Associates gathered the evening of February 10, 2021 to share on “The Spirituality of Struggle,” a presentation by Sr. Joan Chittister. The magic of Zoom enabled associates from afar to join – Norma Steven (Nanaimo), Linda Gervais (Edmonton), Ernie and Lucille Bart (all the way from Carman) and Sally McEachen (California).

Sr. Joan spoke of struggle and hope, claiming the spirituality of struggle is the struggle of hope. It is in this struggle, in the darkness, that we can find God. God stands on the dark road with us. Whereas despair cements us in the present, hope sends us dancing around the corner, to the dawn of a new wisdom. This wisdom can shock us into new beginnings and force us down unknown paths, in full stature and full of grace. God is with us and challenges us to audacity – to a strength we did not know we had. This stretches the elastic of ourselves in struggle, and because of this, we are able to journey with others. Sr. Joan challenged us to feed the hope that comes out of despair.

In small groups, we reacted to Sr. Joan’s insights. We looked at our own struggles from the past and how we found God in them. We shared how our experiences of struggle strengthened our personal faith journey.

To share meaningfully with others during the time of ‘lock down’ was a real blessing.

Submitted by Sr. Marylyn Gibney

On January 3, 2021, the double feast of Epiphany and of the Holy Name of Jesus, Sister Michelle Garlinski renewed her vows for two years in the chapel of St. Mary’s Academy, Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Sister Elizabeth Liebert, formation director, Sister Maureen Delaney, province leader of the U.S.-Ontario province and Sister Lorraine St-Hilaire, province leader in Manitoba were delighted and honoured to join Michelle in a pandemic-adapted prayer celebration.

The text chosen by Michelle for the occasion was the reading proposed for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, that is, the Letter of Paul to the Philippians, chapter 2, verses 1-11 (Message translation). In Beth’s words, “What a wonderful liturgical moment to be renewing your vows, Michelle! . ..  Indeed this biblical text completes Epiphany.”

Congratulations, Michelle!  We love you and we pray for you and with you.

Click here for the opening prayer offered by Sister Lorraine St-Hilaire.

Click here for the homily delivered by Sister Elizabeth Liebert.

Click here for the final prayer and blessing led by Sister Maureen Delaney.

Click here to watch the video.

Sister Lorraine St-Hilaire and Sister Michelle Garlinski

December 20, 2020 – Due to the Covid-19 restrictions and lock down here at Residence Despins, none of the Sisters were able to participate at the Christmas dinner at the Drop In this year. Nonetheless, under the able leadership of Associates, Teresa Campbell and Mary Morton, we were able to help. Thirty-six dozen buns and buckets of margarine were delivered to Residence Despins. While some of us buttered buns, others prepared four trays of mashed potatoes. We separated into two groups to honour social distancing. This was the second time we helped prepare a meal for the Drop In. Knowing that 300 of Winnipeg’s poorest individuals would enjoy a special meal gave us a touch of Christmas joy.

Above Photo: Sister Corinne Chartier and Sister Yolande Marion

Sister Marie Bouchard

Sister Carol Peloquin

Sister Marylyn Gibney and Sister Johanna Jonker

Sister Cathy Laviolette and Sister Marguerite Mulaire

Sister Laura Gosselin, Sister Léonne Dumesnil and Sister Vera Hoelscher

Holy Names House of Peace is a residence for newcomer women located in the heart of Winnipeg. Its mission is to empower newcomer women to begin life anew.

The intercultural community of women who live at the House of Peace are called Neighbours. Twenty-One Neighbours currently live at the House of Peace. Click here to read more about this unique undertaking.

The House of Peace was founded in 2004 as a not-for-profit organization. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, their financial house is under new pressure at a time when the usual fundraising activities are restricted. To meet this latest challenge the House of Peace has gone online. Read about their new fundraiser and please consider supporting this worthwhile project.

Help create a beautiful home that empowers newcomer women to begin life anew

• Grab a front row seat and enjoy a 3 minute video.  Click here to watch the video.
• Have fun with our Raffle, great prizes and 50/50.
• All tickets will have your name on them and be put in raffle drum.
• Door Prizes courtesy of Jones & Co.

Ticket sale deadline  November 29, 2020.  Click here to fill out form.

