Ms Whitney Nagasan is the Executive Director of the FCJ Christian Life Centre in Calgary. Here is their October news email.
Dear FCJ Christian Life Centre Friends,
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1
At the FCJ Centre, our hearts are full of gratitude and joy for all the blessings around us. With countless reasons to be thankful, we can’t wait to share the warmth and spirit of the Thanksgiving season with you.
To start, on September 15, 2024, we held a lovely Tea Party Fundraiser that exceeded all expectations! With a sold-out ticket event and over 150 attendees, along with staff, volunteers, and guests, we enjoyed a perfect afternoon on our FCJ Centre grounds. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for our Annual Tea Party! Your presence and enjoyment of our teas, homemade treats, scones, and apple pies made the day unforgettable.
The funds raised will help support our much-needed renovations, which will allow us to replace over 50 toilets with eco-friendly models. In August, we installed two sample toilets, reducing water usage from 13 liters to just 4.8 liters per flush. Most of our current toilets are 14 to 15 inches high, and we plan to replace them with 17-inch comfort-height models for added ease and accessibility. Along with these upgrades, we will also be replacing the aging flooring in the washrooms and the basement area. These improvements will hopefully help reduce leaks, conserve water, and enhance the comfort of our guests. The total cost of the toilet and flooring renovation project is $83,000. We are truly grateful also for the dedication of our 18 volunteers, the hard work of our staff, and the enthusiasm of our silent auction bidders and 50/50 raffle participants. To watch the Raffle 50/50 Live Draw, kindly click this LINK.
Please note that we will be sending out a separate newsletter dedicated to the Tea Party Report around mid-October, which will include updates on how much we raised through this event. Thank you once again for your incredible support!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who participated in our programs and supported our FCJ Centre in various ways. Whether you attended one of our program offerings, availed of our counseling and spiritual direction services, or visited for a personal retreat or used our conference rooms for your group activity, your presence and support have been invaluable. Thanks to your generosity, we can continue our mission to be a Centre of hope and hospitality, where God can be experienced in a changing world. As October 14th approaches, we wish you and your family a happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day filled with peace and joy.
Please note that we will be sending out a separate newsletter dedicated to the Tea Party Report around mid-October, which will include updates on how much we raised through this event. Thank you once again for your incredible support!
September 30 is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. At the FCJ Christian Life Centre, the FCJ Centre staff and the FCJ Sisters recognize National Truth and Reconciliation Day as an important step toward reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, their families, and communities. We wish to acknowledge the first caretakers of this land where the FCJ Centre is situated, and we pray for healing for all.
Our share our small contribution towards awareness and healing:
- The FCJ Centre will recognize and observe September 30 as an important part of the reconciliation process. The Centre will be closed on September 30 and will reopen on Tuesday, October 1. This day can be used for a quiet day of prayer or to participate in community events.
- We have created a dedicated webpage for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) List of Activities and Learning Resources.
- We held a special prayer and reflection on September 25 during our staff meeting.
An Indigenous Peoples display will be set up in our lobby from September 27 to 29, which you are welcome to view. - During the September 29 Open House (for the 10:00am Mass group of St. Mary’s Cathedral), in general we will invite guests to visit the display and view the Indigenous artworks in our lobby. Staff and sisters assisting with the Open House are encouraged to wear orange shirts.
We highly encourage you and your family members to participate in one of the following activities and events, and to check out the learning resources at https://www.fcjcentre.ca/ntrcactivities
Thank you once again for your continued support and prayers. We look forward to sharing this colorful fall season with you.
In gratitude,
Whitney Nagasan
Executive Director, FCJ Christian Life Centre
