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My name is Sandy Bell-Cameron. I have been an Associate of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, in the London “Kindred Spirits” group, for close to 15 years. I am deeply grateful for the gift of being an Associate. I first learned about the CSJ Charism in the early 90’s. I was on retreat at Medaille House as part of my Clinical Pastoral Education training at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London. Sr. Doreen was our retreat leader and at some point she had mentioned the Charism of the Sisters. I asked to know more. I distinctly remember feeling a deep resonance with the passionate commitment of the Sisters to the “dear neighbour” and to living lives of active and inclusive love. I began to see Sr. Doreen for Spiritual Direction and in time became an Associate. Some years later, while I was on an Associate retreat at Oxley Holy Family Retreat House, I felt the call to teach. My work as an elementary Special Education teacher is both challenging and very rewarding. I am grateful for the gift of being a teacher. I am married and I have four children. When my two girls were young they would ask what I did when I met with my Kindred Spirits for meetings or retreats. I shared that we would pray, sing, share our life stories with one another while looking and listening for the presence of our God in our experiences, that we would laugh and sometimes cry, learn and grow, and that we would always “break bread“ with one another in some way. Now they know I am nurtured, strengthened and renewed each time we gather; a time of meeting Jesus at the well. It is only years later that I have come to know how profoundly I have been transformed, in every area of my life, from my journey with the Associates and Sisters. I have been richly blessed with so many opportunities to grow spiritually and to deepen my relationship with God, and my response to a world in need. My prayerful intent is to continue to grow beyond “me”, “self-emptying” little by little. I believe this will allow me to be more present to God, the dear neighbour and to life. In part this prayer is being answered. This summer I will travel to the Zana Valley in Peru with a beautiful group of women including Sr. Janet and Sr. Kitty, five Associates from three different groups and a friend of the Sisters, Associates and the Peruvian people. I know we will strengthen the bonds of friendship and support for mutual growth and enrichment (Heart-Links’ Mission). I sense that my upcoming shared experience with our Peruvian sisters and brothers will teach me, transform me and gift me in ways that I can’t even begin to imagine. Thanks be to God. Sandra Bell-Cameron
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