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The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is a family-friendly walk to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. On February 25th, Team Loretto braved the cold and snowy conditions to walk 5km in Rosedale, Toronto to support Street Haven at the Crossroads. We were successful in our fundraising goals and thank our many friends who donated generously to this cause. About Street Haven at the Crossroads Street Haven at the Crossroads is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1965 by Peggy Ann Wapole (class of Loretto 1951). Peggy first witnessed the debilitating effects of street life on women, young and old, while working as a registered nurse at St. Michael's Hospital. She noticed that women would be quickly seen at the hospital and then returned to the streets where the same vicious pattern would occur. In response to this need, Peggy Ann and a small core of volunteers started planning to open a drop-in centre for women. In March of 1965 Peggy was able to procure a small rental room and turned it into a drop-in centre for women known as Street Haven at the crossroads. Within weeks the centre was open around the clock, offering coffee, sandwiches and most importantly a safe space where at-risk women were treated with dignity and provided with hope. The goal was simple: to help each woman achieve the greatest degree of independence that she was capable of at any given time. Peggy Ann devoted her life to our community’s most vulnerable women. She was awarded the Ontario Good Citizenship Medal, was appointed a member of the Order of Canada and received the Order of Mary Ward in 2003. Peggy Ann Walpole died in 2006 but her legacy lives in the ongoing work at Street Haven, every day. Street Haven at the Crossroads has grown into a network of services including a shelter, residential substance abuse treatment centre, a residence for women with mental illness and histories of homelessness, support for single women, outreach for long-term addiction, learning centre for remedial skills and a hostel to help homeless find housing.

“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her ‘Give me a drink'.” John 4:7 The walk-through Samaria has been long and tiring. While his disciples go to town to buy food, a thirsty Jesus sits by a well. It is there he meets the Samaritan woman and asks her for a drink. In our world today too many people thirst for water, and even more thirst for justice. Fifty-five year old Monjama Kosia lives alone in the village of Tombolu in Sierra Leone. Despite her bad knees, she walks to the creek two or three times a week to fetch water. “There is no good drinking water in our community,” she explains. “Sometimes, we have to climb just to get to where the water is.” Today, Jesus is still thirsty at the well and we are the ones invited to draw water. We can recognize the face of Christ in our sisters and brothers as we reach out in solidarity to all who struggle to get their fair share of this precious, life-giving gift. Lent prayer Fountain of Life, let your love well up within us. Together may we reshape the world, so that the thirst for water, and for justice, is satisfied. Amen. Watch the excitement as the villagers of Waima Ngeiya get water for the first time in 100 years. Resource - CAFOD Lent Calendar

On International Women's Day - and beyond it, let's all fully embrace Equity. Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have. And it's important to understand the difference between equity and equality. The aim of the IWD 2023 EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. You can also join the UN Women and the United Nations in celebrating under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. Learn more "There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things" - Mary Ward

for Transfiguration God of truth, a blessing you promised and a blessing you give. Through deserts and up mountains we follow Jesus and there find you… and ourselves as we were meant to be. We long to hold on to that vision, O God. We try to set up tents and stay as long as we can, because it is there that we know we are truly home. But faith calls us, for it was in faith that Jesus Lived life and accepted death. His faith in you was born of love. His love was born of freedom. In Jesus, the bright cloud of your grace is forever upon us. may we be willing to leave the mountaintop experiences of life and walk the plains of every day. AMEN from A Time to Turn … The Paschal Experience by Anita M. Constance, SC, illustrated by Anne Haarer, SC (Paulist Press, 1995). Watch Arts & Faith: Week 2 of Lent

Waiting in the Wilderness This is the wilderness time, when every path is obscure and thorns have grown around the words of hope. Be the wings of our strength, O God, in this time of wilderness waiting. This is the time of stone, not bread, when even the sunrise feels uncertain and everything tastes of bitterness. Be the wings of our strength, O God, in this time of wilderness waiting. This is the time of ashes and dust, when darkness clothes our dreams and no star shines a guiding light. Be the wings of our strength, O God, in this time of wilderness waiting. This is the time of treading life, waiting for the swells to subside and for the chaos to clear. Be the wings of our strength, O God, in this time of wilderness waiting. – Keri Wehlander, Canada from 600 Blessings and Prayers from Around the World Watch Come Back to Me

February 13-17 marked Loretto College's winter term Wellness Week! This week was focused on activities that promote ways to nurture self-care and overall well-being for positive mental, emotional, and physical health. Events included: time to colour/make friendship bracelets a 'Cozy Study Cafe' an opportunity to share personalized, handmade Valentines and make a Valentine's Day goodie bag complete with study fuel of snacks fit for busy students during midterm season. Residents continued to add to Loretto's kindness board, sharing such words of encouragement as: "You are wonderful, believe in yourself" and "You can do this...keep going !" The 'Kindness is Blooming' board is a student initiative supported by the House Council that serves an important role in creating a culture of care within our residence community and campus. The week's highlight included a visit from Sunshine Therapy Dogs. Leila, Archie, and Louis visited Loretto on Feb. 16 and met lots of Loretto residents, staff, and Sr. Sarah! The dogs provided lots of kisses, cuddles, and stress relief right in the midst of midterm season and provided the perfect segue to Reading Week. According to Don Francesca: "The therapy dog event at Loretto provided an opportunity for our community to gather, take a study break, and hang out with some of our new furry friends! The room was filled with smiles and laughter, and was definitely a highlight of our Wellness Week."

