The Associates annual retreat took place at St. Mary’s Academy on Saturday November 26, 2022 with Sister Lesley Sacouman presenting “Love is made Flesh”. The retreat was organized by the Associates Spiritual Committee.  About 26 members, sisters, and guests were in attendance.

The morning began with an impressive spread of cookies, muffins, and loaves to enjoy with coffee and chatting with each other.

Kitty Kelly welcomed everyone and introduced Sr Lesley with: “Sr Lesley began as a Catholic school teacher, on to working in the inner city, on to welcoming newcomers to our city. She is presently the Executive Coordinator of the Holy Names House of Peace, where 20 refugee women make their home.”

Sr Lesley’s friendly tone and demeanor are so perfect for our group as we continue to try to become closer to Jesus with the help of our Blessed Mother and Mother Mary Rose. She gave us food for thought and questions about why we were there that day, what is our greatest desire right now and where in our lives can we hear sheer silence. It was the beginning of advent so we were asked “are we willing to wake up, begin again and turn our will and life over to God?”  The final reflection was of Christ on the Cross and the words “Love is made flesh, …through you, … with you…and in you. My thought every day is: Everything flows through Him.”

Patti LeBlanc, feeling empowered, thanked Sr Lesley for coming and presenting to us. We are truly grateful.

The Spiritual committee members organized by Chris Butterill are Elizabeth Grover, Patti LeBlanc, Kitty Kelly, Margaret Kingdon and Tonina Fiorentino.

Written by Jean Van Walleghem

Photos by Sr. Marylyn Gibney

Featured image Sr. Lesley Sacouman and Patti LeBlanc

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, approximately 350 people enjoyed a wonderful Christmas meal at the Immaculate Conception Drop-In Centre, courtesy of the SNJM Sisters and Associates of Manitoba.  The drop-in, located in the Point Douglas neighbourhood of Winnipeg, provides weekly meals to those in need.

The Christmas meal is the highlight of the year at the drop-in, and this year was no different!  Each guest was given a hot meal including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, and cranberry sauce.  Every meal also included a festive napkin, cutlery, a mandarine orange, a buttered bun, homemade baking, a candy cane, and a container of milk.

The SNJM Manitoba Associates’ Outreach Committee organized the event with the generous assistance of their Associate members and the Sisters.  Given the great response to requests for funds to support this event, all costs have been covered and a generous donation has been made to the drop-in to help fund additional meals throughout the year.

This meal is truly a community event, and the outreach team of Nancy Militano, Teresa Campbell, Pat Bozyk, Nicole Boudreau, Joy Beauchamp, and Mary Morton would like to thank everyone who contributed time, talent, and/or treasure to make it successful.  It is a great blessing to be able to serve in this way, and the team is confident that our neighbours in Point Douglas were embraced by the love that comes with a nourishing meal.

Mary Morton

Featured picture : Teresa Campbell

October 6, 2022 – What joy there was when, for the first time in three years, Associates, family members and Sisters came together to celebrate the feast day of founder Blessed Marie Rose Durocher and to receive two new Associates.  Chris Butterill and Paulette Martel warmly welcomed everyone gathered in the chapel at Despins Residence. The first scripture reading reminded us that we are all ambassadors of Christ. We then listened to the personal reflections of Patti LeBlanc and Colleen Ridley as each shared her journey on becoming an associate. Afterwards Sr. Edith called them forward to make their formal commitment. After signing their contracts, each received an Associate pin and a single rose, and was greeted with a warm round of applause. Then, the Associates and Sisters renewed their commitment to living out their promises/vows through prayer and actions to promote peace and justice, to promote the good of the whole Earth community and to walk together to bring the Acts of Chapter to life.

The Magnificat followed. We prayed that as ambassadors of Christ, we continue to cast fire on the earth as our beloved foundress, Mother Marie-Rose, would have us do. Our celebration continued over a light lunch and coffee.

Written by Sr Marylyn Gibney

Featured image Colleen Ridley and Patti Le Blanc

A group of approximately 26 associates enjoyed a joyful, energetic, in-person coming together on September 14, 2022 in the St. Mary’s Academy library. It had been a while!

The meeting was opened by Sister Marylyn with a beautiful land acknowledgement followed by a short recap of recent happenings, a lovely placing of candles in memory of associates and loved ones of associates who had passed away recently, an introduction to the new associates and current candidates, and an update regarding Manitoba’s new SNJM Leadership Team.

Connie Yunyk then presented a brief overview of the 3-day SNJM Charrette that took place in Chicago in June. (A charrette could be defined as a collaborative session that strives to arrive at a new design via planning and finding solutions.)

This charrette was attended by representatives from every SNJM province. Connie was among those who represented Manitoba.

Through liturgy, prayer and conversation, the group of delegates agreed that its goal, going forward, was for ALL of the SNJM community to come together and present a more unified overall focus and message while also acknowledging the differences that exist within the community.

Following Connie’s presentation, we learned about how the year would unfold: Speaking on behalf of Spirituality, Chris Butterill informed us that in addition to the Mother Marie Rose celebration being held at the Despins Residence on October 6th, there will be a Saturday morning retreat in November, an evening of reflection at some point in the new year, and a closing Mass in May. Speaking on behalf of Communications, Jean Van Walleghem explained that they are involved with such things as providing information to associates, keeping in touch with those who are not able to attend meetings regularly or who are not well, sending cards, asking members to assist with various meeting tasks, etc. Speaking on behalf of the Outreach, Pat Bozyk read a report from Mary Morton informing us about our continued involvement in providing a Christmas dinner at the Immaculate Conception Sunday Drop In, and about another yet-to-be decided outreach event that will take place in the early spring. Lastly, Gina Hoe, speaking on behalf of the Education, said that it was their hope to organize a presentation that focused on healing.

At this point, and in connection with the subject of education, Michelle St. Croix introduced and directed the activity of dividing into “mobile” groups to discuss 4 major questions: a) High points experienced in recent years; b) Low points experienced in recent years; c) How we coped; and d) What we thought was beneficial to the well-being of ourselves and others.

Following this time of meaningful discussion and sharing, the evening ended appropriately with everyone singing the lovely Beatles’ song “With a Little Help from My Friends”.

Written by Deanne McDonald

Featured Picture: Joy Lussier, Marnie Puchniak and Michelle St. Croix

On September 12, 2022, feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the sponsorship of St. Mary’s Academy was transferred to the St. Mary’s Academy Stewardship, a public juridic person of diocesan right.  Wow, that’s a mouthful!  What it means is that the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary are no longer the canonical sponsors of SMA.  Sisters met on September 11, 2022 in the Holy Names Chapel to let go of this long-time ministry and to pray that the school will continue in the spirit of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher.

August 10, 2022 – On this lovely afternoon with sunny blue skies and a cooling breeze, the Manitoba Justice and Peace Committee held an Indigenous event. The park-like grounds of Despins Residence in St. Boniface were just the place to have a mini pow wow. Comfortable lawn chairs were set up in a semi-circle and spaced out to allow for a bit of social distancing, all shaded by beautiful maple and elm trees. The gathering space surrounded a young tamarack tree planted in honour of Creation last spring.

The committee had as its goal to take another step in healing and reconciliation between all of us in Canada. Part of the goal was to deepen spiritual knowledge and kinship through drum and dance. This past year the Justice and Peace Committee did focus on deepening our knowledge of Indigenous realities of the past in our shared history. The workbook “Listening to Indigenous Voices” put forward by the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice in 2021 was studied by many small SNJM groups with associates and partners since the General Chapter of 2021.

Emcee, Yvonne Massicotte, SNJM, opened the activity with greetings and the Treaty Land Acknowledgement.  Prayerfully we brought to mind all our relations of creation which included land and people, while remembering the agreements between all the peoples of Treaty One Territory, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. We are all treaty people.

A very dedicated drum group from St. Kateri Indigenous Parish of Winnipeg presented themes and songs that they use for various celebrations including mass, wakes, weddings and any church service they are invited to attend.  Cheryl-Anne Carr, leader, introduced the spirit of the songs and the meaning of drumming.  The members included Metis and treaty people from northern reserves as well as Huguette Fleurant, SNJM, who recently joined the group.

