Community Life as lived
by the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa
Tradition: Christian
Belonging: Catholic (latin rite)
Religious community: Sisters of Charity of Ottawa
General History
Praying Divine Office / Breviary
© IPIR 2011 copyrighted
At the time of the foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa in
1845, the emphasis was placed on community life. The founder, Mother Élisabeth Bruyère,
often echoes the invitation frequently made by Saint Marguerite d’Youville, « let us be
together of one heart and one soul ». Indeed, Saint Marguerite d’Youville’s spiritual
testament began with these words: « My dear daughters, be charitable and love one
another.»
Based on the thinking of the era, prior to the Second Vatican Council, this community life
was lived out primarily in a life in common. Community life is made up of many
dimensions, for example, living under one roof, eating at the same table, following the
same schedule no matter the functions fulfilled or wearing the same religious habit. In this
well-established framework, the Sisters are encouraged to intensely and generously live
their fraternal life with warmth, with respect, with attention to others, while helping and
forgiving each other.
After the Second Vatican Council, the theology of apostolic religious life versus monastic
religious life, gradually developed. This movement influenced the understanding and the
practice of the essential elements of religious life to which community life belongs. The
vocabulary changed: henceforth the context is more about fraternal life than about life in
common. Over the years, the practice of community life has evolved considerably. In many
communities, some members live alone in apartments to achieve a greater flexibility of
lifestyle and of apostolic commitment. They remain connected with the other members of
the community through timely gatherings, but they cannot count on the support of their
sisters on a daily basis.
Description
An antique refectory table complete with the
drawer to store a place setting
© IPIR 2011 copyrighted
The Sisters of Charity continue to emphasize the
importance of living together. They strive to
build communion among each other. As one reads the titles of the various articles of the
chapter entitled Fraternal Apostolic Communities in the recently updated version of the
The Way of Life (the Constitutions), the articles refer to this reality: Community, gift and
mission; Communion in diversity; Communion in reconciliation; Fraternal climate;
Communion in silence; Solidarity in mission; Solidarity with sick Sisters; To the memory
of deceased Sisters; Openness and welcome; Fraternity and witness.
A few of the points which provide structure to the fraternal life of the Sisters of Charity of
Ottawa, for example the schedule, the celebration of feasts and liturgical activities, explain
how community life is lived. In the various community groups of the Congregation located
throughout the world, the schedule is less structured than it used to be and is adapted to the
health status of the sisters, to their apostolic commitments and to the culture of the milieu.
However, certain points remain constant for all the communities: moments of prayer in
common, meals at pre-set times, periods of relaxation and of sharing about spiritual and
apostolic matters. Generally, the common prayer consists of the breviary which is prayed
both in the morning and in the evening and the Eucharist which continues to be celebrated
in the larger houses. Elsewhere, the sisters participate in the celebration of the Eucharist
in the parish and adapt their schedule accordingly.
It is important to note that the daily schedule makes room for personal choices related to
prayer, relaxation or other activities within and outside of the convents. In the large houses
which offer cafeteria services, the time frame for meals is extended which allows
encounters with different people over a period of a week. In a smaller community, the
meals may be served at pre-set times but may be prolonged occasionally to allow for
fraternal exchanges. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, breakfast was eaten in silence,
while lunch and supper included a reading of spiritual material.
The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa are known for their spirit of celebration. They celebrate
the important events of the Congregation and of the life of their members in a spirit of
simplicity. Each community celebrates, in their own way, the anniversary of foundation,
February 20 as well as the anniversary of the birth of Mother Bruyère, March 19 and that
of her death, April 5.
In addition, the Congregation celebrates the birthday, the
anniversary of the death and of the Canonisation of Saint Marguerite d’Youville, on
October 16, December 23 and December 9, respectively. The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa
are a branch of the great youvillian tree. The Ottawa community also retained the custom
of celebrating the Feast of Saint Louis, on August 25. This custom was inherited from the
Sisters of Charity of Montreal (Grey Nuns). On this date, in 1755, Mother d’Youville and
her first companions, dressed in the religious habit for the first time; this date was chosen
to honour Louis Normand Du Faradon, Sulpician and spiritual director of the founder and
of her newborn community. Everywhere in the Congregation, even in the missions outside
of Canada, this celebration gathers sisters who are happy to pray and celebrate together.
