Springs of Hope - Fontbonne Ministries

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of Hope
Fall 2016 Newsletter
“No one can be excluded from
the mercy of God. The Church
is the house where everyone
is welcomed and no one is
rejected.” Pope Francis shared
this message in a March 2015
homily. It is our intention
at Fontbonne Ministries to
communicate this every day
by recognizing all participants,
volunteers and staff as unique
expressions of God’s love.
Please know that we also
appreciate your interest and
support of our ministries and
invite you to take a closer look
via this latest version of Springs
of Hope. We wish you a season
full of joy and love.
— Leanne Kloppenborg,
Administrator
Photos above: Young adults are
welcomed by the Sisters at Faith
Connections’ Living Mercy retreat.
A home where everyone
is welcome.
Evolution of the Heart
The old adage “home is where the
heart is” is experienced every day
at Village Mosaic. In fact, when
you enter this vibrant ministry
for mature adults, you will find
participants gathered with a goal
to evolve spiritually, emotionally,
intellectually and physically.
A perfect illustration occurred
when Sister Sue Mosteller, CSJ was
asked by Sister Conrad Lauber,
Ministry Director at Village Mosaic,
to present a
special talk. Sister Sue decided
that “Journey of the Heart” was the
perfect theme.
“The heart is a home where
everyone is welcome,” says Sister
Sue. “And, our hearts are a place
where God dwells.” She goes on
to explain that by focusing on what
isn’t right with us—whether that’s
wrinkles, mobility issues or loss—
we are dwelling on yesterday and
not today. If we focus on what is
possible rather than what is lost,
she promises that “there is beauty
and depth in
front of us.”
Journey of
the Heart
The heartfelt presentation and
ensuing discussion was meaningful
to all 40 attendees. Andrea Linton,
Program Coordinator for Village
Mosaic reached out to Sister Sue
with feedback, “Everyone I have
spoken with felt that you were
speaking directly to them and they
all took something positive away
from the afternoon,” she said.
Village Mosaic is indeed “a home
where everyone is welcome.”
Whether participants are making
blankets for people overseas,
learning a new skill, supporting
a grieving community member or
celebrating, there is light and love.
“One time, I was chatting with a
participant,” remembers Sister
Sue. “She had only been coming
for two weeks but the first time she
entered, she said, ‘I knew I was
home.’ This is one of the reasons
I know that Village Mosaic is a
special place.”
“ We welcome people and develop relationships.”
At Mustard Seed, welcome is conveyed through
making everyone feel included. In the weekly
meetings for the Followers of Jesus faith-sharing group,
At Mustard Seed, the Followers of Jesus prayer and
faith sharing group welcomes everybody.
welcoming others is at the core of every session.
Cora, a new participant, was touched by the numerous
gestures of welcome she received. “Walking into
Mustard Seed, I could feel the hospitality,” she
says. When Cora entered the lounge area, members
immediately offered her a hot drink, involved her in premeeting banter and accepted her among them. “This is
a very open and warm place to be,” she explains.
Followers of Jesus rotates leaders each week; each
member gets a turn choosing the week’s subject
material and theme on which they will pray, reflect
and share. “This is a part of how we welcome people
and develop relationships,” explains Russ, a long-time
member. “It shows each member that we trust them
and can be trusted by them.” He is grateful for all the
support and faith shared through years of these group
meetings at Mustard Seed. “What’s helped me most
here is the sense of fellowship, and we’re glad to
welcome someone into that.”
“ There’s a very mutual sense of welcome in this ministry.”
“There’s a very mutual sense of
welcome,” says Sister Theresa
Rodgers who has been a volunteer
with In Good Company for two
years. “Clients are opening their
homes to me and I’m opening
myself to anything that they want to
share.”
During these visits, she and her
clients spend an hour chatting.
At times, Sister Theresa has
found opportunities to enrich
participants’ lives both socially
and spiritually. For instance, one
client expressed sadness that
health issues were preventing her
from going to church, receiving
Communion and seeing a priest.
Sister Theresa contacted a local
parish and arranged for the lady to
receive Communion at home along
with a monthly visit from a priest.
With another client, Sister Theresa
became aware that she lived in the
same area as one of her friends.
After receiving the client’s permission, Sister Theresa introduced
her friend Lois to her client and,
in doing so, created potential for a
new friendship to blossom.
Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto, seeks to nurture community with the neighbour —
Lois admires how Sister Theresa
and the client connect. “It’s
wonderful,” says Lois, “how
they welcomed me into such a
comfortable space to talk about
their lives.” Why is In Good
Company so special? Each day,
clients and volunteers illustrate
a “house where everyone is
welcome.” “There is a real value
to presence,” says Sister Theresa
of their careful work. “And this
ministry recognizes how important
and meaningful it is.”
“Anybody can welcome mercy into their hearts.”
In August, Faith Connections
and the Federation of the Sisters
of St. Joseph of Canada organized
a Living Mercy retreat in Hamilton.
Together, Sisters and 25 young
adults gathered for talks about
God’s mercy, visited local CSJ
sites modern and historical,
and engaged in prayer and faith
sharing.
Participants spent an afternoon
engaged in silent prayer, visiting
elderly Sisters in their infirmary,
or helping a local farmer harvest
his garlic crop. “These were ways
for participants to see different
faces of mercy,” says Sister Nancy
Sullivan, CSJ, one of the Sisters
involved in the retreat.
