By Anne MacNeil, LEAD Co-Coordinator
On Wednesday, February 4th, the SSND community in Waterdown, Ontario set off on another of our cherished armchair adventures. This time we went to Stella Maris in Timonium, MD.
Whenever we “travel,” we immerse ourselves in the culture, daily life, and spirit of our destination, and this visit was no exception.
Our tour guides at Stella Maris, led by Sister Rosalia Federici, welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm.
They shared stories of their recent cold spell, the intensity of their summer heat, and the beauty of their rooftop terraces.
These are peaceful spaces where the Sisters gather to relax and take in the stunning view of the river.
"We had a wonderful encounter with our Sisters at Waterdown," Sister Rose said. "We shared about ourselves. It was a great experience to connect with our Sisters."
We all agreed that one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was meeting Sisters from another corner of our international congregation.
Learning about their daily routines, past missions, and personal histories reminded us how deeply connected we are, no matter where we live.
It was especially touching to finally put faces to names we had heard for years. We witnessed joyful reunions among Sisters who had previously served together, whether in Bolivia or at Provincial Assemblies.
In Canada, we were delighted by the cameo appearance of Sister Kathleen Boland, one of our former Local Leaders here in Waterdown!
Sister Celeste Reinhart also joined us for the journey, enriching the conversation with her insight and her unique connection to both communities.
Our visit was filled with laughter, conversation, and memory-making.
By the end, we had all agreed to continue these monthly bonding activities, with hopes of expanding to other areas and building one community beyond borders.
In a world with many modes of transportation, we are grateful to add technology — and Zoom — to the list of ways we can stay connected.
At the end of our gathering, the Stella Maris Sisters sang the blessing prayer to the Sisters in Canada and vice versa.
We can’t wait for our next “trip.” Maybe one day Stella Maris will have the tech to beam in their steamed crab cookout. Until then, we’ll just claw our way through the daydream!
