October- November-December Issue

Summary

contents

(VOL. 60, No. 4 /October-November-December 2017)

Columns

Spiritual Life

We Must Believe, Friend — André Gadbois

Walk forward! Always forward! Like the pilot, be a mechanic, radio operator, and navigator, all at once. Stay standing when others sit down, smile when they grit their teeth, offer your water when they are thirsty and your heart when they are in need. Carry the fatigue of the weak, shed light on those who are in the dark, hope to help six and pray to help ten. And at night, when all is quiet, speak to the Lord for them.

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Cultures and Mission

A Little Piece of Me — Audrey Charland

Sometimes, certain events take place that seem to happen purely by chance. It’s often difficult to immediately understand these “messages” when confronted with them; it’s not until later that everything seems clearer and more obvious. No matter what, a peaceful faith washes over us during these
moments of confusion, faith in the strength of our beliefs and dreams. Moved by an intuition stirring from some unknown, mysterious place within me, I decided to leave behind a little piece of me…

Délia-Tétreault Museum

A New Museum and Its Story — Jeanne Gauvin, m.i.c.

élia Tétreault, a name known and recognized... But do we ever finish getting to know someone? A new museum has just opened in Laval and it bears her name: Délia- Tétreault Museum. The museum shares the fantastic story of this audacious woman who followed her dreams and, in 1902, founded the first female missionary community in the Americas, the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.

To have a museum bear her name today is to recognize that her radiance is universal and important enough to ensure her memory lives on.

Officially opened on April 18th in Laval, the Délia-Tétreault Museum took root in a new location and began its future. Mr. Marc Demers, Mayor of Laval, stated: We are pleased to inaugurate a place so rich in culture and history in our city. The Délia-Tétreault Museum shows the remarkable contributions made by hundreds of women who, over the decades, have dedicated their lives to the education and healthcare of populations severely in need.

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IN FOCUS

PROMISES OF LIFE 

An Unforeseen Discovery — Odette Beaudoin, André Larivière.

When lay missionaries hear the CALL to go beyond their own boundaries, to be missionary disciples, the story of their experience is unique. Still journeying in a new land, André and Odette mull over their months abroad and they share with us their thinking and their discovery.

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Rose’s Garden — Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.

Every individual is blessed with an inner secret garden where seeds of life wait to grow and prosper. During her missionary life in Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru, Sr. Rose-Alice Brochu went through many trials which with time she was able to overcome. During those difficult years she always kept hope in the One who walks with her every day and she became aware she had a special gift. Within her inner being, Sr. Rose-Alice discovered she had a green thumb for plants but most importantly for people who came across her path.

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KANYANGA – Promises of Life — Jacqueline Vachet, m.i.c.

To the crowd who was listening to Him, Jesus said: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (Jn 10:10). Forty years in Malawi and Zambia (Africa) serving as nurse and mid-wife, Sr. Jacqueline Vachet takes us to Kanyanga. This is where, for thirty-three years, she has been devoting her time and energy.

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ABOUT THE MICs

Today, the Lord Is Calling You — The Editor.

The Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception is essentially a missionary community. Its members commit themselves to go wherever they are sent. When the Lord knocks at the door of one’s heart, with joy, she responds “yes”.

The joy of being Christ’s ambassador
The true missionary, who never ceases to be Christ’s disciple, knows that Jesus walks with her, speaks with her, breathes with her, works with her. She feels He is truly alive and present in the missionary activity of the Church. We too can be missionaries with those who are sent on His behalf; through our prayers and financial help we are one with them.

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To Live Is to Love With All Your Heart — Cecilia Hong, m.i.c.

Fifty years of missionary life is a remarkable journey of dedication, love and service. Sr. Monica Lam of Hong Kong is here in Canada for her well-deserved sabbatical renewal and at the same time to celebrate her Golden Jubilee with other companions. The motto of Sr. Monica during her Final Vow ceremony in
Hong Kong 1967 was: To live is to love with all your heart! Let us hear from Sr. Monica how she lives in order to love.       

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Nuggets of Gold

Who would not go running, sieve in hand, to find gold at the bottom of a river? Yet, this precious gold we are searching for might not be where we think it might be… Did you ever consider that in the heart of people is where the precious gem can be found? Sometimes it is difficult to find, but once the mystery is uncovered, the gold nuggets of friendship are much more valuable than all the material wealth in the world. John Foley, s.j. in his song Earthen Vessels, tells us that we hold a treasure, not made of gold, in earthen vessels, wealth untold…

In this issue the Promises of Life show us that, throughout life, there are always treasures to be discovered. Hence the creation of our museum which testifies to the life of Délia Tétreault and to the missions carried out by missionaries all over the world. Today, more than ever, the call of Christ’s mission beckons to us. Such was the experience of André and Odette. They did not go to Peru to find gold, but to discover the hearts of the Andean people. Despite the difficulties one expects to encounter when interacting with a new culture, they found more than gold in Cauday, in the great mountains of Cajamarca— they discovered a friendship with the people there. Similarly, André and Diane received a warm welcome, and joyfully shared the exchanges they had during their pilgrimage in the footsteps of Mother Marie-Anne, Foundress of the Sisters of Sainte-Anne. For Audrey, the length of her beautiful golden hair did not stop her from taking scissors to her mane to bring joy to little girls with cancer. On the banks of the Prairies’ river, a special Rose has flourished despite the difficulties in life. With words of encouragement and shared friendship, see how this flower was able to bloom and grow.

When the Lord gave his great commandment to love, he knew the power of his words. Promises of life, promises of God. Let your joy be perfect. If we knew how to listen, to love… there would be no more attacks on the front pages of our newspapers, spreading fear and death. Jesus’ words give life: as missionaries, we seek to live out these words in our daily lives. We know that material riches last only a short time. Inner joy is the eternal treasure that lies at the bottom of the rivers of our hearts. Collecting these nuggets of gold is the promise of life offered by the Lord.
If ever you drive by Laval, QC, you are invited to stop and come visit the Déliat Tétreault museum.

 

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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