World Teachers’ Day - October 5

World Teachers' Day is an international day held annually on 5 October to celebrate the work of teachers. It was established in 1994. To  celebrate World Teachers' Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Education International (EI) mount a campaign each year to help give the world better understanding of teachers and the role they play in the development of students and society.  ~ Wikipedia                              

I googled, “The changing role of teachers” wishing to contribute a blog post for World Teachers’ Day. The search engine introduced me to Dr. Jayendrakumar. N. Amin and his informative paper entitled, “Redefining the Role of Teachers in the Digital Era.”

““Teaching is not just a job. It is a human service, and it must be thought of as a mission.”
”

— Dr. Ralph Tyler

In summary, his scholarly article points out that the 21st century educator’s role has shifted from being an “instructor”, who dispenses, in my words, prescribed packages of information, to assuming the multifaceted role of becoming, in his words, “the constructor, facilitator, coach, and creator of learning environments”.

The paper underscores that this transformation of the teacher’s roles from knowledge transmitter to facilitator and coordinator is both complex and challenging in our present changing world. World Teachers’ Day offers us an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions our teachers make to the betterment of society.

Today’s teachers,  amid the daily barrage of misinformation, help develop the knowledge but more importantly the judgement and understanding young people need to be wise and contributing citizens.

““Some people change the world.
And some people change the people who change the world,
and that’s you.” ”

— Kij Johnson

As a former educator, I urge all of us today, to pause, be thankful, and appreciate that the daily task of the classroom teacher is complex and challenging but paramount   to the development of learners and society. 

Let all of us today offer a virtual, resounding  shout out to  all teachers, thanking them for the multiple, often underappreciated roles they fulfill day in and day out.

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Good Neighbours Day

Who is my neighbour?  That is a question straight from the bible and in today’s confused society can have many interpretations.  Is the neighbour someone like me? Is my response coloured by moral judgement, feelings of pity, fear or indifference or by love, the right thing to do?

What is stirring in your heart as you look at the innumerable social needs demanding attention. Yes, the needs can be overwhelming and can shut you down but they can also stir you to action.  The choice is personal.

Image: Jon Tyson @jontyson/ Unsplash

I chose to get involved and started to volunteer one morning a week at St. Joe’s Café, our hospitality centre here in downtown London, where the guests who come each morning for breakfast became familiar and I could put names to faces.

Some of the guests come sick and struggling with addictions or homelessness, poverty, or loneliness, and some come for the social contact and the delicious food. The staff and volunteers welcome each person with dignity, kindness and words of understanding and support. As I sat thinking about my experience at the café, I received a call from a friend, a new Canadian, who was asking for advice on how to help two undocumented coworkers who were let go from their workplace. They contacted her in great need. She said to me,

I love Canada, and I want to pay forward the help I was given when I was lost and needed hope to face the future. 

The answer to ‘who is my neighbour’ is revealed each time I step out of my comfort zone to extend kindness, a listening ear, or comfort to a brother or sister in need.

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj

It's Gonna Be Great

I mentioned to a friend at breakfast the other morning that I was on the lookout for another company tagline to lay the framework for a new blog.  She quickly suggested using, “It’s Gonna Be Great.” adding the comment, “I don’t think it’s a tagline.” I reached into the basket of my walker for my iPhone and googled, “It’s Gonna Be Great!” I soon discovered "It's Gonna Be Great" is a fast-paced song by Bud Luckey and Jim Cummings, sung by Tigger and Eeyore in the Disney film, Winnie the Pooh.

Tigger: It's gonna be great, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great! Eeyore: Well, I'm not sure.
Tigger: Oh, stop that gloomy rumination, All you need is a little bit of Tiggerization.
Eeyore: Wait!
Tigger: Why wait? Don't you see it's gonna be great? It's gonna be great, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great!

Later in the day, I recalled that the prophet Jeremiah, in the biblical Book of Lamentations, offered spiritual seekers similar encouragement and motivation to rise and positively step into each new day.

The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue.

Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.

With my spirits lightened, reassured, and comforted by song lyrics and scriptural wisdom, I ended the day ready for the coming of tomorrow.

Indeed, amid world events and tensions we frequently find ourselves in need of the antidote for gloomy rumination and more than a little bit of Tiggerization and scriptural comfort.

Let us remain hopeful as we do our part to contribute in making it’s gonna to be great a reality.

-Sister Nancy Wales

image: Lucian @luciandachman | Unsplash

Pilgrims of Hope

Have you heard the song, “Pilgrims of Hope”?

It is something I am certainly going to add to our community’s hymn repertoire!

Composed to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025, it is filled with a heart-felt longing for hope as we continue to move through the challenges of the previous years of pandemic, economic strife, mistreatment of migrant people, racism and hatred. Hope is the desire of and the call on the lips of many who are striving to make a difference in society.

Starting in Rome, the Jubilee year begins on Christmas Eve 2024 and then resonates throughout the Christian world as of December 29, 2024.

The composer of “Pilgrims of Hope”, Francesco Meneghello crafts the opening notes of the refrain melody with a beautiful leap into hope. Pierangelo Sequeri words are strikingly heart-felt: “Like a flame my hope is burning”. And then the second phrase leaps higher as we sing: “may my song arise to you”. Melody and text are creatively wed together.

I hope you will listen to this beautiful hymn and make it your own – a prayer to gather the scattered into God’s tender and patient care. Filled with a sense of trust, the Jubilee theme calls us to recover a universal care for one another, refusing to turn a blind eye to the tragedy of rampant poverty. As pilgrims on this earth may we contemplate the beauty of creation and care for our common home. May this year be celebrated with deep faith, lively hope and active charity.

-Sister Loretta Manzara, csj

The song and many other resources may be found here.

Listen to the song here:

images: Brett Wharton @brettwharton | Unsplash

Whimsical Wisdom

Every once in a while you unexpectedly come across a book that is a catalyst for great reflection.

Finding the thoughtful little book, Chasing Dreams, written by Kobi Yamada, is one such book. The author offers wisdom as the subtitle suggests on “how to add more daring to your doing.”

The illustrations by Charles Santoso enhance Kobi Yamada’s words of wisdom. His creative visuals add a purposeful addition to this delightful book, through his portrayal of the  whimsical antics of an active, inquisitive, and playful raccoon.

I offer you two wisdom nuggets from Chasing Dreams to whet your appetite for this delightful, yet challenging read.

“Spend your energy wisely,

Fill your time with things that fill your heart.

Breathe deeply into the possibilities of your life.”

“Put work behind your good intentions.

Keep the promises you made to yourself.”

I am quite confident in putting a good word in for this inspirational read. The book jacket aptly states that the book is recommended for anyone ages ninety-nine or younger. Happy Reading!

Sister Nancy Wales, Reading Enthusiast

IMAGE: Sincerely Media @sincerelymedia/Unsplash