July- August-September Issue

Summary

AUDACE OF OUR DREAMS

 

3 | Dare to Dream – Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.

4 | God and Coronavirus – Godefroy Midy, s.j.

I was coming out of Puerto Rico to return home to Haiti, via the Dominican Republic. I was anxious to arrive because I had three retreats to preach: one for young Sisters preparing for perpetual vows, and a second one, a Paschal Triduum for lay people. The third was to be at the Foyer de Charité at St. Mary’s. A retreat at the Foyer de Charité is very dear to me because it has its originality. There are two of us animating it, Doctor Linda Métayer and myself. Woman, wife, mother of two daughters, committed lay person, psychologist, Mrs Métayer approaches the themes of the retreats with a feminine touch, in complementarity with my contribution. She has the gift of bringing the subject to life. I give thanks to God because I am not jealous.

1. Is the coronavirus changing you in your relationship with yourself?
How is it changing you?
2. Is the coronavirus changing you in your relationship with others?
How is it changing you?
3. Is the coronavirus changing you in your relationship with the environment, ecology?                                                                              How is it changing you?
4. Is the coronavirus changing you in your relationship with God?                                                                                                                  How is it changing you?

6 | The Missionary 5G – Suzanne Labelle, m.i.c.

There is the 5G network at the cutting edge of technology that will optimize, we are told, the future of telecommunications. It is extraordinary, it seems. It will increase tenfold the connection speed of our laptops and other connected devices. Sound familiar? But it’s not my place to brag about its possibilities, because I would get lost in it pretty quickly. Moreover, it would, it seems, have certain drawbacks and some people have wondered whether its waves, powerful but short and requiring thousands of small antennas, would not disturb our health, our very tranquility. Anyway, let’s move on, since we must always be in a hurry.

I would like to speak to you about missionary 5G. What does it consist of? You don’t know it? It consists of Grace, Graciousness, Generosity, Gratuity and Gratitude. How does it work, you ask me?

8 | Paola’s Story – Louis Gary Cyprien

To succeed in life is the wish that every human being has expressed at least once in his youth. However, it turns out that a wish or a vow does not come true at the mere mention of someone’s statement. Fairy tales are less and less in tune with human reality and are nowadays only found in books intended to fascinate children.

Despite the astounding progress of modern technology, science still cannot yet prescribe a panacea for success and happiness. For the majority
of people who have experienced it, success is rooted in the dreams they have nurtured since childhood, which have begun to germinate through specific goals and which have been realized through hard and continuous work. Dreams are not always synonymous with chimeras. They can become real through the goals we set and the determination we put into them.

10 | Délia-Tétreault Museum: The Secret Life of Objects – Alexandre Payer

When you enter the Délia-Tétreault Museum, you find yourself surrounded by about a hundred objects and images that have crossed time and oceans. In this issue of the magazine MIC Mission News, the Museum introduces you to the history of this small “gridap” lamp and its key role in the missionary adventure in Quebec from the 19th century to today.

CULTURES AND MISSION

11 | Being Bold during Pandemics – Éric Desautels

The attainment and realization of dreams has often been fraught with pitfalls in the history of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. These pitfalls have sometimes been psychological, geographical or material. Sometimes they have been fatal illnesses that have been more of an obstacle. The recent COVID-19 pandemic reminds us how much these diseases can disrupt the activities and habits of each one. In the face of these situations, we must be bold, persevering and hopeful. If any congregation has experienced such situations, it is certainly the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception!

14 | In the Service of God – Eden B. Tabudlong, m.i.c., Grezch Paderes

About 10 percent of the Philippines’ population works overseas or resides abroad. Among the five most popular destinations, Hong Kong ranks third because of its geographical proximity and its laws favorable to foreign workers. Economic instability in the Philippines, difficult working conditions and low wages are all reasons for workers to leave.

Once abroad, Filipino nationals often feel homesick. They tend to gather with people who speak the same dialect, come from the same part of the country, or have common interests or faith, in order to compensate for the absence of their families. The Philippines have the third largest number of Catholics in the world. It is not surprising, therefore, that Filipinos far from home seek comfort from the Church whenever they have the opportunity to do so.

16 | The Secret of the Mission – Marie Colette Raeliarisoa, m.i.c.

Missionary life holds many surprises. The greatest for me was, in 2013, when I received a nomination for Peru! I then packed my luggage and here I was on the plane for this new destination, my heart full of joy, but also of apprehension. I don’t speak Spanish and it’s the first time I’m going to live such an uprooting!

18 | African Seduction – Doris Twyman, m.i.c.

Living in a foreign country brings us to a new way of looking at the environment and the usual problems of life. We come to think that our way of doing things is not necessarily the best way. On other continents, people live happily in spite of the heat, the aridity of the soil, and the simplicity of the means. A philosophy of life, different from mine, animates the hearts of Africans, and seduces me.

This seduction has always stirred my heart and helped me to adapt. Each day was illuminated by a sign of simplicity or an unexpected look of solidarity. As I walked along stony paths, I discovered that drought hid an unexpected beauty and even led to the spirit of hope, as when you see a colorful flower opening on a cactus full of thorns.

20 | Contribution of the Magazine for the Care of Creation – Pauline Boilard, m.i.c.

Let us apply ourselves to see the Good Lord in creatures, nature and events to praise, bless and thank Him. This is one of the invitations addressed to the Outremont fraternity in March 1925, by Delia Tétreault, founder of our congregation in 1902 and of the magazine in May 1920.
It is interesting to go through the comments made in Le Précurseur, from the very first issue to the present day, with the thought expressed above as the key to reading it. Trends emerge through the testimonies of the collaborators and evolve according to the different countries and times.


DARE TO DREAM

Who among us have never had some bold dreams? Knowing how to dream, making choices, ensuring continuity and, above all, being bold. How many young and not so young dare to dream, but often quit after a while. Why do they quit? Lack of support, lack of perseverance... Making a dream come true requires going deep inside ourselves to discover the motivations that boldly guide us towards what best meets our longings.

Great people have had some crazy dreams and they believed in them. Becoming President of the United States, incredible for a black man. Barack Obama succeeded. Greta Thunberg, despite her young age, mobilizes crowds for the climate and with her the world population commits itself to save the planet. In sports, Laurent Duvernay- Tardif, in addition to being a doctor, is a winner at the 2019 Super Bowl, not to mention Bianca Andreescu, a young tennis star. These characters of different ages and from such diverse back­grounds have conceived dreams, impossible at first glance, but with perseverance they overcame the obstacles to claim victory.

They won the sympathy of the community, their dream became the dream of the entire population, hence their success. In the Church, great saints have surrounded themselves with people who were in solidarity with their dream. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Delia Tétreault have aroused the support of a community. Even Jesus surrounded himself with his apostles and with disciples who believed in his plans. They understood and committed themselves to following him. Even today, young people still leave their country to spread the Word of God. Sr. Marie-Colette in Pucallpa, Sr. Eden among the Filipinos in Hong Kong, Sr. Beverly in the Philippines and Sr. Monique in Latin America, all these missionaries have realized their dream to follow Christ. Bold dreams that found the necessary support from their families and communities.

Our world needs these heroes who see big and dare to conquer their dream. The centennial year of the magazine allows us to reflect on the need to dare to dream even in times of pandemic. As Éric Desautels mentions, Mother Delia did not sit idly by during the time of the Spanish flu or influenza. During the summer season, what answer will we give to our dreams? Will we dare to commit ourselves to supporting a young person, to fulfill his or her dream? We all need encouragement...

The Team

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