File 19 - Interview with Virginia Birch

0.8 cm of textual material. - 1 photograph ; col. : 10 x 14.5 cm. - 1 computer disk. - 2 audio cassettes (ca. 3hrs).

File consists of an interview with Virginia (Ginny) Birch (nee Hall) interviewed by Joe Vorstermans at the Henri Nouwen Society offices (Richmond Hill, ON). Birch lives in Bernardsville, NJ and acted as Nouwen's administrative assistant for the final six months of his 1996 sabbatical year. Birch recounts experiences with Nouwen including writing 'Bread for the Journey', typing his personal journals, performing Eucharist, Fruits of the Spirit and meeting his many friends. Birch remembers Nouwen for his honesty, impatience, diligent letter writing and the commitment he demanded of her as his assistant. Themes present in Birch's interview include marital problems, loneliness, learning to stand up for oneself and the exclusivity of the Catholic faith in terms of communion. A copy of a handwritten note from Birch to Joe Vorstermans regarding a poem Nouwen wrote to Birch is also found in the file. The interview is transcribed and is available electronically or in hard copy.

Title based on contents of the file.
The photograph and audio cassettes have been removed from the file and rehoused in photographs box 7 and audio cassettes box 8. Reference copies of the audio cassettes are available (located with originals).

Added by T Wong, 23 October 2018