Summer at the Villa
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The congregation purchased the cottage “Marillac Villa” in the fall of 1955 and enlarged it so it could accommodate 30 sisters at one time. Here is a reprint of an article from the September 1956 issue of the Guardian. The Guardian was a magazine created and printed by the Sisters of Providence at the Printing Room at the House of Providence from 1916 to the late 1950s. Proceeds from the sale of the magazine...
Retreat centers as touchstones of mercy
May 29-June 1, the North American Conference of Oblate Retreat and Renewal Centers (NACORRC) held its 39th annual meeting, hosted this year at King’s House, Belleville, IL. Twenty-three members gathered, representing eight Oblate Retreat/Renewal Centers. Providence Sister Jeannette Filthaut was there as chair of the Star of the North board (you’ll see her in the middle of the back row). The theme of this year’s gathering was “Leave No Stone...
BBQing Associates? That can’t be right!
Well, a barbeque with and for Associates is a better guess. Last Friday eve, guitars came out, food was tucked in, and the annual gathering made for a pleasant evening.
The Road to Emmaus: Associates Retreat in Kingston
The retreat, directed by Sister Irene Wilson and assisted by Sister Marilyn Kearns and Associate Sheila LaRush, was a time to reflect on mutual collaboration using the Emmaus story as a backdrop. We were invited, through story, to reflect on how we collaborate with others in our decision-making and how that collaboration brings about healing. It was a very peaceful time of reflection and integration. --Barbara Baker, Co-Director Providence...
Embraced by a merciful God: Camrose Associates
Back row, from left: Sr. Jeannette, Jan Kehoe, Debbie Muise, Bernice Schlaut-Macfarlane. Front row: Kathy Leibel, Audrey Heck, Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI, Connie Prost.Sr. Jeannette Filthaut organized the Camrose Associates’ meeting at the Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert for the annual retreat on June 6, 2016. Facilitated by the centre’s chaplain, retired archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, the theme of the retreat was “Mercy”,...
Ideas in the barn
In June, Heirloom Seed Sanctuary staff Cate Henderson and Annie Richard were interviewed for a CBC Radio Ideas segment, likely to be broadcast in November. Interviewing them was University of Calgary English scholar Maria Zytaruk, who is producing a radio documentary on the subject of seed banks, and seed collections and exchange. Profession Zytaruk commented during the interviews that many seed banks approach their work from a vision of...
Sister Anna is honoured by a visit from MPP Sophie Kiwala
On Sunday, June 19, Providence Sister Anna Moran celebrated her 100th birthday amid her family and her Congregation. Just days prior to the celebration Sister Anna was visited by MPP Sophie Kiwala in honour of Sister Anna's milestone birthday.
Sister Anna Moran has 100 years of story to tell
BY LOUISE SLOBODIAN The first impression of the Sisters of Providence Motherhouse property in midtown Kingston is trees. One tall old tree has special meaning for Sister Anna Moran. It’s the only tree older than her on the property known as Heathfield, one she has read beneath many times. When someone turns 100, as Sister Anna does on June 19, you look for points of reference ... and in this case, it’s the many trees younger than she, some of...
Where angels did not fear to tread
Sr. Mary Cosmas (Sr. Verna Plue) serving lunch to the “angels” at the back door of Rosary Hall, Edmonton in May, 1962BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Sisters of Providence ran Rosary Hall in Edmonton Alberta from 1915 to 2012. Rosary Hall was a hostel for immigrant women and girls coming to the city for study or employment until the early 1960s when the mandate of Rosary Hall shifted to serve the mentally handicapped and women suffering...
Welcome Ann Boniferro
Ann Boniferro in 2015 being awarded her school board’s Contribution to Catholic Education Award from chair (trustee) Greg Speagle The Liturgy team is delighted to announce that Ann Boniferro has signed on as the Director of Liturgical Music, and Organist, filling the special organ shoes left by dear Marg Spooner who passed away this last year. Ann was the choir director and organist at The Church of the Good Thief in Portsmouth before it closed...
Remembering
The second annual memorial service was held on May 9. It was simple and moving, with lots of time to remember. The list of remembrance included staff and former staff, Associates, Sisters of all three congregations and family members of those gathered. All are welcome to attend. Thank you to the Providence Spirituality Centre team for creating such a lovely service.
An homage of vigils throughout April
In April, every school in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board held some version of a social justice vigil – honouring the 20 years of the Friday noon vigil undertaken by the Sisters of Providence with many others from the community.These actions ranged from large-scale public vigils (see the Belleville article) to smaller acts with smaller kids. Two schools with long ties to the Sisters invited them to the Masses held in...
Library Code of Conduct issue about respect for the poor and homeless
At first glance, you wouldn't think that a library's Patron Code of Conduct would stir up justice advocates. But when Kingston Frontenac Public Library introduced their new code in February 2016, a public debate opened about how public spaces and publicly-funded organizations treat those who use their services -- even if they are homeless, live on the street, don't shower regularly or carry their possessions with them. At a meeting of the...
Reflecting on a life-changing trip to Kingston, Jamaica
Aristotle said: Educating the mind without the heart is no education at all. From May 17 to May 24th, 2015, 17 students and 5 staff from Regiopolis-Notre Dame High School in Kingston, Ontario (RND) had the education of a lifetime! Forever changed by a trip that was a year in the making and six days in Jamaica, a piece of our hearts will now belong to the people and places of Kingston Jamaica. BY MARY ELAINE CARTY, RND COORDINATOR OF...
Students share trip with Sisters
Thanks to trip organizer Mary Elaine Carty, RND's Chaplaincy Coordinator, for bringing students and teachers to speak with Sisters of Providence, Congregation of Notre Dame Sisters and Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph as part of their ongoing education process.
New organ scholarship
Madison CompeauThis year, the Sisters of Providence established a scholarship with the Kingston Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists: The Sisters of Providence Scholarship is given to honour all Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul who have served as liturgical musicians and organists and who have fostered others to do so in the Archdiocese of Kingston. It is intended for, but not limited to, a beginning organist who wishes...
Rita Gould, Providence Associate
Rita Gould, a Providence Associate of Camrose, Alberta, went home to God on November 20, 2015 at the age of 91. With her husband Stan, Rita raised eight children on a farm in Rosalind, Alberta, who extended to 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. After her retirement from the family farm and a move to Camrose, she joined the Associates in 2000, and made her commitment in 2003. When she was no longer able to be an active member, Rita...
Making plans to transition our seeds to another home
BY CATE HENDERSON Providence Village is a heart-felt idea that is moving forward at 1200 Princess St, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence. We don’t know yet exactly what it will be like, but it will certainly change the look of the wide-open spaces currently occupied by the lawn, meadow and gardens of this property. Some gardens may not survive, others may need to move or be repurposed. For that reason, a transition plan for the...
An environmental tour many years in the making
BY SISTER JEANNETTE FILTHAUT This year, my dream came true when my brother and his wife decided to take their family of three children, their spouses and their eight grandchildren to Costa Rica to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. My sister-in-law’s sister, brother and I were also invited to be guests for this occasion. Even though I broke the fibula in my right ankle just before Christmas, my cast was off and I managed to travel to...
Gaining the skills to lead ourselves
Providence Associate co-director Barbara BakerBY ASSOCIATES CO-DIRECTOR BARBARA BAKER A year ago, while the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul were at Chapter, the Providence Associates gathered to talk about their future. The Sisters were looking at the decisions they had to make and the Providence Associates knew that they had to be proactive and consider their future as well. At the spring gathering, they challenged themselves to...