The Barque of Providence
Sister Catherine Casey shares two writings on Catherine McKinley, founder of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, also known as Mother Mary Edward.The Barque of Providence So still and cool the sunbathed air ruffles my silvered hair.While secure my being sits in peace by the expansive shores.Deep down on this last Eve, my heart‘s longings stirred,This pilgrimage, a Sojourn among Creation’s still and quiet,To hone my roving compass...
Legacy Day at St. Mary’s Hospital
BY SISTER JEANNETTE FILTHAUT,St. Mary's Camrose Legacy Day speaker, 2016 A Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis in 2015 has just come to a close with the closing of the Holy Door of Mercy on November 20th. But MERCY is ongoing as reflected in today’s scripture of Matthew 25, and that is very evident in the compassionate service of the dedicated staff and volunteers who have served and are presently serving here at St. Mary’s...
Sister Rita Gleason’s only worry was giving up music
BY LOUISE SLOBODIAN Sister Rita Gleason knew that she was called by God. She had no doubt that religious life was for her. But she had one hesitation. To enter a congregation would surely mean giving up her beloved piano. She knew sacrifice was involved and that would be hers. So imagine her delight when, only two weeks after she entered the initial postulancy (candidate) stage, the Sisters of Providence approached her and asked if she wanted...
Carbon pricing, climate change and building a movement
Steven Guilbeault, co-founder of Équiterre, came to Kingston on November 1st as part of his cross-country speaking tour. He gave two presentations in Kingston. The first presentation focused on Équiterre, Quebec's largest environmental non-profit organization and the building of social movements. The second presentation focused on the Ontario Cap and Trade carbon pricing system which the provincial government is introducing next year....
Wellbeing report: How are Canadians Really doing?
Today, the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW) launched its 3rd national report: How are Canadians Really doing? Examining eight domains of wellbeing from 1994 to 2014, the report concludes: There is a massive gap between Canadians’ wellbeing and GDP, and it has continued to grow since the 2008 recession. While the recession dealt a short term blow to the economy, it stole our leisure time, our volunteer time, our living standards, even our sleep...
Living Wage Week
Tara Kainer, Cam Jay holding the Kingston Living Wage report, and Greg deGroot-MaggettiTo kick off Living Wage Week, a recalculation of Kingston’s living wage was released. Living Wage Kingston announced that the new amount is $16.58. That's what each partner has to earn to keep a family of four above the poverty line. Originally calculated at $16.29 in 2011, the update reflects cost-of-living changes and Ottawa’s new Canada Child Benefit....
Time capsule located beneath a cornerstone at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital
For 50 years, a time capsule was buried beneath the cornerstone of a wing of St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital in Kingston. Until last week, that is. That’s when the stone was moved and a slim tarnished box was found. Originally shining copper, the box is now a mottled black and silver. It was a treasure – a time capsule -- placed in 1956 when the hospital wing was built. The Sisters of Providence ran the hospital at that time and likely placed...
The inspiring tale of the radish
White Icicle radish pod opened to show its seeds.Cate Henderson: We are all familiar with radishes. Whether or not we actually like to eat them, it’s easy to picture a shiny red radish, perhaps in a bunch with leafy greens included. By the Autumn Equinox, the radish that we normally see no longer exists. Instead a hollowed-out dry brown husk appears with a long dry stalk. But there is life! The seed pods are plump with baby seeds! The radish...
Spooky and spirited celebrations!
Halloween poems printed in the October 1931 edition of The Guardian magazine. The Guardian was created and printed by the Sisters of Providence from 1916 to the late 1950s. BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST Children aren’t the only ones who enjoy Halloween. Here are a few tales of Halloweens past from the Congregational Annals: October 29, 1964 - … Fr. R. Albert of Norwalk, Conn. Father Bob (as he is known to us) … has made arrangements for our...
Chew on This 2016
Motherhouse Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation staff took part in this year's Kingston's Chew on This campaign. It was one of 64 across the country – in every province and territory. This year's campaign was to call on Minister Duclos to include those with lived experience of poverty in meaningful consultations in the development of a comprehensive, rights-based Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy. Chew on This is a campaign of Dignity for...