Her wish is that Living Mercy will
encourage young adults to see
compassion and mercy not as
abstract principles, but as simple
acts of everyday kindness.”There’s
always mercy in reaching out,”
says Sister Nancy, “whether it’s
reaching out to God, to people, or
the Earth, anybody can welcome
mercy into their hearts.”
“ We can welcome each child’s creativity.”
At Studio on the Hill, Sister Helen Kluke, Ministry
Director and Teacher, seeks to welcome ideas
and students are free to sculpt whatever they like.
“Children especially benefit from that sense of
freedom,” says Sister Helen, “but it can also be a
challenge because they often haven’t mastered certain
skills.”
Thanks to the addition of a new staff member,
Michelle, and the return of Jacob, a volunteer,
Sister Helen is now able help her students express
themselves to a greater extent. “When I taught alone,
I gave a demonstration the children could imitate,”
she explains, “and they’d often follow along because
they didn’t have the comfort level to do something else
yet.” As she circulated between students, one-on-one
instruction was sometimes limited. “Now we can take
more time with individual children. We can ask what
they want to make and encourage their imagination.”
When a five-year-old wanted to make a candy bowl with
Halloween bats and webs, Michelle illustrated how
the different imprints could be made. When another
child wanted to make a Komodo dragon figurine, Jacob
looked up photographs.
“It’s wonderful to help young people visualize
— welcoming everyone without distinction.
Children bring their imaginations to life
through pottery at Studio on the Hill.
something and bring it to life,” says Michelle. And
Jacob, a Grade 12 student, is happy to be back as
a volunteer for the second year. “I completed my
community service hours here to graduate from high
school,” says Jacob, “but I came back because I like
working with children.”
Sister Helen is deeply grateful. “With Michelle and
Jacob, we can welcome each child’s creativity and
make their time at the Studio more meaningful and
heartfelt,” she says.
Finding Mercy at Home
As this newsletter is being
created, November 22, 2016 is
just around the corner. This date
marks National Housing Day and
the day in which the Government
of Canada launches its National
Housing Strategy.
According to information posted
by the Toronto Christian Resource
Centre: “The right to shelter, to
have one’s own bed to sleep in,
a roof over one’s head, a place
where one’s person and possessions are safe is a human right.”
And, while the situation for anyone
homeless or living in inadequate
housing may be dire, certain
groups face more challenge than
others. For instance, older, single
women with low income often have
a difficult time finding permanent,
safe, affordable housing.
It was because of this challenge
that the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Toronto took action. After
reimagining a building on Queen
Street, Fontbonne Place was
opened in 2002. “This isn’t just an
apartment building with 18 units,”
says Sister Thérèse Meunier,
President, Fontbonne Ministries
and Congregational Leader, Sisters
of St. Joseph of Toronto. “It’s a
place where we focus on the heart:
www.fontbonneministries.ca
During our 2015–2016 fiscal
year, Fontbonne Ministries’
40-plus programs enjoyed over
18,000 visits from participants.
Our wonderful 140 volunteers
provided over 22,000 volunteer
hours to help make sure
these programs run smoothly
and are welcoming and
accepting of all who come.
Residents feel at home here, build
community and live each day with
dignity.”
“When I found out that I had been
accepted, a tremendous weight
was lifted off my shoulders,” says
Margo, who has been living in the
rent-geared-to-income building
for 3 years. “This opportunity
has been life-changing for me.”
According to statistics, an estimated 235,000 people in Canada
experienced homelessness in
2014. Addressing this issue requires vision.
As Pope Francis said, “Let me
be clear. There is no social or
moral justification, no justification
whatsoever, for lack of housing.”
It is our sincere hope that the
pending National Housing Strategy
will provide welcome relief for
everyone enduring a life lived with
inadequate shelter.
To support these programs:
Vickie McNally
Development & Communications
Email: vmcnally@csj-to.ca
Tel: 416-467-2641
Tel: 416-467-2640
Fax: 416-429-6414
For volunteer information:
Leanne Kloppenborg
Administrator
Email: lkloppenborg@csj-to.ca
Tel: 416-467-2640
101 Thorncliffe Park Dr
Toronto ON M4H 1M2
Charitable Registration No.
86408 4090 RR0001
For more information, email:
infofontbonneministries@csj-to.ca
Wish List
Our donors make a difference and no
gift is too small. To illustrate, here is
our wish list—however, perhaps your
imagination will inspire a unique contribution.
Large tins of coffee for hospitality
on cold winter days—or donations to
cover coffee and tea for one week:
$20 per ministry
Muffins and other baked goods for
drop-in and morning programs
Razors and shaving cream for
Christmas gift bags
Help us start a fund to sponsor
young adults to attend one of
many Faith Connections retreats or
programs: $50
Hats and gloves to give out during
the winter months or a donation to
cover this purchase: $30
Your continued prayers for our
ministries
Please
contact
Vickie McNally at
vmcnally@csj-to.ca
or 416-467-2641 for all
the details. All cash donations are
eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
Donations can be made on our website.
Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of
St. Joseph, Toronto, offers diverse
programs that are welcoming and
inclusive. The charity was founded
in 2000 by the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Toronto, a community of women
who, through their compassionate
presence, respond to various needs.
Fontbonne Ministries continues, with
the Sisters, their mission of reflecting
the love of God and neighbour.
The ministries are funded by the
Sisters of St. Joseph and individual
donations. Thank you for your support!