The EagleThe Eagle Eastertide 2009

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This hanging was commissioned by the family of Sr. Rosemary Anne in memory of her mother. It was designed and sewn by D. Gans and hung behind the altar in the Priory in Edmonton for many years. When the Priory closed, the hanging went to St. John’s House

in St. Lambert where it was also placed behind the altar.

Winds of the equinox,sing to the Lordwho breathes forth the energies:“Let there be light!”Fifteen billion years might spell out the age of that

dayso insistent to overcome darkness.

Here come the apostles, there go the tribes — bearing the burdens, heavy and light —a Babe in a manger,a star in its space,heavens a-sundered,voices proclaiming,on this puzzled planet, delight and dissension.

Never man spoke like this one.How does he know that?“Only God could reveal this to you,

Simon Peter.”

Three years in Arabia needed by Paul.Mary knowing, and pondering deep in her heart.

Thick darkness pervading — the solid earth trembling,while “It is accomplished!”He handed back his Spirit victorious,drained to the uttermost:the death of creation defeated by Death.

Veiled entrance to glory torn open and wide.What is awaiting, poised on the brink of beliefin a happening beyond mortal thought?

The mountain is moving — the Happening done —awaiting fulfilment.The Spirit says, “Come.”

Sr. Helena, SSJDFebruary 22, 2009

Sister Frances Joyce, the Reverend Mother of SSJD (1970-1994)Frances Joyce made her Life Profession on November 5th, 1958, and worked in many areas and Branch Houses of theCommunity until her death on March 1, 2000. She took office in 1970 as Mother Superior in a time of transition. The 1960’s had seen dramatic changes. We had begun the revision of our Rule of Life. Our habit was in the processof evolution. We were in the forefront of liturgical renewal. Without losing our primary focus on God, we were exploring thedimensions of interpersonal relationships in new ways. We were seeking a balance between old and new, so as to move forwardwithout leaving anyone behind. She built on the wisdom of Mother Aquila and guided the Community in a way that combinedgrowth and stability, and nourished the monastic values of prayer, community and hospitality. One of her greatest gifts was thegenerous and selfless welcome she gave to all with whom she came in contact. Ecumenical evenings, held annually for many years,including Religious from a variety of Christian traditions, are examples of the hospitality and zealous desire for unity that wereso dear to her heart. During her time as Reverend Mother, we moved into the future as a small but united Community with ahealthy, vigorous and joyful spirit, open to growth and to new insights and forms of ministry, while at the same time groundedin the fundamentals of monastic life. We remember and celebrate her life in thanksgiving for her discipline, cheerfulness, wisdom and caring.

Sr. Margaret Mary, SSJD

These words from the hymn “All Are Welcome” seem to summarize Sr. Frances Joyce’s deepest desires:

Let us build a house where hands will reachBeyond the wood and stone To heal and strengthen, serve and teach, And live the Word they’ve known.Here the outcast and the strangerBear the image of God’s faceLet us bring an end to fear and dangerAll are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

After Mother Frances Joyce was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1989, the Sisters presented her with Br. Beart dressed appropriately for the occasion

Dear Associates, Oblates and Friends,

This is the last of our historical issues for our 125thAnniversary year. In this Eagle we’re focusing on some ofour Missions and Branch Houses in various parts ofCanada from Seaton Village in Toronto to St. John’s Housein B.C.

We have had several specialevents since our last issuebeginning in Decemberwhen everyone except Sr. Louise was able to behome for two weeks atChristmas. This allowed usnot only to enjoyChristmas together as a family, but also to celebrate St. John’s Day with a special service at St. Thomas’

Church, Huron Street (seeSr. Doreen’s homily on pp10-11), where the Sistersused to worship in the earlydays of the Community;discuss our mission andministry; have a Eucharistand Epiphany Tea with ourAssociates, and to have fun

together with members of boththe Order of the Holy Crossand the Sisters of the Churchat a supper party organized andprepared by our Sisters wholive in Victoria. It was truly a wonderful time en famille.

Since then we have had threeother very special events. OnFebruary 2nd Sr. Constancecelebrated her 105th birthday. It was a wonderful daybeginning with the visit of the Consul General of the

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United States who came to present Sr. Constance with acertificate identifying her as the oldest American citizenliving in Canada. Sr.Constance was in top formand chatted to the ConsulGeneral, his assistant, andto the CityTV reporter. Thefirst guests for the Eucharistand dinner started arrivingaround 10:15 a.m. andincluded our Associate,Stella George, who is herselfa hundred years old and hadmade a great effort to be here. Members of Sr. Constance’sfamily from Toronto and Ottawa also joined us for theFestal Eucharist for the Feast of the Presentation which wasfollowed by a delicious dinner including an enormous cake.

