350 Climate Change
BY TARA KAINER 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide, measured in parts per million in our atmosphere. It’s the number humanity needs to avoid runaway climate change. Read more about the involvement of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul to encourage real change. This photo was taken at the “Fill the Hill” event in Ottawa on Oct. 25th. A leading expert in issues relating to energy...
Canada’s Prison Farms
BY LAWRENCE SCANLAN Why it’s wise to keep them,folly to close them down Stroke a cat.Pet a dog.Groom a horse.Observe any creature, even fish swimming in a tank. These activities have one thing in common: All lower blood pressure, relax us, and make us feel better about being alive. We are hard-wired to connect with our fellow creatures, and pet owners in this country — who spend $4 billion annually on their animal companions — know it. The...
Leaving with Sadness & Gratitude
BY CHRISTINE ROSS The end of an era was marked with laughter, tears and memories during a special Thanksgiving Mass at St. John The Baptist Parish in Perth on Sunday, June 21. After 116 years of dedicated service, pastoral ministry and teaching, the Sisters of Providence are leaving Perth. Sister Josephine (Joey) Doiron, the last Sister to serve the community, was overcome with emotions as she spoke to the congregation following Sunday service...
Celebrating 66 years in Montreal
left to right: Sisters Evelyn O’Grady, Mary Mona and Marilyn Kearns. The trio worked together in Montreal.Calling it the most rewarding ministry in all her years of caring for the sick, Sister Marilyn Kearns reflects on the last five years as sole caregiver to her friend, Sister Evelyn O’Grady. These best friends lived together for almost 50 years. The pair graduated from nursing school in 1959 and after various appointments, both were assigned...
Thanksgiving celebration for Sr. M. Benilda
Thanksgiving celebration for Sr. Mary Benilda in the west.left to right: Sisters Diane Brennen, Elaine Jacob, Mary Bernadette, Patricia Amyot, Mary Benilda, Jeannette Filthaut, Rita GleasonSr. Mary Benilda is settling into her new surroundings in Kingston after retiring from ministry work in pastoral care and as a hospital purchasing agent in the west. On June 25, seventy five guests attended a very special Mass of Thanksgiving in Edmonton...
Sister of Providence Honoured
Sr. Joanne Colligan receives an award for her work with the Toronto Centre for Addiction and Mental Health also known as CAMH.Sister of Providence Joanne Colligan has received a prestigious award for her work with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. On June 17, 2009, Sister Joanne Colligan was invited to a gala celebration at the Arcadian Court in downtown Toronto by the Honourable Michael Chan, minister of the Honours and...
A career dedicated to nursing
BY CHRISTINE ROSS With her trademark wit and humour intact, Sister of Providence Elaine Jacob has returned to Kingston, ON from Edmonton, AB to live among her community. During a visit to the Communications office, the octegenarian chuckles, lifting her pant leg to reveal mismatched socks. The faux pas comes as no surprise to her friends — she’s always in a rush due to her tardiness! Sister Elaine puts her sense of humour aside long enough to...
Associate Digest November 2009
BY ELIZABETH COWPERTHWAITE On Oct 2nd and 3rd, the Associates held their Annual General Meeting. The event began with a Social Hour for Associates and Sisters. The Brockville Group, St. Vincent de Paul, began the evening with a beautiful prayer service based on an autumn theme. Following that, there was a Ceremony welcoming six Inquirers into the Candidacy Phase of the Associate Process. On Saturday morning, Sr. Marie Dundon provided an...
Save our Prison Farms
General Superior Sr. Pauline Lally speaks with a Corrections Canada official during a noon hour demonstration at Pittsburgh Institution.BY CHRISTINE ROSS Farmers, religious and social groups have formed a national campaign to try to prevent the closing of Canada’s prison farm program. Over the last few months, campaign members, including the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, have stepped up their campaign by setting up information...
Fall Equinox – time to reflect
Heirloom Gardener Cate Henderson hosts the Equinox celebration in the barn.Autumn officially arrived at 5:19 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 — the autumnal equinox, or fall equinox. Technically speaking, an equinox is a day when the Sun will spend an equal amount of time above and below the horizon. This happens twice a year, in Autumn and Spring. The peak of the harvest season was welcomed with prayer, song and celebration at the Heirloom...
