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
SISTERS OF CHARITY FEDERATION
As members of the Sisters of Charity Federation and in solidarity with the six founding congregations, we share with you, our friends, the letter recently shared with the members of the Federation about the early Sisters involvement with slavery. Click Here for Details
SISTERS REFLECT & PRAY ON FIRST NATIONAL TRUTH & RECONCILIATION DAY
Sisters Monica Plante (left) and Mary Beth McCurdy offered drumming as part of prayer and awareness at St. Vincent Residence Sept. 30, 2021 on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (SCIC) lived and ministered among Indigenous people in both Canada and Peru. For almost 16 years, one Sister has also lived among Inuvialuit people in the high western Canadian Arctic. Sister Mary Beth, SCIC congregational leader, encouraged Sisters to continue to learn about and respond to the truth and reconciliation process. (SCIC photo)
Statement from Canadian Religious Conference regarding Residential School sites
Montreal, July 2, 2021 – In 2015, following several years of inquiry, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada published its report on Canada’s residential schools. The report’s findings included that approximately 150,000 children had attended residential schools in Canada. Several children subjected to sexual and/or physical abuse, and approximately 3,200 died of malnutrition, tuberculosis and other illnesses related to inadequate living conditions. At the time, the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, warned that these figures were in all likelihood understated, as incomplete death records prevented the Commission from providing accurate numbers. Read More...
SISTERS INFLUENCE CITY TO SUPPORT NUCLEAR WEAPONS BAN
SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- Two Sisters of Charity, I.C. recently influenced the Saint John mayor and council to endorse the Cities Appeal of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The campaign calls for support for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which entered into force Jan. 22, 2021. Among other Canadian municipalities to endorse the Cities Appeal are Halifax and Cape Breton, N.S., as well as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
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...
TUKTOYAKTUK UPDATE (Surviving Covid-19!)
God is always calling his people. God speaks today... What does this mean for the Inuvialuit people of the Western Arctic? Read More Here
Support for the Wet’suwet’en Nation
In keeping with an approach initiated by the Federation of Sisters of Saint Joseph of Canada, the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) is challenging the Government of Canada concerning two delicate situations: one concerns the Wet’suwet’en Nation and the other is the Frontier Oil Sands Mine Project, proposed by Teck Resources. Read More Here
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
Statement by Canada’s Catholic Sisters Regarding the Climate Emergency
On this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, leaders of Canada’s 64 Congregations of Catholic Sisters are calling on the country’s politicians to respond to the climate emergency declared by Parliament by taking concrete steps to avert it. Read More...
Festival of Enculturation
On June 20th, with joy and gratitude, Sisters, Associates and friends welcomed Elder Imelda Perley to share her sacred teachings of the Mi”Kmaq, in anticipation of National Indigenous Peoples Day, June on 21st.
“Imelda Perley (Opolahsomuwehs) is Wolastoqew (Maliseet) from Tobique First Nation, St. Mary’s First Nation and Houlton Band of Maliseets (United States). She was appointed as Elder-in-Residence at the University of New Brunswick and retired in April,2019. Her traditional roles within the community include Sweatlodge Keeper, Medicine Wheel Teacher, Sacred Pipe Carrier and Keeper of the Women’s Ceremonies.
She is founder and coordinator of the Wolastoq Language and Culture Centers Inc., situated at Tobique and St. Mary’s First Nations.” Imelda taught Maliseet language and Wabanaki Worldview courses at University of New Brunswick and University of Maine. Along with her husband David, they have contributed many years advancing and promoting their culture and traditions.” (University of New Brunswick)
The day included a sharing on Our Lady of Guadalupe with Graydon and Beth Nicholas. It was a day to celebrate and experience the richness of many Mi’kmaq traditions.
(Photo~ David and Imelda Perley, with Beth and Graydon Nicholas)