Meet Margaret Maheu - Profile of a London CSJ Associate
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Margaret Maheu
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My name is Margaret Maheu, originally from Sarnia, Ontario,
and I am connected to the Sisters of St. Joseph, London, Ontario.
There are eleven groups in the London Area in different cities,
and I belong to one of three Sarnia groups, and we call ourselves
the Medaille Group. We were originally a small group of five
women who went on retreats together at Medaille House. The
sisters noticed our commitment and in 1989, Sister Doreen
Kraemer approached us about the idea of becoming Associates.
Our commitment is basically to our own small group, to meet
together each month, but there is also a spiritual connection
to the sisters. We pray for them and they pray for us. Sr.
Doreen meets with each small group monthly, but we are prepared
to lead the group in twos whether she attends or not. There
is also a retreat in October at Oxley, Ontario, for all the
Associates in the London Area which gives us an opportunity
to meet with the large group.
What brought me to be an Associate was the love and care
and spiritual teachings led by Sister Doreen. She presents
God as gentle, nurturing, always present to us in every situation.
She uses symbols, sees God in nature, and encourages us each
individually and sees the best in us. She leads our group
on a retreat weekend once a year, and gives us a balance of
quiet time, sharing time with each other, social time and
private time with her for spiritual direction if we so desire.
She also leads the large group at Oxley.
What is important to the Sisters of St. Joseph is that we
see ourselves as part of the whole, that we love everyone
without distinction, and that we reach our to those close
to us with reconciling and healing love, in whatever circumstances
present themselves, now. Each member of my group reaches out
to the larger community in some way. For myself, I reach out
to the housebound of my parish, by carrying the Blessed Sacrament
to them each Sunday. I also help with the Anointing Mass and
assist at the mass our parish priest says at the Nursing Home.
Being an Associate gives meaning to my duties at home, at
school and at church. It has made me more reflective, more
conscious of the choices I make, more aware of the struggle
of others, and I daresay a more loving person in the process.
What nurtures my spirituality is the sharing with the wonderful
women in my own group of eleven. We have fun together and
laugh a lot. We have shared our joys and sorrows over the
years, and we are a support for each other in times of sadness
and celebration. We affirm each other and we challenge each
other. I cannot imagine my life without my Associate group
and the gifts it has brought me. It has made me very grateful.
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