My work with L’Arche has impressed me with the happiness and contentment of the residents in spite of their limitations.  Being with them and witnessing this is an inspiration and a call to gratitude for my own abilities.

My other volunteer work is with a Literacy Program for developmentally disadvantaged adults.  Presently, I’m tutoring Erin, an 18 year old who is reading and writing at approximately Grade 2/3 level.  Erin is motivated by a strong desire for improvement; her goal is to be able to read well enough to get her driver’s license.  She also likes cooking and wants to read recipes.  Erin needs much help and encouragement.

Living in a small group of three, there are always many contributions to community living that are needed. I am the local bursar here, too.  Not being mathematically gifted this is a challenge!

This passage from Luke 4:16 is part of what I like to call the Nazareth Manifesto.  It is how Jesus described his ministry, and as a faithful companion of Jesus, I want to also bring good news to the poor.  I have been very fortunate in the ministries I have had over the years. In most of them it was easy to see how I was bringing good news.

I have always had a strong belief in the Incarnation. I know that what I do for others I do for Jesus.  I am also an activist. What gives me life (that is my spirituality) is being involved in life. 

I also see that what I became involved in was usually a response to an invitation.  The first time it happened was during my first year of teaching (back in the seventies).  A teacher asked me to come and listen to a presentation from a farm worker from California.  The farm workers were trying to organize a union and negotiate for better working conditions.  They really appreciated the support of church people, and since I was wearing a veil at that time, the farm worker asked me directly if I would help. At this time, helping meant forming a picket line in front of a grocery store and asking the people not to buy grapes and lettuce.  Thus my career as a social justice activist began. 

My teaching career was short-lived.  I taught math and religion at Madonna High School in Toronto for four years and then went to St. Joseph’s elementary school in Coaldale, Alberta for four years.  After a year in the tertianship (a spiritual sabbatical) I answered an invitation to work with parishes in the Calgary Diocese who were sponsoring Vietnamese boat people.  This was my first involvement with refugees, and it was a very satisfying ministry.

My next invitation was to start a community in downtown Toronto.  This was the seed that developed into the Hamilton House Refugee Project where I am now working, 14 years later. My ministry at this time was at the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice where I learned to do social analysis as a tool for justice. 

All the above was a preparation for my next big invitation to go to Sierra Leone, West Africa.  The ten years I spent there have left an impression on my heart that will never be erased.  There I was involved in a training program for adults that hopefully had a lasting effect on the lives of many Africans.  The inconveniences I may have experienced there were nothing compared to the good experiences I had working with very dedicated missionaries, fine

outstanding women and men from various countries in Africa, and colleagues who were supportive and fun to be with.  Unfortunately the war in Sierra Leone forced us out, and I now have my multi-cultural experience working with refugees in Toronto, at the FCJ Refugee Centre.  Here we welcome people from many countries and help them get settled in their new country.  Again I am working with very fine colleagues who continue to be an inspiration to me.

This is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

When I made my first vows, Mother Catherine told me that I would be going to the university in Dublin to get a BA degree.   Shortly after that plans changed and I was on my way to train as an elementary teacher in Sedgley Park , Manchester .  At that point God was already steering me to a ministry which has brought me immense joy and has allowed me to touch the lives of innumerable children, their parents and school staffs.  I have found that I am at my best with children and I am stimulated by their questions and responses.  Staffs and their concerns have always been a priority for me.

Now that I have retired from classroom teaching and principalships in many schools, I volunteer as a religion resource person for children and their teachers in St. Sebastian Elementary School .  The method which I use in my teaching is that of story telling.  Only a little child can tell you that “I talk to Jesus when I’m lonely” or ask as profound a question as “Jesus rose from the dead; will he now have to die again?”!!  There is a very tangible desire in the hearts of children to hear about faith and values. 

Another area of my present ministry is that of accompanying FCJ Companions in Mission . Preparation of monthly sessions with them takes time and good planning.  However,  my own vocation in the Society,  my appreciation of our charism, my love of Marie Madeleine and of the Society have all been renewed by the enthusiasm of these women who are certainly  open vessels desirous of being filled.

A Book Circle at St. Michael’s University gives me the opportunity of sharing and discussing with other people themes in modern literature.   The group chooses the books which are clustered around specific themes.  In community I look after temporal administration as well as sharing in the chores of everyday life.

This time in my life is abundantly rich.  I am wiser because of life’s multiple experiences  and am enriched by the people who have been part of who I am.