Another CityTV reporterarrived at 2:00 p.m. to interview Sr. Constance againand at recreation we watcheda two minute clip about heron the evening news. Whenasked about the secret of herlong life, she mentioned“serving others”. When askedabout being a colouredwoman, she said “hearts are

hearts”, essentially saying there is no colour.

A week later, on the Feast of Hannah Grier Coome, we hadthe joy of Sr. Amy’s Life Profession. At the Eucharist Bp.

Colin Johnson, the Community’s Episcopal Visitor,received her vows in the presence of her Sisters, family,Associates and friends. The music was splendid, the chapeldecorated with spring flowers which matched the warm,sunny day. The Rev. Bob Wright challenged Amy in hishomily:

“Sr. Amy, this day we ask that your life might be graftedinto Christ in order that you might generate fruits of theSpirit . . . This life will nourish you, the Church and the

world. We would do well to ask for those things on yourbehalf on this the day of your Life Profession. And yet, maybe, perhaps, Amy, there is much more in store foryou. Could it be that God not only wants you to producethe fruits of the Spirit, efforts that will help to transformour world but imagines you, Amy Hamilton, to be a vintage wine? We ask to produce fruit; God imagines a classic vintage.”

A reception followed in theRefectory. As Sr. Amy has a passion for sheep and knitting, afriend made her cake and decorated it with a large lamb, allfurry with icing rosettes. Sr. Amydisplayed a beautiful afghan ofmulti-coloured, knitted diamondsthat she made from wool given toher by friends for her FirstProfession.

On the Feast of the Annunciation toMary by the Angel Gabriel, Sr. Anitracelebrated her 25th ProfessionAnniversary surrounded by Sisters andfriends from many areas of her life. Itwas truly a joyous occasion as sherenewed her Profession vows in the presence of Bishop Colin Johnson,recommitting herself to the life of love,prayer and service in SSJD.

When you receive this newsletter we will be hosting ourGathering of Sisters, Associates and Oblates with MargaretSilf in early May. We look forward to telling you all aboutit in the next Michaelmas Eagle.

Later in May, Sara Lawson will begin as our new Directorof Development helping to make SSJD better known.Archbishop George Carey, the former Archbishop ofCanterbury, in response to a question I’d asked about making the Religious Life better known in the AnglicanCommunion, said that we have to go out and tell our stories. “But how are they to call on one in whom they havenot believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom theyhave never heard? And how are they to hear without someoneto proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless theyare sent?” (Romans 10:14-15) The work of Development isabout fundraising and friendraising: making sure more people know about the life of love, prayer and service thatthe Sisterhood has been faithfully undertaking for the past125 years, so that we may continue to serve the people ofGod in the future. With every blessing.

Yours faithfully,Sr. Elizabeth Ann, SSJD

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The Earliest Missions of the SisterhoodSeaton Village Mission began its work around 1891 and was located in the vicinity of JohnsonStreet and Follis Avenue in Toronto, an area consisting of rows of shacks and a few cottages builton undrained and unlighted land. The people were almost exclusively very poor English immigrants. One person who visited Seaton Village Mission described the house as “an unpretentious building of wood, very inexpensive in structure — just a plain little building fromwhich goes out help and hope, sympathy, encouragement, and much practical assistance to themany poor who live within the wide radius of its walls.” Its small chapel provided services for theimmigrants as there was no church in the neighbourhood in the early days.

The two mission Sisters operated a free dispensary for advice and medicines, visited the sick and needy, and delivered meals toinvalids in the area. Generous friends and Associates enabled them to provide Christmas treats for the Children’s Sewing Classesand the Mothers’ Meetings. The Mission House was enlarged in 1909 through the generosity of our Associate, Mrs. Machell.Gradually over the years the extreme poverty declined, and the district became well built with paved and lighted streets replacing the former dark muddy lanes.

In 1912 it was decided to close the Seaton Village Mission. The Church of St. Cyprian had been built in the area and had a parishhouse where all the work formerly done in the Mission could be continued by the Sisters. The Mission House became the rector’s residence and the Mission Sisters, now living at home, went out daily and carried on the work until 1916.

St. Michael’s Mission opened in 1928, just before the Great Depression, at 181 Dorchester Street inthe parish of St. John the Evangelist in Montreal. This ministry also sought to address the needs of thepoorest of the poor. The Sisters who lived and worked there were faced with the abject poverty of thearea and themselves lived in very austere conditions. Relief work was difficult due to lack of funds andclothing. They ministered to many, both physically and spiritually, and gave them a sense of community. Thousands were fed and clothed. In 1937 one Sister made over 600 visits mostly to families in the surrounding district who lived in deplorable conditions. Another Sister had charge ofthe Junior Women’s Auxiliary of over 50 members.

