A few members of our spirituality group which is a spin off from Corpus met this past week (May 23) with Dolores Hall.

Corpus Canada was not our topic per se, but future church which means small faith groups. And women's future which means massive transformation for the institution of church. We are slowly and quietly discerning where we are going as transformers, as individuals, and as a spiritual community.

Sis and I have long been concerned for our local Corpus organization which does not fit any mold right now, but we are beginning to see a bigger picture. We are deeply convinced that much is happening for our area in the darkness of this period, and for the Church in the Maritime region. One of the biggest and best things is Dolores herself. It takes what Carolyn Myss calls symbolic light to see this- as the Polish priests recruited by our bishop begin their ministry in our diocese in a few weeks.

I wrote to the Canadian Cardinals as part of the recent Future Church campaign. This response came from Cardinal Carter of Toronto: "I am sure that you know that the Holy Father has already established that the question of ordination to the priesthood is restricted to males at the present time and he has indicated that the question is closed. As loyal Catholics we can hold another opinion if it is proper, but I do not think that we should take any steps to change the legislation in place." Perhaps some of you received a similar response.

How strengthening and reinforcing and reviving to read the terrific Married Priests as Pastor Coordinators dialogue in the Mar/Apr Journal. The dialogue does not resolve the topic at hand but it sure helped us get our eyes back on light and hope and fresh air.

Sis and I have also spent some time together studying and reflecting on the minutes of the NCR national meeting last October. We are genuinely trying to discern the local face of Corpus and its place on the national face too. We are hoping to be able to get help at the Bragg Creek conference. That name has a bit of an historical flavour to it somehow- a Camp David kind of sound.

Spring is finding us at last! Do you know that if you shovel four feet of snow off your crocus bed, there they'll be, flattened from the weight of their burden and yellow from no access to light. Wouldn't we? But in a few days, greening and standing tall! Love to all.