January-February-March Issue

Summary

contents

(VOL. 44, No. 1 /January-February-March 2017)

Columns

Spiritual Life

A Bridge Called Jesus — André Gadbois

Bridges are very much in the news today. Unfortunately, they are often elaborate, expensive, and not always practical. Despite their grandeur, they are often closed for repair and thus mocked by the media. Cities call them signature bridges and drivers fume about the perpetual traffic and congestion. But there are also quaint bridges in small villages. Every day local residents cross these humble bridges, and every so often they rebuild and solidify them. I remember the bridges we built during Camp Scouts. Back then farmers were happy to lend us their land for fifteen days of happiness. What is a bridge? It’s a structure that helps you clear an obstacle in your path so that you can reach the distant shore. A bridge is a simple servant.

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Cultures and Mission

The MIC International Scholasticate — Audrey Charlan

What is a scholasticate? My dictionary search proved fruitless. However, the Catholic religious orders define scholasticate as the period of time between a Sister’s temporary vows and her perpetual vows. The MIC International Scholasticate is nine months long and takes place in the Foundress’ country. The scholastics must complete this final stage of the MIC religious formation before their definitive commitment. 1 These months are almost exclusively dedicated to in-depth reflection and meditation. Afterwards, the Sisters must decide if they are ready to take their perpetual vows.

Youth

Dear Montreal, It’s Your Turn — Émilien Roscanu

My city is 375 summers young and remembers just as many winters. It is barely a dot on the great history map of humanity, and yet its own history and culture rival those of the world’s megacities. Like Paris, Montreal is a place of celebration.

Even though Montreal is only a few centuries old, it has a vibrant past and countless stories to tell. The city’s heritage is colossal: after 375 years, the voices of its French sons and daughters still resonate. The founders of Ville-Marie: Jeanne-Mance, Marguerite Bourgeoys, and Maisonneuve have left their indelible mark. Montreal is an intelligent and modern metropolis. The many universities and hospitals are a testament to the city’s well-established culture of knowledge; solidarity and mutual assistance are values deeply rooted in its DNA. Whether it was during the ice storm of 1998, or more recently, during the arrival of Syrian refugees, Montreal has shown itself to be more than a simple city. It is a welcoming and supportive community, where individuals help their neighbours without hesitation.

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Poem

Montreal — Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.

Thousands of intersecting streets
Snow-covered stairs, invitations to walk up
Orange cones, predicting tomorrow
Local folk, welcoming folk
You’re my city
Montreal

Skyscrapers, bell towers, stores
The Metro, East-West, North-South
Westmount, Saint-Henri
Rich folk, poor folk
You’re my city
Montreal

Flowered gardens, community gardens
The Olympic park, public parks
Summer sports, winter sports
Happy folk, warm-hearted folk
You’re my city
Montreal

With you, Maisonneuve, Jeanne-Mance
Our founding giants
So many feats, so many tribulations
History folk, festive folk
You’re my city
Montreal

Marie-Paule Sanfaçon

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IN FOCUS

BRIDGES LIGHTING UP 

Alley of Peace — Suzanne Boivin

Exclamations of joy erupt from all sides of the flowering alley. Summertime in the city is in full swing. Children run and play hide and seek. Tricycles and bicycles cross paths. Flocks of multicoloured doves decorate the ground. Residents of all ages, once strangers, now gather and chat amicably. Some wander through the alley together, while others sit on brightly coloured benches and watch their children play. The Alley of Peace is alive with the buzz of cicadas and the hum of new relationships.

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At the Heart of Papua — Grégoire Viau

Grégoire Viau is a scriptwriter, author, producer, animator, narrator, translator and presenter. Since 1984, he has been working mainly for The Productions Via the World Inc with Daniel Bertolino. During one of his many shoots he met the MIC Sisters to whom he brought his talented collaboration.

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Marriage – The Visible Sign of a Creative Love
— Cecilia Hong, m.i.c.

Pope Francis’ profound awareness of worldwide family crisis led him to call for an extraordinary Synod of Families to address the major challenges of families
in 2015. AMORIS LAETITIA is the fruit of this Synod. In a very profound but simple way, Pope Francis reveals the maternal care of the Church towards her children. If marital life is in crisis, children are affected. If families are broken, the society is affected and the Church as a Mother also suffers in  consequence. Therefore, Pope Francis invites all couples and families to renew their life as couples and to strengthen family bonding.

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ABOUT THE MICs

On the Trail of Délia — Carmèneta Beauplan, m.i.c.

Délia Tétreault’s dream continues to inspire young Haitian women who are drawn to the Lord’s Mission. Sr. Carmèneta, who is in charge of the MIC postulancy, informs us about the formation the postulants receive and their big challenge... the house is no longer safe.

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Come and See — Ravaka Andréa Razafindahy, m.i.c.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a practicing Catholic household. In some ways, God has always been part of my life. Every Sunday at church, my parents, older brothers, two sisters, and I would always sit together in the same pew, one of our many habits as devout Christians. Eventually these daily rituals sparked a deep, burning faith inside me. Soon I felt the pressing inner call.

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Your Light will Shine

Imagine a bridge covered in lights! To commemorate Montreal’s 375th birthday, the city will be undertaking this lavish project. The beautiful bridge will light up the city. Everyone will celebrate!

Our city and our world are becoming more and more cosmopolitan as migration flows increase. It takes real courage to leave behind your home in search of a better life. Imagine fleeing your country in desperation because of political turmoil or war. In honour of Montreal’s 375th birthday, let us welcome new arrivals and build bridges to unite our different cultures. Let us greet them with lights of openness, understanding, and friendship, so that everyone who sees them shining will say: You are my neighbor! You are my city! You are my country! New arrivals will be grateful for our spontaneous acceptance and welcoming heart.

Délia Tétreault once dreamed of a world without borders. This is our fundamental mission: to be one (Jn 17:21), to build bridges between communities, but especially between human beings and their Creator. Isn’t God our father? Aren’t we all sisters and brothers?

This year also marks the centennial of the Pontifical Missionary Works (OPM). On this occasion, Pope Francis asked that all baptized individuals nurture their evangelical passion and share their Christian faith by performing small, daily gestures. Collaborating on shared projects, like the beautification of an alley, new relationships can take root and blossom. Every day, we are faced with so many opportunities to spread happiness. Do you remember Expo 67?1 Fifty years ago, the project allowed Quebecers to discover different cultures and new technologies. Man and His World pavilions were so admired! Expo 67 had a
welcoming and creative spirit. Not only did it make the city even more beautiful, it opened us up to new discoveries.

What a wonderful mission to celebrate Montreal’s 375th birthday: building bridges lit by the love we offer our neighbour, whoever they may be. The present issue would like to convey this message: let us open our arms and our hearts to others; our light will shine for all.

The Team

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.

Carole Guévin, Direction's assistant

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

Translator : French to English - MIC Mission News

Sr. 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.

André Gadbois, Editorial Board

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.

Audrey Charland, Editorial Board

Audrey Charland, a 25-year-old graduate student with a master’s degree in Religious Studies, is trying her hand at something new: first the thesis, now the news article! After studying the history of Catholic missionary nuns in India, she has joined the MIC Missionary News team as the new Communications and Development Officer. This position will allow her to take on new and exciting challenges, and put her knowledge and skills into practice.


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.

Emilien Roscanu, Editorial Board                                                                            

Emilien Roscanu 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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