IJC Voice
April 2022
Volume 12, Issue 7
Greetings!

The 2022 Holy Week Retreat begins April 9 and we are thrilled to welcome both returning and new retreatants. It seems like a lifetime ago that we last offered on-site retreats in March of 2020!

The Loyola House accommodation renovations are complete, including the addition of 20 ensuite bathrooms! We are incredibly grateful to Rick and crew from Bellamy Construction for getting it all done on time. Ignatius staff and volunteers have been busy preparing to open our beloved retreat house…hallelujah.

Our hearts are full of gratitude for your support during 2020 and 2021; it was affirming and life-giving to receive your prayers, messages and donations. We appreciate your Lenten generosity which will offset our loss of revenues this year. We know that you have received many appeals for support from many causes and we’re always honoured by your loyalty and steadfastness. We welcome new donors since you inspire our hope for the future of the Centre.

Roger Yaworski, Executive Director
The Very Rev. Sharon Murdoch, who served as an Anglican priest in Northern Ontario, died on August 29 last year. She left a bequest to Loyola House. Her brother, Neil Murdoch, shared that “Loyola House was a very special place for her. I am glad that, in her own way, she is able to continue to provider her support.”

We deeply appreciate your offers of support through bequests which promise to sustain our Centre’s mission into the future.
At the end of this month I’m retiring as Development Assistant for the Centre – a role that has been immensely satisfying as the Centre is well-loved and supported by such big-hearted folks. The opportunities to participate in conservation projects and volunteer for Ignatius Farm as well as to walk the land have been special benefits. I will miss working with a team that is sincerely dedicated to this organization’s vision, mission and program objectives. It’s been especially motivating and life-affirming to do work that has such a loving and compassionate impact in our community. I hope to see you on the trails, at a restoration or community orchard event, or perhaps a CSA pick-up!

~ Vanessa Hyland
Loyola House - Retreats & Ignatian Training
Looking to go on retreat? Check these out:
 
  • Trees: Earth Day Weekend Retreat - April 22-24
  • Listening to Indigenous Voice 8-Day Retreat - May 18-26
  • Birds: Earth Day Weekend Retreat - May 27-29
  • Amazing Friendships Weekend Retreat - June 3-5
  • Directed Prayer Weekend - June 3-5
  • Bees: Earth Weekend Retreat - June 10-12
  • Finding Your Way: Weekend of Discernment - June 10-12

Sitting in the silence of one's heart,
and resting in God's presence,
is more satisfying and of
greater import than any special grace.

~ Stephen Rossetti

Ignatius Farm - Preparing for 2022's growing season!
2022 Get the Water Flowing!
THANK-YOU!
 
Thanks to all for your wonderful support to the Ignatius Farm well’s campaign.

With your generosity the Farm has received $12,000 to date - our goal is to reach $60,000 - please give as you can.

This well project will increase Ignatius Farm horticulture’s resilience during drought years, and create new water capacity for small plot agricultural enterprises.
 
In gratitude for your solidarity!

~ Heather & the Farm Team
Have you registered for CSA?
The Farm team is busy caring for seedlings for the upcoming growing season. Lock in your food prices today for the year to avoid food cost increases.
 
Your solidarity today means the farm is growing for YOU all year! 

Let's do this - sign up today for weekly farm fresh veggies!


SAVE THE DATE! The Seedling Sale will be back at the Farm in May 2022. Look for the details in May’s IJC Voice!
New Farmer Training Program
We have exciting news for our 2022 program!
Registration is open and it is FREE this year!
Sign up for a single event or for a whole term at efao.ca/events.

Are you scaling up your garden or dreaming of starting your own farm business? Maybe you want to start a homestead or increase your farming knowledge? This is the year to join our Ignatius Farm New Farmer Training Program! 
 
Through 4 terms participants gain foundational farming knowledge, learn about specialized aspects of farming, and end with a focus on establishing farm businesses.  
 
The program is online with some optional in-person programming. Events are recorded for later viewing.
Join for a single event, term,
or the whole program!
Register at efao.ca/events or go to
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Poetry
Current Affairs - by Greg Kennedy, SJ
Hide the eggs.
It’s Easter.
Food prices are through the roof.
War is on the horizon-
tal beam of a cross-
stitched fear full of time and detail.
Everyone believes the worst
i.e., something different,
about the democratic process
and its putrefaction.
Heads are shaking
but not yet hands.
Hope is a fig tree
cursed
for its out-of-season fruit-
lessness.
The world’s edgy now
but by no means cool.
So who dares sing
of resurrection?
…the redwing blackbird
returned to coldest spring
on record.
Listen.
And respond.
Sharing some other opportunities with you...
Wisdom of the Rings: The Living Journals of Trees
April 23 @ 7:30pm - at Loyola House

Learn what our ancient White Cedars can tell us about the unique Niagara Escarpment ecosystem, through this series of framed textiles and wall hangings. Guided by her horticultural background, Lorraine Roy will speak about the fascinating ecological information that can be drawn from 'reading the rings' of trees.  

As seating is very limited, please email Greg Kennedy, SJ at gkennedy@ignatiusguelph.ca if you plan to come! Read more here.
Eric Jensen, SJ has a great book for the Lenten season. A Passionate Jesus in Holy Week weaves the strands of the Passion story into a tapestry of historical and geographical details, notable characters and pivotal actions. You can pick it up at Loyola House during our office hours of 9am-3pm.
 
You can also purchase Eric Jensen’s latest book, From forgiveness to Healing: Preparing Our Hearts for the Sacrament of Reconciliation from Novalis here.”