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The sisters and associates of the Newfoundland and Labrador province of Union met together with 10 international visitors from June 25 – 27 at The Lantern in St. John’s. Shalini Mulakal from Delhi, India, was the keynote speaker. Other guests included Shazia Lal, Pakistan, (Hilton Project);Brian O’Toole (Justice Desk England and Ireland); Judith Yeriem, Papua New Guinea; Majella Kelly, Tasmania; Elsa Muttathu, India, (UN NGO Representative); Elena Hoye, Dubuque, Iowa, (IPA Networker); Joan O’Sullivan, Provincial USA Province of Union; Mary Ann Greaney, New Zealand, (Friends of Nano); and Olivia Douglas (Presentation Person from Dominica, W.I.).
Our facilitator for the days was Kate Duval, SSND.
The first evening began with the cosmic walk, led by Gerard Whitty, associate, and continued with a history of IPA by Presentation Sister Majella Kelly, who has been present at IPA since the initial dreaming of it in 1984. The only assembly she missed was the one in Killenard in 1995. The evening closed with a social.
One of our sisters, Josephine Kennedy, died suddenly on the morning of June 26, so we began with prayer and a remembering of Josephine. Thereafter the day concentrated on IPA. The session opened with a panel presentation on the IPA 2017 Assembly experience by our Newfoundland and Labrador delegates: Roisin Gannon, Lois Greene and Olivia Douglas. This was followed by an overview by Brian O’Toole. All sessions were interspersed with contemplative dialogue. The morning concluded with a presentation by Shalini. In the afternoon Roisin moderated a panel of UN-related events with Elena, Elsa and Shazia on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Hilton Foundation grant as central topics. The day ended with Majella, as our “elder,” reading the IPA commitment.
June 27 was devoted to The Congregational Gathering (CG2018) and began with “Nano Aflame” composed by Miriam Martin especially for the Gathering. We then listened to those who had been at the Gathering: Miriam, liturgist; Joan O’Sullivan, a USA Province delegate; and Betty Rae, Sharon, Lois and Helen as Newfoundland and Labrador delegates. They shared different aspects of the days in Cork (week 1) and the days at Emmaus in Dublin (weeks 2 and 3). The common theme was the beauty of walking in Nano’s footsteps as an international, inter-generational and inter-cultural reality.
We heard again from Shalini and from Mary Ann Greaney of the International Friends of Nano movement. Following this was a surprise visit from Nano Nagle via Emma Rooney. She walked us cleverly through the new Nano Nagle Place with humor, pathos and beauty. There was laughter and there were tears!
Our closing ritual acknowledged Sharon’s new position as assistant leader of the congregational leadership team and blessed her as she leaves us to take up residence and ministry in Monasterevin. Our days’ experience ended with Give Us Light for the Journey.
One of the greatest benefits of these post-assembly gatherings is the privilege afforded our own sisters and associates of mingling with Presentation People from across Union, Society and Conference for prayer, food and fun as we share our culture and imbibe theirs.