London Diocese's Linda Staudt Appointment

London Diocese’s Linda Staudt Appointment: Voting Participant at Synod in Rome

Read the article in the Windsor Star https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/windsors-staudt-selected-by-pope-francis-for-prominent-role

Last week in early July, I heard a loud crash and realized that another woman had broken a glass ceiling! Linda Staudt of London Diocese was selected by Pope Francis as a voting participant at the upcoming Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of Rome in October 2023. Ms. Staudt will be one of only seven lay people from North America to participate in the Synod which will listen to what has been gleaned in previous synodality diocesan meetings throughout the world. Participants will assist in refining where the Spirit and People of God are leading the faithful at this time through mutual communion, participation, and mission.

Bishop Ronald Fabbro of London Diocese nominated Linda for her leadership and participation in the diocesan synodality discussions, and as chairwoman and lead writer of the Synod Synthesis Team for the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario and presented the Ontario Synthesis to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2022.  For years, she has been a leader in Catholic education.

Prior to her retirement following eight years as Director of Education, London District Catholic School Board, Ms. Staudt was a teacher and administrator in her Windsor hometown.  She took a keen interest in sports and is, herself, a member of the Windsor-Essex Sports Hall of Fame for her excellence as a track athlete.

As Ms. Staudt prepares for her upcoming trip and participation at the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, we accompany her and all the participants with our prayers.  We shower them with abundant blessings at this opportune moment as they read the signs of the time, seek the movement of the Holy Spirit, and listen to the faithful throughout the world. Let us “be a mission-oriented Church that forms disciples of Jesus.”1

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

1.Introduction: Conversations in the Diocese of London for A Listening Church

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Header Image: Unsplash, Francesco Maria Achille; Linda Staudt PHOTO BY DAN JANISSE /Windsor Star

Who Do You Say I AM?

Isn’t it interesting that puzzling questions, spiritual and otherwise, pop into our heads while relaxing on vacation? While our bodies relax our minds are set free to ‘wonder’ where they will. 

On the shore of Lake Ontario, we found ourselves pondering once again whether ‘my God is your God?’ A question not easily unpacked. Is our image of God fashioned by our own experiences and coloured by our own temperaments? On a natural level, this is not so surprising, as siblings often describe their parents with unique variations. As in all relationships, our sense of God is very personal, quite different.

As humans, we do not see things clearly but only in fragments as attested to by Paul in his message to the Corinthians,

“…we see now only dimly…”

(1 Cor. 13:12). 

It is not surprising then, that each of us forms our own image of God. 

Would you consider it farfetched if we turned from quoting scripture to the Indian folktale “The Blind Men and the Elephant”? 

In this tale, images of an elephant are formed from each blind man's limited perspective of the elephant. Upon overhearing their differing viewpoints, the Rajah points out how each one has only a limited perception of what an elephant is. He emphasizes, “The  elephant is a very large animal," … "Each man touched only one part. Perhaps if you put the parts together, you will see the truth.” The Rajah's advice holds wisdom for us as we ponder our image of God. It's no time to think small.

Summertime offers us an opportunity to be still and know that God is God. In the stillness we may hear

"I am who I am".

We see dimly now but trust that one day we will see face to face and know God fully as we are known. 

-Sister Loretta Hagen, CSJ; Sister Magdalena Vogt, CPS; Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Header image: Unsplash/Sean Oulashin

Saint Peter and Saint Paul

JUNE 29 - Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul

This official Colombian public holiday is a liturgical feast that honors the martyrdom of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Its origins stem from ancient Christianity, with the date being significant as it is the anniversary of either their death or the translation of their relics. Both St. Peter and St. Paul were a part of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ.

 What more is to be said about Saint Peter and Saint Paul?  They were two men who lived their lives in accord with the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  When we read of the sufferings they endured while living in accord with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, it gives one pause to take them as models for our own life.

Peter with his brother Andrew were the first to leave everything and follow Jesus.  Originally Peter was called Simon but Jesus changed his name to Peter, meaning Rock.  He was to be the rock on which Jesus would build his church (Matthew 16:18-19).  In the beginning, Peter, along with the other apostles, was told not to preach to the Samaritans or the Gentiles but to go to the lost members of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-7).

Paul on the other hand, was called Saul by Jesus and told to stop persecuting Him (Acts 9:4-5).   Saul who was an educated pharisee was at first feared by the followers of Jesus.  By chapter 13 in the Acts of the Apostles, Saul is being called Paul.  The name Paul was more acceptable when he began teaching the Gentiles about  Jesus, the unknown God who rose from the dead (Acts 17:18, 23).

In summary, Peter got his name from Jesus.  However, it seems Paul got his name from the community of believers.  Both men allowed themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit to create a lasting foundation upon which God’s Kingdom is to be built.  Jesus is the cornerstone.

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

Header Image: Unsplash/Ivan Zhuldybin

TILT

            “By the word of the Lord the Heavens were made;. . . .” (Ps. 33: 6)

How’s your imagination?  Have you ever imagined God speaking words at the beginning of creation–especially the creation of our Earth?  I imagine God completing the planet Earth and then saying, “Tilt.”

We are approaching the summer solstice on June 21.  For us in the northern hemisphere, as we continue our revolution around the sun, we will be ‘tilted’ toward the sun and will feel its warmth.  The ‘tilt’ of the Earth is what gives us our seasons and so because of the ‘tilt’ of 23.4 degrees of Earth’s pole, we will have the longest day of the year.  In other words,  Earth’s northern hemisphere will begin the season summer.

As summer begins in the northern hemisphere we can honour human consciousness and rejoice with the British at the 5000 year old monument at Stonehenge.

-Sister Elaine Cole, csj

Image: Unsplash/Philip Mackie

Sharing a Moment Through the Window

While visiting a Sister in our Care Center the other evening, I was struck by something I witnessed which seemed so very natural.

My friend was engaging through her window with a visitor and his dog as they made their way to visit, presumably a loved one, at our neighbour - St. Joseph’s Hospice of London. Their exchange was warm and one that you would give to someone you had formed a relationship with – even though it was through the window! The dog came up to her window looking quite comfortable at seeing her standing there – almost waiting for his arrival at her window on their visits at least twice each day.

I was struck by her connection made with this stranger – coming to stand beside his loved one, knowing perhaps that this might be the last visit for him and his canine companion. It seemed to me that this stopping point or a place of pause might be to give him courage to go forward, not really knowing what awaited him once inside.

Reflecting on this encounter, I realized that outreach happens quite simply through the window of our home. Meaningful gestures of support and encouragement offered to individuals on their way into Hospice.

A noticeable gesture of intimacy expressed by both the visitor and the Sister without a word being spoken.

-Sister Ann MacDonald, CSJ

Image: Unsplash/Adeolu Eletu