On Saturday mornings, for the past three years, Sister Alice Konefall has gathered a group of young people living at West End Commons to learn music and have fun in the Commons atrium. Sister Charlotte Leake often joins the group and teaches ukulele to promising musicians. And every year they take the show on the road, performing for the Sisters and other seniors at Despins Residence in St. Boniface. The concert this year took place on Saturday, June 2nd. Residents were delighted by the music, song and dance of the performers. And everyone enjoyed the time of fellowship and refreshments that followed.

For their next performance, the group is planning to showcase their multicultural community by providing music, drama and dance from their countries of origin.

A few years ago, Sr. Carol Peloquin enrolled in a creative writing course offered through McNally Robinson Booksellers. This experience rekindled her passion for writing. The culmination of her work is a self-published memoire titled At First I Said No.

David Williamson, Winnipeg author and Sister Carol’s teacher comments on the book:

In this engaging personal memoir, Carol Peloquin, snjm shows the multi-faceted life of a nun, from her girlhood in Minnesota to dedicating herself to God and ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, and capably taking on such roles as teacher in Winnipeg and chaplain in Stony Mountain Penitentiary. Throughout, Sister Carol offers a concise and clear view of her experiences both amusing and insightful.

What better way to celebrate the anniversary of the Beatification of Blessed Marie-Rose than with sunshine, warm weather and ice cream? On May 23rd in the gazebo at Résidence Despins, with the beautiful Winnipeg skyline in the background, an intergenerational, intercultural group of 60 Sisters, Associates, family members and collaborators gathered. The event kicked-off celebrations for the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation. Sr. Michelle Garlinski welcomed everyone on behalf of the 175th anniversary committee. Committee members Noëlle Bowles, associate, and Sr. Huguette Fleurant led the 175th prayer in French and English. We were reminded that God has done wonderful things in and through all of us and those before us. Then without delay, all were invited to make their ice cream creations and enjoy the time with one another. Future dates which mark this 175th year.

• September 12th (Holy Name of Mary),
• October 6th (Feast of Blessed Marie-Rose),
• October 28th (establishment of the community in Longueuil) and;
• December 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception and founding of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary).

It was September 2015, at a community meeting, that Sisters of the Holy Names, decided to sponsor a refugee family. Sisters and Associates were invited to participate in whatever way they could. Associate Pat Bozyk and Sr. Johanna Jonker became co-chairs of the committee. St. Mary’s Academy staff and students joined with us. We received “our family” through Hospitality House – Roney and Joslia and their three children: Vivianne, Rafael and Elisha. They had fled from Sudan to Egypt, their lives in danger because of their religious beliefs. While they waited several years to come to Canada they faced a life of poverty, fear and violence. While we waited, we lobbied our politicians, looked for housing, gathered furniture, prayed and planned, always with the famous Settlement Checklist at hand.

Finally, with one week’s notice, we received the news that our family would arrive on April 5th, 2018! There was such excitement as Sisters, Associates and their families, and staff and students from St. Mary’s Academy waited. The moment our family arrived at the top of the stairs, we began singing O Canada with full hearts. The new arrivals faces were radiant. We brought them to interim housing where they would stay for a few days before moving into their new home the following Monday. The weeks that followed were filled with numerous meetings to obtain documents, registering for English classes, registering the children for the Needs Centre (schooling for newcomers), setting up a bank account. It was overwhelming at first. They have now settled in and have managed to tour Winnipeg a bit and visit the Zoo.

Our SNJM family has been richly blessed by our new friends Roni, Joslia, Vivianna, Rafael, and Elisha.

Congratulations to Michelle Garlinski who professed first vows on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, the Feast of the Holy Names of Jesus. Sisters and Associates from the Manitoba and the US-ON province, as well as many family members and friends of Michelle, gathered at St. Gerard’s Church, the parish of Michelle’s childhood, to witness and celebrate the marvelous deeds of our God who called Sr. Michelle to first-vow commitment in our congregation. Read more

On a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon on September 9, 2017, more than 500 Winnipeggers gathered on the south side of the Manitoba Legislature building with Louis Riel founder of Manitoba standing tall behind them. Among them were several Sisters of the Holy Names, some Associates and some St. Mary’s Academy students.

The rally opened with a statement that is becoming increasingly familiar to Winnipegers: We acknowledge that we are standing on Treaty 1 land and the Homeland of the Métis nation.

