July August September 2011 Issue

Summary

channels of tenderness

Columns

Spiritual Life

Tenderness: Where Has It Gone?- André Gadbois

Recently, I saw a French Canadian film—Tom à la ferme; it told the story of a young man who was naturally good, gentle and sensitive, consciously becoming a violent, vengeful person. What brought the change? Isolation, indifference, and the hypocrisy of the milieu all contributed to the down fall of this man. I think the story represents a 21st century reality... [READ MORE]

Cultures and Mission

Raspberry and Coffee Flavor- Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.

Isn’t this a surprising title to present the Society of Foreign Missions (PME) and celebrate with them their 90th Foundation Anniversary? Yet, it can be justified historically. These committed priests have been heroic, even martyrs, in their pursuit of Christ’s Mission. Throughout the years, these missionaries have retained that pleasant flavor... [READ MORE]

Youth

TiMoun Is Alive- Marie-Rosette Lafortune, m.i.c.

Years ago, TiMoun Mysionè was published and launched by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception who were in charge of the Pontifical Mission Works in Haiti. This mini magazine’s goal is to foster the children’s awareness of the missionary nature of the Church and to bring closer the young people. Despite the many hardships that have befallen Haitians, TiMoun has remained popular. It is a magazine that children love to read and that teachers use as a pedagogical tool to enhance interest in other youths around the world... [READ MORE]

Testimony

Channels of Tenderness- Patrick Parizeault

Whether you want it or not, the prison walls that enclose you gradually make you less human. We simply try to survive and everything becomes superficial. I had to find a way of keeping a mental balance and remain somewhat human. I was invited to take part in meetings... [READ MORE]

Solidarity

Cerro Rico- Suzanne Lachapelle

Have you ever gone down a mine? After having read Paul Ohl’s book, Black Sun, in which he describes the tragic destiny of the Incas people, I felt urged to go see with my own eyes the place where so many human lives have been lost. I travelled to Bolivia precisely to Potosi, famous for being the highest city in the world and for the reddish mountain looming above it where the Cerro Rico mine is known as the largest in the world... [READ MORE]

A Mission in Action... Faith and Light- Huguette Turcotte, m.i.c.

Author Norman Rice once said: Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness to pull another hand into the light. Many people put this statement into practice. Individuals give their time and spend their energies being channels of comfort and of tenderness for others to see the light in their lives; we see them working at l’Arche, we see them with groups such as Faith and Light. Sr. Adrienne Guay, M.I.C. has been journeying with such people; the following is an interview with her... [READ MORE]

Mahatamana's Project: A Promising Future for Madagascar- Marie-Colette Raeliarisoa, m.i.c.

It is worthwhile to invest manpower, time, energy and money when a mission project responds to the needs of a population whose future is most promising... [READ MORE]

Show Me Tenderness- Véronique Martel

A wide gap exists between violence and tenderness [...] Not only do men exercise violence against each other, nature is also at war with us... [READ MORE]

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Editorial

Love Me Tender!

Do you remember the song Love Me Tender? It was once a big hit. In a world where we witness wars, violence, brutality, indifference, could we not say that our humanity is in need of authentic love and tenderness? With greater compassion, affection, and understanding, our human relationships would be deeply enriched and perhaps life would be more pleasant—somewhat easier to cope with.

Tenderness? It’s a quality of the heart which pays attention to the other with openness and respect, it proposes without constraining. A characteristic of tenderness is to reach out with care, calling forth reciprocity. How good it is to see sons and daughters bringing comfort to their elderly parents. Observe the young couple when they welcome their first child; hear the engaged couples planning their future; see the parents who work to provide for their children; the grandparents who pamper their grandchildren. All these actions reveal a deep love expressed with great tenderness. God has given us a heart with which to love. It is beautiful to sing about it, but more marvelous it is to put it into practice.

Could it be possible that one day there would be no more abandoned or mistreated children, no more elderly people living in solitude and distress, no more battered women… The strength to love proclaimed by Martin Luther King, has little to do with reasonable accommodations but rather with respecting each person’s aspirations and culture. How is it possible to help people if I do not love and have compassion, if I have no tender feelings for those who are victims of our lack of care? Is our world in need of tenderness? Produced by a Filipino artist, the masterpiece which appears on the cover of this issue is astonishing. Such tenderness! Take time to contemplate this touching scene… Without any doubt it will speak to your heart and will fill you with a feeling of tender love so much needed in our world of today; it is the indispensable cement, the essential element for a more humane society. Do you not believe that if we reached out with greater tenderness, there would be fewer wars, less violence, less hatred, less people left in despair?


With the One who, out of love, offered His life for us, may the summer season give you time to be for others what He is for you, for each one of us.

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The Team

MIC MISSION NEWS TEAM

Editorial Board 

                               

Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, Directress of publication

Originally from Quebec, Sr. Marie-Paule was a missionary in Haiti; she worked with high-school students in the field of catechesis and also in youth ministry.  She is now directress of the MIC Missionary Press and Provincial Superior of the MIC Canadian Province.

André Gadbois, Journalist 

Married and father of two children, André Gadbois, after several years in pastoral work, taught children with serious learning disabilities for 20 years and was school director for ten years. He has been very involved with catechumens of the church in Montreal, and is the editor of their journal, le Sénevé. 

 

Louisa Nicole, journaliste

  Léonie Therrien, Journalist

Occupation:  She is a member of the editorial team for the missionary magazine Le Précurseur/MIC Mission News.  She is also responsible for a group of MIC Associates (ASMIC).

Experiences:  Educator; youth group animator as well as animating groups of Associates; member of an intercommunity mission animation team.

 

  Claudette Bouchard, Translation and Journalist

Sr. Claudette is a former missionary in Malawi, C. Africa.  She also worked in the Archdioceses of San Francisco, Ca.; Toronto, Ont.; and Vancouver, B.C. as Archdiocesan coordinator and promoter of mission awareness activities. Within parish contexts, she coordinated religious education programs and accompanied youngsters on their faith journey.

 

Carole Guévin, Direction's assistant

Assistant Director of the MIC Missionary Press, Carole lived in Nicaragua and Lebanon as a lay missionary.

 

Véronique Martel, Journalist

Véronique Martel has a BA degree in linguistics and French literature, and she is now completing her MA. She is also interested in cultures and visual arts. The author is a literary chronicler on the Radio Ville-Marie station.

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