Dancer, Jacqueline Brisson, Anishinaabe, graced us with the flair of her red jingle dress which she wears to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).  Jingle dress dancing aims at healing through sound, movement and drum.

The celebration was continued on the patio with sharing, conversation, and watermelon, bannock and jam.

It was a well-blessed afternoon attended by SNJMs, some of our associates and many residents of Despins for a total of about 50 people.

Carmen Catellier, SNJM

Above Photo: Jeannine Vermette, SNJM & Jacqueline Brisson

Alleluia Alleluia!  The impromptu choir sang joyfully on June 4, 2022, the eve of Pentecost, as the sisters gathered to thank the out-going provincial leadership and welcome the new one.

The sun was shining on the grounds of the gazebo at the Despins Residence, home to half of the sisters in the Manitoba province. A lunch time dessert gathering was organized so we had time to visit and chat with each other as we said thank you.

The Selection Committee made up of Sisters Josephine Chudzik, Charlotte Leake, Carmen Catellier had many meetings since early November 2021 with facilitator, Sr. Huguette Fleurant, to co-ordinate the process of selection with the guidance of Sister Lorraine St-Hilaire.  So, it was with a real “whew it’s done!”  sigh of relief that we gathered.

Out-going team July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Sr. Lorraine St-Hilaire, provincial leader
Sr. Edith Grenier, provincial assistant
Sr. Susan Wikeem, councillor for canonical matters

In-coming team July 1, 2022 –  2026 
Sr. Susan Wikeem, provincial leader
Sr. Edith Grenier, provincial assistant
Sr. Yvonne Massicotte, councillor for canonical matters

Sister Cathy Laviolette facilitated the afternoon program co-ordinating the many hands that helped in organizing this gathering. Roses and cards with gifts were given to each team member along with a short greeting.

The cross-over from one team to the next reflects our province’s limited number of sisters.

Sister Edith Grenier, assistant, carries on to the next team. She was fêted with the words of the wise and prudent. Sayings of the sages carried the theme of gratitude for her many years of service in our finance department as well as many other areas.

Sister Yvonne Massicotte has accepted to be the third person for the canonical make-up of the new team. The words of thanks were carried in a small receptacle but oh so packed with her many qualities, abilities and talents.

Sister Susan Wikeem, accepting to serve as province leader was succinctly honoured by the title  “That woman is her”.  We all admire her dedication and the clarity and wisdom she will bring to lead us in this time of transition in our congregational reorganization.

Sister Lorraine St-Hilaire was honoured for her many years of service through a comparison to the natural rivers where she has lived close to all her life. From her youth by the clear, humble Rat River, to the meandering many-faceted banks of the Red and Assiniboine, with the beauties and culture of the Richelieu and the mighty flowing expansive waters of the St. Lawrence.

It was a bit chilly in the shade of the gazebo but our warm hearts and energetic Alleluia Alleluia made the time of our thanksgiving gathering memorable and happy.

Our prayer: Mother Marie Rose give us a double portion of your spirit.

On June 1, 2022, a number of SNJM Sisters, Associates and friends gathered at St. Mary’s Academy to celebrate a tree-planting ritual in honour of Laudato Si’.  The school grounds are now graced by a new Autumn Blaze Maple.  It is expected to grow rapidly, with a mature height of 40 to 50 feet, and a canopy of 30 feet. Its beauty will be particularly delightful in the fall, when it will have bright red leaves.

Led by Christine Butterill, the joyful celebration included Pope Francis’s Prayer for the Earth, psalm proclamations, a blessing of the soil, and music praising God and celebrating our earth provided by the St. Mary’s choir, Con Fuoco.  Our concluding prayer is provided below.

