By Associate Pat Stortz
On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Southern Ontario Associates and Sisters at Waterdown Notre Dame Convent attended an “in person” talk given by Sister Mary Jeanne Davidson.
She spoke on her mission work in Peace River, Alberta.
It began in 2002, when she was called with two companion Sisters to open a new mission there.
She spoke of the 21 years she was involved in this ministry, “encountering Jesus in the Cree and Beaver in Northern Alberta”.
Elder Kelly Running Wolf
Early in her time at Peace River, Sister Mary Jeanne heard the story of Elder Kelly Running Wolf.
He and his sister had suffered abuse at the hands of a religious priest at a Catholic residential school.
Sister Mary Jeanne was deeply moved by his story and wrote to him expressing her sorrow, and to ask forgiveness on behalf of the Catholic Church for the harm that he and his sister had suffered.
Elder Kelly Running Wolf had been on a long healing journey, with the help of the elders of his community. He was now ministering with a United Church pastor to share the beauty of his culture. He had longed to hear from the Catholic Church.
When he received the letter from Sister Mary Jeanne, his longing was met. It brought his healing full circle.
Presented with an Eagle Feather
A year later, unknown to Sister Mary Jeanne, Elder Kelly Running Wolf was helping to lead healing days in Peace River to build better relationships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the region.
On the first day, Elder Kelly Running Wolf surprised and honored Sister Mary Jeanne during a pipe ceremony by presenting her with an Eagle feather.
The eagle is sacred because it flies closest to the Creator. It symbolizes respect, honour, strength, courage and wisdom.
We all felt so blessed to have this opportunity to hear about Sister Mary Jeanne’s calling.