The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa celebrate on a yearly basis the jubilees of the sisters who
reach 25, 50, 60, 70 and 75 years of consecrated life. In 2012, one sister celebrated 80
years of religious profession. The Eucharistic celebration is followed by a festive meal
with decorations, best wishes and gifts which are appropriate for the occasion. The sisters’
birthdays are also celebrated in the local communities. When a sister reaches the venerable
age of 100, a celebration also gathers both the members of her family and the sisters of her
local community.
The birthday of the General Animator of the Congregation, called General Superior until
2004, is the opportunity for a large community gathering which underscores the importance
of the necessary and appreciated role of authority. A community animation or an artistic
presentation is often integrated into the program of the day, as is a Eucharistic celebration
and a festive meal. Occasionally, the sisters from outside of Canada are invited to
participate via special message delivered on the occasion. If the delegates from these
countries are participating in another community event, for example a Council of the
Congregation or a General Chapter, they are invited to participate in the celebration.
Community animation is another important aspect of fraternal life. At the end of a General
Chapter, in accordance with the decisions taken during the Chapter, orientations are
outlined to guide the animation of the life and of the commitment of the sisters of the whole
Congregation. These orientations are then forwarded to the eight Provincial authorities for
their promotional follow-up. These suggestions for reflection, for prayer, for sharing and
for commitment are translated into English, Portuguese and Japanese to ensure access by
all communities. In Brazil, in the United States, in Lesotho or elsewhere, it is possible to
recognize in one or the other of the local communities, the same priorities at times with a
different accent but always in relationship with the major theme identified for community
animation in between two General Chapters.
The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa have retained the practice of the monthly retreat on one
Sunday per month during which silence is observed from the time of rising until 4 PM,
except for the noon meal during which the sisters are invited to engage in fraternal sharing.
Silence favours contemplation, reflection and prolonged prayer. In many places, the
monthly retreat ends with a holy hour of silent adoration before the exposed Blessed
Sacrament which is followed by the prayer of Vespers. If this Sunday coincides with a
special liturgical celebration, for example World Day of Prayer for Vocations or for
Missions, a celebration of the Word gathers the members of the community at the time of
adoration.
Many groups within the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa participate in groups which share the
word of God, an exercise which aims to deepen the message contained in Sunday Scripture
readings.
The vacation period is usually lived within the community rather than with family and
friends. The sisters choose both the location, either a cottage or another convent situated
in the country and their vacation companions. The activities vary according to personal
tastes and the schedule is very flexible. This is a time dedicated to rest and to renewal.
The sisters visit their families according to the availability of family members, their health
and the distance to be travelled to reach them.
The personal goods (salaries, pensions) of the members of the community are shared. The
budget is prepared by the community and submitted to the Provincial administration for
approval. Each sister evaluates her most important expenses during the course of a year
and provides a list of these expenses to the local animator. Each sister is responsible for
the management of her budget and obtains her funds from the local animator. The sisters
are allowed to have petty cash which allows for the acquisition of goods of a lesser value.
The expenses which cover the needs of the entire group (food, electricity, heating, etc.) are
included in the global budget of each house. This sharing of resources allows the
Congregation to respond to the needs of each sister, without any discrimination, to sustain
the various ministries, both in Canada and elsewhere and to contribute to charitable
organisations which pursue the mission of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa.
In Canada, the sisters are buried in Notre-Dame Cemetery in the diocese of Ottawa, place
of foundation of the Congregation. Having observed that the reserved lots available would
no longer suffice to bury all the sisters, other lots were purchased in Hope Cemetery also
in the diocese of Ottawa. In 2009, the sisters were asked to respond to a written
consultation in which they were asked if they accepted to be cremated in order to ensure
that all the sisters could be buried together in Notre-Dame Cemetery. The vast majority
responded affirmatively. Monuments were added on the community lots in order to ensure
that all sisters’ names could be inscribed when the time came. The urns containing the
ashes of the sisters who died in recent months are buried during a celebration of the Word
at Notre-Dame Cemetery. The sisters are together in life and in death.
Location
Municipality: Ottawa
Location: Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, 27 Bruyere Street, Ottawa
ON,
CANADA K1N 5C9
Telephone: 613-241-2710
Fax: 613-241-5509
Website: http://www.soeursdelachariteottawa.com/index-en.php
Source
Sister Lorraine Desjardins
Title, role and function: General Animator of the Congregation
Relationship with this article: Sister Lorraine Desjardins entered the Congregation in
1959. She has been the General Animator since 2004.
Investigators: Francesca Désilets, Anne-Florence Bisson
Date of the interview: December 7, 2011
Free translation by Sister Louise Charbonneau, sco