Happenings

Upcoming/Current/Recent

Lionel Kelland Hospice Unveilling (23 November 2023)

In response to an identified gap in Newfoundland and Labrador’s health care continuum, in 2016 the Presentation Sisters donated St. Catherine’s Renewal Centre (formerly St. Catherine’s Convent) in Grand Falls–Windsor for use as a residential hospice for the central NL area, providing end-of-life comfort, care and dignity for patients, and support for their loved ones. With re-development substantially complete, the Hospice was unveiled to the public on November 23.  Presentation continues to provide support for this important initiative.

A number of Presentation Sisters with connection to Grand Falls – Winsor attended the ceremony, including Hospice Board members Sr Betty Rae Lee, Sr Roisin Gannon and Sr Lois Greene (attending virtually from Ireland).  Click HERE to view a video of the event. Click HERE to read CBC news coverage.   

Truth and Reconciliation Day (Saturday, 30 September 2023)

September 30^th is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day acknowledges the colonial legacy of residential schools and the broader negative impacts of European settlement upon Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, as European settlers imposed their laws, languages, behavioral norms and spiritual practices, virtually erasing traditional Indigenous culture.

This day is also known as Orange Shirt Day, in honour of a little girl who, on arrival at her new school, was broken-hearted because all her belongings from home, including her beautiful new orange shirt, were taken away and never given back. The orange shirt has become a symbol of everything Indigenous people have lost since European settlement of Canada 

At the Presentation Motherhouse in St John’s, the Sisters honour this day with special prayer and reflection and by adopting it as a as a paid holiday for staff. How can we as Presentation People observe Truth and Reconciliation Day? Indigenous organizations offer a few suggestions:

• We can wear Orange in solidarity with Residential School survivors – any garment or accessory works – t-shirts, dresses, sweaters, scarfs, ball caps, whatever.
• We can acknowledge the land of our province as the ancestral homeland of the Beothuk and Mi’kmaq (Island of Newfoundland) and the Innu and Inuit (Labrador).
• We can learn more about the diverse histories and cultures of Indigenous Newfoundlanders and Labradorians: First Light, an organization of and for our province’s Indigenous peoples, has an informative website here: https://firstlightnl.ca/
• We can reflect on our own relationships with Indigenous peoples, asking such questions as:
• Do I know any indigenous people? If not, why?
• Am I able to name the traditional territory I stand on? [Ktaqmkuk] If not, why?
• Have I read an indigenous author? If not, why?
• And we can share our thoughts and reflections with fellow employees during coffee breaks and lunches; we all chat about something or other when we meet!

Truth & Reconciliation Day is more than “just another holiday” – it is a Holy Day, established to give focus to our efforts to understand our Indigenous fellow citizens and, hopefully, build better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Lenten Labyrinth at The Lantern (Fridays in Lent 2023)

Labyrinth facilitation by Sue Cummings and Robyn Lamswood

ADMISSION BY FREE WILL OFFERING

All are welcome! If this is new for you, we can provide the very simple directions necessary for you to participate. It can take about 20 minutes or so to walk the labyrinth. Then there will be an opportunity to journal and/ or actively reflect with others in quiet sharing.

To finish on time, we will not host anyone on the labyrinth after 12:30pm., so do aim to come around noon to enjoy this reflective community practice of walking meditation.

Come– bring some dry footwear, experience the labyrinth and explore this practice for yourself.

Mercy ~ Presentation Speakers Forum (4 March 2023)

The Mercy ~ Presentation Speakers Forum is pleased to present Dr. Anne Walsh and Fr. Tony Bidgood, CSSR as the speakers for 2023.

Theme: HOPE

 Date: March 4^th, 2023

 Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Details including session description and Zoom joining information will be posted soon.
Meanwhile please save the date and share with your networks! We HOPE to “see” you there!

