The Federation Vocation Animation team heard the question, "where have all the Sisters gone?" and developed a series of short video vignettes to offer an answer! Each month we will release a new video, each on a different theme, or featuring one of our Sisters. This month, we hope you enjoy, "The Call".
Canada Gets Serious About Water Woes. Will Indigenous Voices Be Heard?
Link to the full article -- here are just 3 paragraphs:
The aim of the CWA (Canada Water Agency), which is expected to be running by 2022, is to modernize water policy in Canada amid myriad pressures facing the nation from climate change. But its proponents say it is also an opportunity to put Indigenous communities at the heart of governance – restoring agency and fairness in water policy but also making smarter policy.
“We’ve seen the benefits of having the Public Health Agency of Canada being in place when the pandemic hit, it’s hard to imagine how things would have been without one,” Dr. Pomeroy says. “But I’m in a hurry. I see all the water problems, and I would include the fires in British Columbia as part of our water problems. ... So we need this agency yesterday, because it’s one of our principal ways of dealing with the impacts of climate change in this country.”
Ms. Phare worries that the CWA will resort to the status quo if Indigenous governments don’t design it from the ground up, starting now. “You don’t design an institution and then invite people to it if you want reconciliation,” she says. “If we want to solve the water problem together, we build the institutions together and then we implement the institution together. We’re accountable for the institution. Together – we share in its success together.”
A call to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Federation’s Office for Systemic Justice joined faith groups around the world in signing this letter urging governments to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty -- which calls for the phasing out of fossil fuels and supports a just transition powered by clean energy and a sustainable future for all. It’s an action taken in preparation for COP 26 in Glasgow.
Please read on: https://fossilfueltreaty.org/faith-letter
Nikolay Kovalenko @nikolasvako
Sourced from Unsplash
Remembering the Thunder Bay Celebration of 139 years of Ministry by the Sisters of St. Joseph
Water fall wall acknowledging the years of minsitry.
For the weekend of September 12, 2021, nineteen Sisters drove to Thunder Bay to celebrate 139 years of ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the diocese. It was a sunny and joy-filled day celebrating the ministry of the Sisters from Toronto (1881 – 1890), the Sisters from Peterborough (1890 – 1936) and the Sisters from Sault Ste. Marie (1936 - 1020.
Over the years, the Sisters taught in elementary and secondary schools, cared for the sick, cared for orphans, taught music, ministered to homeless, hungry and needy, supported released prisoners, administered social services, worked in spiritual, pastoral and retreat ministries set up child day care centers, and ministered in countless other ways to the indigenous and non-indigenous population in the region.
After the last Sister left Thunder Bay in 2020, Bishop Colli extended the invitation to the Sisters to return to celebrate the CSJ charism of all-inclusive love, firmly rooted in the region. The sunny day began with a tree-planting at the Diocesan Centre followed by a reception hosted by the Bishop and Catholic Women’s league. At 2:00pm Mass in honour of St. Joseph was celebrated by Bishop Colli at St. Andrews Parish – the first parish home of the Sisters in 1881 Sister Bonnie MacLellan gave an overview of the ministry of the Sisters over 139 years, and Bishop Colli honoured the works of the Sisters in his homily. Afterwards everyone walked the short distance to the nearby St. Joseph’s Hospital plaza where a huge fountain waterfall wall had been erected to celebrate the ministry of the Sisters. A bronze plaque was displayed atop the wall. When we arrived, patients from the hospital some with visible disabilities and disadvantages had been enjoying the healing and peaceful atmosphere of the waterfall fountain. The scene reminded us all of why we had come to Thunder Bay in the first place.
The day ended with a joyous and happy meal together with our generous and gracious host, Bishop Colli and members of the planning committee. We left Thunder Bay thrilled and confident that the seeds that were planted in 1881 and watered by successive generations of Sisters had passed into highly capable hands and would continue to flourish and bear fruit.
Today we celebrate 170 years!
On October 7, 1851, four Sisters established the first Canadian foundation in Toronto. Mother Delphine Fontbonne and Sisters Bernard Dinan, Alphonsus Margerum and Martha von Bunning arrived from Philadelphia, which was at the time a mission of the Carondelet Congregation in St. Louis. They had come at the request of the Toronto Bishop, Armand Francois Marie de Charbonnel, to care for orphans, to teach in schools, and to nurture community with their neighbour. Their teaching apostolate expanded over the years: elementary, secondary & university, the arts, and adult education in many forms including faith development. They also started three schools of nursing. Beginning in 1857, the congregation set up health care institutions across Canada. In Toronto, they established St. Michael’s Hospital (1892), St. Joseph’s Hospital (1921), Our Lady of Mercy (1925) and Providence Hospital (1962). House of Providence opened in 1857 as a house of charity and is known today as Providence Healthcare. Through the years, the congregation established missions near and far, first in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Alberta and then in 1968, the congregation opened a mission in Guatemala. Sisters have also served in Nicaragua, Honduras and Haiti. The Sisters’ anniversary theme, Celebrating our Oneness with God, Creation and Neighbour, highlights ministries past and present. In prayer, presence and solidarity, and with partners, the Sisters advocate and take action to address social injustices, raise awareness for better environmental protection and safe drinking water, and advocate for a more equitable world.
For more information: Sisters of St. Joseph - Home (csj-to.ca)
