Patrick Jamieson, Victoria, BC

I didn’t know Sister Judi Morin, SSA that well, personally; that is I knew others much better of that congregation. But I followed her path from an admiring distance, as first female chaplain in the Canadian prison system, promoter of restorative justice and nonviolent language of Marshall Rosenberg.

I could feel her strength of character from the personal encounters I did have, despite her disarming smile. I also knew her from her leadership with the Associates of the Sisters of St. Ann from close friends who were among their ranks.

I was surprised to learn she was in her 85th year, as she kept herself fit and youthful looking with a swimming regimen. She was born in Vancouver June 8, 1941, the second of five children, the eldest girl. At the age of four, her family moved to a logging camp for the next four years, “for nearly four years they lived in a shack on skids between the beach and the forest, idyllic for kids, but not for a mother…who was physically unwell. Judi learned early to be responsible at home,” to quote from the Sisters of St. Ann official obituary, from which the details of this reflection are drawn.

Home schooled in Grades one and two, she was boarded out to St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria, in 1949 the family was reunited in Parkville as the family bought a carpentry business. A lifelong swimmer, she paid for her university by teaching swimming, and after two years of university opted to enter the Sisters of St. Ann in Victoria in 1961 at age 19.

A teacher to her core, Judi loved her six years of teaching in grades three to seven at St. Ann’s Academy, Victoria and Queen of Angels School, Duncan and her students loved her and her vivacious spirit. Then Judi was given the opportunity to go to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she grew in understanding and appreciation of ecumenicity while working on a team as a campus minister at the University of Alaska. She also deepened her connection with Indigenous people.

In the summer of 1974, Judi responded to the invitation to minister in the prison in Abbotsford. She loved the work but did not enjoy living alone. One year later she was invited to be chaplain at William Head Institution as the first woman to be name chaplain in a Canadian prison, and co-pastor with Fr. Bill Mudge at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Sooke. This ministry grew and Judi spent four years living in a half-way house with men on day parole and volunteer members of the newly formed Laren House Society. This Society’s aim is to offer community support for men as they make the difficult transition from prison back to the community.

After six years of two “part time” jobs, Judi found herself wearing out and so chose to look for one single full-time ministry. She spent the next seven years on an interfaith campus ministry team at the University of Victoria and Camosun College. It was in this position where Judi was privileged to be the first woman in Canada to preside at the Sacrament Marriage in the Catholic Church.

After a sabbatical in Berkeley, California, Judi spent two years ministering at Queenswood, Victoria and then responded to the call to return to prison ministry, which she continued for 10 years. During this time, Judi became increasingly aware of the shortcomings of punitive justice both from a faith stance and as a solution to crime. She discovered restorative justice, a paradigm which focuses on the needs of all involved.

When in 1999, prison ministry became less than full time, Judi was introduced to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by Marshall Rosenberg, which she saw as providing language of restorative justice and a vehicle to help in the conversion to the new paradigm both in the justice system as well as peace and nonviolence in systems and in daily life. She began learning NVC by leading a group of men in prison as well as a group in the City. After four years and lots of practice and learning, she was certified as an NVC trainer, adding to her diplomas: BEd from University of Victoria, MA in Theology from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California and a Diploma in Spirituality from the Jesuit Society of Theology (JSTB in Berkeley, California.

Judi was a strong community person, regularly visiting and encouraging all the Sisters, especially those living at Mount St. Mary Hospital. During her several years of leadership she showed much compassion, was always reliable and responsible, and enjoyed organizing activities for others.

Since her diagnosis she welcomed visitors as much as possible and took every opportunity she could to get outdoors for a short walk, allowing nature in all its beauty to feed her soul. Judi enjoyed community celebrations, hosting New Year festivities for many years and event participating with the group who gathered in her room for a community Birthday prayer two days before she died.

Judi’s faith filled relationship with God sustained her during this difficult period but as her health declined, she was eager to go home to her Creator. During the very early morning of April 14th our loving God granted her desire and took her gently home as she slept.

RIP Judi Morin,
June 8, 1941 – April 14, 2026