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Events
Past Events
Noel Toomey, OP, Speaker |
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| Sister Noel Toomey, OP, a Dominican Sister, is a member of the Eucharistic Missionary Community in New Orleans. At the time of Hurricane Katrina, Sister Noel was among those evacuated from the area. She returned to New Orleans as soon as possible, however, knowing that her skills as a spiritual director would enable her to accompany people through their experience of loss, grief, chaos, stress, trauma, and unanswered questions.
While we may not have endured Katrina, many of us are dealing with other experiences of grief and stress through job loss, precarious employment, cutbacks, loss of pensions, loss of health insurance, to mention only a few. Even our Churches are in upheaval. Some of our churches are closing: other parishes are merging or partnering. Our sacred spaces where we were baptized, married and raised our families in a faith community are disappearing. This leaves us sad and angry. We mourn and grieve for what once was. We're also in the midst of a war, frantic with worry over the safety of our sons and daughters in combat. We're experiencing natural disasters at an alarming rate, dealing with the soaring costs of oil, gas, electricity and the diminishment of natural resources. Many social programs that would help us through these times are being reduced and cut. Our faith can be sorely tested by any or all of these experiences. Sister Noel has shared our feelings of grief, helplessness and frustration. She and her sisters suffered profound losses in Katrina. Her community lost their Motherhouse, the central home of their sisters - the place that was home for their retired members, their archives and history, their past. They lost their cars, all their belongings. They were homeless and like many of those displaced by Katrina, others from out of state took them in. If you find yourself asking at times how you will continue to cope with today's many challenges – loss, grief, fear of the future, whatever chaos you and your family, friends, neighbors and your faith community experience – you may find it helpful to join us as Sister Noel shares her account of the struggles she, her community and the people of her city endured; what has sustained them in faith, hope and solidarity through it all; where they have found the courage and the resilience to face devastation and not lose heart. Sister Noel has ministered in catechetics and spiritual direction in bayous and rice farming towns in Louisiana, in Mexican-American barrios, in mining towns in Arizona, as Director of Novices, Councilor and President of the Eucharistic Missionaries. She presently is Director of the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center of New Orleans, LA. She lists her "passions" as prayer, people, especially people of different cultures; study, reading, drama, music, dance and travel. And her "frustrations" are HURRICANES! |
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| September 22, 2006 Friday 7:30 – 9:30 PM Fee for the presentation is $10.00 at the door. Refreshments will be served. |
St. Thomas a Becket Parish Lilley Road, Canton, MI  |
| September 23, 2006
Saturday 10:00
AM – Noon Fee for the presentation is $10.00 at the door. Refreshments will be served. |
Christ the King Parish Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI  |
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