Sister Jeannine Vermette’s passion and life work has been to spread the joy of music. Her many activities include directing church and youth choirs, promoting French liturgical music in western Canada, accompanying at Sisters’ jubilees and funerals, teaching instrumental lessons, providing a music memory program at a nursing home, leading sing-alongs with family, friends, the sick and elderly.

Recently Sr. Jeannine and her work were profiled in La Liberté, a French language weekly newspaper in Manitoba. The article is reprinted here with the permission of La Liberte.

On September 16, 2020, in Holy Names Chapel at St. Mary’s Academy, candidates Nicole Boudreau, Anita Cohen, and Adele Kory made their first commitment as Associates.

The service was planned in detail by Kitty Kelly and Sr. Marylyn Gibney. In addition to the candidates and the Associate Leadership Team, attending the ceremony were Sr. Lorraine St-Hilaire, Provincial, and Sr. Johanna Jonker, who accompanied Adele. Nancy Brennan, Associate candidate, was invited and attended as she has begun the journey to commitment and will continue with us.

Front row: L-r Nicole Boudreau, Anita Cohen, Adele Kory. Middle row: Christine Butterill. Back row: L-r Jean Van Walleghem, Gina Hoe, Kitty Kelly, Sr. Marylyn Gibney. Photographer: Mary Morton

The Ancestral candle was lit by Kitty. The Opening Prayer to Marie-Rose Durocher was read by Sr. Marylyn. The candidates were called upon by Sr. Marylyn to respond to the call. They all spoke from the heart about their faith journey and their contact with a member of the SNJM community. The Sisters and Associates are blessed to receive new Associates with this great faith, understanding, kindness and generosity to the people of our community and the whole world.  We will be able to continue the mission to serve others and live the charism of Mother Marie-Rose.

The candidates were introduced to our community by Associates and Sisters. Deanne McDonald spoke with Nicole at the Immaculate Conception Drop-in Centre at which they both regularly volunteer. Kitty met Anita at St. John Brebeuf Church when Kitty was presenting the “Come and See” brochure to all parishioners attending Sunday Mass. Adele told us that when she was teaching in Iqaluit she met Sr. Edith Grenier. She continued to want to be involved with SNJM and met Sr. Johanna Jonker at Micah House.

L-r Nicole, Anita and Adele

Chris’ reading from Isaiah 55:6-11, was followed by a time of quiet reflection. Holding their candles the candidates listened to Sr Lorraine as she asked “Do you wish to make your commitment?” They answered I do and the commitment prayer was said together. Then each one signed a contract “to promise to live the charism of the Congregation, to embrace the Acts of the General Chapters that touch the lives of the Associates, to deepen my personal relationship with God and to serve others in whatever capacity I am called”.  They were presented with the SNJM Associates pin.

As we all held our hands over them, Kitty read the Blessing of New Associates and roses were presented to them by Jean, Chris and Sr. Johanna.  The Associates renewed their commitment together, followed by the Sisters renewal of their vows. Mary Morton played the organ and sang the most beautiful Magnificat, Canticle of Mary.  We then prayed a closing prayer and gathered on the 3^rd floor for cookies and grapes, all wrapped individually for safety.

Adele and Sr. Johanna

Jean and Chris demonstrating the new normal.

To conclude, it was not our usual celebration; we missed Despins Chapel with all the Sisters and many more guests and Associates present for commitment and renewal on October 6, 2020 Feast of Mother Marie-Rose. We will remember this service as a beautiful evening of being one in the spirit and one with each other as members of the SNJM Community.

Click here to view more photos.

by Jean Van Walleghem   

September 9, 2020 – The fall Gathering of Associates and Sisters from Manitoba took place via Zoom, and was well attended. This format did not dampen our enthusiasm to connect with one another.

Once again this September we launched our theme for the year 20/21: The Call of our Lives Through Grace-filled Transformation

The opening prayer which was prepared by Kitty Kelly invited each of us to recognize that God’s gift of grace will accompany us as we discern the call of our lives.

Gina Hoe presented a reflection on personal transformation which included a thought provoking question – Am I open to be transformed?

We then broke into chat rooms for a time of small-group sharing guided by three questions:

1. What do you see as out of synch, or unsettled in our world today?
2. Do you have a sense that the Spirit is leading you to a personal transformation as you become aware of these issues?
3. What helps you when you are faced with a need to change?