The event was organized as a counter-action to racism and intolerance against immigrants in our city. An anti-immigration rally by pro-fascists had been planned for this same day but was later cancelled.

Nahanni Fontaine, Member of the Legislative Assembly, spoke to the gathering acknowledging that as Manitobans we embrace a culture of love and respect and equity. In response to divisive hate and racist movements she added: “I can tell you that Indigenous people will never ever stand for that on our territories.”

Speakers representing the Christian churches, the Jewish community, the Islamic faith and other community groups also spoke about standing up for diversity and mobilizing against hate and intolerance.

On June 23rd, 2017 family and friends gathered to celebrate Sr. Josephine Chudzik who was retiring from St. Mary’s Academy after thirty-four years. Josephine had a very long association with SMA beginning with four years as a high school student. After graduation Josephine entered the Sisters of the Holy Names and two years later returned to Manitoba to begin her ministry as a music teacher. She taught classroom & private music at Holy Cross, at St. Jean Baptist, in Flin Flon, at St. Ignatius and at St. John Brebeuf.

In 1983 Josephine returned to St. Mary’s to work in the finance office. Being a musician requires precision and attention to detail, discipline, stick-to-it-ness & commitment. These traits carried over to her work in the finance office where she was meticulous in ordering supplies, paying bills, counting and rolling money from all the various collections and sales.

However, making a joyful noise before the Lord, was a lifelong pursuit for Josephine and she did not leave her music behind. She continued to teach private music lessons, served in music ministry at St. Joseph’ nursing home and taught guitar and keyboard to inmates at Stony Mountain Penitentiary.

Thank you Sister Josephine for a job well done.

Congratulations to Sister Lesley Sacouman for receiving the University of Manitoba Alumni Association 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service. Lesley was one of six honourees at the May 2nd Celebration of Excellence at the Metropolitan Theatre in downtown Winnipeg. House of Peace residents and staff and Sisters of the Holy Names were among the crowd of almost 300.

Among the highlights was a delightful video featuring Lesley’s work at the House of Peace and starring several of the residents. The award for Community Service was presented to Lesley by The Honourable Janice Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.
Noting Lesley’s founding role at Rossbrook House, Anishnaabe Oway-ishi (an educational employment training program for Aboriginal youth), Esther House, and House of Peace, she said Lesley “sees everyday as an opportunity to demonstrate the true meaning of love.” Her Honour continued:

“The Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service celebrates exceptional graduates who have significantly contributed to their community and made a difference to the well-being of others. For her unwavering belief that inside everyone is goodness and possibility; for her ability to rally our community time and again to care for those in need; for her commitment to offer hope and a home when they are needed the most; please join me in congratulating this year’s recipient of the Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service, Sister Lesley Sacouman.”

In her gracious response Lesley thanked the University, those who mentored her and those who have been her companions on the journey, mentioning in particular the youth at Rossbrook and the women at House of Peace. She shared that she has been inspired by a phrase first uttered by Helen Keller and given a Lesley twist – “Life is a daring collective adventure … or it is nothing!”

On April 30, 2016 Sr. Marylyn Gibney received a Marian Awards from St. Mary’s Academy in recognition of “outstanding professional accomplishments and commitment to service and generosity to others”.  After a delicious brunch at the Gates, Amy Houston, St. Mary’s Event Coordinator, welcomed the many staff and alumnae members, families and friends of honorees.  She then read messages from Sr. Marylyn’s family members in Ontario who were unable to attend, a particularly moving moment for Sr. Marylyn as she listened to words from her sister who is in poor health.  “I am so sorry I am not able to be there to celebrate with you and meet a few of ‘the girls’ about whom you have spoken so often and so lovingly.  Know my thoughts and love are there with you, cheering you on with such pride…”

SMA President Connie Yunyk presents Marian Award to Sr. Marylyn Gibney

Bethany Kolisniak (Grade 10) and Soomin Han (Grade 11) travelled to United Nations Headquarters in New York in March 2017, to attend the 61st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This commission is devoted to the advancement of women’s empowerment and gender equality. The goal of the Commission is to create a global community wherein all people are equal regardless of their identity. Every year the Commission is focused on a central theme; this year it was the economic empowerment of women.

Both Soomin and Bethany attended many sessions on a variety of issues relating to women. According to Bethany, the collective effect of these sessions was a better understanding of the critical role “the empowerment of women plays in bettering the world as a whole.”