Meet Carole Sauvé – CSJ Toronto Associate
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Carole Sauvé
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I have been a member of the St. Joseph Community Associates
since 1984. We are one of eleven Associate Communities of
the Toronto CSJs. However I have known the Sisters of St.
Joseph for most of my life, having been taught by them in
grade school and high school, as well as working with them
at St. Michael’s Hospital as a medical laboratory technician
for sixteen years. Another very special bond is through my
sister, Grace Sauvé, CSJ Toronto.
I am one of eleven children (eight still living) and although
money was scarce, we learned from an early age to share the
little we had with those less fortunate. My parents taught
by example and so we learned to respect and accept our neighbours,
to help out where needed and to protect the environment. Hence
the seeds of the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph took
root in my heart.
I was invited in 1984 to join an Associate group that was
starting up in west-end Toronto with Staff from St. Joseph’s
Hospital. This was the beginning of a deep spiritual journey
with the Sisters and like-minded lay people that continues
and is brought to awareness each day as I pray the Daily Office.
The Toronto Associate Communities meet each month in our
small groups and all the groups get together for an Assembly
Day (usually a workshop on a social justice issue), a weekend
Retreat in the Fall, a Commitment Day and Retreat in the Spring
and a pot-luck picnic. These events provide us with an opportunity
to appreciate the charism of the Sisters and to share our
experiences with the larger group, as well as time for renewing
friendships. However, the heart of the Associate Program for
me is our monthly meetings. These meetings give me the spiritual
energy to carry on and deepen my desire to reach out to the
“dear neighbour”. Our faith-sharing, spiritual growth,
friendship and love continue to strengthen the bond among
us. We have become like family and share deeply in each other’s
sorrows and joys.
In previous years, my reaching out to others involved trying
to be a loving, caring presence in my family, at work, in
the Parish community and visiting the elderly and shut-ins.
I served for three years on the Core Team, a team of two Sisters
and three Associates that oversees the Toronto Associate Program.
I am now a participant in the Leadership Training Program.
This is an exciting and challenging program and I am very
grateful to be able to give back some of the blessings that
I have received.
I retired three years ago and moved up north to the small
village of Balm Beach about ten kilometers west of Midland,
where I live with one of my brothers. I am involved in prison
ministry at the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.
I find this a very spiritually rewarding way of striving towards
Unity and Reconciliation with the “dear neighbour”.
This ministry includes doing a Paraliturgy Service on a regular
basis as well as being part of the Alpha Team. We run two
Alpha Programs a year with the inmates. Convincing the inmates
that God loves them is often a very difficult task, but seeing
their gratitude in being treated with dignity and respect,
makes the effort worthwhile. Through frequent celebration
of the Eucharist and the love and support of the Sisters and
Associates I receive the mental and spritual energy required
in this ministry.
Over the years I have attended several CSJ/SSJ Associate
Conferences…in Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia, Peterborough,
London and Toronto. The prayerful sessions, presentations,
liturgy, music and entertainment were spiritually enriching
and deepened my appreciation of the Associate Program. The
shared fun and friendship were a bonus. I now look forward
to the CSJ Associate/Companions Conference coming up in June/05
in Barrie and I pray for its success.
As I reflect on my life as an Associate, I know that I am
a better person because I was extended the “invitation
to join” and was given the grace to say “yes”.
The love and care, the greater willingness to help others,
the deeper sensitivity to their needs and the ever-growing
awareness of the social injustices to our fellow humans and
to our environment are some of the fruits of this Association.
Most importantly however, I realize that God our Heavenly
Father is and always will be present in my life and without
God’s Spirit, I can do nothing. Being an Associate helps
me to grow spiritually and deepens my relationship with God
and with others. Thank you, Lord for all these blessings.
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