SNJMs in Solidarity

Despite the strict confinement due to COVID-19, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) of Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) remain connected to the outside world and eager to continue supporting various worthy causes.

After offering, to several charitable organizations, many handmade articles (tuques, mittens, scarves…) fashioned by a group of knitters, the MJM Sisters contributed funds from their personal budgets to support the cause of two local organizations. Their donations, combined with an amount from the MJM coordination budget, provided $1875 to each of these organizations.

This year, L’Entraide chez nous and La Croisée de Longueuil benefited from this financial aid.

L’Entraide chez nous, established in 1971, offers front-line services including various emergency services, help for the elderly and a clothing counter. The organization contributes to the development of the social skills and the personal growth of its clients.

La Croisée de Longueuil focuses on the autonomy of people in the community by promoting socialization and integration activities, while helping people develop a sense of belonging. Among the projects it has put forward is a project in agroecology.

Support for the youth of Saint-Nom-de-Jesus School

The SNJM’s sensitivity to the needs of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district dates back to their arrival at Hochelaga Convent in 1860. Since then, in addition to their presence in almost all the educational institutions  in the borough, the Sisters have initiated or collaborated in projects set up to help families and have been actively involved with groups advocating for social justice causes.

With the goal of raising $25,000, a quarter of the estimated cost for renovating the courtyard of Saint-Nom-de-Jésus School, the students organized a fundraiser, a sale of fir trees. The administration of Maison Jesus-Marie (MJM) purchased four of these trees last December.

The children in the daycare service at this school designed several decorations and paper chains to add their particular touch to the Christmas decorations at MJM. As for the Sisters, they were invited to write messages of hope inscribed on golden cardboard balls to adorn the fir trees inside the building.

The Head of Activities and Community Services took the opportunity to design an information poster recalling some of the historical facts, thus highlighting the strong bonds forged between the SNJM Sisters and the people of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.

It was pointed out that the presence of SNJM Sisters at  Saint-Nom-de-Jesus School dates back to October 19, 1907, when 14  Sisters  were  mandated to teach at the school which, at the time, had 700 elementary school girls registered. Then in 1922,  the school added high school education. Until 1921, the school also had classes for English-speaking students.

Photo credit: Josée Narbonne