News
Our Toronto Sisters have served in many and various ways throughout their history since 1851. This year we join with them in celebrating their 170th anniversary. One of the ways in which the charism lives on is through their organization called Fontbonne Ministries.
Read about the good work still being done through collaboration and partnering.
Newsletter SPRINGS OF HOPE
Together with all creation in our Northern Hemisphere, we remember that the longest night of the year is a sign and a promise that the sun will lengthen our days once more. In this Advent season, we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ who is “the true Light, the Light of the World.”
READ MORE AT: Winter Solstice 2020 — Congregation of Sisters of St Joseph in Canada (csjcanada.org)
SHARING OUR HISTORY
November 6, 1936 marks the Foundation of the Sault Ste. Marie Congregation. Carrying on the tradition of all Sisters of St. Joseph, this youngest group, with its Motherhouse in North Bay, began to reach out to the small communities around Lake Superior and on Manitoulin Island.
From the very conceptualization of Jean-Pierre Medaille’s dream for active women religious his Sisters had been ready and willing to leave the comfort of familiar surroundings to follow Christ whatever that might mean … hence they came to North America in 1836 and to Canada in 1851.
The mid-thirties were phoenix years in Northern Ontario. The Great Depression had finally ended and new employment was giving rise to swells of industry and population everywhere. The vast diocese of Sault Ste. Marie had a zealous young bishop at its helm. Bishop Ralph Hubert Dignan was determined to have a group of diocesan Sisters who would be at the ready for response to diocesan needs. In late 1935 and early 1936, Bishop Dignan met personally with every Sister serving in the Sault diocese. They were invited and challenged to become the nucleus of a new community. Ties and allegiance to the Peterborough community would be severed. The Sisters were cautioned to proceed with personal prayer and not to be influenced in any way by discussion with each other. The Bishop himself would attend to necessary protocol with Rome.
November 5, 1936 was the day official notice was received that the new Congregation had come into being. One hundred and twenty one (121) courageous souls had stepped forward to be the nucleus of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie.
Information taken from www.csjssm.ca
We welcome you! Watch the video here.
Every two years, the Federation Vocation Animation Committee works in conjunction with Fontbonne Ministries Faith Connections to host an event for a pilgrimage with young adults, ages 18 to 30.
As we began planning this event a year ago, the idea was to hold the pilgrimage at Villa St. Joseph, a spirituality and ecology centre of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. Due to Covid however, it was decided to hold the event virtually. This year’s theme was “Living Beauty”, a perfect theme as we were going to very shortly be entering the Season of Creation. We spent time in prayer, contemplation, sharing and hearing about Living Beauty.
Sister Mary Rowell was our first speaker as we journeyed through Catholic Social Teaching. She reminded us that we are called to live an all encompassing ethic of life. It is important that we encompass integral ecology as we remember that we are to value the dignity of all life and provide support to each and every person as well as all of Creation.
We then had some time for contemplating creation we remembered the words of St. Ignatius “Reflect how God dwells in creatures: in elements given them existence, in the plants given them life, in the animals conferring upon them sensation, in human beings bestowing understanding.”
Following our quiet time we heard Sabrina Chiefari speak on “The Space Between Two – Francis-es: 2020”. Sabrina reminded us that we are called to remember that faith and person need to come together as we hope to live out of a hope narrative. She also called us to remember that the Creator appears in his creations.
We are hopeful that next year we can gather in person at Villa St. Joseph and share the experience of Living Beauty surrounded by the beautiful grounds. Click on the link below to learn more about this beautiful centre and about Faith Connections.
We leave you with a beautiful reflection – The Tree by Sr. Mary Alban Bouchard, CSJ
Once upon a time there was a seed. The seed was planted in a little space in the earth and the soil surrounded it. And the seed waited. It felt the rain and the sun’s warmth. Then, according to the form and life within it, the seed began to unfold and grow. One day, like an answer to a call, it came out above the ground and appeared in the daylight as if to say, “Here I am!” It grew and grew, constantly nourished by the rain and the nutrients in the soil. And it became a tree. It branched out and put out leaves and buds. The buds flowered and were pollinated and with time the tree bore fruit. People came and ate the fruit, which made them healthy. In the centre of the fruit they found a new seed of life. The tree was a sheltering tree as well. Birds came and nested. Among them was the dove that rested there.
And God looked at the tree and said:: “This is a good tree, the tree of my choice.” And the tree became a parable of the Reign of God on earth.
And you are the tree.
Links:
Faith Connections: https://fontbonneministries.ca/faith-connections/
Villa St. Joseph: https://www.villastjoseph.ca/