Each group was invited to report on their discussion before the evening was concluded with a blessing prayer for God’s grace as we respond to the transformative process during the coming year.

Kitty Kelly

On this rainy afternoon of August 14, 2020, and in the middle of a pandemic, the SNJM’s of Manitoba gathered under the Despins Residence gazebo to celebrate  Sr. Yvette Ricard’s 75^th anniversary of religious profession.  The celebration was enriched by the accordion music of Sister Jeannine Vermette and by a song composed by Sr. Cathy Laviolette.

Sr. Yvette was a teacher for over 50 years and has fond memories of her students.  Throughout the years, she has shared her talents as counsellor, seamstress and cook.  She performed these duties with great skill.

Always elegantly dressed, she continues to maintain friendships with many residents and community members.

We wish her many more walks in the fresh air, health to enjoy the young family she has befriended and the abundant blessings of our God.

“With great joy and gratitude, we congratulate you, Sr. Yvette.
May the Lord bless you and keep you in his deep love.”

Sr Cathy Laviolette and Sr Yvette Ricard

In this year of Laudato Si, around 60 participants, religious women and men, along with several lay persons from Despins Residence in St. Boniface, slowed down to reflect on “the call to universal communion” (#76 Laudato Si’) proposed by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’.  Sr. Lorraine St-Hilaire, SNJM facilitated these few days of retreat from June 7 to 11, 2020, in the spirit of Sabbath (#71 and 237).

The retreat was also offered to the SSMI community in Winnipeg from August 16 to 20, 2020. They too had to cancel their retreat due to Covid-19.  The following is a brief summary of the retreat.

« The universe was at play with God.  It was the Sabbath.”

(Prayers for the Sabbath)

For four days, it was the Sabbath. It was in that spirit that we slowed down to contemplate the mystery of creation and to discover greater depth in life. (114) As stated in the encyclical, Laudato Si’: “The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely.” (233)   Enlightened by readings from the Encyclical, Laudato Si’, and short talks, we prayed to deepen the call to a spirituality of communion, being one with God, with ourselves, with others and with the environment. Music, poetry, dance and beauty enriched our experience of personal and communal prayer.

At times, we also contemplated Earth, our mother in distress (2) and we approached certain great ethical questions presented in Laudato Si’.  We opened our hearts to conversion, (8) a call to change our vision, our attitudes and human behaviors that contribute to the earth’s devastation.  On the other hand, we reflected on our deep convictions and motivations that inspire us to protect the Earth and to take care of it.

We called this Sabbath “Delight”! (Exodus)  May it shed its light (237) on our daily lives that we might live in deeper communion, embraced by the creative Love that pervades the whole universe.

Due to social distancing there could only be 25 people in chapel; others participated from their apartments using closed circuit television and suggestions for personal reflection and prayer.

Dancing to the Canticle of the Sun, Joëlle Brémault, employee at Despins,
inspires us by her love for planet Earth.

Lorraine St-Hilaire SNJM, retreat facilitator.

Manitoban Sister Joanne Pundyk, living and ministering in Brazil since 1987, has found her home with the Brazilian people. She began in São Paulo in parish ministry and then moved to ministering with children and adolescents living on the streets and with prostituted women. In 2009 Sr. Joanne moved to Maceio, a coastal city in Brazil. There she first ministered as Coordinator of Projeto Thallita, a home for sexually abused girls. Today, she is the Coordinator of the Centro Social Madre Maria Rosa, a center for 7- 14 year old children and women, providing a place where all are welcome and offering opportunities to help the children and women better their lives. She also is a member of the Maceio section of the Brazilian anti-trafficking network – Rede um Grito Pela Vida.

Recently Sr. Joanne reported on activities during the covid-19 pandemic.

On June 10 and 11, we distributed food hampers to families of the Children’s Pastoral, one of the activities that is part of the Centro Social Madre Maria Rosa in Maceio, Brazil. The COVID pandemic has left many people unemployed, so the hampers were a much appreciated gift from the Associação Maria e Tse Hung Sieh.

Read more about Sr. Joanne and the Centro Social Madre Maria Rosa.