Spirituality

Contemplation

A poem by Sister Jean Moylan

Reverently I sit within the darkened pew

That has held securely our generations five,

Homesteaders come afar from Ireland,

Ahead of war and deadly famine wrath.

Into this quiet land we came,

hope-filled, faith-filled, joy-filled,

To clear the land and till the clay loam soil,

Strong and steady against the march of time.

Patrick, Thomas, John and Don,

Son to son; heir to heir,

Strong in Huron County faith and love,

Nurtured among tall trees and golden wheat.

Church bells call out Angelus

Age on age we pause and bow our heads,

God and church the foothold of our lives;

Onward, steady, amid the winds of change.

Nativity mural with communion rail in convent, Dundas, Ontario — Nativity mural with communion rail, St. Joseph’s Convent, Dundas, Ontario

London and Region Associate Community, Then and Now

By Sandy Bell-Cameron

Joseph lived his life simply and humbly. He was a dreamer, with a deep and abiding faith in God’s visions.

The Associates had their official beginning in 1987 when Chapter approved the movement toward having an Associates program. In 1988, Sr. Doreen Kraemer was appointed by Council to be the Director of Associates. The “Medaille” group of Associates was formed in 1989 in Sarnia, and group members celebrated their Charism Commitment Ceremony (now Charism Connection Ceremony) in 1991. The same year, Sr. Doreen published the first edition of Bridging, the Associate newsletter. The first Associate retreat was in 1992 at St. Joseph’s–on-the-Lake in Kingsville with the theme “Charism.” In 1993 Sr. Janet Zadorsky formed the Associate group in Peru, “Un Milagro de Amor.” In 1995 a liaison was chosen by each group as a leader within the group and to support communication between groups, and with the Congregational Leadership and the community. Also in 1995, the Associate Directors’ Committee of the Canadian Federation expanded its membership to include an Associate from each of the six congregations. In 1999 the Associates sponsored and hosted the Region III Conference “Widening the Circle of Love: New Millennium Challenge.”

In 2000 an endorsement process was used to select a “Core Team” (now Core Circle) with five members to assist with administering the Associates. A core team writing committee began work on an Associate Handbook. In 2001 the first Annual Associate Business meeting (now known as the Annual General Gathering) took place in Chatham; an annual Associate fee was introduced to support ‘ownership’ of and financial management of the Associates. In 2001 an editorial team for Bridging was formed with their first edition issued in 2002. Early in 2002, an endorsement and discernment process called forward two “Animators” to assist Sr. Doreen forming the first “Animating Team” (now Animating Circle). In 2003 the Associate pendant/pin was designed by an Associate. In 2003 Associates were invited to be collaborators with the Sisters of an emerging dream of a Spiritual Ministries Network and in 2007 the dream became a reality with both Sister and Associate members. In 2005 the animating team and Sr. Doreen worked on ways of sharing responsibilities including procedures for forming new groups. From the beginning until she left her formal Associate ministry in June 2010, Sr. Doreen discerned the vision for the Associates and initiated and nurtured shared leadership.

In 2010 Sr. Janet Zadorsky was asked by the Congregational Leadership Circle to be the “CSJ Associate Mentor.” Until completing her ministry as mentor in 2017, Sr. Janet’s role was to guide the Associates towards independence as an Associate-led community. She accomplished this in part by creating templates for leadership retreats, ceremonies, rituals, an Annual General Gathering, and the endorsement process. Sr. Janet and Sr. Nancy Wales along with Associates’ input created a Seekers Program for individuals interested in the Associates, with PowerPoint presentations and resources on CSJ history, spirituality, mission and ministry, charism, maxims and the Associate program. Sr. Janet fully supported the evolution to independent Associate leadership and mentorship.

