Happy New Year!

A dear friend of mine sent me an email the other day that read: Happy New Year! I read that line a few times and smiled. My friend mentioned how the beginning of September always feels like a New Year beginning because of the return to classes for students and the regular routine of our lives begins to take shape again. It is something the two of us have discussed and agree upon.

As I read the email of New Year greetings and encouragement for the year of learning ahead the thoughts of a New Year grasped hold of me: Excitement, Hope, Promise, Growth, Dedication, Potential, Dreams, Fears, Trust, Opportunities, Newness, Life, Unexpected, Challenges, Goodness. Each of these words could have their own reflection and each creates an image that settles into who we are and our journey. Our lives are filled with so much each day. Whether it is January 1 or September 1, October 28 or February 28 there is plenty to embrace.

As I pondered the New Year that lies ahead and think of fellow students, of family and friends, communities and children packing up the backpacks for the journey ahead I turned to my journal entry that I wrote 8 months ago as 2016 began.

A New Year: full of promise, hope, growth and a deeper journey with God. Deeper trust, deeper awareness of God at work in me, gifts explored, appreciating the gift of who I am.

Being open: each year, each month, each day is a chance for me to be open, to radiate Christ, to be a living tabernacle and icon.

May I remember this each day and launch each new month as a new chapter to continue to write my story and bring with the experiences of lessons learned to live again more fully.

These thoughts from the start of this year are good to read again at this point of New Year. They propel me forward and remind me of the gift of new beginnings that we receive so many times throughout the year. I am grateful to my friend for reminding me of all of this with a simple email to say Happy New Year!

God of Life, God of New Beginnings,

We give you thanks for the richness of life,

In the sorrows and joys help us to see you present,

In the paths traveled and the ones to come help us to know you walk with us,

In the people we meet and the ones we hold close help us to see your face.

Praise be to You!

Amen.

God is Good!

The blank page of a new chapter is ours and the Author of Life is ready to write the story with us. I am open to invitation, I hope you are too...

Blessings to all students and teachers returning to school. May the year ahead be one of living intentionally, serving well, walking humbly with love and radiating the Light of Christ! 

No Matter What... God's Generosity

I am currently on retreat with my brother Friars and today I was given the privilege to 'preach'/ share a reflection at Mass . It was the first time I have had this opportunity to break open God's word with all my brothers. It was truly a graced time for me and I would like to share with you my reflection.

The reading was Ezekiel 34.1-11 - about bad shepherds, the psalm with 23 - the Lord is my Shepherd and the Gospel was Matthew 20.1-16a - the parable of the landowner and the day labourers going out at various times. 

Below is my reflection based on these readings.  

                Today the Church in Canada recognizes someone who may be an obscure Canadian, Blessed Elisabeth Turgeon. Blessed Elisabeth had significant impact on the early church of Canada in several ways as a teacher, formator, for her ardent faith, generous charity and as the foundress of The Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. She was declared blessed in April 2015. She is quoted as saying “Consider everything before God; he will inspire you with the knowledge of what to do.” These words of wisdom struck me as I sought God’s inspiration on what to do about this reflection but also her thought on considering “everything before God” is what is at the heart of today’s scripture; God’s abundant merciful and justice-filled generosity.

The words from Ezekiel remind us of our God who pursues us even when we have been left alone, scattered, and not feed. Psalm 23 is the familiar hymn of God’s abundance that is rich and overflowing. As we ponder the parable from the gospel we are challenged to see that God’s generosity is for everyone rich and poor, the long serving labrourer and those who join last minute, the first and the last.  As I pondered over these readings I was and continue to wonder if we truly appreciate God’s generosity or simply become like the first labourers in the parable, complaining about our ‘wage’. We really have nothing to grumble about do we?   

I have no big story about how I discovered God’s generosity, no amazingly woven tale, rather a simple list (I love lists) of simple things that have spoken to me about this gift.  A list that hopefully we can all relate to.

            Looking back over the past year and past few weeks God’s generosity is obvious in the way:

I have been warmly welcomed by the brothers with whom I live, and also by classmates, new friends, familiar faces and even strangers.

I have been reminded of and encouraged to share my skills and talents by my formators and community.

I have been challenged to grow, to expand my horizons and to dream new dreams by my spiritual director, in relationship with others and through the evaluation process of being a simply professed friar.

I have experienced the abundant gift of creation – amazing views from prairie skies, to mountain tops, to valley bottoms, storms sweeping across the city, the warm rays of the sun, the crisp winter air and bounteous harvests.

I have gained in knowledge and experience through schooling, adventures and conversation.

I have treasures richer than gold in family, fraternity and friends.