The children attended sewing classes and Sunday school. Some became servers or sang in thechoir. One anonymous “Children’s Friend” provided funds for a Sunday morning feast for thechildren many of whom had been going without breakfast or having very little. The womenattended mothers’ meetings or the Mothers’ Union; some served on the altar guild. All the Sisterswere involved in the Sunday school, the confirmation classes and the altar guild.

St. Michael’s Mission on Dorchester closed in 1953 but, like the Seaton Village Mission, theministry continued from the Church of St. John the Evangelist. An apartment was prepared for the Sisters over the parish hall from which their ministry continued until 1961.

As you can see from the photographs, these early Missionstouched the lives of many people. Through their untiringwork and loving concern for the poor, the homeless and theindigent, our Sisters of that era helped to relieve some of thesuffering that was so prevalent.

Srs. Louise & Elizabeth, SSJD

“The Good Shepherd” window from the Seaton Village chapel

Photos of St. Michael’s Mission (clockwise from upper right): Mission itself (entrance behind the pedestrian); Srs. Clare (back) and Ethelwyn (front) with some of the children; A group of children(circa 1929); Fr. Smye with the children on the steps of St. Michael’s Mission.

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St. John's House / Priory in EdmontonSt. John's House on 92ndStreet in Edmonton was asmall ordinary house behind apicket fence which belongedto the Diocese of Edmonton.Our ministry began there in1936 but I didn’t serve thereuntil the 1950’s. This smallhouse, operated by the Sisters, was a shelter for unmarriedmothers and housed an average of 6 - 8 girls. It was a happyhousehold in part because of the Sister-in-Charge, Sr.Thelma, who was not only an experienced nurse but a jollyperson with an infectious personality.

We did not have a car soshopping was done in theneighbourhood. We also kepta large vegetable garden andwere generously supported ‘inkind’ by the parish churches.

The winters were hard withlots of snow packed down by

high winds. Since we used the chapel attached to anotherDiocesan house which was on 93rd Street, we had to shov-el our way across to it, especially for the early morningEucharists. One morning when the snow drifts were high,we wondered whether the rector of St. Faith’s Church,Canon Flagler, would be able to get there. Then we saw hisshovel appear above the snowbanks. He was a small manand therefore lost to view.

We always had two cats, and one pairare memorable for their mischief.They hated being put down into the basement for the night andalways hid when evening came.Occasionally they had their revenge.One morning we opened the doorand two innocent kittens rushed out.When we went down the stairs, wediscovered that the whole basement

had become a vast woolen cobweb. They had found somedonated wool stored in bags on top of a cupboard and it waswound back and forth around the various items of furni-ture. On another occasion they were found gyrating andmewing in the bottom of the garment bags containing thegirls’ extra clothing. They also loved to ride around on theupright Hoover.

We aimed to create a happy ordinary home of giving andfeeling and trying as many who came did not know a happyhome environment.

John Wesley said: “Do all the good you can, in all the placesyou can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can,as long as you ever can.”

Sr. Joyce, SSJD

This small house closed in 1967 and the Sisters returned tothe Convent. In 1968, in response to a request of theBishop of Edmonton, the House reopened under the nameof St. John’s Priory with Sr. Rosemary Anne as the Sister-in-Charge and a new ministry. The Sisters would conductretreats and quiet days, provide counselling, be a centre forthe Western Associates and provide hospitality for guests.As with all our Branch Houses, the ministries variedaccording to which Sisters were in residence.

Memories of other Sisters who served in Edmonton:In the early ‘70’s, Sister Doreen and I were at the ‘OldPriory’ on 92nd Street. Her mother had made the PriorySisters some marvellous white habits. Doreen and I wentout for an afternoon walk in Borden Park. We found thatthere was a rock concert going on, and the park was full ofyoung people. We knew that we would be noticed if wewalked into the park, but we did not turn back. Were wecurious? Were we trusting in our white habits to save usfrom being laughed at? Well, the event was big enough forall that! I am remembering how the young people admiredour ‘Jesus shoes’, and how the warm autumn sunshine andthe loud music brought us together. Sr. Beryl, SSJD

We had a phone call about a young girl who had run awayfrom home and was coming to Edmonton by bus whichwas due in at midnight. Sr. Beryl and Patrick, an EnglishBoy Scout staying with us, went to the bus station. Patrickwore his uniform so she wouldn’t be frightened. She sat inour living room in tears, with the head of Simon (the dog)on her knee, eating a turkey sandwich, and partly laughingat him. Sr. Sarah Jean, SSJD

