Blessing practice

We have a practice at Loretto Maryholme which has its origins in the comments made by our guests who say that they can feel the prayers of the Sisters that have accumulated over the years. We recognise the importance of these observations and the contribution that these prayers have made and do make in nurturing the sense of sacred space here at Loretto Maryholme.

We invite all guests to participate in our practice of blessing the groups/individuals who will be coming after them. Our guests are all blessed—before they even arrive! And in turn, they have the opportunity to extend blessings to those who will be coming after them. This is a lovely and important part of the ministry here at Loretto Maryholme.

The Cosmic Walk

Until recently it was believed that creation took place about 10,000 years ago. Now we know that already 200 years before Moses was born, King Tut III was ruling Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and indigenous tribes were living on the North American continent.

Through scientific discoveries, we now know that creation began about 15 billion years ago and that it continues today. The Cosmic Walk is a ritual celebration of events in that unfolding story that are coded in our own bodies.  Every atom in our bodies is 15 billion years old….and that yes, we are dust – stardust – made of minerals like calcium, potassium and iron. These were once in a star named Tiamat which became a supernova.

Loretto Maryholme’s meditative cosmic walk has 18 small garden stations.  These are spaced in billion year segments. Some segments have more than one garden station. The walk begins at the edge of the savannah and winds through the property to the lake.  At the start you will find a card to use as you walk telling you about what each station acknowledges about the process of creation.  This walk is a reflection of, and an act of praise to, our Creator.

“What is particularly striking is the lack of repetition in the developing universe. The fireball that begins the universe gives way to the galactic emergence and the first generation of stars. The later generations of stars bring into being the living planets with their own sequence of epochs, each differentiating itself from the rest. Biological and human history, with the ever fresh expressions of creativity, continues the differentiation of time from its beginning.
Indeed all 15 billion years form an epic that must be viewed as a whole to understand its full meaning. This meaning is the extravagance of the creative outpouring, where each being is given its unique existence. At the heart of the universe is an outrageous bias for the novel, for the unfurling of surprise in prodigious dimensions throughout the vast range of existence."
(Brian Swimme & Thomas Berry, The Universe Story, p.74

References we used in the understanding that these resources are available for continued study and development:  Sr. Miriam MacGillis, Diarmuid O’Murchu, and various authors who contribute their work to the web sites on Cosmic Walks. These are some we used.

www.threeeyesofuniverse.org/..

www.rainforestinfo.org

www.thegreatstory.org

www.citycollege.loyno.edu/~ogorman/cosmic_walk

Daffodil Memorial Garden/UN International Day of Peace

Around September 21 of each year Loretto Maryholme hosts a daffodil planting in a Peace Garden initiated after the tragedy of 9-11 in New York.  It is a time to remember friends and family who have died recently, and victims of violence around the world.  The planting is done as part of a ritual that reminds us that as individuals we need to take action to help create peace in the world - not only peace between nations, but peace and non-violence in our homes, communities and schools. If we don't take action then governments cannot be expected to follow. If we come together as one, separate from politics and religion, on a scale that humanity has never known, we will change the world forever.

Peace Pole

The Peace Pole Project is the official Project of The World Peace Prayer Society. It started in Japan in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, who decided to dedicate his life to spreading the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in response to the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Peace Poles are handcrafted monuments planted the world over as international symbols of Peace. Their purpose is to spread the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the languages of the world.  

Mr. Goi believed that peace begins in the heart and mind of each individual. As war begins with thoughts of war, peace begins with thoughts of peace. The Peace Pole reminds us to keep peace ever-present in our thoughts. As we learn to honor one another, our environment, plants, animals and all creation on Earth, the vision of global peace will gradually become a natural way of life, a true culture of Peace.

There are Peace Poles in 180 countries around the world.  Loretto Maryholme planted the Peace Pole as part of a 400^th anniversary celebration in 2010.  It was carved by Sr. Veronica Hager IBVM of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Sisters in Spirit Cairn

“Sisters in Spirit is a research, education and policy initiative driven and led by Aboriginal women in Canada. Our primary goal is to conduct research and raise awareness of the alarmingly high rates of violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada … To date, the research proves that there are more than 582 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in this country. We continue to update our databases as well as track new cases every week. With this information, SIS investigates the root causes of violence against our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties and grandmothers. We also work closely with families to ensure that their experiences as well as recommendations are well documented and, above all else, focus on restoring the memory of their loved one.” 

Native Women's Association - October 4th is the National day to honour the lives of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. The violence experienced by Aboriginal women and girls in Canada is a national tragedy. 

We take time to give thanks to the families who have inspired the SIS movement and who are the reason we continue to demand action.

At Loretto Maryholme there is a memorial cairn that was built in 2004 with each stone in memory of a specific woman.  The ritual and site was prepared in collaboration with our First Nations friends from Manitoulin and Georgina Islands and sponsored by the Anglican, Catholic, and United Churches of Keswick and Sutton, Hospice Georgina, and the Loretto Sisters.

For more information please visit:

www.nwac-hq.org/programs/sisters-spirit

Practices

• Composting
• Recycled paper products
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs where possible
• Use water saving shower heads
• Low consumption toilets
• Windows are high efficiency
• We use environmentally friendly cleaning products

What you can do while you are here
• Turn off lights when you leave your room
• Turn down the heat in your room when you're not in it
• Take short showers; turn off the water while washing.
• Flush only when necessary.
• Use only what you need in terms of napkins, paper towels and toilet paper
• Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.
• Respect the no chemical policy and refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, hairsprays etc. unless they are natural products
• Leave the house as you found it. Use the check list provided for details.