Canadian author visits Kingston
Margaret Atwood — Canadian author, poet, critic, feminist and social campaigner.BY TARA KAINER Margaret Atwood, arguably Canada’s best-known writer, appeared on September 23 at a Private Reception in the Davies Lounge of the Grand Theatre for a local Kingston group, the Community Harvest Working Group (CHWG). Co-sponsored by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, the CHWG is dedicated to making local, healthy food more accessible to...
Goodbye with gratitude & sadness
General Superior Sister Pauline LallyGeneral Superior Sister Pauline Lally delivered this farewell addressd during the special Thanksgiving Mass at St. John in Perth on Sunday, June 21st. When I was a young girl growing up in St. Michael’s Parish,Belleville, it seemed that every Sister who taught me had either just come from teaching in Perth or when I returned to school in September, discovered that another Sister was transferred to Perth....
Vocation / Formation News
BY SISTER BARBARA THIFFAULT Inter-Congregational Vocation Committee met on March 10, 2009. At this meeting the Committee members worked on the suggestions presented at the last Archdiocesan Joint Vocation Committee meeting. We developed a number of intercessions for vocations that can be used on Vocation Sunday in the parishes. It was suggested that an intention for vocations be included every Sunday. These were sent to the parishes by the...
Associate Digest June 2009
BY ELIZABETH COWPERTHWAITE Celebrating SpringA Time to Grow in the Spirit Associates and Sisters attended the Associate Spring Retreat in the Providence Spirituality Centre on May 29 and 30. Sister Irene Wilson was the Retreat Leader. The Retreat was book-ended by two lively Social Hours which gave us all the opportunity to become re-acquainted. The theme of the Retreat was Spring and Renewal. Periods of relaxing silence were interspersed with...
Remembering Peru
Sister Susan surrounded by the children who greeted them with hugs.BY SISTER SUSAN PYE AND SISTER REINALDA KLOOSTERMAN They won the trip to Peru in March as the result of a draw suggested by former General Superior Kathryn LaFleur. We had a long, uneventful plane trip to Peru. On arrival, after going through customs, we were delighted to see our Sisters at the airport. What a warm welcome to an unfamiliar country! Another nice reception was the...
Busy time in the gardens
Cate Henderson promotes the work of the Heirloom Seed Sanctuary at an environmental conference at Queens University called ‘Food for Thought’BY CATE HENDERSON It is spring again! One year ago you may have been reading an article in this paper introducing the new Organic Gardener and Seed Saver, Cate Henderson. Thanks to you Sisters I am still here, having made it through one year of intense learning about saving vegetable seeds! It has been a...
Earth Day
Sister Shirley Morris and Cate Henderson welcomed visitors to the Greenhouse to celebrate Earth Day on April 22.Earth Day remains Canada’s strongest voice in promoting a sustainable environment. Ecologist Sister Shirley Morris suggests we should acknowledge the earth every day. Sister Shirley and organic gardener Cate Henderson invited Sisters, Associates and staff to the greenhouse on Earth Day to learn more about sustainability and...
Sisters celebrate milestone anniversaries
Congratulations Jubilarians!standing left to right: Sister Pauline Lally, 50 years, Sister Charlotte Kramps, 60 years, Sister Rita Hansen 60 yearsseated left to right: Sister Anna Marie Willer, 60 years, Sister Rita Dimberline 70 yearsBY CHRISTINE ROSS Sister Rita Dimberline entered religious life 70 years ago — a time when bread was about 8 cents a loaf and the annual salary was $1,850. There have been many changes in the world and the church...
25 in 5 creating real change
Sr. Pauline Lally attends a pre-budget vigil at Queen’s Park in March. The vigil was organized by the JPIC office.BY JAMIE SWIFT On May 6 Ontario’s Legislature unanimously passed the Poverty Reduction Act. It was one more step forward for 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, a social justice coalition that has been lobbying for two years. The new law requires Ontario to set a new poverty reduction target and plan of action at least every five...
Poverty: reality vs perception
Grade 10 student Grace Iori asks “rental agent” Alice Gazeley how she can possibly afford a Kingston apartment.BY CHRISTINE ROSS High school students and retired teachers in Kingston struggled with the stress and anxiety of being poor during a one day role playing game at Queen’s University in April. Hosted by the Roundtable on Poverty Reduction, students played a specific role based on the lives of people living in poverty in Kingston. Grace...