There was excitement in the air. The preparations were done. The cloud technology held the livestreaming capacity ready. The sending off of the Halifax bus, carpools from Wellesley, various New York Toyotas wending their way up Route 95 to Boston, short trips, long air flights, all culminating in hugs and cheers, and a sigh of relief. We were finally together again.
It was, simply put, a blessing to be together. This was our third meeting and most would agree, our best.
As the cover of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents states: this book is a beautifully written, original, revealing story of people and history, in which Isabelle Wilkerson examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America. She links the caste systems of America, India and Nazi Germany. The book was an eye-opener.
I’m always fascinated by the early Sisters and their lives in community before 1900. How did women find out about the Sisters of Charity, a relatively new and growing congregation? As I looked more into the history of Sister Maria Felicitas, I was surprised to find the touching story of how two Anglican British-born women ended up as Sisters of Charity-Halifax.
Sister Natalie entered the Sisters of Charity, Halifax in 1951 and was missioned to New York where she began her ministry as a elementary school teacher. In 1973, she took a position as a House Parent in a New York State youth hostel. In 1974 she and her close friend, Sister Patricia Tobin, SC, established Conklin Residence and together were House Parents for exceptional young adults. Sister Natalie ministered in New York until moving to Marillac Residence, Wellesley, MA in 2016.
Sister Maureen's ministry as a Sister of Charity began as a teacher and then as a guidance counselor in several parish schools in Bellmore, Brooklyn, Rego Park and Patchogue, New York. On returning to Boston, she served as a teacher and guidance counselor at Saint Patrick High School in Roxbury. Later, Sister Maureen took on a new ministry at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Boston, Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury, MA as an Education Specialist before retiring to Elizabeth Seton Residence.
Sister Ann's desire to serve the poor and disenfranchised found her missioned to Saint Peter Parish, Lowell, MA, Saint Kevin and Saint Peter Parishes in Dorchester, MA. Sister Ann also served as a member of the Community Leadership Team at Mount Saint Vincent, Wellesley, MA, and as a Congregational Councilor on the Congregational Leadership Team.
Climate Crisis! Climate Change! Climate Events: Flooding, Droughts, Catastrophic global fires! Have you noticed how frequently we are hearing and seeing these words across our computer screens, newspapers and on our TVs? It would seem that these frequent devastating events are becoming the norm instead of the exception in our daily lives. As we take all this in, we shake our heads in disbelief at the destruction of people’s lives and homes. We pray. We feel anguish at the loss of forests, wildlife and natural beauty. We ponder the societal, spiritual and economic ramifications of each climate catastrophe. How will people continue on? Can the forest come back to life? Because of the devastating loss of numbers, will this species go extinct and never be seen again?
If I could see clearly enough through the doorway of my heart, with its profound gratitude for this journey and the moments that moved me deeply, I would want to tell you something wonderful.
“Bienvenidas Hermanas de la Caridad! The love of God is demonstrated through your solidarity with us in friendship.”