I retired from professional ministry, chaplaincy in Palliative Care [hospice], some years ago. Then I was attracted to offer support to those grieving the death of a parent, spouse, child or sibling through suicide. This traumatic grief respects neither the bounds of profession, culture, race, age or religious affiliation. It is also a grief steeped in myths and taboos.  The image that comes to mind when I reflect on the effect of suicide on those who are left to survive is of a luscious plant in full bloom suddenly uprooted by a violent storm from a rich irrigated soil in the sun and carried to a dark rubbish heap where it wilts and withers. There it remains until it attracts the attention of a caring gardener who picks it up, takes it to nourishing soil in the sun and encourages the diminished life within, telling it that it will survive the shock and devastation, that the life force is still within.

After eight sessions of counseling, people who have experienced a suicide in their family or social milieu speak of experiencing a new sense of purpose in life, of being amazed at how their sense of compassion has attracted others, of having the foundation of their very existence restored. A regular question is how can they prepare to be a support to others who will find themselves grieving a similar form of death.

I am also available to help theology students, particularly priests from other cultures, to prepare and submit assignments in English for their various courses.  I will   never be a missionary in Korea , but I can support priests returning there to be qualified for pastoral ministry. I know the experience of finding myself in a culture very different from my own and how the sense of being 'lost' and struggling to survive is very real. I can be a welcoming, caring presence.  I find that they love a home-cooked meal and it is a pleasure for me to prepare such when one of them comes for weekly Mass in the house! 

Jai-Don Lee recently wrote in his acknowledgments for his Doctoral Thesis: "I acknowledge with gratitude ... Sisters Mary Bresnihan fcJ and Marcella Bresnihan fcJ who not only helped me with English but also took care of me with sisterly love".

I am more aware now than before of having a ministry to myself at this stage of my life. I have to rest more, be more aware of my bodily needs, be attentive to my creative talent that I  neglected during my active years, and take time for solitude and prayer. 

For the last twelve years my ministry has been that of Hospital Chaplain at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River .  Having been involved as a teacher and administrator in secondary education for over twenty years, I found this new ministry both challenging and rewarding in ways I never would have imagined.

As a teacher I did the planning.  I knew what I wanted to accomplish with the class each day, week, or month.  As a chaplain I never can be sure what the day will bring.  In both ministries, however, one aspect remains the same.  It is not I who accomplish the work, but God who works through me, with me and in me. 

What is involved in a day at St. Anne’s Hospital?  There is the ordinary routine:  visiting new patients and assuring them that pastoral care is available to them; supporting family members and nursing staff through presence and prayer;  attending patient care conferences on the various units to become more familiar with patient needs; making sure that those patients who wish the ministry of a priest or reception of Holy Communion are provided for.

Then there are the crisis situations:  the call to be with the patient who is dying and to minister as well to the grieving family and friends.  Sometimes this is expected and sometimes it is a person who is brought to the emergency room in cardiac arrest. While the medical staff attends to the physical need, they count on the chaplain to provide for the spiritual and emotional need of patient and family. It is at a time like this that I am reminded of St. Teresa’s Prayer “Christ has no body now but yours…”  He is using my body, my words, my presence to bring comfort and courage.  I know it is Christ who does this, but it is an awesome feeling to be His instrument.  

Finally there are the multiple other calls that come.  It may be as serious as helping someone with an ethical decision, or it may be the routine of witnessing a Health Care Proxy.  Sometimes it is responding to some person who walks in off the street looking for food, or the doctor in the Emergency Room asking for help for a patient who cannot afford his/her medication. The hospital has a Compassionate Care fund and does help those in need with vouchers for food, medication, taxi.

Centro de Atención Multiple Maria Magdalena

The Centre, named after our foundress, offers rehabilitation and education to everyone with a physical or mental problem in Clodomira, a small town in the hot, dry semi desert area of Santiago del Estero in the north west of Argentina and the surrounding countryside. About 30% of the children are collected from the country each day as there is no public transport. I have been here for about 15 years now and in that time the school has grown steadily. There are now 140 children in 10 groups. We offer early therapy for the babies who are born with a problem, be it cerebral palsy, water on the brain, Downs syndrome or many other handicaps. Some of these children recover enough to attend regular kindergarten and grade school and come back for speech therapy, visual therapy, physiotherapy and to visit the psychologist. These services are also available to the students who stay with us and receive their education here so that they are happy, fulfilled, develop their gifts to the full and are able to take their place in the local society. To achieve this we have 21 fully qualified staff and up to date facilities, funded by generous benefactors. In this area most of the families live below the poverty line and our Social worker and I spend much of our time looking for basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, pensions, medicines, money for transport etc.

There is a real family atmosphere at the Centre as many of the children and young adults have been with us for many years. We find that the students improve both educationally and physically if their self esteem is high. One young lady came to us three years ago; we had to collect her as she could not walk and she did not have a wheel chair. We made a fuss of her and acquired a wheel chair. She sat in the wheelchair nodding her head.( She had had meningitis and had not walked or talked since). A little later I found the wheel chair outside the bathroom, but no Maria Jose  ....  she had begun walking again. A little later her pension was granted and I suggested that her mother take her to the bank and that the bank teller pay the money to Maria Jose and tell her that it was her contribution to the family. She did so and a little later she began talking a few words at first but now whole sentences. At the end of year gym display she stole the show.

