Magdalena Atjún Zárate, Providence Associate
Magdalena Atjun was born on May 27 but the year was not recorded. She died in August in her home in Momostenago, Guatemala, surrounded by family and by her Providence Associate companions. Magdalena became an Associate in 1992, when the Sisters of Providence were still in mission in Guatemala. She had four children and, when her details were first recorded in 1994, 15 grandchildren. That’s 22 years ago so you have to imagine that there’s been...
Suna Smith, Providence Associate
Born in Turkey on April 23, 1936, Suna Smith left this world on July 8 in Camrose Alberta, where she had lived for more than half of her 80 years. An accomplished psychiatrist and professional woman, Suna held her family dear and met her first great-grandchild just hours before she died. Suna joined the Providence Associates in 2000. The following remembrance of her was written by Camrose Providence Associate Miriam Hanoski. Doctor Suna Smith...
Maryvale Abbey, then and now
BY VERONICA STIENBURG This July I immersed myself in the Sisters’ past, researching and writing the history of the Sisters of Providence as teachers at St. Margaret’s School and Maryvale Abbey in Glen Nevis, Ontario. Around that same time my husband and I decided to go to the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville and stay the night in the area. I soon realized we could conveniently stay at Maryvale Abbey, which is now a bed and breakfast called...
A challenge to the myth of nationhood: Vimy was not the birth of Canada
BY JAMIE SWIFT Back in the mid-1950s, Uncle Eberts offered me the gift of a lifetime. At least for a five year old boy. He got me a ride on a big yellow bulldozer that he’d hired to do some road work. We lived next door to Eberts Macintyre on the Gatineau, just south of Wakefield. He was my grandfather’s brother-in-law, my honourary uncle. Aside from the bulldozer adventure, Uncle Eberts was impressive because he was a very energetic senior,...
Looking back at a dry hot summer of drought
BY CATE HENDERSON “In Kingston, weather stations in and around the city had never recorded an April and May as dry as they’ve seen this year, going back to at least 1960. The rain that fell over the city during those two months of 2016 was less than a quarter of the normal amount,” announced Scott Sutherland, meteorologist for the Weather Network. This situation continued through July and August, accompanied by record heat, including heat at...
Leaving a ministry close to my heart
Called the Toronto group, these Sisters live from Huntsville to Pickering. From left, Sisters Elaine Hogan, Karen Bennett, Margo Shafer and Joanne ColliganBY SISTER MARGO SHAFER As the Congregation moves forward in our plans for the future, I have been asked to replace a Sister who is going on a well-deserved sabbatical. I will be taking on the sacristy and hospitality duties that Sister Catherine Casey so generously has done for many years. To...
Providence and the Madawaska shoreline
St. Joseph Sister Betty Berrigan (left) listens to Providence Sister Pat Amyot describe how the planting of wildflowers will strengthen the shoreline.BY LOUISE SLOBODIAN A year ago, Denice Wilkins enjoyed a personal retreat at Stillpoint House of Prayer in the Calabogie area of Ontario. She’s a retired environmental educator and naturalist who was looking to spend time in quiet contemplation and mindfulness. While she was there she noticed the...
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...