After the ritual, we took a moment to acknowledge and thank Kitty Kelly and Gina Hoe, who have completed their time as co-chairs of our Associate Leadership Team.  Kitty and Gina have served the Associates with great dedication for many years, and we are so grateful for all they have done for us.  Our further thanks go out to Jennifer Tesoro, president of St. Mary’s Academy, Dave Morrison, the school’s facility manager, Colleen Dacquay, Administrative Assistant of the SNJM Manitoba office, Patti LeBlanc and Nancy Militano for their assistance with refreshments, Gina Borkofski for taking photographs of our event, and Anastasia Geras, Con Fuoco choir director.

A delightful time of fellowship and light refreshment followed the ritual, after which, all guests were invited to place a shovel full of soil around our newly planted tree.

God of the Universe,
You made the heavens and the earth,
Upon this tree we have planted in the grounds of SMA may your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May it and us be blessed with rain and sunshine.
Grant us humility that we might become more human,
That we might mend our rift from your creation,
That we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life,
That we might truly experience life from your hand.
For you planted humanity in a garden and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope, therefore, lie in a garden.
We rejoice that we find ourselves eclipsed by the magnitude of generosity and mystery.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.

THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE:

Our SNJMs were involved in several initiatives in support of our Ukrainian Brothers and Sisters.

• A vigil prayer on a Sunday afternoon.
• An Evening of Taize prayer.
• A continuous rosary from 10AM-4PM after Easter Week.
• A collection of moneys and clothing and other essential items for families in Ukraine and for those who will be settling here. We filled a big truck with all of our donations.
• Our Ukrainian employees shared their stories with us during our lunch one day and we prayed the Lord’s Prayer each in our own language and a blessing over all of them.
• Our Ukrainian employees also prepared a Ukrainian snack for all our folks in supportive housing for Ukrainian Easter.

OUR SUNDAY DROP-IN:

Throughout COVID, the SNJMs have prepared 300 sandwiches for the homeless and the poor when there was a need at our regular Sunday DROP-IN run by the Knights of Columbus. Sometimes Parishes were able to provide moneys but not woman/man-power to make the lunch, so the SNJMs at Despins have stepped up to the plate whenever requested.  Last week, our services were requested again.

SYNODALITY AT DESPINS:

In response to a request that parishes engage in the Synodality Process, several of our SNJMs here joined with others, both religious and lay, and shared in four sessions of listening and sharing.  We had 27 participants and 5 groups.  People were open, sincere, and very in touch with many issues that we face. Their visions for our Church into the future inspire much hope.

VOLUNTEERS:

In every aspect of life here at Despins, you find SNJMs volunteering time, talent, and prayerful concern.  We especially highlight our SNJM involvement in all the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week, the décor in our chapel, and the music accompaniment.  And wherever we are, we attempt to share who we are in the joy and spirit of MMR.    

IN SUMMARY, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE HERE AT DESPINS AND OFTEN IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WE SHARE  OUR GRATITUDE.

Sister Carol’s legacy was evident as we celebrated Kathleen Mico and Brian Godkin who are retiring from Future Hope (Next Step and Quixote House).  They both have given so much in their ministry with released offenders.

Sr. Carol enlisted Kathleen as a volunteer at Next Step, then mentored Kathleen to take her place when she retired. Carol continued as a volunteer.

Sr. Carol journeyed with Brian for years and saw his potential. She asked him to take on the role of house manager at Quixote House, a home for released offenders.

When people spoke of the help given by Kathleen and Brian over the years, they so often mentioned Sr. Carol’s involvement. Interesting, too, is that the replacements for Kathleen and Brian had also worked with Sr. Carol and see her as an inspiration.

Future Hope is critical to reintegrating men into society. Its significance is demonstrated in Kathleen’s words, “I have learned so much since 2007 mentored by Sr. Carol. I’ve grown and learned to be compassionate. I am honoured to be of help to the ‘guys’. It certainly has been reciprocal. It’s been a spiritual journey, guided by God’s hand.”

Brian spoke of the generosity of ‘the guys’, “we all have issues; we all make mistakes and we have to move on. Forgiveness is a big part of this. It is a mutual journey where healing can start. I give the credit to God for this.  My time here has been inspiring – it has been a ministry of love.” 

Click here to learn more about Future Hope.