joseph across Canada have recently signed on to becoming a “Blue Community”.  What does this mean?  We are joining with The Council of Canadians under the leadership of Maude Barlow, along with CUPE (Canadians Union of Public Employees) and the Blue Planet Project acknowledging that water is a human right for all. This may see obvious to some, but we want to make that statement as real and practical as possible.  It is a way of seeing that everything is interdependent. We call this integral ecology. Specifically, it means seeing water as a human right for all. 

Some practical ways this is applied means that we will not use bottled water in our communities and at our events. We will also work to ensure that water does not get sold to multinational corporations and remains a publicly owned commodity belonging to all citizens in our country. We also support all efforts to bring clean potable water to all indigenous communities across Canada.

Water is a right, a political issue, an economic issue, a spiritual issue. More and more we see that it is also a global issue affecting communities around the world. We join this movement because we want to say we stand with those who see that water, as a source of life, is interconnected and related to all life on our Blue Planet. We think we are in good company. 

Joan Atkinson, CSJ

Many Windows … One Light

A weekend celebration of Peterborough’s rich spiritual diversity began as the desire of a few members of the Unitarian Fellowship here to respond to the horrible massacre of worshipers in the Quebec mosque last March. The idea grew and developed over the next few months as citizens of other faith practices worked with them to produce a rich and powerful sharing of divergent practices. Many Windows…One Light became the logo that captured the intent of the weekend that was held on October 14-15 in the Jewish Community Centre in Peterborough.

Saturday afternoon began with short presentations by 15 citizens who spoke about how the practice of their faith contributed to their personal journey in life. This section began with acknowledgement of the land and a song by a First Nations woman who later shared her indigenous faith perspective. She was followed by representatives from the following faith groups: Anglican, Unitarian, Sikh, Roman Catholic, Quaker, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i, Hindu, and United Church. A humanist spoke as well, explaining his lack of belief in God and his faith in the ongoing evolution of humanity to throw light on our source of life. More than 80 people were present for this enriching and enlightening programme, chaired by Reverend Julie Stoneberg, Minister of the Unitarian Fellowship.

A potluck meal followed immediately upon the Saturday afternoon presentations, a highlight of the weekend as the group assembled shared a delicious and inviting display of vegetarian food from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Shared as well was an interesting and informative dialogue between speakers and listeners at the attractively set tables. The evening was a time for celebration as entertainment provided by a number of religious and cultural groups as well as individual performers was well received. We heard songs by an indigenous woman, by Catholic musicians, by a Jewish doctor, by the Trent choir who chose numbers from Hawaii and Zimbabwe. We listened to the poetry of a young woman born in India, skillful storytelling by a social activist, and enjoyed cultural dances by Iranian and Afghani children. A spectacular Punjabi dance by students from Sir Sanford Fleming College in colourful costumes was much appreciated by those present. A spirit of unity and respect for diversity was evident as the day ended.

Sunday afternoon was marked as a day to go deeper as 27 people gathered at the Jewish Centre to be led by Peter Pula of The Resonance Centre through an experience that we would call contemplative dialogue. The afternoon began with an invitation to place on a centered table whatever we had been instructed to bring as a symbol or artifact that had special meaning for us. We then formed triads with participants we knew least to respond to challenging questions about our spiritual journey. Focussed listening was at the heart of these dialogues which were guided by the facilitator. The sharing was rich and powerful as we repeated the process three times over the afternoon. The session ended with a short reflection by each participant on the experience, as comments expressing appreciation and gratitude echoed around the circle that had formed.

This beautifully – orchestrated weekend that could be called a success at many levels left many with the hope that such a project would somehow go on. Many ideas came forth about the next step as committee members met to evaluate.  Hopefully this was only a beginning for Many Windows … One Light.

Joan Driscoll, CSJ

Multipurpose Meal draws Capacity Crowd

Tickets had sold out for the annual Food for Thought dinner, a fundraising event for The Mount Community Centre on September 29^th.  As 120 guests gathered in the newly named Austin Doran Hall (formerly the chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough), they sat down at an elegantly set table to discover by lot whether their meal was to be prime rib with all the trimmings or spaghetti with a simple sauce. The more fortunate half spontaneously offered to share, or enjoyed the better plate with a bit of discomfort. Such a concrete experience of inequality gave all present cause to reflect on poverty and injustice in our society and the need to do something to help. The fact that the room was filled with people who have done much to alleviate poverty in our area resulted in a spirit of joy and fellowship that permeated the room.

This gathering was also called to be a celebration of what has been accomplished to this point at The Mount Community Centre. The first phase, the construction of 43 apartments, was completed almost a year ago. The guest speakers were two tenants from the complex who silenced the room with their stories of how so many have worked together and supported one another in such a way that they are no longer only neighbours but friends. Pat Ainsworth commented on a life-changing move for some into safe, affordable, clean homes and sincerely expressed her gratitude to the donors and volunteers assembled, saying: “This is a wonderful community and it would not exist without your support and generosity.”  Jim Jamieson echoed her message, and described how the tenants have merged into a community, meeting weekly for games and music nights in the common room.

A third dimension of the evening was the announcement by the board chair, Stephen Kylie, of a new fundraising campaign to build the community food centre, and to undertake the construction of more than 40 new apartments. He introduced the campaign team that has so far accepted this responsibility, and 8 prominent and accomplished citizens of Peterborough rose to receive his acknowledgement, and the support of the gathering.

