October-November-December 2013 Issue
Summary
contents
VOL. 40, No. 4 /October*November*December 2013
Columns
Spiritual Life
Help Someone Become SOMEONE — André Gadbois
I was always wild for bulletin boards and visuals, so much so that for almost forty years we have had a huge one in our home. It was made and given to us by friends and ever since has been hanging on the wall of our enclosed porch. It is round like the Earth, yellow like the Sun. Almost every day it illustrates life with its joys, its anxieties, its victories, its sorrows; life around us and on our planet. It is a seasonal bulletin board, indicating current events so as to keep life alive. Dust has no time to accumulate! It is a circular heart that keeps beating, it is a conversation piece where visitors stop and read; questions arise, opinions are expressed. Our bulletin board is an instrument meant for sharing, for communion, for thanksgiving as it keeps before our eyes all the events that are happening around the Globe. Like bread that nourishes the body, it nourishes our soul. It shows us the eyes of our universal brothers and sisters which are often sad, tearful and fearful.
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Cultures and Mission
A Walk for Life — Josée Bailly
The ‘Quebec Rally against Euthanasia’ announced a large-scale ‘WALK’ against the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The event took place on May 18 and rallied people from all backgrounds. Though the author of this article did not have the occasion of participating, her testimony is a long walk for life.
Jesus leads me to eternal Life. If I must not fear death nor apply aggressive therapy to the terminally ill, equally I must not glorify or seek death.
Life is precious, I want to celebrate it. I want to live, to rejoice, to love like Jesus loved. I want to assist those who suffer— to be the legs, arms, ears of those who cannot walk, who cannot hear, cannot reach out. I want to be a messenger of hope to those who are called to return to the Father; I want to help them go to the Father in peace and confidence, radiating Life as a child of God.
Youth
All Roads Lead... Further! — Émilien Roscanu
To be fully alive and reap the maximum benefits of life we must be able to follow our own way. From our very first cry up to adolescence, our steps are guided, at first by our parents, then by those who establish the foundations of our education. As adults, many important choices are before us and many of those are linked to studies or a career. At times, the choices are a cause of stress or of anguish. What will I do later in life? What will I accomplish? Such questions come to our mind because we know that these decisive choices will have an impact on our future. To be anxious while looking at all the alternatives is understandable.
IN FOCUS
LIFE – FULLY ALIVE?
A Life-long Commitment — Huguette Turcotte, m.i.c.
Returning to one’s homeland after 60 years abroad is quite a feat; readapting to all the changes surely demands openness and acceptance. Sr. Monique Cloutier, m.i.c. whose heart beats to the Japanese culture is currently going through this phase; she shares
with us her mission experience.
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A God-given Name — Manon Cléroux.
We often hear that trials make us grow. If that’s the case, I would surely be taller than my five feet. The last fifteen years of my life have been strewn with intensive moments—great joys and trials.
Such moments led me to embark on a spiritual quest: I began reading the Hindu bible and to practice the Buddhist and Hindu meditation until the time Jesus revealed Himself to me. I was transformed by Him, I journeyed with Him, I found myself and discovered my true identity through Him. The following is the testimony of my wonderful spiritual adventure and fascinating discoveries.
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100% Alive — Isabelle Ducharme
At twenty-two, an automobile accident transformed my life. I do not have the life I had imagined I would have, but I continue living MY LIFE. I refuse to allow my wheelchair or peoples’ looks dictate my actions.
I always craved for adventure. I grew up camping with my family in Quebec and in the Maritimes. At fourteen, I took part in a student exchange program; I was welcomed in British Columbia and lived one month with an English speaking family. At seventeen, I registered at Katimavik 1 a registered charity which educates Canadian youth through volunteer work. The following summer, I participated in a professional mobility project via the Franco-Quebec Office for Youth. Enriched by so many positive experiences I then applied to become a Royal Canadian Mounted Police. On the eve of my twenty-second birthday, I received news that I had been selected. What joy! I walked on clouds! Two great events to celebrate: my entrance at the RCMP and my twenty-second birthday.
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ABOUT THE MICs
Living My Faith With Mary — Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.
A specialist in Marian Spirituality, also professor at the University of Dayton, in Ohio, U.S.A., Sister Celia Chua has just come back from a tour in Asia where she gave retreats to members of religious communities and presented a conference on Mary during the Inter-Asia Congress. A brief photo reportage will give you a glimpse of the people she met who live their faith with Mary.
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THE ROSES OF GRATITUDE — Testimony by Jeanne Registre
On November 20, 2012 Mrs. Jeanne Registre appeared at the Pont-Viau Convent with an enormous bouquet of red and white roses. We all wondered what she was celebrating. Was it an anniversary? Sr. Huguette Turcotte, m.i.c. met with Mrs. Registre and discovered her touching love story as she relates it in this article.
Life - An Infinite Value
Life - An Infinite Value
During vacation time I had the opportunity of visiting St-Venantde-Paquette, a small village of 100 inhabitants in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. It is a marvelous and quaint place thanks to the Quebec songwriter and singer Richard Séguin and his colleagues who created the Poetry Walk. It is here that many of our own historic artists have been revived. A woman’s silhouette carved in a metal sheet (ref: cover page) offers us a striking view of the life in the village. Life, truly alive? Yes! This symbolic opening led me to reflect on the subject.
These days we speak about dying with dignity. I thought to myself—life has an infinite value. Life is a gift; it is lent to us to spread love, to give and expect nothing in return. We are more than a simple cosmic result, more than a product which has come forth by chance or accident. Our life has a goal and meaning because it takes its origin in God who loves us. What sense would our life have if it ended in emptiness? Life has an infinite value and each one contributes to something that is irreplaceable. Is it not everybody’s dream to leave behind a trace or a souvenir of our passage here on earth? Who remembers that woman of St-Venant-de-Paquette? Nonetheless, she is simply there while life continues circulating through her and around her.
When we think of the late Pope John-Paul II, of Nelson Mandela and many others… their preference was to wait for God’s time. It is a question of Faith. Our Christian Faith reminds us that life has an infinite value in God; it belongs to God and returns to God. Isaac Newton, the most influential scientist of all time and key figure in the scientific
revolution once said, “He who thinks half-heartedly will not believe in God; but he who really thinks has to believe in God.”
The articles presented in this issue offer you an opportunity to ponder upon the value of life. Authors, Manon and Isabelle have struggled with many difficulties yet they remained strong, the inner purpose of their lives emerged. Sister Monique’s missionary life of sixty years in Japan was a total gift to others; those dedicated years have left
indelible traces in God’s heart. Before taking any serious decisions, would it not be worthwhile to ponder upon the inner purpose of life? May this issue be for you enjoyable, interesting and fruitful.
The Team
Editorial 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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