School’s Out, Summer’s In!

YAY! We Made it!

The last week of June brings cause for many celebrations of school year endings, with mixtures of sadness and relief. In Ontario, the last day of classes for the 2024-2025 school year is June 25, 2025, for secondary students and June 26, 2025 for elementary students.

This is also a time when Indigenous communities celebrate Summer Solstice with Pow Wows.

Recently I had the privilege of attending a pow wow in which young people especially were encouraged to “strut their stuff” in song, drumming and tribal dances.  The host of the event kept saying” here we have the leaders of the future in their regalia who will carry our ways into a new World.” 

I sincerely believe that the Indigenous peoples will show us not only the importance of treating everything in a good way but can and will be our partners in showing us how to create a better world.

Yes, there are various graduation speeches delivered:

Grade 8 graduations typically celebrate student achievements and offer encouragement for the future. They often thank teachers and families, acknowledge the journey through middle school, and look forward to the new chapter of high school. Inspirational themes might include overcoming obstacles, the importance of friendship, and the value of individual growth. 

The high school graduation has its special characteristics of becoming leaders for the future.  It is time to move forward, keeping our relationships, inspiring each other.  “WE ARE READY” is the theme of hope and determination to create a better world.  This particular graduation address went viral:

If you barely made it through high school, these quotes are for you:

• “High school was easy. It was like riding a bike. Except the bike was on fire & I was in hell.”

• “Somehow I managed not to burn down the school or myself – Success!”

• “Well, I made it through high school… with minimal casualties.

• “They said ‘reach for the stars,’ but I’m just happy I reached graduation.”

•    “To all the teachers who said I’d never amount to anything: surprise!”

• “I may not have been at the top of my class, but hey, I made it to the finish line!”

• “Here’s to the classmates who made it interesting, the teachers who made it bearable, and the cafeteria food that made it memorable.

• “They said ‘the early bird catches the worm,’ but I prefer the ‘last-minute cramming catches the diploma’ approach.”

• “To all the late nights, early mornings, and countless cups of coffee: thanks for getting me through high school… barely.”

• “I survived high school like a pro: with a mix of luck, caffeine, and sheer determination.”“Here’s to the friends who stuck by me, the teachers who believed in me, and the cafeteria cookies that sustained me.”

"You will never have more energy or enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today." 46 Funny Graduation Quotes to Share.

In this your journey of LIFE, what would be your comment  as you graduate from one stage and move to the next?

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj

Remembering Walter Brueggemann

In Memoriam of Gustavo Gutierrrez and Walter Brueggemann - Part 2

Walter Brueggemann: A Prophet for our Time

Hear the word of the Lord…

For the Lord has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land.

There is no faithfulness or loyalty,

And no knowledge of God in the land.

Swearing, lying, and murder, and stealing and adultery break out.

Bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Therefore, the land mourns, and all who live in it languish:

Together with the wild animals and the birds of the air,

Even the fish of the sea are perishing.

                                                                           (Hosea 4:1-3)

Hosea’s lament is stunningly resonant today. Renowned Scripture scholar, beloved teacher and regular preacher in United Church of Christ communities, Walter Brueggemann devoted his scholarly career and his life to pointing that out and drawing the necessary challenging conclusions for faith communities. Like the ancient prophets, he called us to fidelity to our call in a contemporary satiated consumer culture, to fidelity to the word of God, to a God of justice and righteousness, of steadfast love, of compassion and mercy. What does fidelity to God and the covenantal demands require of us today? An answer was his gift to us.

Walter Brueggemann’s was not interested in detailed textual analysis alone. Woe betides students who failed to make the required move to interpret the current social reality in light of their textual analysis, fine as it might be. Gone was the prized “A”!

A short blog does not do justice to the lasting contribution of Walter Brueggemann. Let me simply offer a sense of his main argument in his own words. The Prophetic Imagination, one of Brueggemann’s early and best-known books, envisions an alternative prophetic community whose task is both to criticize and energize:

“On the one hand, it is to show that the dominant consciousness (which I have termed “royal”) will indeed end and that it has no final claim upon us. On the other hand, it is the task of the alternative prophetic community to present an alternative consciousness that can energize the community to fresh forms of faithfulness and vitality…. It is the task of prophetic imagination and ministry to bring people to engage the promise of newness that is at work in our history with God.” 62

At great cost to themselves, the prophets of old preached fidelity to the word of God. Throughout a lifetime of exploring ever more deeply the implications of their message, Walter Brueggemann has left us a blueprint for a communal response. May he rest in peace.