In May 2017 two Associates accepted together the new role of “Associate Mentors.” This was a time of being midwives for the future with continued positive growth for the Associate community. Following completion of the Associate mentors’ terms, four current and past animator circle and core circle members stepped forward in November 2019, one from each region, and formed an “Associate Leadership Circle” to fulfil the role and responsibilities of the Associate mentor(s). Over time, leadership roles have changed to be more fluid, collaborative and consultative with the leadership circles working closely together and calling on and supporting one another in leadership tasks, events, and retreats. Currently (in 2022), the London and Region Associate Community has 140 Associates in 18 groups within the four regions of Windsor / Chatham / Kingsville / Maidstone (4), Sarnia (4), Simcoe / Woodstock (3), and London / St. Thomas / Grand Bend (5). One group is in Zana Valley, Peru and one is a virtual group. There are eight Sisters who are also Associates either as an active member or praying member. In closing, as an Associate community in the Joseph family, may we continue to pray communally and in our own hearts that like Joseph, we may live our lives simply and humbly, rooted in the charism of Love, listening for and responding to God’s call within our own day.

With gratitude for Sr. Doreen’s Associate History Line and the support of Associates in preparing this “Then and Now” summary.

Remembering Mother Martha von Bunning, 1824 – June 13, 1868

Sr. Ann Marshall, csj

In recognition of the 170 years since the Hamilton foundation, I was asked to reflect on why Mother Martha is so significant to the Hamilton sisters. Her story is poignant and instructive, and its meaning is still unfolding. Her story as a Sister of St. Joseph reflects the pascal mystery of death and resurrection. Martha followed in the footsteps of Jesus who died an apparent failure.

We first heard Martha’s story following Vatican 11 when Rome directed all religious congregations to revisit their founding charism. On hearing Martha’s story for the first time there was initial shock, surprise and a sense of embarrassment which gave way to anger/resentment. Remember this was an era of awakening for women containing new truths and insights. We symbolized our support of Martha by the removal of a large picture of the first Bishop of Hamilton, Bishop Farrell, which had been hanging prominently in the Mother House and gifted it to the Chancery Office where it now hangs in the Diocesan library named after him. A more appropriate home for His Grace.

Martha was born in Germany, emigrated to the USA, and entered the Congregation in 1845 at the age of 21. She was missioned from St. Louis Missouri to Toronto and from there to Hamilton in 1852. At 28 Martha was named the superior of the Hamilton community. Martha understood that love is expressed in service of the dear neighbour and readily accepted the challenge of caring for the typhus and cholera victims of arriving immigrants but at a cost of the lives of the sisters. Ten years into the foundation, in 1862, unjustly accused Martha was banished from the community by the Bishop. This resilient and humble woman made a second attempt at reconciliation in 1868 even though her health was failing but was again denied a meeting with the Bishop and made her way to Toronto, walking all the way. The archives are silent on this detail, however, she was warmly received by the Toronto community and died 9 days later.

I said earlier Martha’s story is instructive. She was courageous in responding to unmet needs, resilient in the face of adversity, humble and forgiving in the dark night of unjust condemnation, and uncompromising in living the charism of unity and reconciliation. It seems to me that Martha’s short life reflects our own congregation’s Chapter Statement: Moving with Love and embracing each moment of possibility as a graced path to Transformation.

Pembroke centennial

This year marks one hundred years since the Sisters of St. Joseph formed a community in Pembroke, Ontario. This slideshow celebrates their century of service in the Ottawa Valley.

Sisters of St. Joseph – celebrating 100 years in the Pembroke diocese from Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Archives

The 100th anniversary of the Pembroke Sisters

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph community in Pembroke, Ontario. The Sisters departed their second Motherhouse in Pembroke in 2019, after faithfully serving Pembroke and the nearby rural communities for one hundred years. During their time in the Ottawa Valley, the Sisters served as music teachers, elementary and secondary school educators, and healthcare workers. They administered St. Francis Hospital in Barry’s Bay for many years. They established a Normal School, later St. Mary’s Teachers’ College, in Chapeau, Québec. They also branched out from Pembroke and administered hospitals and long-term care facilities in Barrhead, Alberta and Radville and Regina, Saskatchewan. They established a mission in Chincha Alta, Peru serving as nurses and educators. While the Sisters no longer live in the Motherhouse in Pembroke, they are still actively involved in serving the “dear neighbor” where ever they still reside – whether in Pembroke, Barry’s Bay, Ottawa, or Peru.