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There is an
appointed time for everything…
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4) |
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2011
FROM:
Sr. Line Rioux, CSJ;
Director of Living Water Spiritual Center
Dear Friends,
It is with sadness that I write this letter for our last program booklet. As
Sisters of St. Joseph we made the decision to discontinue the ministry of
Living Water Spiritual Center as of August 31, 2012. Please refer to the
letter which follows from Sr. Gilla Dube, which gives further details of
this reality.
This was a difficult decision for our Province to make. The more we faced
the reality of our diminishment and reflected on the best use of our
resources, it was deemed time to bring this life-giving ministry to an end.
We have valued every individual and every group that walked through our
doors. Your interest, support, and presence at Living Water blessed our
ministry, and it was with joy that we welcomed you and offered you a sacred,
peaceful, and renewing space. As we live through this unfolding year we will
continue to offer the same hospitality, care, peaceful atmosphere, and
nourishment of body and soul that you have always appreciated.
Amidst the sadness, there is an excitement for we have a wonderful year
planned. Come and be graced by the giftedness of our Presenters and Retreat
directors. There is a great variety being offered and surely something for
everyone. There are also many opportunities to come for a renewal day or a
private retreat. Gift yourself! We look forward to welcoming YOU!
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FROM:
Sr. Gilla Dube, Provincial
US Province - Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons
Dear Friend of Living Water Spiritual Center:
Greetings! For some time now you have been privileged to experience the
spiritual richness and the natural beauty offered at 93 Halifax Street, a
location which houses both a spiritual center and our administrative
offices. The Sisters of St. Joseph are very proud of the wonderful ministry
offered at the Center and have been blessed in abundance over the years.
However, we, like so many other religious orders in the U.S., have been
experiencing the reality of diminishment. We continue to be older and fewer.
Over the past decade, this reality has warranted that we look at various
facets of our lives and reach decisions that are responsible and in keeping
with our reality. Consequently, in 2001 we divested ourselves of St. Joseph
Childcare Center in Auburn. We are now working towards divesting ourselves
of Mount St. Joseph, a self-standing facility, and transferring it to a
Catholic healthcare facility in order that the Mount may thrive well into
the future. We are hopeful to soon have a successful outcome in this regard.
As we navigate the reality of the Mount, we will also be navigating another
significant reality. Following ongoing dialogue, thoughtful consideration
and prayerful discernment over the past few years, we have made a decision
to cease our ministry at Living Water Spiritual Center effective August 31,
2012. Concurrently, we will begin the process of divesting ourselves of our
Provincial House property. The property is simply too large for what we now
need. Obviously there is much planning ahead of us.
It is with sadness that these difficult decisions have been made and yet the
decisions are grounded in reality. It is not a reality we wish to deny but
one we wish to continue living with love and hope. As one who has benefited
from the wonderful ministry offered at Living Water over the years, perhaps
our decision may come as quite unexpected. Perhaps there is sadness. We
share in your sadness. In the name of the Sisters of St. Joseph, I offer you
our prayerful support as we move forward in our journey and we likewise ask
for your prayerful support. May God bless you in all your endeavors!
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Private
Retreats
