Canonisation

Personally Speaking

Dear Friends,

Stories offer me insights into the persons being spoken about, in the way they thought and felt, by what they did, in the way they related to others and their keen sense of belonging. My imagination has gifted me with lasting images perceived from the oral stories passed down through the family. In particular I have strong images of my father’s and mother’s grandfathers. Both these men had died before I was born. However, I have a real sense of the characters of both these men. The generosity of Dad’s grandfather was highlighted for me when I read some recent family history which gave an account of the items he sent in the annual Christmas hamper. I knew immediately that the story was not complete. The hamper was such a treat in Dad’s day that the contents have become like a litany within the family. Oral stories are very important, especially at family gatherings even though they can cause so much emotion expressed in tears, laughter or even getting mad or fed-up. But they are all part of the family fabric.

The essence of stories has been even more focussed for me in the last few months as I have had the privilege to share in the stories told by people whose families have had personal relationships with Suzanne Aubert. It has been an experience for me to join with these families and hear their family history especially when the story was about a woman called Suzanne and the various ways she related so well to people.

This opportunity came my way when I was invited to be part of the Diocesan Inquiry for the Cause of Suzanne Aubert. People came from various parts of the country to relate their knowledge of Suzanne Aubert which had been handed down to them by their own families. Just as the stories of my ancestors have been told in my family, so have stories of Suzanne Aubert been told in these people’s families. As Suzanne had a bond with these families, her story too became part of their family fabric. The stories told of relationships and how Suzanne had forged partnerships with people in bringing about change.

The Inquiry opened up more stories that had not been part of the Official Inquiry, but have come to my attention because of the newspaper publicity about the Cause. Letters written by Suzanne have been kept by families and individual members are sharing them with the Sisters of Compassion at this time. In a letter to a mother, Suzanne expresses consolation at the death of a child by writing “… be sure, your little Angel will not forget you but on the contrary, will be a special pleader for those who loved him so dearly on earth!” This letter has been treasured by this family. The story has been handed down and the memory kept alive.

So as I come to know Suzanne more through the stories of personal encounters, I also come to know the faith journeys of many people. It is a wonderful thing to share our stories, for in doing so we remember the people whose thread entwines with our own fabric.

Thank you all for supporting us in so many ways; particularly with prayer for the Cause of Suzanne Aubert.

Yours sincerely,

Sister Margaret Anne Mills

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