And in all of this I realize that I and assume all of us are sometimes like the labourer who starts early, at other times like the one who starts at noon and yet at other times the one who starts at end of day…no matter what we always benefit from God’s generosity. Really do we have anything to grumble against in this generosity shown us? No… not at all. (Dear Lord help us to remember your generosity abounds no matter what.)  

Today at Retreat, Francisco has challenged us to look at the mission of Christ – Luke 4.18-19 – anointed to bring good news, proclaim liberty, recover sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free and proclaim God’s favor – this is only possible by trusting in the generosity of our God.

God’s Generosity Abounds:

Whether we are a grazing sheep or bold shepherd:

            Whether we are broken down or made whole:

            Whether we are lost or have been found:

- God’s generosity abounds.

            Whether we are prey for others or have become healthy nourishment:

            Whether the Word seems empty or it stirs deep within us:

            Whether we are in want or have plenty:

- God’s generosity abounds.

Whether we are in a barren land or lush green pastures:

            Whether we are filled with fear or have found great comfort:

            Whether we hunger and thirst or sit at table prepared with cup overflowing:

- God’s generosity abounds.

            Whether we are facing hurt and shame or are surrounded by goodness and mercy:

            Whether we feel like we have nothing to offer or have an abundance to share:

Whether we struggle to share our gifts or give of them endlessly:

- God’s generosity abounds

Whether we labour from morning to night or only a brief hour:

- God’s generosity abounds.

This is our God who is slow to anger, rich in mercy, whose justice is everlasting and whose generosity is a gift for the first and the last. God is generous always, even when we are not or do not know how to be. “God’s awesome goodness and superabundance is so amazing that when we feel that we have merited some sort of reward, God pours out even more than what we have allotted for ourselves and others.” (JV) This is the superabundant mercy, justice and generosity of our God.

St. Francis provides another way to consider today’s parable. In his Admonitions he says: “Blessed is the servant who no more exalts himself over the good the Lord says or does through him than over what He says or does through another.” (Admonition XVII) Indeed a reminder of God’s generosity. Indeed a reminder that we are all workers in the vineyard, with varying skills and abilities, but all provided for by our generous God.

As we contemplate the richness of our lives, let us reflect on the generosity of the cross of Christ, let us continually seek nourishment from the Word of God and the Eucharist, and let us go forth to glorify God by choosing to be generous with what has been given to us and what is ours to give …our lives.

Let us consider everything before God.

Amen.

A Special Celebration:

I also renewed my vows for another year. It is official I am now entering my second year as a simple professed friar.  It is a simple celebration but one that truly launches me into the next year. Surrounded by my brothers and my formation team I was able to place my hands into the hands of our Provincial Minister and profess my vows. The journey continues because of the grace and generosity of God, because of support of family, friends and brothers and because I continually open myself up to God at work in my life. I truly am amazed with this adventure.

I truly rely on the gift of prayer and so I humbly ask for your prayers as this journey continues and I deepen my Franciscan walk.

I also ask that you pray for my Brother Donald who is beginning his first year of vows (he has just return from Novitiate making his vows on August 2) and for my Brother Joe who will make his solemn vows this week.

Donald, Joe, Michael, ofm

Blessed Elisabeth Turgeon - Pray for us!

St. Francis & Sr. Clare - Pray for us!

Richly Blessed

There is a lot sitting on my heart and going through my mind today. There has been a lot of blessings in the last few weeks and I would like to share them with you… let’s go by categories.

Summer School:

Sure, I’ll count it as a blessing. Why? Because the class was really interesting, Br. Ben and I were asked to share a bit about our journey and the professor shared about his. Believe it or not I enjoyed writing the paper for this class (now just a pesky exam in late August) and I’m one credit closer to completing my degree.

Franciscan School of Theology (FST) Oceanside, California:

For two weeks Br. Ben and I were at FST taking in seminars about Franciscan Theology of Creation. It was really more like retreat for me. A true blessing after a full academic year. Sessions in the morning, rest and reading in the afternoon and evening. The opportunity to connect with other ‘young’ Friars, to share stories and journeys and dreams was indeed a gift. Another blessing was meeting James, a young Camaldolese Benedictine Monk. He is an amazing and passionate man and it was so great to hear his story and journey.