The Priory was in a very poor area and allowed us to beneighbourly in a different way. We would chat to the neighbours as we walked the dogs. We sometimes servedsandwiches, looked after children whose mothers were atwork or school, or offered refuge to someone who foundour yard a safe place when drugs were a temptation. Wealso had wonderful Associate gatherings. Sr. Brenda, SSJD

I remember the great CommunitySuppers at St. Faith’s Church nextdoor to the Priory: the TaizéSunday evening services at theCathedral: my work in the garden(a new experience for me, born outof necessity): and so much more.But it is the people of Edmonton Imost remember — those friendly,western Canadian folk similar tothose I knew from my childhoodand youth in Saskatchewan.

Sr. Wilma, SSJD

Srs. Joyce, Thelma and Mary Grace

Clockwise from top left: Srs. Beryl, Jean, Jocelyn,Rosemary Anne, Thelma-Anne

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The Hidden Ministries of a Convent

1st Row: Mother Aquila writing letters;Sr. Barbara instructing Novice Joan;

2nd Row: Srs. Marilyn & Esther preparing a meal; Srs. Aquila, Barbara, Rosemary Anne and Philippa

serving dinner;

3rd Row: Sr. Joyce making altar breads;Sr. Joanna working on a piece of embroidery; Srs. Agnes,

Maud & Veronica in the library;

4th Row: Sr. Mary Ruth gardening;Sr. Mary Ruth binding books; Sr. Ella ironing.

(All photos are from the early 1950's)

Throughout its history SSJD has had blackSisters. In the early part of the last century, sev-eral came from the U.S.A. where segregationprevented them from joining ‘white’ orders.Others were from Canada or the West Indies.Regardless of colour, these Sisters were treatedlike all others and undertook whatever min-istries the Community required of them. Weprofile some of these Sisters below.

(From the top and left to right)Sr. Frances (left) came to us from the United States and was Professed in 1918. She had been a member of the Sisters of All Saints andSt. Mary’s, an order of black nuns founded by the All Saints Sisters of the Poor. The Sisterhood disbanded in 1917. Here she is seen withNovice Joy.

Sr. Marilyn (see also below) and Mother Ruth, CHS. Sister Ruth came to us from the U.S.A. because she was not acceptable to theCommunity she wished to join because of her black heritage. She was Professed in SSJD in 1922 and then left the Community in 1952to found the Community of the Holy Spirit in New York which she hoped would be a Community for those of different racial back-grounds. Sr. Frances and Sr. Ruth were both of Afro-American heritage although they both looked white.

Sr. Constance came to SSJD in 1933 from Baltimore, MD, and was Professed in 1936. She has been in the Community for over 75years and celebrated her 105th birthday this year. She has held many positions including being in charge of the Church Home and

headmistress of Qu’Appelle Diocesan School in Regina. She received a degree in Gerontologyin 1977. Here she is seen receiving an Honorary D.S.Litt from Trinity College in 1984.In 1997 she published her autobiography, Other Little Ships.

Sr. Veronica, Professed in 1944, was very musicaland taught piano to many children. Here she isseen with a group of children at St. Michael’sMission in Montreal.

Sr. Edna, Professed in 1949, was an art teacher in New York before she entered our Community and was very interested in art therapy.She loved teaching Sunday School and producing pageants with the children and, of course, continued doing art in various ways mak-ing posters and banners.

Sr. Marilyn came to us from St. John the Evangelist Church in Montreal in 1948 at the age of 21 and was Professed in 1953. She hada keen and active mind and loved books. During her assignment in the library, she was known for being able to find whatever book wasrequested. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with MS in her late 30’s.

Sr. Helen Claire came toCanada from Jamaica in 1970and joined our Community in1998. She was Professed in 2005and is now the Director ofAssociates in the CentralProvince of Associates (Ontarioand the Eastern U.S.A.)

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Our Black History Heritage

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The Chapter of 1997 was described by one Sister as “a most amazingChapter”. It was at that time that the Sisters decided to respond to aninvitation from Bp. Andrew Hutchison to open a branch house inMontreal. There were many Sisters in the Novitiate at that time, so itseemed as if God was calling us to undertake this new ministry.Montreal appealed to us first of all, because the Sisterhood used to havea house there (St. Michael’s Mission) which closed in the early 60’s. Somany Anglophones (including many Anglicans) had left Quebecbecause of the controversy between Federalists and Separatists, and theSisters hoped to be an encouragement to the people of the Diocese ofMontreal, as well as have some ecumenical opportunities to witness toother faith groups. The house would be a place of hospitality, prayerand retreat.

Bp. Andrew had appointedArchdeacon Ian Stuchbery tolook for an appropriate placefor the Sisters to live in the diocese. One day Ian was at anecumenical funeral and Fr. David Collins, a RomanCatholic Franciscan, whose

community was leaving St. Lambert, said to him, “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who needs a Friary, would you?” “Well, yes,as a matter of fact I do!” said Ian. It was one of those wonderful God-incidences. Not long afterwards a few Sisters drove to Montrealto see the house for themselves and realized it would fulfill our needsvery well. It was in St. Lambert on the south shore of the St. LawrenceRiver, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Montreal.

Sr. Jean, Sr. Elizabeth Ann and Sr. Sue (Peterkin) were the first Sistersto live in Maison St-Jean / St. John’s House in the spring of 1998 andwere joined in the summer by Sr. Helena. The house needed somerenovations, of course. For example, we didn’t need a four-car garagebut we did need a larger chapel than the one used by the Franciscans.So the four-car garage became a “three-car chapel” with a one-cargarage. The house was large and could accommodate at least 10 people (and could hold consider-ably more if the guests were youngpeople and willing to sleep on thefloor!). The chapel was dedicatedand the House blessed on March25th, the Feast of theAnnunciation, in 1999.

From the beginning the Sisters in St. Lambert had a special relationship with the local parish of St. Barnabas, but also reached outto the whole Diocese by visiting different churches almost every week,accepting invitations to preach, lead quiet days or retreats, providing hospitality at the house, and serving on Diocesan Committees.During their 10 years in St. Lambert, the Sisters undertook a varietyof ministries including mentoring the students at the DiocesanTheological College, helping out at Mile-End Mission and teaching

various forms of prayer or meditation. Sr. Elizabeth Ann was a men-tor for Education for Ministry and several other Sisters had a year ormore of EFM while in Montreal. Sr. Elizabeth taught a 5-week courseon meditation at Unitas during her first year in Montreal, and a 10-week course on meditation at the United Church Theological Collegeduring her second year. Many of the Sisters took a course in PrayerCompanioning at The Ignatian Spirituality Centre and helped to startthe Spiritual Directors’ Group in 2000. Sr. Elizabeth, SSJD

Memories of other Sisters who served in Montreal:The most memorable event for me was cooking dinner on the BBQ

for Sr. Elizabeth’s birthday and learning how to make a pavlova fromthe internet for her birthday cake — then eating in silence because wewere in the Triduum!

Another memory is having Valerie Charles show me how to takeone bus from the South Shore over to the Island of Montreal, and thenwalk through the underground shopping malls to get to the Cathedralfor EFM. It was tremendous that she took the time to go with me andshow me the way. Sr. Elizabeth Ann, SSJD

The Christmas Br. Tom, SSF, was with us he invited Br. Gabrielfrom the Solomon Islands, who was working at the university inQuebec City, to be with us. This was Br. Gabriel’s first time in Canada,and he watched our preparations for Christmas with astonishment,especially decorating the tree. On Christmas Eve he celebrated his firstChristmas Eucharist, having only been ordained a few months. It wasspecial having him with us. Sr. Sarah Jean, SSJD

I have many fond memories of the gardens and grounds of the housein St. Lambert for each season of the year. The trees, bushes, andflower-beds rewarded the least attention and care! An ancient compost-heap in a corner of the garden gave new life to seeds and parings from the kitchen. Families wheeled their elders from “Hôpital St.Lambert” on the paved drive around the house. Little children from the ‘garderie’ next-door struggled over our snowbankswearing their mini-snowshoes. Associates and other friends came for aspring-time clean-up and blessing of the garden and grounds. So many good memories! Sr. Beryl, SSJD

Memories of Maison St-Jean, Montreal

Srs. Anitra, Jean, Thelma-Anne, Elizabeth & Helena

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In August of 2002 our Community at its General Chapter meetingsin Toronto voted to accept Bishop Barry Jenks’ invitation to cometo the Diocese of British Columbia “to share with the people of theDiocese of British Columbia in the mission and ministry of Christ inthat place . . . to be a praying and prayerful presence in our midst”.

The invitation came at a time when the Community, while rejoicing at the possibility of having a presence and mission in thisDiocese on the west coast, was also grappling with the big issue ofdeciding whether to move the Convent to a new location. Normally,to begin a new branch house, we need four Sisters to form a smallcommunity of prayer from which the ministry grows. It was thewrong time for such an adventure.

Bishop Barry Jenks offered a perfect solution: “send two Sisters —we will provide accommodation for them at Queenswood Housewith the Sisters of St. Ann, whose community life they can share,and from that base develop a ministry amongst us in the Diocese”.And so the Community voted to accept the invitation. Perhaps intwo years we could have our own branch house.

We found ourselves very busy within the life of the Diocese. Theestablishment of our prayer and community life, the welcome of thepeople of the Diocese and the work that we were being asked to doin the church all provided a clear sign that indeed the Bishop’s invi-tation and God’s call to the Community to the West were a blessing.

In February of 2003 the Sisters of St. Ann, after several meetingsabout their own Community life and ministry at Queenswood,asked if we could find other accommodation by July. While the mission and ministry of Queenswood was to continue, the Sistersthemselves were making other living arrangements for their owncommunity members, so we would no longer be able to share theircommunity life.

March 2003 became amonth of meetings aswe all prayed andtalked about possiblesolutions for alternateaccommodation. TheCommunity agreed tosend two more Sisters.The Diocese approached the parish of St. Peter’s Lakehill about renting the rectory as a home for the Sisters. And so St. John’s HouseBC began.

The house had been empty for some months. We said we wouldmove in once there were beds, a kettle, a pot and a frying pan!During April and early May, through the expert coordination ofBarbara Jenks with Ruth Brown’s help, the rectory was furnished bygenerous donations of furniture, linen, kitchen utensils — even outdoor summer furniture and a barbeque! Our beautiful home is atestament to the wonderful support and generosity of the Diocese.

And move in we did at the beginningof May! A couple of days after, CanonPeter Parker and his wife Marion,dropped by and found themselveshelping us move some furniture froman old building owned by the Diocese!Marion and Sister Doreen picked massive bunches of lilacs and beautiful yellow roses (perfume unbelievable!) and put them into all ofthe rooms in bottles and containers. We transformed the house from‘stale’ to something akin to mid-spring in Victoria!

At the same time we were busy with engagements around theDiocese and blessed with helpful visitors: my own sister Bev, Sr.Patricia on holiday, who helped unpack books, Sr. Margaret Marywho came for a holiday and stayed for the rest of the summer to helpus settle in. During the summer months, the Rev. Wayne and SheilaShort assisted the Diocese by building a bedroom and interviewroom in the basement in order for the house to accommodate foursisters and a guest room. One large room in the basement, the former rector’s study, was turned into a lovely Chapel.

Today, six years later,the house has gonethrough several transformations: anew shower down-stairs; the carportbecame a beautifulnew chapel; the gar-dens were “tamedand tailored”, andmany Sisters have been part of the household. While our house is inVictoria, our ministry is in the Diocese of British Columbia - a beautiful and fascinating area that takes in all of Vancouver Islandand many of the south and north Gulf Islands. Over the years wehave been in all parts of the Diocese as we have shared in the life ofprayer and mission of the faith community here.

Sr. Doreen, SSJD

St. John’s House, BC

Doreen Davidson (Oblate) and Srs. Louise, Jocelyn, Jessica, and Doreen outside the new chapel.

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Two days ago, we went with theshepherds in haste towards theunknown, where we found a stableand a manger, where we stoppedand gazed in amazement at Godwho had become one of us, and felldown and worshipped. Today withJohn we run towards the unknown,where we find an empty tomb,where we stop and gaze in amazement at this mystery of theGod who is one of us, and where we enter that mystery, and wherewe see and believe.

The full cradle and the empty grave — the mystery of theIncarnation inseparably linked to the mystery of the Resurrection.Together they are the fullest expression of God’s gift of constant giv-ing, of God’s presence amidst human vulnerability, of God’s tena-cious and everlasting love for each one of us and for our world.

In both instances the people in the gospels: the shepherds, Peter andJohn — and we ourselves — come with a deep longing for God, aninner yearning to ‘come and see’. Today, the Feast of St. John inChristmastide, the beloved disciple whose name our Communitybears, models that yearning for us and runs towards the unknown;stands still and gazes, ponders; enters into the mystery and theunknown; and he believes.

This is radical stuff: the unknown, standing still, mystery. . . It brings shivers up one’s spine; most of us don’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole! And yet, all of us have that deep inner yearning. . .

As we come together today on this feast day of St John, to celebratewith thanksgiving, joy and hope the 125th anniversary year of the founding of the Sisterhood of St. John theDivine, I believe there is a three-fold message in the gospels: three rad-ical and important questions that illuminate the past, call us to atten-tion in the present, and challenge us for the future. Do we runtowards the unknown? Do we stop to gaze, to linger, to stand still?Do we enter into the questions, into mystery, open to understanding?These are questions for us as a Community, and these are questionsfor those of you whose friendship and support enable and challengeus to be who we are, and these are questions for your own faith jour-ney. They are questions for all of us as Church.

How do we run towards the unknown: fearfully, urgently, eagerly,reluctantly, happily, passionately? Is our race hesitant, the long wayaround, short and direct with no detours, constant crossroads, nostops along the way or frequent resting places? It is probably all ofthese, and more. And this is okay! God is one of us: God’s gift ofconstant giving; God’s presence amidst human vulnerability; God’stenacious and everlasting love for each one of us and for our world— God is one of us. Our question for ourselves is not about how werun, but are we faithful to the faithful God?

In the memoirs of Hannah Grier Coome, our Mother Foundress,the following is written: “The nineteenth century gave many greatmen and women to the Church, whose ‘names live for evermore’.Not least the Foundress of the first Anglican Order of Sisters inCanada; one well fitted by her vigorous mind, her active brain, herpatient, clever hands, to undertake this great work for God, and totread with untiring feet for thirty-seven years, the thorny path of thepioneer in the arduous task of founding a Religious Order in theChurch and land of her birth.”

How did she run towards the unknown along “the thorny path ofthe pioneer in the arduous task of founding a Religious Order in theChurch and land of her birth”? As we look back over our history, weare aware of the faithfulness of God working amongst us, the faithfulness of people who believed in us, Associates and friends whowere willing to face the unknown with the God who is with us, andlive into the possibilities of the future. We are aware that we arerecipients of the faithfulness of countless Sisters who have gonebefore us, who were willing to face the unknown with the God whois with us, and live into the possibilities of the future. Throughoutthe years of our history, with the prayerful and practical support ofothers, we have pioneered in many areas and entered into new andunknown situations of need and ministry in hospitals, orphanages,schools, seniors’ care-homes, inner city work with the poor, Sundayschools, parish missions, hospitality, retreats and mission work.

And for all that active work of ministry and outreach, there is oneoutstanding contribution that Mother Hannah gave to the historyand future of the Community and the Church. It can be summedup in her own words:

The object of the Community is first, personal sanctification; sec-ond, active charity. The life of prayer and devotion must come first,or the Community will soon sink down into a society of persons liv-ing together for the work they can do, instead of a society gatheredtogether in the Church to live in loving devotion to Almighty God,irrespective of the work each member may accomplish. From thisside of the Sister’s life she draws her courage, and her inspiration forher active works of charity: teaching, nursing, ministering to thefallen, the aged, and the poor.

Our history has been punctuated by examples of running towardsthe unknown, of stopping to gaze, to linger, to ponder with the Godwho is among us, and to enter into the questions, the mystery, opento understanding.

Over the years our Community has made three big moves: from alittle house — a converted stable — on Robinson Street to theConvent and women’s surgical hospital on Major Street; from MajorStreet to the Convent on Botham Road; and from Botham Road tothe present Convent on Cummer Avenue. Each of these moves hasbeen in response to changes that have challenged us to move into theunknown, changes that have caused us to stop and ponder, and tostruggle and wrestle with God, changes that have moved us into

December 27, 2008 — The Feast of St. John in Christmastide

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mystery and questions seeking understanding, and a deeper faith inthe God who is among us.

The challenge, my Sisters, for us today, and for our future — thechallenge for you, our friends and for your own faith communities— remains the same: are we willing to run into the unknown, tostop and ponder, and to enter into the mystery? Are we willing to beopen to new understandings and a deeper faith?

Every time we sit down to pray, every time we touch that deep longing for God, we become the beloved disciple and we start to runto the tomb. We run because we thirst for God, but what we willfind we can’t possibly predict or control. When we run towards God,we always run towards the unknown.

Do we take the time to stop and gaze, to linger, to ponder - allowing ourselves the opportunities to hover over things, over thecontradictions of life, over our relationships? Do we take the time tohold them gently in our hands and gaze at them until they moveslowly into that place where we make friends with them?

I often hear the words of Jesus reverberating in my own head andheart, “Do you have eyes and fail to see? Do you have ears and failto hear?” (Mark 8:18) I, like the disciples, am often bewildered byJesus. I often do not comprehend what I am seeing and hearing. I rush in with my own passion for God and for justice and for truth;see literally without taking the time to ponder; and fail to enter intothe mystery seeking deeper understanding. Scripture has warned usover and over again that the kingdom of God doesn’t come alive andactive amongst us by only what can be observed! How difficult it isto stop, and to stare, and to wait.

When faith in the God of our clutching and striving crumbles, therefinally may be enough emptiness in us to receive what is not self-generated. When love’s fire grows dim, and we stand in the dark, there finally may be a place in us to be filled with light otherthan our own.

How do we stop to gaze, to linger? How do we gaze without trying to control, to fill or to grasp the situation? Eager as John thebeloved disciple was, when he actually gets there he pauses in thedoorway and does not enter. Why? He stopped to gaze, not just tosee, but to see deeply. Love asks us to linger and go slow. But waiting can be hard. How do we muster the courage to sit still or tostand still and let ourselves be alone, and empty, and afraid? We don’tlike vacuums of any kind.

Wait, wait, wait. While the world around us calls for action, motion,and anger, God is whispering a thundering “Wait!”. Are we willing to wait? Give up control? Can we allow a spaciousness where truth, healing, and authenticity can breathe?Wait, wait, wait — ponder with John. Do my own limited versionsof reality imprison possibility? Can we stand still without judgment,with compassionate attention?

It is such a hard task entering the mystery: the beloved disciple iswilling to wait and to gaze without grasping until at last he feelsdrawn to step inside. It is the hard work of staying with an inner wisdom, of being open to saying “yes” to abundance, limitlessness,freedom, and the realm of all possibilities. It is the hard work of letting go of control, of my search for an answer (usually my own,thank you), of certainty, of security (of my own defining), of myplace, my time, my space! Wait, wait, wait — “O God, you are myGod, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you as in adry and weary land where there is no water.” (Ps 63:1) John, thebeloved disciple, is willing to wait and to gaze without grasping untilat last he feels drawn to step inside. He steps into the mystery — andhe saw and believed.

We need to honour our capacity for interiority: we need to honourthe paradoxes of life and not just try to resolve them. We, all of us,are called to the contemplative gaze, where we can hold things gently in our hands until they become friends. We need the wisdomof ‘stop’, of ‘wait’, of silence. As people of prayer this is a radical trustin God and the courage to face reality.

This is radical stuff: the unknown, stand still, mystery . . .For mostof us in our daily life this is a radical change of life-style! As a Community, is our life modelled by a radical search for meaning?As a faith community, is your life modelled by a radical search for meaning?

As we give thanks for the beloved disciple John, and as we givethanks for our beloved Community today, as we take up the challenge of running towards the unknown, pausing to gaze deeply,and being willing to enter into questions seeking understanding thatenables us to move to a place of seeing and believing, we need toacknowledge that we need each other, more than we could ever askor imagine! Those who loved us and blessed us in our beginnings leftus with this challenge: “May the name which it [the Sisterhood] isto bear, be an indication of the Love which is to pervade and animate it; that all the members are indeed, in a very special sense,“beloved of the Beloved”; are ever mindful of the words “Little chil-dren, love one another”. (p. 81 Hannah Grier Coome, a Memoir)

Sr. Doreen, SSJD

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The Houses of the Sisterhoodwww.ssjd.ca

~ PLEASE JOIN US! ~The 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine

September 8, 2009 10:30 Eucharist followed by Potluck and Garden Party

R.S.V.P. Guest House 416-226-2201, ext. 305

If you are able, could you bring one of the following according to the first letter of your last name:

A-I casserole (meat or vegetarian) or cheese or cold meat; J-P salad; Q-Z dessert

St. John’s Convent, 233 Cummer Avenue, Toronto, ON M2M 2E8

416-226-2201; Fax: 416-226-2131e-mail: convent@ssjd.ca

St. John’s House, B.C., 3937 St. Peters Road, Victoria, BC V8P 2J9

250-920-7787; Fax: 250-920-7709e-mail: bchouse@ssjd.ca

Our apologies for omitting the following name fromthe Donor Report sent with the Christmas Eagle:

Dr. Gerald Hart

ALTAR LINENSAltar linens may be purchased from Sr. Jocelyn, SSJD,at St. John’s House, BC. All linens are hand-sewn and

made from Irish Linen. Items which may be purchasedinclude Fair Linens, Credence Cloths, Purificators,

Lavabo Towels, Baptismal Towels, Fair Veils, Palls onPlexi Glass, Corporals and Sick Communion Sets.

For details, please contact Sr. Jocelyn: jocelyn@ssjd.ca

Telephone: 250-920-7787 Fax: 250-920-7709

Sr. Amy describing the afghan she made with the gifts of yarn she receivedat her First Profession

Top: The Assistant to the U.S. Consul General is offering to renew Sr. Constance’s passport free of charge. Below: Sr. Elizabeth Ann is cutting Sr. Constance’s birthday cake.