Katrina Boguski
Freelance
Combermere – At 100 years old, the mind of Trudi Cortens still contains a treasury of stories; they tell of a life uniquely lived and of talents well used. In some ways, she is typical of her generation. Known as the Greatest Generation, Trudi and her cohort survived the Great Depression, the Second World War and a myriad of cultural crises that shook societies around the world. Despite, or perhaps because of, the challenges they went through, they are known for their work ethic, ingenuity and strong sense of duty. What set Trudi apart from her peers was her willingness to take a risk and join a fledgling community that was just beginning to take root in the Madawaska Valley when she was still a young woman. Her lifelong commitment to their way of life shaped not only her own personal destiny, but also that of the people living in places where she served.
As one of the early members of Madonna House, Trudi’s imprint on the community can still be felt to this day. She arrived in Combermere on the evening of August 1, 1953, to help at summer classes put on by the community’s foundress Catherine Doherty. Cortens became an applicant to the community on January 6, 1954, and “took promises” shortly after. This apostolate is unusual in that it is comprised of both priests and lay people. When people join, after a period of applicancy, they are said to “take promises”; these promises of poverty, chastity and obedience are initially for one year and then are renewed multiple times until final permanent promises are made signifying a lifelong commitment to the community.
Although the community would attract hundreds of members and host many of thousands of guests over the years, Trudi had a singular place in its initial formation. Catherine Doherty recognized Trudi’s gifts early on and wrote, “Trudi has done simply a marvellous job with the summer school. Her organizational ability towers over all of us and brings us order and the tranquillity thereof.”
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