Saskatchewan:

What more do I need to say! A true blessing indeed… home… land of living skies… beautiful green and yellow and purple country side…northern lights… time with family and dear friends already… the gift of being back to worship with Resurrection Parish… the best bed in the world… garden goodies… lots of hugs… celebrations…

Family Reunion:

My Mom’s immediate family gathered for a family reunion this past weekend. Oh my goodness… Capital B L E S S I N G ! Absolutely amazing! My Mom is the oldest of 11 so the grand total for the family including my Grandparents is 170 with more on the way soon. Rumor has it 150 of us were present. It was so so so very good. Time to visit with cousins, with aunts and uncles, to meet new additions to the family, to play silly games, eat good food, pray together, laugh, cry and celebrate four generations of one heck of an amazing family tree. I am so proud to be a part of this family and to call these people family. It was such a beautiful reminder of true gifts, priorities and goodness. I’m lost for words on how to describe how I feel today as I look back on the weekend, and from posts from several of my relatives I believe others are too. So grateful for the planning committee and all their hard work. As one of my wise cousins said, “All good things must come to end so we can experience more good things!”

- At the end of my ponderings I have included what a cousin of mine shared at the reunion. Her words gave a great perspective as a reflection on the 45 of us grandchildren. It gives you a small glimpse into my extended family. It is amazing and humbling to see how we each impact the world.

Also in the mix of the weekend was Dad’s family gathered (whoever was around)  as my Aunt and Uncle and cousins from Ontario were back for a visit. Another blessing to connect with more great cousins, aunts and uncles - family that I am proud to call mine. More laughter, more good food and more to ponder on how truly blessed I am to have such good people in my life.

40 Years:

This past Saturday also marked my parents 40^th Wedding Anniversary. It was such a blessing to be in the very community and church where they were married to celebrate this milestone. Love stories are all woven together differently. Each story is unique and powerful. Each story calls us to look beyond ourselves and look to those around us. Each story calls us to radiate the love of God for another. I am blessed to be part of this love story, no matter how intense, exciting, crazy, demanding or challenging it can be. I am grateful my parents chose to take a chance on love and continue to say ‘I do’ in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health, to love and honor each other each day. Another blessing.

1 Year:

August 2 marked my First Anniversary of my vows as a Franciscan. It is simply amazing to me that a year has passed since I placed my hands into the hands of my Provincial and vowed to live for 13 months according to our way and rule of life. It is simply amazing that a year ago today I returned to Canada was embraced by my parents and family, met my newest nephew and have been surrounded with support from family, friends and friars. The past year has seen a lot of changes and transitions but a lot of blessings have made the journey one that I choose to continue and I look forward to renewing my vows in 14 days. The journey continues, blessings abound, God is indeed gracious and abundant and good.

I am grateful.

I am awe-filled.

I am blessed.

I hope you know you are as well.

 

 

Reflection from my cousin:

I have 42 first cousins and we all grew up within 40 miles of one another.  I’m quite positive that at one point in the 90s every classroom within 20 miles of here had at least one of my cousins in it.  How cool was that?!

I would see a lot of my cousins when I was little and growing up, summer holidays, birthday parties, anniversaries.  I remember being outside for hours playing kick the can in the dark, sports days (including right where we are tonight) playing ball, picking raspberries, swimming lessons, camping and sleepovers.

I am the 2^nd oldest granddaughter in this family.

My oldest cousin is a smarty pants engineer, as well as one of his brothers who lives out of province.  One of their brothers is a farmer who I hear tried to remodel his sprayer one summer and didn’t go so well so I’m thinking he should’ve hooked up with our mechanic cousin out of the Odessa area.  I hear that there is an Odessa cousin that plays with some big tonka-toys all day and one who hauls bales. 

I do know that our entire family will be in good hands if for some reason there is an injury today as we have a newly appointed nurse and a seasoned paramedic on site – thank the lord for them!  I also know that our family will not ever go hungry as we have Sheep farmers, dairy farmers, grain farmers and cattle farmers.  And then… we have a couple cousins who could turn some of that into delicious sausage and cut and wrap and deliver it all to us… right?!?

I have 10 amazing female cousins who are moms and 16 wonderful male cousins who are dads.  I have two cousins who are foster parents that open their hearts and homes to helping those that need more love.

I have one cousin who helps me see better and look good with new glasses, and one who could fly me in his helicopter, a couple talented ladies who could and have done my hair from time to time.  And then if any of these people stress me out I have one cousin who could give me a massage.  Her brother blasts sand for a living while their little brother will play some tunes for us tonight.

A Franciscan and a lineman are always working with a higher power and an Agrologist and a Credit Union Manager are always working with things that grow… hopefully!  One pretty lady is a rancher racing around barrels, another pretty lady is a news anchor racing around the newsroom.

The oil industry has one of my cousins and the land down under has his sister!  My five youngest cousins are still either in university, still in school or just finished and are probably on their cell phones right now!

My scaffolding brother and my brother who is waiting for parts are so lucky to have all of you as playmates over the last 40 some years.  We sure are a smart, loving, funny and good looking bunch!