Sister Act
Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul formally welcomed Sisters from two congregations during a welcoming ritual on October 2nd in the Chapel at Providence Motherhouse.BY CHRISTINE ROSS It’s been more than 80 years since siblings Mary and Julia Hamilton lived together on the family farm in Elgin with their parents, brothers and sisters in the 1920’s, unaware that their life journey would reunite them under one roof again, so many years...
Food for thought
MPP John Gerretsen and poverty tour organizer Tara Kainer begin the day with a meal at Lunch by George.BY CHRISTINE ROSS Kingston’s representative at Queen’s Park is elevating the profile of people struggling to survive on social assistance. Kingston and the Islands MPP John Gerretsen has made a promise to help set up a meeting between anti-poverty advocates and politicians at Queen’s Park. He made this commitment at the end of a four hour tour...
Living Wage
left to right: Sr. Peggy Flanagan, Jamie Swift and Tara Kainer from the Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation office.BY JAMIE SWIFT Kingston has a new Living Wage Campaign. We’re joining other Canadian cities where social justice advocates are promoting the simple idea that a job should pay enough to provide a decent standard of living. The JPIC office is assisting with the local Living Wage effort that emerged from Kingston’s...
Anniversary Year in Holyoke
Kingston Sisters attended the anniversary celebration in Holyoke. l to r: Sisters Una Byrne, Gayle Desarmia, Frances O’Brien, Sandra Shannon, Pauline Lally and Irene Wilson.BY PAT ST. AMAND Months after the Canadian Sisters of Providene of St. Vincent de Paul wrapped up their 150th anniversary year, their U.S. counterparts celebrate their remarkable journey. Kingston Sisters made the trip to the U.S. as the Sisters of Providence of Holyoke held...
You say tomato, I say heirloom
Gardener and seed saver Cate Henderson, who oversees the gardens, offered tours and hosted a seed saving workshop.BY CHRISTINE ROSS What’s the difference between heirloom and commercially-produced tomatoes? Flavour tops the list. Just ask any of the 150 tomato tasters attending this year’s popular Heirloom Tomato Day at Providence Motherhouse in late August. Heirloom, or open-pollinated tomatoes, are varieties that have been reproduced for...
Put Food in the Budget
Put Food in the Budget videos produced by the Sisters of Providence available here. Part 1 follows ‘Dollton’ on his visit to Kingston. Part 2 focuses on John Gerretsen’s poverty challenge as he spends a day in the shoes of the poor of Kingston. Part 1: For the ‘Dollton’ video click HERE. Part 2: For the John Gerretsen poverty challenge tour video click HERE Local Social Justice groups have a message for Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Listen up! Put...
Poverty Challenge Tour
On a steamy hot July day, Kingston’s representative at Queen’s park followed through on an earlier promise to spend a day living like a person on social assistance. John Gerretsen’s commitment resulted from the campaign Put Food in the Budget, a provincial organization calling for the immediate introduction of a $100 monthly supplement to the basic needs allowance for all adults receiving social assistance. Conditions were not perfect for this...
SP’s Featured During Museum Month
left to right: Danielle Hughes, Tom McCarthy, Sister Gayle DesarmiaTen Kingston museums set up temporary displays under one roof on May 12 to commemorate Museum Month. The Sisters of Providence Printing Room Museum and The Heritage Room were part of the showcase held at the Kingston Senior Centre. The event was organized to promote museums in and around Kingston. Many visitors expressed interest in the long and productive history of the...
Commitment, Love & Service
left to right: Sisters Diane Brennen, Rita Gleason, Avita Kilar, Sandra Shannon, Gayle Desarmia, Mary Bernadette, Patricia Amyot, Jeannette FilthautBY DIANE BRENNENOn Saturday May 5th, nearly 140 people gathered in the dining room of Rosary Hall in Edmonton to mark its closing after 97 years of service as a refuge for women from the Edmonton area. Following a welcome from Sister Diane Brennen, Emcee Sister Jeannette Filthaut invited several...
Jubilee
standing: Sister Nancy Wilson (60 years) Sister Connie Kaufmann (50 years) Sister Irene Wilson (60 years) Sister Virginia Amodeo (60 years)seated: Sister M. Alberta Gallagher (70 years) Sister Gracia Whalen (70 years)BY CHRISTINE ROSS 370 years of religious life was marked during a special Jubilee celebration June 8-9 at Providence Motherhouse. Six Sisters were honoured for their 50, 60 and 70 years of service in various ministries including...
