October - November - December 2011 Issue

Summary

the other side of...

Columns

Spiritual Life

Transcending the Screen of Words - André Gadbois

For many years, during group catechesis sessions at the Montreal Diocese, I mention to the catechumens to beware of words. In different ways, I demonstrate how they can be a trap, a pitfall, all the while affirming that they are of utmost importance for good communication and communion as proposed by Jesus of Nazareth. We are in quest of truth, searching for freedom, peace, tenderness, we want to be builders of brotherly love and we are usually glad to share our discoveries. To express ourselves we use words either spoken or written... [READ MORE]

Cultures and Mission

More Than a Dream- Agathe Durand, m.i.c.

The missionary life which mobilizes more than five hundred MIC Sisters around the world also attracts lay people who desire to share and collaborate in their mission projects. They bring humanitarian aid to the people to whom they are sent and this they do in the name of their faith... [READ MORE]

Women

A Breath pf Fresh Air- Marcelle Paquet, m.i.c.

The City of Taipei offers us the beautiful and unique opportunity to visit this colorful exposition. With you, we would like to take a brief look at the creative art work of the Taiwanese people... [READ MORE]

Youth

The Prince's Clothes- Véronique Martel

You have heard the proverb: Appearances can be deceiving – but have you ever experienced this saying to be true? Though we must not allow appearances to get in the way, they are often a measuring rod in our relationship with others. Unfortunately, our perception of a person relies on what the individual looks like... [READ MORE]

Passing-on the Flaming Torch- Claudette Bouchard, m.i.c. 

The gift of Faith has been passed on. The Lord’s mission of Love keeps on through His chosen ones. How can we not be thankful…, how can we
not believe in God’s steadfast Love within us and among us!? His shining Presence is for those who have eyes to see... [READ MORE]

In Focus: The Other Side Of...

A Tattoo on the Heart- Louisa Nicole, m.i.c.

What holds true for a missionary who comes back to her native land after so many years of dedication abroad? Some memories? Yes and no… above all, it is love, that kind of love that will not die. It is a tattoo on the heart. Whatever happens in Japan, where I worked for over twenty years, does not leave me insensitive. My heart oscillates like the land that trembles and shakes with the rhythm of earthquakes... [READ MORE]

What Is Your Song?- Léonie Therrien, m.i.c.

If we could see beyond the visible and capture the essential, what would be the song of the Autumn Season, of November and December? A voice is heard... [READ MORE]

A Dream and a Profond Experience- Thérèse Lebeau, m.i.c.

How to translate forty years of mission work with so many peoples who welcomed me in Peru, Chile, Guatemala, Bolivia and in Honduras? It is not easy to choose one specific experience... [READ MORE]

Gratitude in Action- Huguette Turcotte, m.i.c.

It is one thing to express one’s gratitude in words, but quite another to express it in action. Six Chinese ladies from Manila, all former students of the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) decided to organize a pilgrimage to Montreal as a way of saying ‘thanks’ to our Foundress, Venerable Délia Tétreault, who sent so many of her missionaries to the Philippines and who began the very first small Immaculate Conception Anglo- Chinese Academy in 1936... [READ MORE]

About the MICs

Christmas Wishes - Staff of the MIC Missionary Press [READ MORE]

911: Health Care Emergency!- Suzanne Lachapelle

Unlike the dying process which occurs in many of our wooded areas during the Fall Season, vegetation in Kanyanga, Zambia is year round. We could also say that there is continued growth in the seasons of Sr. Jacqueline Vachet’s mission work... [READ MORE]

The Lovely Red Brick Convent- Suzanne Gervais, AsMIC

In the small town of Joliette, Quebec, a unique little red brick convent was built in 1930. Along an attractive avenue, this little convent stood out with character. To protect it from the winter storms and bad weather, tall pine trees and a cedar hedge once surrounded it. At the entrance... [READ MORE]

Up

Editorial

The Other Side Of...

Have you ever been intrigued by the famous detective stories of Sherlock Holmes, or by the fictional Belgian detective Hercule Poirot or by Columbo? Trying to unravel the mystery gets the imagination going, but the ‘snag’ is always the surprising outcome. The same goes for a written article—reading only one side of the page does not give satisfaction, to get the full picture of the story both sides have to be read. To read between the lines, to see beyond the pictures that are projected on our small or large screens helps us to enter into the reality of the events and people alike.


How many times we have been struck before pictures and stories of tragedies, earthquakes, devastating fires, but once these are gone from our screens, we forget… How many times we have heard that the stoic attitude of the Japanese people has helped them overcome the tsunami? Yet, how many are experiencing a profound distress. Sr. Louisa who lived twenty years in Japan will speak to us about their reality. And closer to home, what have been the reactions upon seeing the inundations of the banks of the Richelieu River? Thousands of volunteers were touched and gave a helping hand: cleaning up the debris, repairing homes and cellars, such actions supported and gave joy to the disaster victims. 

What do we say about the approximate nine thousand heroes who took up the Shaved Head Challenge Leucan 2011 (Leucan—an association whose mission is to help cancer stricken children and their families believe in a brighter future). Bravo to everyone! These are actions that speak louder than words. The volunteers give from the heart. These generous individuals not only read between the lines but with insight see beyond the faces that appear on our screens. To be one with all is the adage of all missionaries who uproot themselves to enter into another culture. Such an experience is currently being lived by Marie-Hélène, Stephan and their three young daughters in Bolivia. The evangelical calling can be heard in many different ways, but the important thing is to respond. Being one with all concerns everybody, it’s an ambitious project, at times disturbing, but, oh… how rewarding! Generous hearts have the joy of experiencing this enriching reality. Soon, Christmas will present us the Nativity scene. Our eyes of faith will be called to pierce through the image of the little Child in the manger to see the greater mystery—that of the Incarnation. Out of love, the Son of God became one of us, He embraced our human condition. Let us allow Him to guide us by His Love which goes beyond the stories and pictures on our screens.


My best wishes are sent to each one of you—may you have a Blessed Christmas and a Holy New Year.

Up

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.

Up

Contact Us

Have questions, comments...

Name
Email
Comment

Please prove that your not a robot by checking this box.

Our Coordinate

Address: 120, Place Judge Desnoyers
Laval, Qc
H7G
1A4 Canada Phone: 450-663-6460
Fax :450-972-1512