Meet Pauline Holenski and Janet Bourgeau, Associates, Sault
Ste. Marie
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Pauline Holenski
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PAULINE HOLENSKI
My journey with the Sisters of St. Joseph began before I
was born as my mother was educated by the Sisters and a Sister
was present at my birth. So the charism was instilled in me
very early and all my education, including Nursing, was provided
by the Sisters, with my graduation from St. Joseph’s
Hospital in Toronto. While living in Kitchener In the mid-eighties,
Sister Anne Kargas invited me to become a Companion of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton. After attending three information
sessions in Guelph, I accepted her invitation and joined a
small group of women in Kitchener. My husband was killed in
1991 and I moved back to my home town, North Bay, in 1994,
where I was "transplanted" into the North Bay Associate
Community in 1995, abd nade a commitment in 1997.
Being so closely associated with the Sisters has been a
real joy as well as a challenge. Doors of opportunity have
opened. Involvement in the building of a Labyrinth at the
Motherhouse in North Bay led Janet Bourgeau and me to spearhead
the building of a Labyrinth at Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal
Center in Pickering, Ontario. We were then invited to develop
and facilitate Labyrinth retreats at Manresa, where a Spiritual
Companion program was implemented two years ago. We continue
to participate in this program, as well as to develop and
facilitate Alanon and Over-Eaters Anonymous retreats. Challenges
- yes; Growth - yes, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually;
all this because of the Associates.
Janet and I are involved in the publishing of Associate
Newsletter, Threads of Love, which is sent three times a year
to the Sisters and Associates of the Sault Congregation. We
also give presentations at Associate Meetings and facilitate
half days of reflection. I see these opportunities as my ministry
and find it all fulfilling and life-giving.
What was begun in me long ago has been nurtured and allowed
to grow in the spiritual atmosphere that the Sisters provide.
My creativity has been encouraged and accepted. I have come
to a greater understanding of who God is for me and who I
am for God. Beloved. My understanding has broadened to embrace
not only the persons next to me but also the cosmos, the earth
and all creatures as neighbour. We are inter-dependent. To
be united and reconciled with all creation is important as
part of my spirituality. Inclusive love means all of this.
I have come to recognize that I can give all of me –
the positives and the negatives - to a God of my understanding.
As someone said – I am a Spiritual Being learning to
become Human. All belongs to God.
JANET BOURGEAU
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Janet Bourgeau
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I was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec into a small Protestant
family and became Roman Catholic when I married. Since then,
the Roman Catholic faith has fascinated and attracted my curiosity,
continually nudging me in search of the more. It took 32 years
to find my spiritual niche, and it happened seemingly accidentally.
I’ve learned that nothing is purely accidental, rather
it is all providential. God was patiently waiting for me to
be ready to meet the Sisters of St. Joseph. My first introduction
to the Sisters of St. Joseph was when I made a retreat at
the Motherhouse in North Bay in 1995. After this retreat,
I was enticed by an invitation to attend the Associate meetings
and in April 1997 I made my first commitment to be an Associate
with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie in North
Bay.
Becoming an Associate continues to give me an opportunity
to grow spiritually, while in a generous and supportive atmosphere.
It has encouraged and fostered my understanding of interior
freedom, which has helped me to make life-enhancing choices.
My image of God has greatly expanded to include a God of both
genders, a God that is transcendent, expansive and continually
evolving. I have been encouraged to ask questions in a safe
environment and to explore God on the edge. This God is calling
me to be co-creator in the universe, loving my neighbour in
family and friends, seeing God in all things and all things
in God.
The exciting thing is that I have been learning to serve
God in entirely new ways, never before imagined. In identifying
with the charism of unity and reconciliation, I understand
my involvement in compiling the Associate Newsletter as a
mission, as I feel it is an effective and important method
of communicating and forming community. As an Associate, I
am nourished by the "sharing of the heart" with
the other Associates and the Sisters. It has brought me to
want to "companion" others on their spiritual journey.
With my Associate friend, Pauline Holenski, an opportunity
arose for us to become involved in a Spiritual Companion Program
at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering,
Ontario. This invitation came after we were asked to build
a Chartres-type outdoor labyrinth at Manresa. One mission
leads to another and the necessity to learn new skills. We
needed to learn the art of giving retreats. Now we are facilitating
Labyrinth, Alanon and Over-Eaters Anonymous retreats at Manresa.
Being an Associate means a great deal to me. A whole new
world of friends, challenges and spiritual nourishment has
opened up and I am so grateful for the many, many gifts received.
I have come to realize that each of us is an embodiment of
Christ and my mission as an Associate is living Jesus’
story within me.
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