The teenagers and young adults also take part in the special Olympics, this year with notable success. We have been represented in the national championships in Cycling, where the boys won three gold medals, in Bowls, where 2 pairs won their groups and athletics. Really CAM is a world where everyone is important and everyone has a role to play.

For the past 17 years, I have been missioned to live and work in Tarija , Bolivia , the poorest Latin American country. I live with two other FCJ´s and this year, with one of our postulants. We are all involved in different work. Paula works in the high plain area of Tarija as well as in some valleys, in an education program for young people and adults who have never been able to complete their secondary education. Juana who is a lawyer, dedicates her time to working in several rural communities up in the mountains, teaching the men and women of this very poor rural area, their rights and obligations; she also helps the Parish priest with catechist courses.

I would like now to share with you a little of what I am involved in, here in Tarija. Our community lives in a poor barrio on the outskirts of the city where we share in the life of our neighbours, their joys and sorrows, their difficulties and needs. Each Sunday evening, we participate with the community of the barrio in a Celebration of the Word, led by our catechists or by one of us. Often, we are asked to pray at a wake or anniversary, not only in our own barrio, but also in our neighbouring barrios.

My main work however, is leading a team of ten people who work in rural communities with groups of young people and adults, giving them the opportunity to continue their schooling and finish their secondary education, as well as learn a technical skill, such as sewing, knitting, agriculture, etc. We have only begun this actual work, three and a half years ago, as before we were involved totally in literacy programs. At present we are in the process of building our center, little by little as money becomes available. Looking for finance is actually one of our biggest challenges, as we receive absolutely no government help, so everything, from beds, mattresses, chairs, tables, etc, etc, comes from  donation money. Some of our initial group with which we began are hoping to finish their final year of secondary school in June of 2007.  These people will then have the option of being able to continue their studies at the University, the Normal School for teachers or at other Institutes of higher education.  In the Centre which we are currently building, we have participants who come from 15 rural communities, many of whom have to walk up to ten hours to reach the center and another ten to return to their homes. In 2006, apart from the centre, in El Cóndor, we have 7 other smaller groups of students who are studying at different levels. Each month the facilitators have workshops in these different communities. Part of my work is to give the students each month a short course on different themes, such as self-esteem, Gospel values, current social issues, etc. In addition, I work with the team on different issues which they suggest.  

Another aspect of my work is with the Diocesan Bible Team. These are all volunteers who dedicate their “free” time to working in their respective parishes or barrios in catechetical programs, giving bible courses, participating in events which involve schools and colleges, all in an effort to make known the Word of God, wherever they may be. Each year we are asked to collaborate with some of the priests who work in the rural area in the formation of catechists, so different members of the team travel to the rural parishes to carry out this work.

Each year, I have a small group of people for the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, in daily life or as it’s often known the 19th annotation. Some of the past groups continue to meet once a month to share and pray together and I normally try to accompany them.

As a community, we have been discerning for some time now the need in our diocese of a Spirituality Centre and we have begun the process of forming a small team to be able to put this plan in to effect. Our hope is that in 2007, we will be able to dedicate more of our time to this very important ministry.

Bonnie has a passion for campus ministry!  Being employed as a University Chaplain at St. Joseph ’s College, the Catholic presence on the U of A campus, is a privileged opportunity to get to know young women and men who will one day be our professionals and leaders in society.  St. Joe’s offers credit courses in Theology, Philosophy, Scripture, Religious Studies and Ethics.

Bonnie values the great variety and scope she experiences in her ministry activities which include coordinating the RCIA program, doing spiritual accompaniment, directing and mentoring IGNITE (St. Joe’s social justice group), and involvement on various committees such as St. Joe’s long term planning, women’s residence, and staff development.

Involvement at a University with about 35,000 students gives Bonnie many opportunities for networking.  Presently she works with the Doctor of Ministry Committee at St. Stephen’s College doing student admissions and curriculum development.  Every two weeks Bonnie treasures the opportunity to donate some time to Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade initiative for developing countries run by the Mennonite Church Committee.

For Bonnie, ministry is also at home within her community.  The community, Emmaus, hosts various social activities including Companions in Mission .  A regular Mass and pot-luck supper enables many people to get to know FCJs better.  Hospitality is a priority for the Emmaus community.

Bonnie is looking forward to teaching this year a course on Woman & Christianity in Contemporary Culture.

It is some time since I began what some call the “Golden Years”.  My most recent time of this special era began over five years ago when it was arranged that I would go to Northern British Columbia in Canada to join a much younger Sister there.

