[Magdalen] Prayers for discernment

[Susan Hutchinson]

On 2015-05-28, at 7:30 PM, Lynn Ronkainen wrote:

> College friend and her family lived there in the '80s while her Chem Eng husband in the paper biz was up there for several years. I took my kids to visit ( we still lived in Syracuse) it was lovely 
> Lynn
> 

Ah Peterborough, home of my ancestors! My parents met in Moose Jaw SK in 1948, but both their families had roots in Peterborough. My mother's paternal grandfather was born close to Peterborough, one of a long line of the "Red" Hunters who were among the early settlers of the area. They followed the Canadian Pacific Railway west to Moose Jaw with the building of the railway in the late 19th C. 

My father's paternal grandparents were also from families who had settled in the Peterborough area in the first half of the 19thC, with local names like Hughes, Hutchinson, Crowe, MacInnes and -- yes, Hunter (Red Hunters!). 

My father's paternal grandmother, Laura Hughes Hutchinson, was widowed with three children in the first few years of the 20th century. She headed west to make a new start with her 5 year old son (my grandfather), leaving behind her two teenage daughters with their grandmother. She wanted them to finish high school. A bold and feminist move before World War 1! Both eventually finished high school and trained as RNs. Laura remarried and homesteaded near Moose Jaw. I still have the little piece of paper marked in pencil noting the building of the house and the acres cleared and under production that she took into the land office to get the homestead deed.

A number of years ago my sister and her then husband moved to Peterborough and purchased a house on Bethune Street in the older downtown area of the town. Their backyard backed onto the yard of a house on the next street over. A discussion with older family members and check with local archives proved something very interesting. That house with the adjacent backyard? It had belonged to our 2 times great grandparents. It was where our grandfather had been born and his sisters had grown up!

Marion, I hope and pray that clarity comes as to where you should start your next adventure. Port Hope is lovely, I've known a number of people who have lived out their retirement years there happily. The church there is not as anglo-catholic as you might prefer, but David Harrison, one of my Trinity classmates, (now at St Mary Magdalene in TO) was incumbent there earlier in his career and I would put it in the highish broad church category at last contact.

You are right about Montreal and Quebec generally, in my experience there is not a lot of anglo catholic practice (and what there is is not particularly female friendly) and it's even difficult to find the BAS once you are out of the city. However, depending on your French, there is a great need for part-time/non-stipendary clergy in that diocese. 

Having lived there in recent years, I would say there are some things you would want to consider. First, the provincial income tax there is significantly higher than Ontario and must be completed separately (for those who are not Canadian -- all other provinces/territories have a joint return with the federal one, you just fill out the one form and it is sorted at the other end). The other is that health care access in English outside of the city of Montreal can be limited and is becoming increasingly so. Which also means that all specialist treatment in English gets done in Montreal, requiring trips into the city. All government services can be difficult to access in English and are getting more so. This is manageable if you are up for it, but can be very frustrating even if you are highly motivated to be there.

love and blessings
Susan
who found, in the end, the choice was made for her -- and it has turned out very well!

The Rev. Susan Hutchinson
604-319-7148
shutchinsonca at gmail.com