New Leadership Team
The outgoing and incoming Leadership Teams with Archbishop Brendan O’Brien after the Installation Mass on Sunday, June 19th.left to right: Sisters Dianne McNamara, Una Byrne, Monica Whalen, Frances O’Brien, Archbishop Brendan O’Brien, Sandra Shannon, Gayle Desarmia, and Pauline Lally.BY CHRISTINE ROSS The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul have elected a new leadership team to a four-year term during the congregation’s 37th Chapter...
From Peru
BY SISTER ROSE HEALY In 1967 the congregation opened two missions in Latin America, one in Peru and one in Guatemala. The Sisters withdrew from Guatemala in 2003 leaving their mission to another congregation. Four Sisters were missioned to Peru. They settled in a very poor area on the outskirts of Lima, the capital. After Vatican II the bishops of Latin America met periodically to implement the dictates of the Council and to meet the challenges...
Sisters of Providence leave Smiths Falls
photo courtesy: Joe MolinoSister Marlene Schuster is celebrated for her ministry at St. Francis de Sales Church in Smiths Falls during a special Mass on Sunday, Oct. 3.BY CHRISTINE ROSS A 106 year presence in Smiths Falls has come to an end. Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Church in the Eastern Ontario community said goodbye and thank you to the Sisters of Providence during a special Mass on Sunday, Oct. 3. The Sisters first established...
Prison Reflection
BY SISTER PAULINE LALLY As the sky darkened and the rains came down on the non violent demonstration and resistance to the closure of the Prison farms on Sunday, August 8, a little boy said, “Even God is sad.” I think that just about sums up the feeling of most of the demonstrators and resisters who showed up in such impressive numbers during Sunday’s downpour and Monday’s sultry heat. I know that is how I felt. Sad. Mourning is a legitimate...
Farewell in Arnprior
photo by: Kate Glynn, EMC NewspaperSister Nancy Wilson, seated, centre, celebrates with her congregation following a farewell Mass at St. John Chrysostom in Arnprior Sunday, June 20, 2010.BY CHRISTINE ROSS During a special Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 20, the congregation of St. John Chrysostom in Arnprior bid a fond farewell to Sister Nancy Wilson and all Sisters of Providence who have ministered in the parish over the last 101 years....
Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day
BY ALBERT DUNN Margaret Bick, former editor of the National Bulletin on Liturgy, facilitated a session for liturgical ministers and sisters on Saturday, May 8. The presentation focused on the 1998 document ocument of John Paul II Dies Domini, on keeping the Lord’s Day holy. Margaret emphasized the four foundational aspects of rest, peace, solidarity and celebration. The twenty five participants enjoyed the information as well as time to share...
Protect Yourself in a Wired World
Rob Nickel is globally recognized as an expert in the field of undercover investigations as they relate to the Internet.BY CHRISTINE ROSS Canada's leading expert in cyber safety told a Kingston audience that anyone can be a victim of internet crime. Rob Nickel, a former 14-year police veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police, who spent years working undercover with pedophiles, now travels across the world speaking to students and parents to...
Annual bake sale raises mission funds
Teacher Elena enjoying time with five of her students in Peru.BY SISTER BERNADINE BOKENFOHR The annual February bake sale held by Providence Associates based in Camrose, Alberta, raised an astounding $3,450.00. The proceeds were sent to Peru and used for education and healthcare. The Catholic Women’s League, the Hospital Auxiliary and generous benefactors all donated to the Camrose Providence Associates to help the poor. The money will be used...
Developing an Associate Mission Statement
Photos by Associate Candidate Joan MurrayBY ELIZABETH COWPERTHWAITE On May 28th and 29th the Associates held their Spring Retreat. On Friday evening at a beautiful and meaningful Commitment Ceremony, Regina Lannon made her Commitment as a Providence Associate. On Saturday a lovely, pink blossoming plant stood in front of the podium in the Providence Spirituality Centre. This plant has grown from the tiny seeds the Associates planted at their...
Ending the savage inequalities of poverty
Jamie Swift speaks to community leaders prior to their visits with our most vulnerable neighbours. Jamie is co-authoring a book based on the information gathered.BY JAMIE SWIFT Over the past few months people of faith and other community leaders fanned out into some thirty Ontario communities as part of another massive “social audit” organized by the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition. ISARC, supported by the Sisters of Providence,...
