My dear Sisters, I am writing to you today with a heavy heart. I have been reading many of the news reports about the Ebola virus, as I am sure most of you have been. However, there was a news report in the NYT today, 10/10/14 about a mother who went into preterm labor at 8 months and delivered a little girl. She continued to hemorrhage profusely after delivery and was brought by her boyfriend and parents to 3 different hospitals before she was seen where she died. She was just 36 years old and died in the absence of compassion or tenderness. We cannot blame the caretakers or the health care providers because they too are afraid of catching the virus and dying themselves. This is the new leprosy and the infected have become that person on the road where people are afraid to come to his/her aide. What can I do? I find myself crying out to Jesus asking this exact question.
Kamloops associates gathered on Sunday, September 28, a sunny warm fall day, for a retreat presented by Sr. Nancy Hurren, CND and Pat Weicker, Visitation West co-coordinators. The day focused on Pope Frances' encyclical "The Joy of the Gospel" which invites us all to live more simply and in greater solidarity with the poor. There was time for reflection, prayer, sharing and visitation and everyone reflected that they came away from the day spiritually nourished and refreshed. We were introduced to a 14-step program, "The Joy of Just Living" developed by Bill Huebsch which can be used during the year to help us discover the joy of just living simply, just living happily, living justly so that others may also live.
