June 2008:Days of Reflection & Sharing

OLM’s living in Toronto and those on holiday from overseas gathered together on the evening of June 23 and for the next two days to reflect, to share stories and ideas, and most of all, to be together.
Sr. Joan Missiaen OLM led us in a prayerful reflection the first evening, helping us to open our hearts to the present moment.
We spent the next two days looking at various aspects of the Chapter Directional Statement we had adopted at last year’s Chapter Meetings.
Louise Malnachuk of Scarboro Missions gave us a workshop in which we were able to deepen our awareness of ecological concerns and re-new our commitment to answer the challenge to make concrete changes in our lifestyle in response to these concerns.
Then, Sharon Willan facilitated 1 ½ days of an input – reflection – sharing process around various questions we are facing regarding the present and our future. She called it, “Living in Hope and Gratitude in a Time of Transition.”
Our summer meetings ended with a liturgy of the Eucharist with Fr. John Carten SFM as our presider.
After spending this time together, I am indeed filled with hope and gratitude as Our Lady’s Missionaries, like so many others, faces a time of great transition.