Teaching in King City
Sacred Heart Convent, King City, between 1946-1948. Left to right: Sr. Mary Laura Otterson, Sr. Mary Magdalen Collins, Sr. Mary Aloysia Killeen, Sr. Mary Georgina BolandBY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul served in King City from 1937 to 1973. Here are a few excerpts from Sr. Margaret Black’s reminiscences of her time in King City. She was known as Sr. Mary Imelda when she served in King City from...
Warmth on Wednesday afternoon at the market
It was an event day. A festival. There was music. Food for the taking. An artist making dragons and tigers out of boys and butterflies and flowers out of girls. Even though it was the end of September, the Community Harvest Market in Kingston's North End was aglow with sun and with human connectivity. It was perfect. The market is all about making good food available in an area of town that is too poor and where food is too far away from most...
News from Carbayllo
BY SISTER SARA AND PROVIDENCE ASSOCIATE ELSA LEGUIA For six years we have been working in the rural town of “Fray Martin”. Many families here have come from different areas in the country-side, like the sierra, the jungle and the coast. Many are young families, but there are also single moms. There are no water and sewer utilities yet in the village. Nevertheless, there is hydro. There are no schools or health clinics. There are many children...
At year 7, the Community Harvest Market is a going concern
Over 100 visitors turned out for Community Harvest Market’s Special Event on August 26. Regular produce and craft vendors, as well as Community Harvest Kingston itself, which sells a variety of fresh, healthy produce from its own urban, organic gardens, were on hand. There were also several booths featuring community services offered in the north Kingston area. In exchange for completing surveys, market customers received coupons to help pay...
Passionate prison farms’ town hall and rally
The Save Our Prison Farms organization put out the message that the town hall meeting being hosted by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale and Corrections Services Canada was "a pivotal moment," in the struggle to re-instate prison farms. And their call for attendance was answered in plenty. The rally brought lots of people and, when the rain started to pour, the City Hall meeting room started to fill up. Hundreds streamed in. Minister Goodale...
The death of John the Baptist and the misuse of power
Address by Sister Pauline Lally, SP Half Moon Bay among the 1000 Islands July 14, 2015 How happy I am to be with you once again. What a privilege it is to be asked to conduct a Sunday service that holds an over-100 year old tradition in such a beautiful bay. But what a passage upon which you have given me to reflect. I did not find it easy. The death of John the Baptist. Now Jane did say in her email that I could change it. Then I...
Motherhouse organ part of historic tour
The Motherhouse Chapel of Mary, Mother of Compassion features a rich and resonant organ. When the Royal Canadian College of Organists began planning their 2016 convention in Kingston, they ensured that the organ was on the program. Indeed, the organ was included three times this year: For a member concert in February, a student concert in March, and for the college`s convocation as part of the July festival. The 30-rank Casavant pipe organ...
Remembering Marg in song
Dr. Mark Sirett was first taught piano by a Sister of Providence – and he didn’t forget. Now a distinguished composer and the music director of the Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, every year he brings at least one of his choirs to perform for the Sisters at the Motherhouse. For many years, this was coordinated by the director of liturgical music for the Motherhouse, Marg Spooner, who passed away in December to great sadness. Born of her love of...
From private students that paid for missions to choirs and bands, Sisters taught them all
Sr. Mary Mercedes and the St. Michael’s Junior Band, Belleville, Ontario in 1938.BY VERONICA STIENBURG Music has a long history as an important ministry of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul. From the 1880s until today, Sisters of Providence have shared and continue to share their musical talents with the communities they serve. When the Congregation opened its teaching mission in Perth in 1892, St. John’s Convent was staffed...
Sr. Jeannette’s class are Changing Together
BY SISTER JEANNETTE FILTHAUT Since 2006 I have been involved with Changing Together Centre for Immigrant Women in Edmonton, working in research and teaching levels 3 and 4 of English as a Second Language. This year I had upwards of 12 - 16 women in my classes every Wednesday morning. These are women of all ages, some married, some single, who come from a variety of countries seeking assistance in learning English and other life skills to help...