A unique (some would say blessed) relationship has been fostered between some retired French Catholic nuns and fourth- and fifth-grade students from Saints-Anges Catholic Elementary School. Sister Monique, a resident of the home, says that the children have been in the daily prayers of the Sisters of the Assumption since the students sent Christmas cards to the residents last year.
Thursday, the students visited to help spruce up the courtyard and grounds of the Sisters of the Assumption residence on Wyld Street. Sister Monique said that the daily prayers for the students would continue, but as a thank you for doing such a thorough job, the students were also treated to homemade cookies.
One group of students were touched when they learned of the prayers being said for them, adding how much fun it had been to make the cards at Christmas time so that they could bring strangers joy during the holiday season.
Madame Wendy (Shank), teaches half of the students who raked, swept, pulled weeds and picked up garbage in the cleanup effort. "I wanted the students to be able to come to where they sent the Christmas cards, to make contact so that our anonymous gesture becomes one of perhaps friendship and volunteerism."
Madame Wendy said she is a proponent of encouraging the students to make kind gestures without the promise of a reward while enjoying the relative freedom of the outdoors on a school day.
Catholic Education Week featured 110 activities across the 14 member schools of the French Catholic School Board (Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord). An Innovation Fair was held Thursday at Algonquin featuring the technological and humanitarian projects of students. All students and employees of CSCFN were to take part in the Helping Others initiative.
Sister Monique, who is the Mother Superior at the home, worked elbow to elbow with the students in the courtyard. She is the second youngest of the 26 retired nuns who live at the home, many of whom are aged 80 and above, with several well into their nineties. The retired nuns "have been teachers all of their life," said Sister Monique, "it allows them to see the children, and to see the legacy that they've passed on to other teachers."
Many of the nuns were inside the residence saying prayers while the children were on the grounds, but Sister Monique was sure that many were delighted by the sounds of the students, and was positive that several of the elderly residents had taken a peek outside to watch.
"It brings them joy to see the children at work and practising good values. We're very pleased to welcome the school during Catholic Education Week. The residents are very thankful. After they received the cards, they pray for that student to develop their talents," said Sister Monique.
