Sister Katherine Theresa Young
Sister Katherine Theresa Young (Sister Mary Lois) peacefully went Home to her God on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at Ruth Ross Residence in Saint John, NB. Born in Whitney, NB, on April 18, 1929, she was the daughter of William Joseph Young and Mary Reba (McKenzie) Young.
Sr. Katerine was a graduate from the School of Nursing of the Hotel Dieu Hospital (Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph) in Chatham, NB. She nursed for three years in Moncton and Saint John until 1953, when she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception.
Sister Katherine received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Ottawa in 1962 and her Masters in Nursing in London, ON in 1970. During her many years of Administration, she was the Director of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Rocmaura Nursing Home in Saint John, NB as well as Read More...
INDIGENOUS CEREMONY CALLS FOR GOOD NEW PATHS
Seven Sisters of Charity, I.C. with justice coordinator Yolande Whalen joined members of Indigenous communities, students, faculty and staff for an outdoor ceremony June 15, 2023 at the University of New Brunswick Saint John.
The Indigenous ceremony included a sacred fire, drumming and a round dance inviting everyone’s participation. Remarks from Indigenous elders as well as university and city officials highlighted the desire for respectful and inclusive relationships.
Mi’kmaq Elder Jean Bartibogue offered prayer and wisdom as Knowledge Carrier-in-Residence from UNB Fredericton. She prayed for a good new beginning for neighbouring land where the former Ward Chipman building was recently demolished. In its place, a new Health and Social Innovation Centre is planned. An Indigenous healing garden is also planned on the land behind Ganong Hall where the ceremony took place.
The event was emceed by Todd Ross, Indigenous advisor at UNB Saint John. Guidance was offered by Wolastoqi Elder Imelda Perley. Before outdoor closing prayer, participants appreciated viewing Indigenous art during a reception in Hazen Hall.
In photo, Yolande and Sisters are shown with Indigenous artwork. Left to right: Sisters Roma De Robertis, Irene Buechler, Muriel Buckley and Audette Richard; Yolande Whalen; Sisters Margaret MacLean, Mary Ann Maxwell and Sandra Barrett. (Photo by Marion Williams)
Atlantic Sisters of Charity Attend Canadian Religious Conference
The Canadian Religious Conference held its first in-person gathering in 5 years in Montreal on May 25th-28th. Sister MaryBeth McCurdy and Sister Pat Poole attended the meeting which brought together over 200 Canadian sisters, priests, brothers, and lay collaborators. The theme was the Emmaus Journey~ ”the unexpected and life-changing encounter between the Risen Christ and the two disciples on the road, which reveals to us the One who walks with us on our uncertain roads and offers us His presence in difficult parts of the journey.”
The Religious in Atlantic Canada (RAC) and the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation-Atlantic (JPIC-A) sponsored a weekend on May 18-21 at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, NS. Their presenter was Sr. Ilia Delio,OSF. She is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, DC and a theologian specializing in the areas of science and religion, with interests in evolution, physics, and neuroscience. Her reflections were on “Relational Holism”, “Hunger for Wholeness” and “Sisters and Scientists: A Conversation With Ilia Delio and Libby Osgood, CND.”
(photo~ L to R: Muriel Buckley, Yolande Whalen (Justice Coordinator), MaryBeth McCurdy, Pat Poole, Ilia Delio, Irene Buechler and Roma DeRobertis.)
Sister Margaret Rose Nickerson (Sister Marion)
Sister Margaret Rose Nickerson (Sister Marion) peacefully went Home to her loving God on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the Loch Lomond Village in Saint John, NB. Born on March 8, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Edward and Frances Marion (Burns) Nickerson.
She was a graduate of St. Vincent’s High School and entered the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception on August 15, 1961. In her education ministry, she generously shared her gifts with the children at St. Peter’s School and Holy Trinity School in Saint John from 1965-1981. She was Pastoral Assistant at Holy Trinity Parish (1982-1986) and later at Holy Rosary Parish, St. Stephen, NB, (1986-1993). Read More...
SISTERS COLLABORATE TO WELCOME JUSTICE COORDINATOR
In a new initiative, Sisters of Charity (SCIC) are pleased to collaborate with Sisters of St. Martha of PEI (CSM) to welcome Yolande Whalen as their new justice coordinator beginning April 3, 2023. SCIC are based in Greater Saint John, N.B., with some members also in the Canadian West and North. CSM of PEI are based in Charlottetown.
Yolande will spend time in both Maritime locations and engage with Sisters and Associates in person and via Zoom online conferencing. She will also participate with Sisters, Associates, and staff of other communities, while networking with groups committed to justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
“I bring with me a deep reverence for our collective home and all of creation,” says Yolande. “It is our responsibility to rise to meet the uncertainties of our time with compassion, conviction and grace.”
Yolande grew up on a self-sustaining farmstead and resides in Long Reach on New Brunswick’s Kingston Peninsula. Her background is in education in areas of communications, culture, public policy, and visual arts. She is also a certified Laudato Si’ animator.
