A Joyous Reunion

By Sr. Susan Moran, O.L.M.
May/June 2012

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

In February 1987 Rose and Raul Tabor and their children, William then three years of age; Mary Elizabeth, two; Elmer, one; and Joel, six months, came to live with the OLM Sisters. The Tabor family had come to Canada from El Salvador with legal refugee status and it was Mona Kelly, OLM, congregational leader at the time, who welcomed them at our Motherhouse in Toronto until they could get settled. Nancy Pocock, then a prominent worker for refugees, had asked if we could assist the family. They had left their sanctuary in Buffalo, crossed over the bridge at Fort Erie and arrived in Toronto in need of a place to stay.

The Tabor family visit Our Lady’s Missionaries. Back row (L-R): Elizabeth with baby Alex, Elmer, Christiana, Rosa, Raul, Joel. Front row L-R: Stephen (friend), Sr. Mona, Sr. Susan, Mary Elizabeth with nephew Christian.

Mona helped them with their legal affairs and with finding their first apartment. She took a great interest in the children and together we helped them with their schooling and music lessons, and at play times. It was a joy to be with them.

Last year I decided to contact the family and invite them to visit Mona and the Sisters again. Mona had returned to Canada from Brazil and I thought of how much Rose, Raul and their family would love to see her. They arrived one day in July laden with gifts of flowers, candy and special foods prepared for all of us. It was a true celebration.

The children of course are all grown now. Mary Elizabeth is a chemical engineer. Elmer is married to a woman also named Elizabeth and they have two children, Christian who is three and Alex, six months. Elmer works with his father who is a licensed roofer. Joel, who was the baby when we first met them, is now a social worker and Christiana, born later, is a warm and loving girl still in high school. Unfortunately William was unable to come to the party.

Our reunion with the Tabor family after all those years was a great joy to all of us. Their stay with us in the beginning had been a graced time and brought many blessings to the family and to the Sisters and was truly worth celebrating.

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article