In the outline of future plans, Mr. Kylie announced an exciting partnership with a recently incorporated group known as Shared Dreams for Independent Living. This is a group of 5 families who have joined together to create a supportive, person-centered, family-directed and driven, permanent home for their sons living with developmental challenges, who have chosen to live their lives together.  They have chosen The Mount Community Centre as their preferred home because the vision and mission of this project clearly reflects their own.

The evening was truly a celebration of an impossible dream that has been partially realized in the community experience of tenants in the 43 finished apartments, and in the growing interest in and use of portions of the building and grounds that continues to expand. This dream finds hope in the commitment of staff and volunteers who have faithfully and generously worked toward its fulfillment without counting the cost.  This dream now holds an energy that will carry it forth to new and exciting phases that are yet to be shaped.

Joan Driscoll, csj

The Holy Act of Singing

Have you ever participated in a crowd of people singing what they know and love?

On July 1^st at parliament hill, the nation sang together in real time. Some standing on the grounds of our capital, others singing over the internet with astronaut Chris Hadfield and Ed Robertson of the Bare Naked Ladies – Is Someone Singing? It was electrifying! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeEctN8sA0c

This summer I attend a conference where every evening over 700 people gathered in song. It too was electrifying! This annual gathering of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, had just over 200 people registered. So where did all the other folks come from?

Well, during the day we enjoyed the facilities of Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, and at night we were bused to various churches within the Waterloo/Kitchener area, and the local folks just came out in throngs. I must give credit to the strong singing tradition of the Mennonite and Lutheran communities in that area. If you love to sing hymns, you just are drawn to places where you can feel comfortable doing so. The next link is not professionally recorded, but you can see the size and participation of the group.

https://www.facebook.com/thehymnsociety.org/videos/vb.255329053939/10154904065138940/?type=2&theater

The Hymn Society has this attitude about why we sing: “Because we believe that the holy act of singing together shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace.” I well imagine that the same thoughts were bubbling up in the minds of the advocates of congregational song during the discussions at Vatican II, when we Catholics experienced a shift toward encouraging everyone in the assembly to sing. The breath of the Spirit weaving together the voices of people longing for mercy, justice and compassion in our world.

This year we mark the five hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther’s call for reform of the Church. He was also a musician and composer, recognized that singing be taught in schools and encouraged a renewed energy in community song. There are so many groups celebrating Luther’s movement, reflecting on his insights, researching his influence, and recognizing the deepening of faith that is achieved in song.

You may want to listen to a lecture by Fr. Anthony Ruff, Protestants and Catholics Singing together: Rich Traditions, Challenging Future. https://www.kings.uwo.ca/campus-ministry/veritas-series/

And finally may I encourage you to check out events in your local area:

St. Paul’s Cathedral London Ontario: http://www.easternsynod.org/event/2017-10-22-190000-500th-anniversary-reformation-lecture

Blog submitted by Loretta Manzara, CSJ, musician, liturgist. “Strong congregational singing makes my heart dance and my spirit soar with gratitude for what God is doing among us.”

The Thames River is a Person

On October 10, 2017, CBC radio host, Anna Marie Tremanti’s presented a segment entitled “Colorado River: Should the river have the same legal rights as a person”.  A lawyer, Jason Flores Williams, on behalf of an environmental group has asked a judge to grant to the Colorado River the same legal rights as a person.  Mr. Williams stated in the interview with Tremanti, that states and corporations are legal “persons”.  The Corporate “persons” use the finite resources for their own interests, these same resources upon which all of us depend. Existing laws to protect nature are inadequate to prevent degradation of the environment and loss of many species of plants and animals. If the Colorado River is deemed to be a legal person, entitled to be represented by a guardian, this ecosystem upon which the population depends can go to court to protect itself from injuries inflicted by all-powerful governments and corporations. Already, the overuse of the Colorado has been such that this former great river no longer reaches the Gulf of Mexico.  Corporations have sufficient wealth to influence governments into issuing permits for fifty-million-dollar water bottling plants. But new forces are instituting change.  Three dozen communities in the United States have statutes proclaiming the rights of natural entities. Similar laws in New Zealand, Equator, Bolivia, Columbia and India have been passed and upheld.  

David Boyd, and environmental lawyer from Pender Island, BC, is the author of The Rights of Nature: A Legal Revolution That Could Save the World.  Boyd notes that Indigenous peoples think of nature as having human qualities. In Manitoba, aboriginal people speak of Lake Winnipeg having a spirit which is crying for help.  Boyd comments that we treat nature as property which is either privately owned or the property of government.  Indigenous people speak of connections among all nature – "all our relations”.   We are facing the meltdown of our planet with massive decreases in animals and plants. We are on the verge of the 6^th mass extinction of earth in the four and a half billion years of our history.  Concerns of communities about fracking and bottling water abound. Countries, such as Equator, have established that nature has constitutional rights as a legal person.

David Boyd states that unless we develop a different perspective in our relationship with nature the degradation will continue rapidly. We need to transform our view: “Nature is a community to which we belong, not a commodity which we own.”

The radio program hosted by Anna Marie Tremanti The Colorado River, can be accessed at CBC, “The Current”, October 10, 2017.  The audio presentation is worth nineteen minutes of listening.

Pat McKeon, CSJ