From left: Debbie Muise, Barbara Baker, Regina Lannon, Debra Wade, Eleanor Casey, Carol Groten, Sister Gayle Desarmia, and Valerie Kelly.
BY BARBARA BAKER, ASSOCIATES DIRECTOR
The Providence Associates gathered on the weekend of April 26 – 28, 2019 to elect their Director and Providence Associate Committee members for a new term. Alice Gazeley, CND Associate, facilitated the elections. It was the final step in a six months discernment process that saw Barbara Baker acclaimed as Director and six women elected as committee members; Carol Groten and Regina Lannon were re-elected, Valerie Kelly and Eleanor Casey from Kingston, Debra Wade from Brockville and Debbie Muise from Camrose make up the new team. The members were deeply appreciative of the atmosphere and tone as Alice guided them through the process with the help of scrutineers, Judith Cleland and Barb Remington and runners Patricia Van Boxmeer and Carolyn Kirkup. Friday evening ended with the Associates joining the Sisters to celebrate the next step in the ongoing process into their unknown future.
Saturday and Sunday were facilitated by Barbara Baker as the thirty-six Providence Associates worked together to re-draft their Manual so that it will reflect their present reality. Sister Gayle Desarmia and Sister Frances O’Brien, who were present as support persons, expressed pleasure at the way the Providence Associates worked diligently at each task asked of them. When the work was completed three writers were blessed, Ann Boniferro, Regina Lannon and Valerie Kelly and handed the task of integrating all the material into a cohesive whole. They will bring their work back to the group gathering next October for ratification.
On Saturday, after a celebratory dinner, three people, Sandy Braga, Henry Clarke and Beverly Koski made commitment as Providence Associates at Evening Prayer. It was a deeply moving liturgy that left people aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the support of all the Sisters present.