My name is Sister Mary Shea, and I belong to the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus.  I am eighty four years young (going on eighty five), and I quickly fell in love with my new home and friends in Smithers, B.C. 

We have always said that Sisters never retire.  The first thing that people asked me when I came here was “what are you going to do”.  In self defence I had to tell them my age and that I didn’t have a specific job.

So what do I do here, and do I have a ministry?  Yes, I become involved with parish life here, join in the activities, take my turn at being Eucharistic Minister, visit people in their homes and  in the hospital, go to the school to help children with reading.  I have tutored a high school boy for French, helped a Greek lady with her English, been available for some aboriginal people who wished to ‘take the pledge’ - and whatever else comes up.

We often have guests staying with us.  We enjoy this, as hospitality is one of our ministries here.  My companion, Sister Theresa Smith, works with the aboriginal people and she and I join the native community for funerals and feasts.

I would say that I have a ministry of presence in the parish community and in the town.  What I ‘do’ is a result of and occasion of this presence .

Of course there is the daily living - morning meditation, prayer of the church and Mass and all the other aspects of living.  My Companion,  Sister Theresa Smith, and I take turns in leading prayer and making meals. All in all, it is a rich and fulfilling life in this beautiful mountainous setting and among many wonderful friends.

There is a phrase in the Mass that is celebrated in French:

For me that is another way of expressing our Constitutions.  “In love and worship we profess the public religious vows . . . and dedicate ourselves unreservedly, for the greater service and glory of God to the evangelization of his people.”  Therefore, getting up in the morning is my call to pray, to listen to the news in order to include world happenings in my prayer, and prepare for the day.

I enjoy my ministry of pastoral work in Moricetown , British Columbia , Canada .  That is a reserve for the First Nations people who are called Witsu Wit’en.  For sixteen years I have been with these people and helped with sacramental preparations and liturgical music.  Simply being present to listen to those who wish to speak or to participate in community functions is a service in itself.  I have volunteered in the elementary school and assisted youth and adults in getting to diocesan events such as pilgrimages, retreats, and conferences.  We live in a very beautiful area known as the Bulkley Valley so the mountains, trees, rivers and lakes make it easy to unite with our Creator.  The openness of the people facilitates discovery of Christ within.

I am blessed to share FCJ community with Sr. Mary Shea in Smithers which is about 35 km from Moricetown.  We join parishioners for Morning Prayer and they come to our house for Morning Prayer and breakfast once a week.  Walks in and around the town, some television, visiting neighbours and engaging in crafts are ways in which we relax.

I have just begun to work at Blessed Sacrament School as a part time aid to Kindergarten.  I also  teach crochet and knitting to a group of high school students on Monday afternoons after school from 2:30 to 4:00 PM .  I go to Rhode Island College for their Sunday night Mass  at 10 PM and meet with the students after the Mass for a little social.  We have a snack and share about courses and vocations etc. for a short time.  Last year for Lent they decided to come early to say the rosary together before the Mass.    As a service to the community I do the accounts for our house and St. Philomena's.

My life as a Faithful Companion of Jesus has brought me to Durham , North Carolina . Having grown up in an mostly Catholic environment in Rhode Island , I find myself among Protestants of various denominations. At Duke Divinity School I am involved with the spiritual formation of (mostly Methodist) seminarians. Students, professors and administrators appreciate the strong background in spirituality which a Roman Catholic woman religious can bring to the formation of future pastors. This has made me realize and be very grateful for the training and education which is a priority in our Society and which formed me for my present role of service.

Another aspect of my ministry is spiritual direction.  Throughout my life as an FCJ I have been encouraged to avail of regular spiritual direction.  Therefore, I have years of experience, as well as more recent training in this practice. My directees include a secretary, professor, physician, lawyer, pastor,graduate student, lay Catholic leader,deacon candidate, campus minister, and a member of the Catholic Worker. It is a great privilege to be entrusted with their stories and their struggles to live out their faith. I know that my being a woman religious helps them to trust me.  Their sincerity and goodness challenge me to live my own vocation with integrity. I particularly like praying with them.

More recently I became co-director of a program entitled The Pastor As Spiritual Guide. A long-time friend and colleague who is a retired Baptist pastor designed this program to help seasoned pastors re-focus their ministry through the lens of spiritual guidance.  This year there are 12 participants from 5 different Christian denominations. The one woman participant is a ordained Presbyterian minister. It is interesting to see how my life as a vowed woman religious differs from that of an ordained woman pastor. I enjoy encouraging these pastors to deepen their spirituality through times of retreat, group spiritual direction, and input on teachers such as Thomas Merton and Teresa of Avila. The Director of the program has a strong commitment to the joint leadership of a man and woman, and I am very grateful for this opportunity to experience healthy collegiality in an ecumenical setting.