Remaining Active With the Help of Young Academics

The first contact between the three university students recruited by the SNJM Quebec Justice and Peace Committee and the Sisters at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) was mutually motivating. As much as the three young people were stimulated by the questions of the Sisters present, the Sisters enjoyed discovering the new perspectives of their mission and the enthusiasm of the young people.

Sr. Lise Gagnon facilitating the meeting with the young partners, accompanied by Sr. Jacqueline Aubry. They are both members of the SNJM Quebec Justice and Peace Committee.

The first meeting took place in the MJM cafeteria on Sunday, January 14. The three university students introduced themselves in response to an outline of a few questions prepared by members of the Justice and Peace Committee. The students spoke about their respective backgrounds and motivations for getting involved in the “Partners in Justice and Peace” project. They were also invited to express their views concerning their involvement with a group of people much older than themselves.

Simon Lantz

Their simple, natural way of expressing themselves and their openness to these intergenerational relationships won over the audience. “I was amazed. I still get goose bumps when I think that my community has dared to take this extra step to bring new life to our mission. I’m ready to do anything to help them keep going,” said 93-year-old Sister Pierrette Désilets quite enthusiastically

Motivating discussions

During the discussion period that followed the presentations, the Sisters expressed their concern about remaining active.  When asked, Sr. Marie-Paule Demarbre responded, “What can we do to help them? How can they help us remain active?”

Sofia-Elena Ranke-Farro

This exploratory meeting did not provide all the answers. It did, however, establish an initial basis for discussion and revealed a number of very concrete avenues to explore in the Longueuil region. They raised issues such as the protection of tree frogs and the phenomenon of street gangs in connection with trafficking in the Longueuil Metro.

Accompanied by three members of the Justice and Peace Committee, Sisters Lise Gagnon, Claudette Bastien and Jacqueline Aubry, the young students completed their visit with a presentation to a group of Sisters in the infirmary,

A promising project

There was a general consensus that young people should be more open to others, and that the committee’s initiative offers “new perspectives so that SNJM corporate stands don’t fall by the wayside”, confided Sr Hélène Harvey.

Héloïse Vincent-Ozell

As part of their commitment, students Sofia-Elena Ranke-Farro (human trafficking), Héloïse Vincent-Ozell (homelessness and aboriginal homelessness) and Simon Lantz (environment) meet monthly with members of the Justice and Peace committee to review progress on their respective issues. They also take the opportunity to learn more about the SNJM values conveyed by the three SNJM Corporate Stands.

The “Partners in Justice and Peace” project is a response to the objective of “sharing our mission with younger people and experiencing an intergenerational exchange, particularly with university students”, explained Sr Claudette Bastien in her speech.

In the process, further meetings are expected to take place between the young people and the SNJM’s at MJM. In the meantime, the students are preparing to meet with the group of volunteers on March 2. This will be another opportunity for the Sisters to greet them during lunchtime.

Photo and video credit: Sr Suzanne Brault

Presentation of the Partners of the SNJM Justice and Peace Committee in Quebec

Discovering the mandates of the partners on the SNJM Quebec Justice and Peace Committee is the purpose of this short presentation by university students. (The video is in French)