A number of us were privileged to participate in the NAVFD Conference in Toronto in March
BY SISTER LUCY KEARNEY National Association of Vocation Formation Directors (NAVFD) Conference, Toronto, March 2010.The keynote speaker, Father Ron Rolheiser, omi, and the excellent workshop leaders brought to life the theme Let Your Life Speak – Vocation Alive. A few noteworthy thoughts from the conference are: “The first task of a leader today is to radiate life!” Loch Sofield. “They were amazed because Jesus spoke with great...
Enthusiastic Group Demands Action
Sister Pauline Lally and Margaret Atwood lead the crowd on a march to CSC headquarters. Both women received standing ovations after speaking to the crowd inside Sydenham Church.BY BRIDGET DOHERTY Over 90% of Canadians support Canada’s Prison Farms according to a Globe and Mail opinion poll. The Save Canada’s Prison Farm coalition explains that these farms should remain open and be expanded. A local farmer first discovered the plan to close...
Innovative Food Projects / Part of Solution
Community Harvest Working Group members Frank and Jamie volunteer for the market’s 2009 Grand Opening.BY TARA KAINER Enhancing food security in Kingston is fast becoming a poverty reduction strategy. High rents and utility costs make it increasingly difficult for low-income earners to make ends meet and because food is one of the few flexible costs in a household budget, it is the first to shrink –or disappear altogether — leaving food banks...
Heating Homes – Saving The Planet
BY BRIDGET DOHERTY The inability to pay for utility costs is the second highest reason for homelessness. This is why Sisters of Providence are members of the steering committee with the Low Income Energy Network (LIEN) in Toronto. Together we have been working with the provincial government to develop strategies that assist low income individuals and families dealing with the rising costs of energy. It is a sad reality that in a country as rich...
Annual Conference – ‘Celebrate Ourselves’
left to right: Tom McCarthy, Sister Gayle Desarmia and Danielle Hughes wear costumes from the Stratford Costume House.The Archives team at Providence Motherhouse got to play “dress up” during a quick stop at the Stratford Festival Archives and Costume Warehouse in mid-May. The three were attending a conference in nearby London, Ontario — the annual conference of the Catholic Archivist Group. The theme this year was Advocay & Outreach: How...
Living Generously
Kingston author Larry Scanlan shares his experiences in his book A Year of Living Generously.BY CHRISTINE ROSS Sister Pauline Lally introduced Kingston author, Larry Scanlan, to a capacity crowd during a book launch on May 19th at Providence Motherhouse. Saying it must be in the DNA, Sister Pauline compared Larry to his aunt, deceased Sister of Providence Rose Marie Scanlan, who formed the congregation’s first Social Awareness Committee, a...
Nicholson celebrates 50 years
2010 – Sister Mary Joan LaFleur, seated, gave the keynote address at the Nicholson reunion standing- reunion committee co-chair Anne (Culhane) BunnettSister of Providence Mary Joan LaFleur admits it was both a privilege and honour when asked to be the guest speaker at the 50th anniversary reunion at Nicholson Catholic College in Belleville on May 15, 2010. Sister Mary Joan served as Principal from September 1978 to June 1993. An excerpt from...
Jubilee 2010 – I am the Way…
Congratulations Jubilarians.standing left to right: Sisters Yvette Girard, Judith Ann Murphy, Rita Gleason, Nöella Séguin, Mary Benildaseated left to right: Sisters Nancy Hunter, Mary Regina, Monica Laton, Lucy Bethel, Loretto BolandBY CHRISTINE ROSS General Superior, Sister Pauline Lally loves to take photographs of paths – a subject that became the theme of her congratulatory speech to the Jubilarians on June 11. Drawing on these experiences...
Sister Sheila Brady’s work in prison ministry
When Sister Sheila Brady arrives for her weekly visit at a Kingston area prison, an inmate announces “the quiet flame has arrived.” Sister Sheila found a new direction in life after a two-month retreat at a prayer center in Arizona in 2000. The sabbatical came after a five-year term on the Leadership Council of the Sisters of Providence. Not knowing what life held, she reached out to God for inspiration. Sister Sheila thought a great deal about...
Scenes of Early Kingston
Construction site of the Novitiate at Heathfield, 1931BY DANIELLE HUGHES Members of the Kingston Historical Society meet monthly at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library to listen to presenters discuss Kingston history. On November 18, 2009, four young archivists came together to present “Scenes from Early Kingston and Area”; a pictorial history of the city. In addition to myself, Rodney Carter, archivist for the Religious Hospitallers of St....