Newsletter Summer 2021
 
 

Since public worship in British Columbia re-opened, it has been our joy to welcome many of you to our chapel for Mass and the Divine Office! Whether you are near or far, we continue to hold you and our world in prayer.

As summer continues, we are happy to share with you our most recent newsletter. For those of you who are print subscribers, it should be in your mailbox shortly; in the meantime, here is our digital edition in French and English. It includes a vestition, an update on our micro-hydroelectricity project, and a reflection on hope written by one of our sisters (and, of course, a cartoon).

Since the newsletter went to print, our community has continued to quietly pray and grow in the shadow of the Tantalus Range. As those of you who follow us regularly know, we were happy to welcome Mariel to begin her year of postulancy on the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24). Helped by our local organic farmers, our garden is well-nourished and providing food for our refectory. The birds were even so kind this year as to leave us some cherries from the orchard! Our micro-hydroelecticity project passed its inspection by BC Hydro, and we are waiting for the final "all-clear" to begin powering our monastery buildings with clean, renewable energy. Finally, as the truth came to light about mass grave sites discovered on the grounds of former residential schools run by the Church, we have been praying in an intentional way for Canada's Indigenous persons and all those affected by colonialism.

As Nuns of the Order of Preachers, our call to live in harmony with each other is meant to "furnish a living example of that reconciliation of all things in Christ" which our Order preaches (LCM 2.II). As restrictions ease and we are able to come together again, our prayer is for the unity and healing of wounds and divisions in our country, Church and world. "The truth," Jesus said, "will set you free" (Jn 8:32); and as we seek that truth together, may God's mercy be a light of hope shining in our midst. Please be assured of our prayers for you and those you love.

God bless,
your sisters at Queen of Peace Monastery

Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie
Welcoming a new postulant on the feast of John the Baptist

The birth of John the Baptist is one of the earliest feasts in the Church calendar, and one we celebrated this year with an extra helping of joy. In the Gospels, we read that John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mother’s womb when he heard Mary’s voice, and welcomed Jesus (Lk 1:39-44). As a community, we “leapt” for joy as we welcomed Mariel to begin her year of postulancy! Originally from the Philippines, Mariel comes to us from of Our Lady of the Mountains parish in Whistler, less than an hour away. We welcomed her in a beautiful ceremony in our Chapter hall before praying second Vespers of the feast together.

 
 

After his birth, John the Baptist would spend the rest of his life “crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare way of the Lord!’” (Lk 3:4). This vocation to the wilderness, and to giving one’s life as a living sign of Christ, makes the saint particularly beloved by many monastics. On this year’s feast, shortly before welcoming Mariel, we also welcomed a new icon of John the Baptist for our chapel. Painted by one of our sisters, it depicts the saint with his hands raised in prayer and longing for God. In the upper left corner, a miniature hand of Christ blesses the saint for his ministry. The ring finger of this hand is not missing, but is folded towards the palm in a traditional iconographic gesture of blessing.

 
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Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie
In prayer, we remember
 
 
“A voice is heard in Ramah,   
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
 because they are no more. ”
— Jer. 31:15

As we commemorate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ today, the members of the community of Queen of Peace Monastery are heart-broken with the horrific news about the 215 children found buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. 

Like Mary, the mother of Jesus at the foot of the cross, we are sorrowfully and silently present to the suffering of our First Nations brothers and sisters. Mourning with them, we share their grief and are deeply hurt and betrayed by the deplorable conduct that led to this and other tragedies.  We add our voice in asking for “full transparency” with regard to archives and records regarding all residential schools in Canada.

The Queen of Peace community celebrated the Eucharist Sunday June the 6th in remembrance of these children and their families.  Always, but in a particular way throughout these coming months, we will offer ongoing prayer for the healing of the survivors and for all those persons who have been traumatized by the injustice of colonialist policies and residential schools with their devastating consequences.

Our community is humbly grateful for the privilege of living in the ancestral territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). We have been deeply touched by the welcome we have received, and continue to be nourished and formed as we listen and learn from Squamish: the people, the land, the Salmon and the Cedar.

+ The sisters of Queen of Peace Monastery

For more information about the 215 children and the developing efforts to restore and honour their memories:

  • Updates from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, the “home community” of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School: https://tkemlups.ca/newsroom/

  • Expression of Commitment from Archbishop Michael J. Miller CSB to First Nations governments and all Indigenous communities, families and citizens (June 2, 2021):
    https://rcav.org/first-nations

Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie