January, February, March 2013 Issue
Summary
My Faith — As the Living Water
Columns
Spiritual Life
The Sacred Journey - André Gadbois
Proposing the Faith as indicated in Scripture invites us all to "let go" of our pretentious knowledge of the Truth and join those who suffer and work for the happiness of Humanity.
There was a time in Quebec, Canada, when the Catholic faith was automatically part of our heritage just as is our maternal language.
Cultures and Mission
The Bread of Fellowship - Jacqueline Brage, M.I.C.
Originally from Cuba, Sr. Jacqueline is involved in promoting the Church’s missionary dimension in Mother Délia Tétreault’s country, here in Quebec, Canada. She considers herself privileged to be able to share her faith with the large MIC family and with people from different nations, especially those from Latin America.
Youth
Transmitting the Faith - Three Generations - Suzanne Lachapelle
How are the faith and the Christian values transmitted from one generation to the other? What are their respective characteristics? This article found its inspiration largely from an excellent book: "Le défi des generations" / Faith Through the Generations—A Challenge!
Ecology
Ecological EYE-OPENED - Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, M.I.C.
Ecology captures our attention and leads us to renew our vision of the world. The human environment includes the entire earth with its diverse ecological systems; therefore, ecology makes us aware of the fragile interdependence between the natural world and human beings. It obliges us to adopt a critical attitude toward our devastating ways of doing things.
IN FOCUS
MY FAITH - As the Living Water
Why I Said "Yes" - Nadya Rakotonirina, M.I.C.
A native of Madagascar, Sister Nadya arrived in Montreal in July 2012 for a stay of two years. Young, dynamic and enthusiastic, Sister is here to learn more about the Foundress of the MIC Community and to be imbued of her spirit. Currently, she is working for the Cause of Délia Tétreault. Sister Nadya tells us about the path which led her to become a religious.
Vocation - A Prevalent Question - Thérèse Chabot, M.I.C.
Do you have an idea of the question that is often asked when I go about promoting the Good News? Without doubt, it is a prevalent question since everywhere I go, it comes up. It seems to be a concern for many people. What is the famous question? Do you have vocations? An immediate and happy reply is: Yes. The next question that comes up: Where do they come from? Without hesitation: They come from everywhere, particularly from countries where young women see the missionaries at work.
Faith: "A Tiny Bud of Hope" - Léonie Therrien, M.I.C.
The author of this article takes her inspiration from Charles Péguy’s poem: ‘The Portal of the Mystery of Hope’. This 20th century French Catholic poet presents Hope as the frailest of the virtues represented by ‘little girl Hope’ who stands between her two ‘older’ sisters Faith and Charity, drawing them forward.
ABOUT THE MICs
Missionary Dynamism - In collaboration : MIC Website Team
Our elderly MIC Sisters are still very much interested in our mission work here in Canada and abroad. Through their prayerful lives they support the missionary works of the MICs and uphold all hearts that open up to the Good News. A quick look at the different countries in which we have become integrated will give an idea of the new forms of involvement we are engaged in. Our goal is to be at the service of people and groups in search of human and spiritual growth.
A Family Trait - Louisa Nicole, M.I.C.
While looking at one’s life, we can wish or feel within our heart the desire to leave behind some traces which others could follow. This is not out of pride but rather out of a life centered on values we would like to see extended and last for the world of tomorrow. Will young people adjust their feet into our footsteps? Surely not! The only thing they might keep is that little bright flame from the heart which shines in our eyes, which motivates our actions and allow the great dream of our life to take root and be transformed into a reality? Could this not be considered as a family trait?
January, February, March 2013
Faith—at a Turning Point
Since infancy we have taken our faith for granted; all through our growing-up years, it was a peaceful part of us. Today, it is different. We live in a multi-confessional society and we are confronted with issues that did not exist before. Questions abound: What is my faith all about? What is the basis of my belief? In whom do I believe? This year, Pope Benedict XVI proposes we take an invigorating halt to look deeper into our Christian faith. This is a grace-filled opportunity; the true Living Water is beckoning us.
Believe! It’s an everyday challenge. In the Scriptures we read: Happy are those who have not seen and yet have believed.1 This is a beatitude calling us to trust, to transcend rationalism. Faith is nothing less than a loving encounter with Christ who opens our eyes to discover Him in the eyes of the other. It’s a transformative encounter that goes as far as giving one’s self to the Lover.
Precisely, many young people from around the world respond to the Lord’s call—they consecrate their lives to Christ. They become witnesses of their faith in a world that needs a new evangelization. Notwithstanding the obstacles that may come their way such as being ridiculed, laughed at, even being misunderstood they dare consecrate themselves to Christ because of their deep convictions and faith in Him.
We are all called, one way or another, to be witnesses of hope that offers the Living Water to all those whose hearts thirst for conversion. Doubts and trials can weigh heavily upon us, but our leitmotif I know in whom I put my trust upholds our efforts and our good will. Christ will always be present among us and together we can be witnesses of a living faith. The Source of the Living Water never runs dry; it is always there to revive us. Give me this living water 2 the Samaritan woman asked Jesus… May our prayer today be: Intensify my faith, O Lord! I hope that the articles in this issue will inspire us and lead us to reflect, to deepen our belief in a loving God, and urge us to be witnesses of our faith.
The Team
MIC MISSION NEWS TEAMEditorial Board |
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Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, Directress of publicationOriginally 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.
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Carole Guévin, Direction's assistantAssistant Director of the MIC Missionary Press, Carole lived in Nicaragua and Lebanon as a lay missionary. |
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Translator : French to English - MIC Mission NewsSr. Claudette is a former missionary in Malawi, Africa. She also worked in the Archdioceses of San Francisco, California; Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Colombia as Archdiocesan coordinator and promoter of mission awareness activities. Within parish contexts, she coordinated religious education programs and accompanied youngsters on their faith journey. |
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André Gadbois, Editorial BoardMarried 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. |
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Louisa Nicole, M.I.C., Editorial BoardSr. Louisa was a missionary in Japan. She is currently involved in the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program as a master trainer and workshop facilitator under the direction of McGill University Health Center. She also gives time in spiritual accompaniment according to the Ignatian Pedagogy, teaches adult catechesis, and journeys with the AsMIC of Granby, Quebec. |
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Léonie Therrien, M.I.C., Editorial Board
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. |
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Emilien Roscanu, Editorial BoardEmilien Roscanu is a CEGEP student who is currently studying humanities. History and politics are his passion as well as the arts scene and dramatic art. Dedicated to his community, he is a young man who also loves debating ideas. |
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