Qu'Appelle House of Prayer

Throughout the past weekend we have been so very aware of the life, death and rising of Margaret Dick.   And so have very many others through cards, emails, texts, telephone calls and personal contact.   We are so thankful to each and every one, for every word and loving sentiment.  The highlight of the weekend Memorial (including a visual display honoring Margaret in chapel) was the Fourth Sunday of Easter celebrated Saturday afternoon;   15 gathered to remember and to give thanks.   It was Good Shepherd Sunday.   In John’s Gospel, Ch 10, the expression “lay down life” is repeated five times in only seven verses.   This was readily seen as a way to understand from a faith perspective how Margaret left this world.   And it was readily seen that giving one’s self away did not happen only two years ago, but was a long-time way of life for her; that is, to lay down her life so many times in so many ways throughout her nearly 82 years. Many of us not only witnessed that, but also were pe

We received two suggestions for posting from Jackie and Gerry Guimond (Qu’Appelle House of Prayer in Fort Frances, Ontario).  Our thanks to them.  The first is this dramatic photo. “..........connected by alleluias  through the ethers.........”

    “Still feeling like hostages at a ‘whine & geez’ party.”   Jackie and Gerry Guimond,  Fort Frances, Ontario  (original art by Gerry).

It is just a little more than a year since we first posted on QHP Connection. Easter Sunrise over the Valley       On March 27, 2020 we began by saying:    “It is Day Six of this very new era at the house of prayer marked by self-isolation and so much more.    Perhaps not unexpectedly, yet with surprising intensity, these days are – and promise to become even more so – a paradoxical blend both of deepening solitude, and widening    community.”    A year ago we concluded by recommitting ourselves to what seemed to be “the grace of this time of COVID-19 (which) is three-fold: solidarity, prayer and hope.                                               Triduum celebrations Our second Covid-Triduum, modified and restricted, continued to live the blending of both solitude and community, a renewed time of solitarity, prayer and hope.  Each day some local people joined us – from 5 to 11 people on a given day.  Through these various pages of pictures, we share some of our rich times of prayer

This Lent I discovered there is something even more contagious than the coronavirus, and that is the generosity of heart of so many people! I would like to share the story of Hector Augusto Garcia Rodriguez a young medical student in Peru, who was at risk of having to leave his studies because he was unable to pay his medical study debt, and the outpouring of love that enabled him to continue to pursue his dreams. For the past month, we at the house of prayer have been immersed in this Easter story, a story of new life rising from apparent hopelessness. This project began because of a simple conversation with one of my sisters in Peru (I am a Sister of the Presentation of Mary) who spoke to me of Hector and his situation. His story disturbed me profoundly. It is the story of so many, yet now this story had a face and a name that I could not ignore. So, I decided to take a risk and put out Hector’s name and face to others and see if they too would be disturbed and moved in the same wa

We invite you to this virtual celebration on Thursday March 11, 7:00 - 9:00 pm CST.  COVID has taken a lot from us as a province, a country, a world;  but it has also shone a light on our many community heroes - you and we included!  We are not alone in our loss, we are not alone in our hope.  An evening to celebrate both loss and hope.  Brought to everyone in all places by a community of people of diverse cultures, worldviews, spiritualities, beliefs and faiths in Saskatchewan.  An evening to be inspired as we continue the journey together.  Please pre-register at :  https://www.covidvigil.ca/ It will be good to be with you.