-Sister Joyce Murray, csj

---

An article from On Being with Krista Tippett:

Walter Brueggemann, In Memoriam — When the World We Have Trusted In Is Vanishing

Image: Héctor J. Rivas/Unsplash

National Indigenous People’s Day

National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It is a time to celebrate the cultures, languages, traditions and spirituality of First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. Below is one experience of the beautiful spirituality.

Almost a year ago a friend of mine lost her husband. He was an Indigenous elder, sweat lodge keeper, pipe carrier and very generous with his cultural knowledge. A sacred fire was lit and people were invited to come and spend some time there to honour his spirit. I accepted that invitation.

Image: Toa Heftiba/Unsplash

Never having been to a sacred fire I had no idea what a lasting gift it would turn out to be for me. As I approached the property a woman dressed in a ribbon skirt welcomed me and assisted me to the location of the fire. Then a young man approached me with a bowl of smoldering sage and assisted me in a smudging ritual intended to purify, heal, and connect one with the spirit world. Another young man invited me to the opening of a large circle, gifted me with cedar and tobacco, invited me to have a moment of reflection then enter the circle and offer those gifts into the sacred fire. Following that I proceeded around the circle to greet my friend and her family. We visited for a while then I moved on as more people entered this very sacred space. I sat in the circle for some time noticing with great admiration the community spirit demonstrated in action. Several young men volunteered to tend the sacred fire, 24/7 for the 4 days. All the wood for the fire was donated. Food was available outside the circle, again donated by the community. There was storytelling, laughter, and peace within the circle.

If you have the opportunity to gain experience from your Indigenous neighbours, I encourage you to do so where peace and wisdom await you.

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

Feeling Foolish

Have you ever asked a question, only to instantly regret it the moment you heard the answer? That was me, one afternoon in Yellowknife, back in the spring of 1996.

I was chatting with George Erasmus, a respected Dene leader, in the staffroom of the high school where I taught. At the time, just days before our conversation, Governor General Roméo LeBlanc had announced the Government’s intention to create a national celebration of Indigenous peoples, to be held annually on June 21st. It was to be called National Aboriginal Day. Years later, in 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would rename it National Indigenous Peoples Day, to reflect the growing preference for the term Indigenous, both nationally and internationally.

Trying to connect with George and make conversation, I asked, “Why was June 21st chosen?” He gave me a quick, matter-of-fact response: “It’s the summer solstice. A day of traditional significance to us.” I winced inwardly at my own ignorance. “Of course,” I replied, quietly.

George went on to explain the significance of the longest day of the year, a tradition held by his people and numerous Indigenous communities across the land for generations. A time for renewal, spiritual connection, and honoring tradition.

That day in 1996 is a reminder to me of how much I must learn and how important it is to ask questions and even to appear foolish to grow in understanding.

George’s explanation stayed with me. I was reminded of his words when reading how the Government of Canada acknowledges this day, “National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. For generations, many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities have celebrated their cultures, languages, and traditions at this time of year. The summer solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, marking a time of renewal, connection, and celebration.”

On June 21st, I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to view and celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. One great way to do this is by viewing the broadcast of Indspire Awards.  You can watch them on CBC at 7 PM and APTN at 8 PM on June 21, 2025.

As noted, online, “the Indspire Awards celebrate the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own people. After 31 years, the Indspire Awards have honoured over four hundred First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement across Turtle Island and beyond. Their stories are shared in a nationally broadcast celebration that highlights the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.”

Let us keep listening, learning, and celebrating Indigenous communities, even if it means feeling foolish first.

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Image: Ant Rozetsky/Unsplash

The Longest Day

We are fast approaching the longest day of the year in this Northern Hemisphere.  Daylight/sunshine is precious for reasons almost too numerous to list; such as, reasons related to vegetation; reasons related to food; reasons related to bone health to mental health and on and on.  Energy from the sun is essential for life on our planet.

The saints will tell us that we all have an inner diamond, which, in order to be fully itself the diamond must absorb as much light as is possible.

Do you have plans for this longest day of 2025?  Or would you rather just be surprised by how your summer solstice day unfolds? 

Mary Oliver has written the following poem entitled “The Summer Day” which might inspire your plans/or not for the way you spend the longest day of this year.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

-Mary Oliver

Blog by Sister Elaine Cole

Image: Rajiv Bajaj/Unsplash