Fanny came to Canada 20 years ago when her father, a businessman, decided to reinforce her education with a good knowledge of English. After six months Fanny's parents decided to visit her finding a different person - another daughter - physically ill, extremely thin and psychologically affected, she was anxious and rarely spoke to them. They wanted to take her back, but she refused, arguing that it was because of the pressure of the school and her loneliness. Concerned, her father returned unexpectedly weeks later, he found out that her daughter had a boyfriend who provided her with drugs and sexual clients. He had taken away Fanny's legal papers, and was the manager of her money and belongings. This is a common case of human trafficking, a person who is forced by another -trusted person - to commit sexual acts. The victim is manipulated, forced with violence and even controlled with a supply of drugs so that the person loses their will and finds the necessary help in the trafficker, even to satiate the addiction that the trafficker provokes in the victim. Recruiting, transporting, retaining and concealing a person through threats, violent control to exploit or facilitate their exploitation is considered a crime throughout the world and in Canada's civil code. Human trafficking has different categories such as: sex trafficking, labor exploitation, forced begging, forced marriage, sale of human organs, sale of children, also forcing and controlling a person using violence to commit illegal activities. Because human trafficking occurs within Canada, it is important to know how this crime affects individuals and communities. Knowing about it is the best way to avoid becoming a victim and to help prevent others from becoming a victim. Although there are 24.9 million victims of human trafficking in the world, it is known that due to the conditions of confinement and forced control in which the victims live, the percentage of complaints made about this crime is very low. Sex trafficking and labor exploitation are the largest activities carried out by human traffickers in Canada. Read more

"It will be seen that women in time to come will do much" - Mary Ward "It is important that women find their voices" - Sr Ellen Leonard CSJ Join us at this free event at the Mary Ward Centre, Toronto on Saturday March 4 from 1 to 5:00pm as we celebrate our Loretto Sisters (175 years in Canada) and the Sisters of St Joseph in Toronto (172 years in Canada) and their continuing work to empower women and girls to be agents of change. There will be music, poetry, key note presentations, finger foods, workshops, booths, reflection and ritual. Proposed agenda for the afternoon Doors Open/Registration: 12.30pm. Slideshow Welcome and prayers Elizabeth Smyth: Contribution of Women Religious to the Education and Empowerment of Women and Girls Interlude – poems and music Speaker: Shelley MacDonald BREAK – food and refreshments – booths Young Women and Ecological/Climate Justice: Yusra Shafi, Tia Kennedy, Emily Lukasik (D&P), Angelica Vecchiato Speaker: Leah Watkiss ‘Popcorn’ booths BREAK – food and refreshments - booths 2 mini-workshops Closing Register here

On Sunday, January 29th, Loretto College residents and community members gathered for a festive celebration in honour of the culmination of Mary Ward Week. The decor and menu also honoured Lunar New Year. Every detail of the menu was carefully curated and planned by Chef David and Loretto's House Council. It featured three courses with an abundance of delicious options: spring rolls, siu mai, steamed buns, kung pao chicken, tamari honey salmon darns, Hunan tofu, and Shanghai rice noodles with bok choy. And for dessert, there was a selection of cakes, cheesecakes, mochi brownies, macarons (a community favourite), and Taiwanese pineapple cake. The evening included welcoming remarks from Pranjal, the House Council President, about Mary Ward's life and living legacy in the residence ministry to the present day. Pranjal included that "today, the Loretto Sisters continue the mission of Mary Ward and live by her ideals, promoting the gifts of women in “freedom, justice and sincerity” in a way of life that places emphasis on reflection and action, finding God in all things, to give witness to God’s love “wherever the need is the greatest." Sr. Mary Mallany, IBVM, complemented Pranjal's thoughtful remarks by offering her own reflections on discerning a vocation with the Loretto Sisters and what it means to be a Ward Woman today. Sr. Mary joyfully shared that she encountered the Loretto Sisters when she was four years old as her teachers. Though mysterious, she was drawn to them and felt a desire to be like them - to educate and inspire. Sr. Mary also invited residents to view photos of her religious life journey and placed a photo album on a table with other Mary Ward treasures students could take home (such as bookmarks, quote books, and prayer cards). A raffle made two lucky winners of 'Mary Ward prize packs' very happy! Sasha and Lauren won tote bags containing contemporary Mary Ward essentials: journals, writing utensils, notepads, stationery and beaded bracelets from IBVM ministries in Darjeeling, Loretto College swag, and chocolate. The evening concluded with floor photos by the magnificent staircase in the lobby. Loretto residents were all smiles and dressed in beautiful formal attire for our floor photo to be showcased in SMC's 2022-23 Yearbook. What a special way to capture the excitement and hopefulness for the start of a new year and a new term - all in the spirit of Mary Ward as contemporary Ward women! A special memento of memories and friendships made that will extend far beyond this academic year!

Each year from January 23 to 30 we celebrate our founder, Mary Ward. View the online Mass from Loretto Abbey, Toronto on January 23 and the Ecumenical service from the UK for Mary Ward on January 29 Who is Mary Ward? Download the Mary Ward Week 2023 booklet Learn more about the Loretto Sisters journey to Canada

On February 8th we mark St. Josephine Bakhita Day, who is the patron saint of human trafficking survivors. This year, to commemorate St. Josephine, we are promoting "The Migrant Worker Exercise" workshop. At the workshop, you will play the role of a migrant worker and are led through some of the stages of exploitation many workers face upon their arrival in Canada. This experiential exercise is for anyone interested in learning more about migrant worker issues in Canada. Our hope is attending the workshop will inspire you to reflect and demand systemic change. Register for the workshop It's on Wednesday, Feb 8 6:00 to 8:00pm at 70 St Mary St Toronto

When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and the princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among people, To make music in the heart. Howard Thurman Help Us Enter the New Year God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power. May we walk gently. May we speak only after we have listened well. Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose. May we regard the world with tenderness. May we honour rather than destroy. Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come. May we welcome your lavish love. In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead. Vinita Hampton Wright; Offered by Douglas Ruschman