Meet Anita McGean, Pembroke Associate Community
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Anita McGean
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In his book ‘Eternal Echoes’, John O’Donohue
says, "Each individual expresses and incarnates a
different dimension of divinity. Each one of us comes from
a different place in the Circle of the Divine. This is the
place we left to come here. This is the empty nest in the
Divine where the secrets of our origin, experience and destiny
are stored."
On February 1st, 1949 I was sent out from the Divine Circle;
and arrived in Newfoundland to be, a blessing to; and blessed
by; my parents and older brother. As time passed we were joined
by four more siblings, three sisters and a brother.
As is usually the case, it is in hind-sight that I have
come to appreciate my roots and how they would influence and
nurture who I am called to be. Not least of all, these roots
were grounded in a faith that, while providing me with as
many questions as answers, nevertheless, was the foundation
on which I was able to withstand many trials; and overcome
many obstacles.
Both the Presentation Sisters and the Sisters of Mercy were
a strong influence throughout my school years and again during
my training in the Nursing profession. There was always that
special Sister who could be depended upon when I was in need
of advice, compassion, or just a listening heart. Along with
my parents, they modeled for me a selfless love, courage,
and service that was a testament to their love of God; faith
in Jesus; and trust in the Holy Spirit.
The year is 1969, and another chapter in my life was unfolding.
The time had come for me to leave yet another nest; to leave
my family and my homeland; to marry Len and begin the next
stage of my journey.
As I reflect on these years that Len and I shared, and continue
to share, as husband and wife; as parents to our two sons
and two daughters; and as grandparents; I can’t help
but be amazed by the many events, experiences, and people
that have challenged me; strengthened me; blessed me; and
transformed me. There were times of fear; times of doubt;
times of despair; times of joy; lots of laughter; many tears.
As a military family, each new posting brought its excitement
and its anxieties. Saying farewell to the familiar and greeting
the new. All of this, while a routine part of the military
life style, was none the less difficult.
What made these transitions possible was the confidence
we have in God’s love. Each new path was lined with signposts,
directing us to where we needed to go and toward companions
who would walk with us along the way; and even help us carry
our burdens. I can’t say that I was always thrilled with
the direction some of those signposts were pointed …
there were times when I even detoured … but if there
is one thing I learned, with certainty, is that God is very
patient and equally as persistent.
In 1990, one such signpost had Petawawa written on it. Bless
me Sisters, Associates and Friends, I must confess …I
didn’t take too lightly to this Divine Plan! We had gotten
very comfortable in the small town where we were living; and
the Parish Faith
Community there was second to none. We truly felt as though
we had come home. My conversations with God, concerning this
turn of events, are reminiscent of some of Job’s discourses,
to say the least.
In any case, it is now 2004 and I am writing this from our
home in Petawawa – with the benefit of that afore-mentioned
hind-sight. It is probably too late to make a long story short
…. As our basis for finding our niche in a new place
was always the Parish Community, it wasn’t long before
connections were formed with the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Pembroke. One such connection was with Marjorie FitzPatrick,
Director of the Pembroke CSJ Associates. In 1993, in response
to Marjorie’s invitation, I joined a small faith community
- - one of six small faith communities that made up the larger
Pembroke Associate Community at that time. The group that
welcomed me; and nurtured in me God’s unconditional love;
called themselves ‘The Circle of Love’. And indeed
they were! Here the secrets of my origin, experience and destiny
began to unfold for me.
For the most part, through my identity as a daughter; a
sibling; a wife; mother; friend; co-worker; parishioner; and
grandmother; I sought to give meaning to my life and purpose
for my being. Now I was experiencing something new - - - the
Call to live the CSJ Charism and Spirituality and my commitment
to that Call to Oneness in all my relationships. This transforming
Call does not diminish who I am in these many areas of my
life; but rather enriches them by revealing to me the special
place that I hold in the Divine Circle. By being in right
relationship with my self I am enabled to – ‘Participate
in bringing about a transformed church and planet through
active and inclusive love’ -
During the span of this past decade I have been embraced
by a Congregation of Sisters who continue to reflect the courage
and determination that was given birth in LePuy. They exemplify
The More whether they are participating in large tasks
or small; whether they are rejoicing or mourning; whether
they are able to be physically active in the life of the congregation
or prayerfully contributing to its fruitfulness through their
illness and suffering – All done in the Name of Love!
Following the example of St. Paul, I too boast. Humbly and
gratefully I boast about the Mission - - of Seeking; Loving;
and Being; through Active and Inclusive Love - - that provides
me with the joy, faith, hope and trust that I need to give
me courage, desire and energy for the various Ministries in
which I am called to participate: In my family, as I try to
animate the Great Love of God in the lives of my children
and grandchildren; in my Parish community as I try to serve
according to the gifts with which I have been blessed; and,
with particular joy, as an Associate, I am co-director of
the Pembroke CSJ Associates; I coordinate the pool ministry
at the Motherhouse; 140 people from the local towns, come
every week for therapy that has been prescribed by their doctor
or therapist. Last but certainly not least, I receive countless
blessings during the occasions when I am able to spend time
with the sisters, whether visiting those who are in Health
Care; or participating in Community Days, Workshops or Retreats.
I am humbly grateful to the Sisters, whose holy energy and
generosity of spirit are ongoing wellsprings for the transformation
God is calling me toward. And I treasure the Associates, not
only those in our Pembroke communities, but also those of
other communities who have truly enriched my being through
incarnating their own dimension of divinity.
Day to day; moment to moment; each new event; every experience;
all my relationships; find me seeking: first for the truth
of who I am; no longer burdened by the shadows but grateful
for the gifts that they reveal; secondly to realize that yesterday
and tomorrow are very much connected to Now and to live this
moment through God’s grace and for God’s Glory;
and last but by no means least, for the special-ness that
is in each person and part of creation, that ultimately completes
the Divine Circle .. the Mystery that awaits, with joyful
anticipation, for my return to the Nest.
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