John Philip Newell Book Group – 29 Jan-26 Mar 2023

Virginia Water Contemplative Centre Invites you to join us for a nine-week Zoom book group exploring John Philip Newell’s book “A New Harmony: The Spirit, The Earth, and the Human Soul.” This Celtic theologian guides us through a vision of a new harmony that is grounded in  life’s essential oneness and the interconnectedness of all things.

Offered in partnership with Presentation Associate Sue Cummings, on Zoom, so that weather or driving would not be a barrier to participation by friends in or out of town/province.

Date: Sunday January 29 -March 26, 2023
Time: 3:30 pm-4:30 pm
Location: Zoom (link will be sent each Sunday for those registered)
Cost: $30.00 (9 week group and the book)
RSVP: Friday January 13, 2023 (to allow time for a group book order)

To be a part of the group book order please, let me know by Friday January 13, 2023. Payments can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque. You may also purchase the book on your own and just RSVP that you want to be added to the email with the weekly Zoom link.

Ongoing

The Lantern, a Community Life Centre

The Lantern welcomes all seekers and offers opportunities for development of spirituality, formation of community, and promotion of justice.
For information regarding programs and events :
E-mail: information@thelantern.ca
Web: www.thelantern.ca Telephone: 709-753-8760 

Nano Nagle Spirituality Centre Programs

At our Centre in Barachois Brook, we offer a contemplative, natural setting:

• If you are longing for quiet space
• If you need someone to listen
• If you need care and support in decision making
• If you are seeking to understand yourself
• If you want to be good to yourself

Similar kinds of programming has continued through Fall 2022  and will be continuing into 2023.

The Gathering Place

The Gathering Place is a Community Health Centre committed to building community, promoting equality and providing food, clothing, medical and dental help, and counselling and other services, to vulnerable individuals in our community. Originally established in 1994 by The Sisters of Mercy and the Presentation Sisters in response to the needs of those seeking food … in recent years, programs and services have been added through collaboration with other partners to address the complex needs of Guests.

 T’ai Chi Chih: Awakening the Energy Within

T’ai Chi Chih, Joy thru Movement,  is a series of 20 gentle, easy to learn movements virtually anyone can do, seated or standing, to help Activate, Balance and Circulate the natural Energy in our bodies for greaterc wellness, vitality and joy and so much more.
In-person classes  have resumed as of Spring 2022. New 8-week sessions at The Lantern generally begin in September, January and April, with some Saturday Retreat Day options at Virginia Water Centre.  Summers maybe join us on Government House lawn for free Lunch Hour Wellness Sessions! All welcome!

As students continue to affirm, ”Doing it just feels good!”

Wisdom Healing Qigong: Awakening the Energy Within

Through posture alignment, gentle movement, vibration, and visualization, the ancient mindfulness practice of Wisdom Healing Qigong frees up our natural energy. Can be done by virtually anyone, seated or standing. It calms and focuses the mind, re-energizing the body for greater wellness, vitality and joy and so much more.
In-person classes  have resumed as of Spring 2022. New 8-week sessions at The Lantern generally begin in September, January and April, with some Saturday Retreat Day options at Virginia Water Centre.  Summers maybe join us on Government House lawn for free Lunch Hour Wellness Sessions! All welcome!

                      As students continue to affirm, ”Doing it just feels good!”

Veiled Virgin Sculpture & Virtual Tours

“The Veiled Virgin” marble sculpture is an amazing work of art that truly has to be seen to be believed.  Click HERE for more information or visit our Contacts & Resources Page.

Viewings of the Veiled Virgin sculpture offered throughout the summer on: Monday – Sunday, 10:00am – 12:00 and 1:00 – 4:00pm. Due to periodic changes in COVID precautionary measures, we encourage you to call our Motherhouse (709-753-7291) before visiting to enquire about or to schedule viewings.

Visit the Tours section on our Contacts and Resources page for links to Virtual Tours of our Motherhouse Drawing Room, Oratory and Chapel.