Each congregation will offer an orientation process with Yolande, who says she welcomes the opportunity to help further and enhance the Sisters’ “legacies of faith and service”.
Living With Christ
For the second consecutive year, an SCIC creative design is featured on the cover of the Living with Christ (LWC) missalette for the beginning of Lent. Irene Buechler, SCIC created the design for Ash Wednesday 2021 at St. Vincent Residence in Saint John. It was chosen for the February 2023 English-language missalette cover, as shown below.
We are thankful to partner with LWC and Novalis publishers to help portray God’s generous mercy, love, and justice. When the time arrives, blessings for a peaceful, fruitful Lenten season. ~ Mary Beth McCurdy, SCIC – Congregational Leader
Photo ~ Roma DeRobertis, SCIC
SCIC Leader Receives Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
FREDERICTON -- Sister Mary Beth McCurdy (left) received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal from New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy (right) at Government House in the provincial capital on Oct. 21, 2022. Based in Saint John, N.B., Sr. Mary Beth has been congregational leader of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (SCIC) since 2010. The honour recognizes her
“exceptional commitment to the cause of social justice and her efforts to improve living conditions for those living in extreme poverty.” She received it on the 168th anniversary of her congregation’s founding in Saint John in 1854. Sr. Mary Beth said she was humbled and grateful to receive the honour on behalf of all the Sisters. She was accompanied by her sister, Jane Arseneau of Quispamsis, N.B. and by Sr. Margaret MacLean, SCIC of Saint John. (Photo: Steve MacGillivray)
Write for Rights Campaign
Sisters Monica Plante (left) and Celene Hurley participated in the Write for Rights campaign on Dec. 7, 2022 during a drop-in event at St. Vincent Residence in Saint John, N.B. With others, they signed letters advocating for human rights for those
unjustly detained or imprisoned. Each year on or near Dec. 10 – Human Rights Day – Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception, staff and Associates are invited to sign 10 advocacy letters provided by Amnesty International. The letters
appeal to government and judicial officials in various parts of the world on behalf of those who are mistreated for exercising their human rights. An option was provided for those who wished to respond online. Sisters and Associates were also encouraged to pray for those facing unjust charges and imprisonment. (SCIC photo)
Development and Peace-Caritas Canada
SAINT JOHN, N.B. – Sisters Muriel Buckley (left) and Roma De Robertis (right) visited Wayne Long, MP for Saint John-Rothesay Nov. 7, 2022. They delivered a petition from Development and Peace-Caritas Canada signed by Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception and staff. It calls for federal legislation ensuring companies based in Canada and operating abroad safeguard human rights and the environment. The legislation would result in meaningful consequences for companies failing to uphold such safeguards. It would also establish a legal right for people who have been harmed to seek justice in Canadian courts. Mr. Long agreed to table the petition in the House of Commons. He also signed a D & P pledge (in photo) supporting legislation to end corporate human rights abuse and environmental damage abroad. (Photo: David Hickey)
"SEEDING” & VISITING SCHOOL GARDENS
Sisters from Saint John, N.B. enjoyed visits to school gardens in late summer 2022 after donating funds for seeds to the Anglophone South School District. In the photo, they are visiting the “Potting Shed”, a geothermal greenhouse at Rothesay Elementary School where they were welcomed by community school coordinator Rebecca MacKay (left). On Aug. 22, they also visited the outdoor garden at Princess Elizabeth School in Saint John.
Their “Seeds for Students” fundraising initiative arose around Earth Day in spring 2022, when they contacted the school district’s community engagement coordinator. Erica Lane advised them about a high rate of food insecurity and the importance of growing vegetables for some students and families. She selected five schools to receive the Sisters’ donations for their gardens. Sisters look forward to future visits when they can meet with student gardeners. (Photo: Erica Lane)
SISTERS EXPLORE NEW LIFE THROUGH TRANSFORMATION
Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (SCIC) explored both personal and communal transformation during a gathering Aug. 16-18, 2022 at Ruth Ross Residence in Saint John, N.B.
Dr. Ted Dunn of Trinity, Florida was the presenter and animator. He is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked for more than 30 years with religious communities and other faith-based organizations in and beyond North America. Read More...
Photo: Pat Poole, SCIC
Together with hope and courage
How are we experiencing and learning from the pandemic? Each of us has a unique story to tell. We — Sisters of Charity — thank Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John, for the invitation to share aspects of our community life from the past year in The New Freeman. Click Here to read more...
Radiance CD
Songs of Theresa Hucul, scic
Out of the Heart of Creation
Radiance is the 5th Album of Composer Theresa Hucul released in 2019. It includes 12 of her 90 compositions out of her experience of creation, ministry in Vancouver, Edmonton and the Maritimes, where she is now located. This Album, in Song with 25 Voices, Cello, Violin, Guitar and Keyboard, is recorded by Mike Boyer, Saint John.
Included in Radiance is a Song by American composer Carolyn McDade, Ronald Krisman of ICEL and Gordon Johnston, Ottawa
CD $15.00
Large Book $8.00
Small Book $6.00
To Purchase Please Contact Us at:
Phone: 506-642-3152
Email: audite119@bellaliant.net