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Amidst the cooling days of fall, Tarcia Gerwing from Guelph came to lead a  group of the faithful in a prayer-filled three days of reflection and quiet meditation on the contemplative rules of Saints Benedict and Francis.

Reflections were interlaced with Gregorian chant and the gentle music of female mystics, whose words were put to reflective melodies. Tarcia’s quiet, modulated tones and the summoning of her “singing monk’s bowl” calmed everyone. Her gentle method of teaching was interspersed with many personal memories of her parents’ and siblings’ down-to-earth spirituality. Laughter and spontaneous prayer songs lent to a tranquil experience. At times, there were breakthrough “ahh” moments for some of the participants.

Silence was observed for most of the two days among most of the participants, allowing for some to talk at meal times and during the 

teaching and sharing sessions. The retreatants were also encouraged to go outside and take walks amid nature, in solitude and silence. Mass was celebrated each day in the larger Chapel, and included traditional Native smudging and the use of a hand drum to accompany songs.

Tarcia’s initial talk encouraged us to focus on Creation this weekend, and to try to really “listen” and “hear God” all around us, “to see God’s hand in all things”. 

The food prepared was, as always, delicious and very tasty, kudos to the cooks. The Centre staff also were attentive to the needs of the participants and provided a warm and relaxed environment.

After the final Mass, on behalf of the retreatants, small tokens of appreciation were given to Tarcia, Gary & Linda (who had accompanied Tarcia from Guelph), the cooks, and the Centre staff. They included gifts of sacred sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco for their journey and to say Migwetch for sharing their blessings with us. The retreat ended with prayer, song, and sharing warm hugs and final farewells. Father David also assured us that Tarcia would return some time again, perhaps in the Spring, to lead another session. 

Story submitted by Dianne Musgrove, Ministries Programme participant

I was in the chapel the other morning & I watched a squirrel searching for his breakfast.  He was leaping across from branch to branch, with an ease that any dancer, familiar to such heights, would display. No symphony to accompany every precise move, but only the unstoppable northeast winds off of Anderson Lake howled in the background.   The choreography became trepid as this little creature would venture out onto the thinnest & supplest of branches to get the food that was out on the end.    

                 Life here at Anishinabe Spiritual Centre (ASC) has been quite a dance.  Since my arrival as new Director of the ASC on Anderson Lake in May, I have seen life teem.  We all know what dramatic changes occur from early spring  to early summer—the Centre has been no exception.  Fr. Mike Stogre, S.J., willingly handed over the duties of director to me.  Br. Gerry Forest returned, to keep the financial records in shape.  And then joining me as new members of ASC have been Fr. Alex Kirsten (from Midland)  & Paul Robson (Toronto via Nepal). Also on staff are Gerrie MacGregor  & Sylvia Shawanda, where kitchen is their domain, and Leonard Cywink  where every physical part of this Centre is his concern as maintenance man & builder.  And the latest member to join us is Nichkin, our dog.  Along with this group, there are Frs Doug McCarthy & Jim Kelly who are also part of the staff, and live and work in Native communities on Manitoulin Island.

So we are all being stretched: some in making room and others in finding their place in this setting, beautiful & so honest in its full display of seasons.  So far we have shared together two of them & we are into our third one: the time we have to go out on a limb & collect food, create programmes, hopefully all nourishment in the end, so that others like you feel welcomed and or want to help in some way to keep the ASC thriving.  This newsletter, Storyteller, is one attempt.  

There is so much more that I want to say & tell but for now, let us keep in touch. It is a privilege to be here & together I hope we can go out on a limb.  Miigwetch. 

Fr. David Shulist SJ

We were most pleased, recently, to welcome walkers from the west. A group of Native men and women set out from Vancouver on June 21^st, National Aboriginal Day, planning to walk all the way to Ottawa. By the 29^th of August they had reached our neck of the woods, and stayed here for two nights.

   These sure-footed travellers belong toa group called Walk4Justice. One of the walkers, Robert, is originally from Nelson House, Manitoba, and now lives in Vancouver. He explained that the goals of the walk were to raise awareness and to protest inaction regarding Native people who have gone missing or have been killed, throughout the country and particularly on the “Highway of Tears” in B.C. They want a national symposium or inquiry to be held on this issue. They were planning to hold an event on Parliament Hill, at the end of the journey. (That event has now taken place, on the 19^th of September.)

   Here, by the shores of Anderson Lake, they were met by the ASC community and by a women’s hand drum group from M’Chigeeng First Nation. They drummed, prayed, and told stories, and at the end of the day we ate together. One of the walkers, an artist herself – a totem pole carver – was impressed and took photos of some of the artwork here.     

   Undoubtedly, this courageous and dedicated group faced their daily challenges along the way. Here at the Centre, the day had fallen and some of the group had yet to arrive. Some had to go out and search for the others. It was no easy task, over the thousands of kilometres that they had travelled, and the hundreds that they had still to travel, to keep oneself committed to such a daunting trek. Surely their companionship and their good cause kept them going.

For more information on Walk4Justice, visit: www.fnbc.info/walk4justice

We were fortunate to have Fr. Philippe Landenne SJ, from the French Belgian Province, spend some time with us recently.  Fr. Philippe has worked in prison ministry in Belgium for 25 years. He also founded a community, “Catacombs”, that welcomes former inmates who have just left prison.

    This was not the first time in Canada for Philippe. In 2005, he spent six months in Ottawa. There, he met Pierre Allard, who was then the Director of Chaplaincy for the Correctional Service of Canada. It was through Mr. Allard that Philippe was introduced to restorative justice, and Philippe has been working in that field ever since.

    While he was with us, Philippe presented an evening on this topic of restorative justice.  He showed us an excellent documentary about the Hollow Water Native band in Manitoba, which has adopted a community-based healing circle with a restorative justice approach. He explained the difference between restorative and punitive justice. He challenged us to question our society`s punitive system, and suggested that Christianity, with its rich tradition of reconciliation, has something to contribute to this claimed Native tradition of community justice and healing circles. We were inspired to want to learn more, and Philippe offered this work to us as a possible area to focus on here at the Centre.

    Philippe also visited with some local Native groups who practise alternative forms of justice. He visited them in the company of the new director of the Centre, Fr. David Shulist. Philippe and David also had time to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, going on a couple of canoe trips. It was Philippe’s first time canoeing, and he proved himself well. We hope he is able to return for further work in restorative justice, and also no doubt for more canoeing and swimming.