Neighbours on Downie Street

From my second-floor window – at 7:30 a.m. each day I watch a young mother, a teacher, wheel her 2-year-old twin daughters down the steps and get them settled in their van.  This daily routine also includes her interaction with a middle-aged man from our neighborhood.  His name is Kelly and he is a regular visitor sharing his news early in the morning in a rather loud tone – which could be about his dog or what his plans are for the day.  The mom, while getting her children settled takes time to listen to Kelly and offers encouraging words to him as he retells (a couple of times over) the story about his dog and what his plans are for the day. 

Kelly approaches the window of the van and offers a wave and blows kisses to the children and then crosses the street and returns to his own home, giving this mother some positive affirmations as she heads to her classroom for another day.

With this pandemic and my own inability to volunteer with the marginalized, I think I have received a gift that is happening right outside my window every morning.  I feel that I am participating in this exchange between these neighbors – as I witness the respect for one another, and kindness being given freely to Kelly – who represents many in our society today who are not treated with respect or dignity.

I am realizing that being present can happen in many different ways…

-Sister Ann MacDonald, csj

In the Spirit of Gratitude and Hope

As the celebration of Thanksgiving approaches, I write to you in a spirit of gratitude and hope. At this time of year, it can sometimes seem like a time of loss, as we see trees and gardens completing their summer cycle. In the midst of COVID, this sense might be heightened.

In the past two weeks, I have harvested my vegetables and flower seeds. I have been filled with gratitude for the food I have been able to share. As I have picked cranberries, both high bush, and low bush, I have been grateful for the quiet, reflective time in the silence of the trees. Thanksgiving filled my heart as I remembered the beauty of each flower that graced my yard this summer.

In collecting seeds from some of the flowers, I experienced a sense of hope as I looked at the tiny seeds, and knew the potential each seed held in bringing new life and beauty next summer. I smiled the other day as I sat reflecting from my recliner. Looking out the front window, I was surprised to see a small sunflower blooming on the edge of the riverbank. With a closer look, there were two more sunflower plants growing. No doubt, a bird or squirrel had dropped the seeds. Such potential of new life!

Walking through the backyard a few weeks ago, I noticed a delicate, soft, cream coloured pansy in full bloom, growing away from all the other flower beds. It caused me to ponder, what an unlikely place to grow; how did it land here; how did it survive my footsteps?

We have each been blessed with the fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.These are our seeds to sow; our gifts to share. Which particular gift is yours to share? During these days of COVID our works and presence in our communities may be altered, and yet we are still called individually and as a group of dedicated women, to be witnesses to our values or pillars of faith, service and justice. Where might our seeds fall? How might my gift give life to another? I may never know.

Blessings, Sister Margaret Ann Beaudette, csj

In the gift of this new day,

In the gift of the present moment,

In the gift of time and eternity entwined

Let me be thankful

Let me be attentive

Let me be open to what has never happened before…

Taken from Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter, Morning and Night Prayer, J.Philip Newell

Creativity in the time of Covid

As COVID -19 cases increase in London, restrictions for those of us living in our residence have curtailed normal activities such as visiting, going to stores, and having close proximity to each other.  We have reverted to “phase two” conditions which seem even more challenging this second time around.  Yet we seem to have accepted our reality and are rising to the challenge of keeping our residence free of the virus. The September 28 issue of The Globe and Mail contains an article by Wency Leung which describes research showing that “Playfulness may help adults improve their mood and lessen depressive symptoms, among other perks . . .” 

One of our members described the pleasure she felt in seeing several sisters at different tables playing various games. Signs of creativity are emerging.  Card games and board games for two players are found on the internet and taught to others. Borrowing, buying, trading, and discussing books has increased significantly. Conversations about dealing with restrictions are more humorous, less dismal.  Seating at tables is limited to two persons so the dedicated card players have been using the internet to find new card games which they teach to others. There are people playing various forms of solitaire for two players, in addition to kings on the corner, spite and malice, thirteen, euchre, pepper, thirteen, golf and cribbage.  Board games are more frequent and varied. Walks in the neighbourhood, or in our hallways seem ongoing. Creativity abounds and is particularly present in our prayers together.  We are more aware of political, social, and environmental issues in our neighbourhood and in the world. Our community prayers reflect our increasing creativity and the concerns for the good of all creation – our common home.

Play is creative, and creativity has an imaginative quality that expands our minds, bestows energy, and lifts our minds from despondency to hope.   With hope and faith, we actively work to make our world a better place.

- Sister Pat McKeon, CSJ

Learning NOT to Lead

Maybe it comes from being the oldest in my family. Maybe it is because of being an extrovert. Or it just may be a habit of taking “charge” and being allowed to do that and being appreciated in doing so.

Whatever the reason, I have recently become aware that sometimes, one is best NOT to take the lead on a project that is birthed from within a group, but to listen to the source of the verbalized vibrant energy from within the group, to pull in the reigns, hold back and let what will be, be.

This requires great trust in others, in the unknown, and in allowing oneself to BE led by other leaders in the group.

Is this not what happens when a group adopts a new form of leadership to replace the “familiar” and comfortable ways of being and ministering together?

In my relationship with the Indigenous Knowledge keepers and elders with whom I have been privileged to work in presenting the Kairos Blanket Exercise, the evolution that has happened because of the pandemic is the urgency to continue to share the TRUTH of our Canadian history in another venue until the KBE becomes virtual.

What is being birthed by three Indigenous knowledge keepers is the teaching/sharing circles that are totally led by an indigenous person.  The focus is to educate we non-Indigenous allies who want to know and live the truth.

A sharing Circle session is 2 hours by Zoom and consists of a land acknowledgement and tobacco presentation by an ally, and then the Indigenous leader does the rest by focusing on a 20-30 minute teaching and inviting the group then to share how they feel about what was heard.  Then there is a checkout and closing.

My biggest learning is to HOLD BACK and BE led as one who also needs to learn.

Does this not seem to be the journey of the ripening process as we age, hopefully gracefully, and encourage the leadership that is present among us to flourish?

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj

My First Zoom Wedding

They planned their wedding for August 2019 but life got in the way.  So it was rescheduled for August 2020 before COVID was a world phenomenon.  She was so excited, he wanted it to be her special day; both of them put personal preference aside to accommodate the other.  As the pandemic gained momentum and uncertainty mounted about what would be allowed, wedding plans took a hit and were scaled back, and back and back.  The big day arrived, many of the original guests were sent a zoom link rather than an escort down the aisle. Now it didn’t matter if you were a guest of the bride or groom. It also wasn’t important if you were wearing night attire or yard clothes. It actually didn’t feel like a real wedding anyway.

Much to my surprise, I found the close-up pictures of the families and chosen guests arriving in their Sunday best most exciting.  The mother-of-the-groom lit a candle for the groom in the rotunda of the church a few minutes before the mother-of-the-bride did the same.  I think originally they were meant to do this together in the sanctuary, but physical distancing put a stop to that.  The groom arrived and took his place beside the best man and anxiously started counting down the minutes wondering what could possibly be keeping the bride.  Little did he know that any self-respecting bride had to be politely late to raise the temperature of the occasion.

She arrived stunningly beautiful on the arm of her father carrying white and pink roses.  The wait was well worth it. The groom visibly relaxed and the ceremony began.   What was a pure gift to us zoomers was the close-ups of each and every detail of the wedding.  So in the end, although disappointed at not being present I have to say thank you to technology or I wouldn’t have had such a great front-row seat.

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj