Rejoice!

The mysteries of life unfold for Our Lady's Missionaries in Canada

By Sr. Marie Clarkson, O.L.M.
May 2006

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“Rejoice! I say rejoice!” This Easter anthem echoes through my mind and being. Even as I write this, buds burst forth on bushes and trees while birds flutter and twitter with purposeful activity. Signs of new life abound.

Blessing of farewell for Rev. Theresa Han, outgoing coordinator of Pastoral Care at Toronto East General Hospital. L-R: Chaplains Gail Fox, Major Wanda Brown, Colleen Ledesma, Rev. Han, Carol Stoddart, Nita deVenne, and Sr. Marie Clarkson.

What mysteries of life unfold in each of us young and old alike? Within our community here in Canada there is response and service. Sr. Cathy Peco reaches into hearts and homes as she answers your letters. Know that you are held in love.

Observe the pine. It is ever there with its tall, stately presence. Our community leader Sr. Frances Brady with her quiet, unassuming steadfastness stands thus. She lives as one among us, yet has the pulse of the community at hand, helping to implement the vision of the whole.

Assisted by the expertise of Marty McPhail, Sr. Norma Samar coordinates our website: www.ourladysmissionaries.ca feeding it new and relevant happenings. One such joyous occasion will be the date when Sr. Susan Moran will receive the Order of Canada. Also visit our website to keep in touch with Sr. Noreen Kearns and the residents of the Maryglen, and to read about the new groups of volunteers that Sr. Elaine MacInnes has called forth to work in prison ministry. Again I say rejoice!

Sr. Catherine Peco

Sr. Rosemary Hughes

Your gifts and donations are indeed treasures since it is you who make our reaching out to others possible. Sr. Rosemary Hughes and her qualified financial assistants might gain inspiration from our feathered friends who are now lining their nests.

Our community is certain that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto marvel at the new life in Sr. Therese MacDonald. Therese was a guest at Morrow Park, the St. Joseph Sisters’ central house for administration as well as a place where loving care for body and spirit calls forth life. Therese entered the wide doors in a wheel chair and left walking, not by magic, but by hard work and love. Now Therese has energy for a variety of creative pursuits. One of these will be helping Sr. Anie Montejo improve her skills with the English spoken here in Canada.

Sr. Therese MacDonald

Sr. Yolanda (Yoli) Cadavos

Anie is on a journey of discovery with Our Lady’s Missionaries after spending time with our Sisters in her native Philippines. She is gleaning our community’s flavour through her mission experience with us in Canada before she commits more definitely to the vowed religious life. Certainly we too are gaining by the presence of one who has left family, friends and culture to follow her calling. Anie’s dishes of rice, ampalaya (bitter melon) and bagoong (a salty shrimp mixture) are taste bud enrichment for all.

Srs. Yolanda (Yoli) Cadavos and Lalang (Lori) Nunez have come from their mission in the Philippines for a time of renewal. We remember our trees in winter. What mystery and unfolding is taking place and has already occurred for sap to flow and new shoots to appear? Yoli will have returned to her former mission in Brazil, pohon (God willing), by the time you read this.

Sr. Lalang (Lori) Nunez

(CREDIT Norma Samar OLM)
At the gathering to celebrate Gloria Caronan’s formal commitment as an associate member of Our Lady’s Missionaries. L-R: Associate members Monica Donovan and Gemma Labitan; Sr. Frances Brady, community leader of Our Lady’s Missionaries; Gloria Caronan; Sr. Norma Samar who is also on the leadership team; and Fr. Kenneth Decker, Superior of the Basilian Fathers.

Ever more deeply I know that I am blessed by community, family, friends and in my ministry. When I share our mission stories through talks in churches, I am in awe to think of the many of you who support us because you have the longing that all peoples be considered sisters and brothers.

In my pastoral ministry at Toronto East General Hospital I am touched by the faith and courage of so many in their efforts to save life, enhance life and live life. Our faithful pastoral volunteers and clergy from various faith traditions are an inspiration. My co-workers—the hospital chaplains—are surely to me and to many the nurturing warmth of the sun. The echo is rejoice, rejoice!

Maria Teresa Velasco, a friend to Our Lady’s Missionaries takes part in peaceful protests against the war in Iraq. Toronto.

A new associate member makes her commitment
By Maria Teresa Velasco

The community of Our Lady’s Missionaries in Toronto recently bade a temporary farewell to one of its new associate members, Gloria Caronan, or “Goya”, as she is fondly called. Goya set out on a six-month trip to the Philippines, her native country, to visit relatives and friends in Luzon and then to join the Sisters in Cagayan de Oro in their efforts to help the underprivileged.

Goya made her formal commitment as an associate member of Our Lady’s Missionaries in Toronto last December. She is much loved within this missionary community and her expertise with computers is valued. While assisting mainly with the technical aspects of the administration offices she has helped out occasionally as a driver for the Sisters who had medical appointments. Her gentle and compassionate ways and her deep commitment to Our Lady’s Missionaries, are well appreciated by the grateful Sisters, who will miss her. Goya will be back in Toronto in August 2006.

Love’s freedom
By Sr. Susan Moran, O.L.M.

The crucified
   risen Christ
  in God’s spirit of love
   raises
  the crucified of the earth
   to new life

On November 21, 2005, Sr. Susan Moran (inset) graduated with a Masters degree in Theological Studies from St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto.

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