News - August 2011
Cedar Trees at St. Mary-on-the-Lake
By Sister Julie Codd, CSJP
There they’ve stood – nurtured by Sun and Earth - long before we arrived, their companions, the Fir Trees always standing with them.
There they’ve stood - many decades, watching over us, a silent presence, shading and protecting us in all kinds of weather.
They know life all around them - the unseen wonders yet to be discovered.
They are preparing themselves – sending their energy to their companions who will remain.
They will give their life to the People where energies will merge to create: totems, canoes, regalia, mats, hats, rattles, paddles and boxes.
New generations will continue to be healed and nurtured by the sacred Cedar.
We, who shared these Cedar Trees, and have given them freely will, be blessed abundantly
As the latest construction project unfolds at St. Mary’s-on-the-Lake, many community members experience mixed feelings: saying goodbye to the old but anticipating the new. It’s especially felt around the loss of the cedar and fir trees around Gaffney Hall.
The idea came to me, that the cedar trees are sacred to the People, especially
of this area, because they depended on every part of the cedar tree for their
lives.
In the midst of a very hectic week, where there was much chaos, in what is normally a pretty regular routine, an unexpected and beautiful event took place on Friday, August 5th.
Ray Williams, a Swinomish Tribal prayer leader, who had come to visit the Cedar trees a couple of weeks ago, mentioned that it would be important to have A ceremony of thanksgiving for the trees.
After the noon meal, sisters, associates, Four Winds CSG, construction crew and Native People gathered together in the middle of the circular drive for the ceremony.
Ray asked two sisters and two Indians to be witnesses for the work taking place. He also asked four speakers; two from our community and two from the Indian community to speak. Ray, then opened with a couple of very moving stories about care and respect of earth. Then he did a drum song.
Sister Margaret Byrne, CSJP and Sister Mary Thorne, CSJP were the two witnesses from our community. Kathy Allard, CSJP-A and Sister Miriam Spencer, CSJP were two speakers. Each of the speakers brought out some very moving words with reference to the trees that will remain with us.