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As lay persons we wish to demonstrate the ability of all men and women to be
fully committed Christians whilst pursuing our own lifestyles and work in
the world. We do not separate our mission as Christians from our day to day
life - Spirit and Lifestyle
This weekend I participated in a retreat Edwina gave in Edmonton. It was
entitled "Rediscovering and Claiming the Feminine Soul" It was perfect - a
good mix of women: religious sisters, mothers & grandmothers, single women.
One of the ex-prostitutes, more used to the Salvation Army church than our
"constipated" Catholic tradition, said "Amen" "Alleluia" "Right on" when the
Spirit moved her. She wasn't the only one moved enough to cry.
Always there throughout the weekend was Lynnell Prediger, the program
coordinator at Providence Renewal Centre. Lynnell was a student of mine from
1982-85. That makes her 38 or 39. I overheard her saying to someone that
most people don't accept that someone can stay single. That's a vocation
also.
It's hard for today's Catholic church (and others as well, I suppose) that
lay people can be "fully committed Christians" and that "we do not separate
our mission as Christians from our day to day life." There are so many ways
to live that daily mission.
Today I wrote to our local Catholic paper to answer to those that protested
that Edwina should not have been invited to speak in a Catholic retreat
centre. The protesters had contacted the bishops of Edmonton and Calgary,
where Edwina was speaking on Sunday evening. So I wrote to my bishop as
well. There are many othe ways in which I have served today. I know that
each one of you continue as well to live these lines of Spirit and
Lifestyle.
Cecily