Ministry in the marketplace
BY SISTER IRENE WILSON When the opportunity came to share our dreams during the August, 2010 meeting in preparation for Chapter 2011, without a thought or plan, I readily presented what had always been in my heart. I was also aware that I had another dream that would tie in with this: offering support for those who could least afford it. Fourteen Sisters presented themselves as being interested in the same dream. We gradually came to the...
Renewal at St. Vincent de Paul
left to right: Sister Jeannine Coulombe, SGM, Richard Sullivan, Sister Mary BernadetteBY CHRISTINE ROSS Thirty-three years ago, Sister of Providence Loretta MacAndrews told graduates at Kingston’s St. John’s School “Christ relates to everybody on both sides of the track.” She was speaking from experience. Appalled by poverty in Guatemala where she ministered briefly in 1979, Sister returned home, determined to help the poor right here in...
Associate Digest July 12, 2012
Retreatants led by Deacon Joseph McMorrow, far rightBY SISTER BERNADINE BOKENFOHR CAMROSE RETREAT Deacon Joseph Mcmorrow led the Camrose Associates on a “gentle day” of retreat opening with “Lectio Divino.” His informative day was structured with some “in-put”, then reflection followed by forming us into three groups. We followed the same sharing procedure as we did at the “Pre-Chapter” I attended in August 2011. We held the retreat at the...
Associate Digest July 11, 2012
Facilitator Anne Walsh holds a vase of coloured salt created by Associates and Sisters to symbolize our unique giftedness as Providence PeopleBY BARBARA BAKER On June 1-2, thirty-eight Providence Associates and Sisters of Providence gathered in the Providence Spirituality Centre for our annual retreat. The theme of our retreat was ‘A Diamond with Many Facets: Responding to Our Common Call’. We began our time together by asking the contact...
Kingston Heritage Fair
Kingston area students and teachers were offered a glimpse into the 150 year history of the Sisters of Providence during the annual Regional Heritage Fair held on May 3 and 4. Archivist Veronica Stienburg and Archives employee Tom McCarthy displayed artifacts and photos at booth at Duncan McArthur Hall at Queen’s University. The annual fair brings together students, teachers and members of the local community to share our unique Canadian...
Motherhouse Turns 80
‘Heathfield Villa’ 2 storey cottage-style villaBY VERONICA STIENBURG The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul have had two motherhouses over the course of their history. 'Motherhouse' is the official administrative home of a religious congregation. The House of Providence, now Providence Manor, served as the congregation’s motherhouse from 1861 to 1932 when the motherhouse designation moved to the new Novitiate building at Heathfield...
Celebrating life after organ transplant
Sister Jean Higgins, co-chair Kingston Chapter of Transplant Advocate Association.It’s been almost seven years since Sister of Providence Jean Higgins received her new heart. She looks and feels great! Grateful to her donor and for her new life, Sr. Jean is giving back, or more importantly, paying it forward. She serves as co-chair of the Kingston chapter of the Transplant Advocate Association. On April 21, close to 150 organ recipients,...
New Vision for the Future
Members of the Healing Violence Committee, left to right, standing: Catherine Casey sp, Peggy Flanagan sp, Margo Shafer sp, Carol Groten pa, Barbara Baker pa (contact) left to right, seated: Marie Dundon sp, Council Liaison Frances O'Brien sp.BY THE HEALING VIOLENCE COMMITTEE On October 11, 2011 members of the Healing Violence Committee met at Marillac Villa to reflect upon our 1994 mandate, and upon a new direction to which our Provident God...
Spring Equinox
It was unseasonably mild and sunny on March 20, 2012, the first official day of spring. Close to 30 Sisters, Associates, staff and friends gathered in the Heirloom Seed Sanctuary Barn to celebrate the spring equinox, when length of day and night are equal.Seed savers Cate Henderson and Sister of Providence Shirley Morris led the group in song, prayer and reflection. Guests held a small soybean seed in the palm of their hands as a reminder that...
Seedy Saturday 2012
Cate Henderson, Sister Alda Brady and Kate Green from USC CanadaSyrup, seeds and bees, oh my! The theme of this year’s Seedy Saturday, held on March 10, was Promoting Responsible Stewardship of Our Seed Heritage. It included guest speakers, seed savers, seed sellers, farmers looking to sell food and promote themselves, apiculture (beekeeping) and other various information booths. Many ecological and local food diversity enthusiasts attended....