A Birthday Party “Under the Stars”

Under the evocative theme “A Star For You”, the 2024 birthday party took place on May 24 in the chapel at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM).

The event brought together the Sisters and Associates of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) and the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (PM residents at MJM). This joyous celebration took the form of a summer adventure, whereby, under the light of the stars, participants were invited to reflect, pray a little, sing a lot and experience a few inspiring rituals.

SNJM associates, couple Richard and Brenda Brisebois led us in a sing-a-long at this successful event.

The meeting began with a reflection on the stars by Sr. Lorna Cooney. Interspersed with pauses and elements of animation encouraging interactions among the participants, this reflection led them to think about the moment of their birth, notably by affirming “When you were born, a star was born!” The everyone wished a “Happy Birthday” to everyone else.

The influence of the stars

When explaining the meaning and symbolism of the stars, Sr. Lorna noted “The references and quotations on the meaning, beauty and effect of the stars are innumerable.” She went on to remind us, “When we look at the stars, we feel that we are not just part of a particular piece of land on this little planet Earth, but we are part of the immense solar system and far beyond… Moreover, in recent years we have come to understand that we are made of stellar matter. You could say there is stardust in our veins.”

During the course of her presentation, she referred to universal traditions, customs and practices that demonstrate the influence of the stars in everyone’s life. In addition to the links with astronomy, Sr. Lorna provided some insights into the Biblical approach to the subject.

A beautiful moment

During the ritual, everyone was invited to place their star on the wall. A marvellous way of complementing the décor, while raising awareness of the importance of each individual.

The fun and musical part then followed. Invited to imagine themselves around a campfire in the evening under the stars, they sang several lively melodies, including one by Jean-Pierre Ferland (Fais du feu dans la cheminée). The Cowboys Fringants’ rhythmic song “Les étoiles filantes” (Shooting Stars) was also a highlight as everyone exited the chapel.

The event ended with outdoor refreshments. Many took the opportunity to strike up conversations with others using the facilities here and there on the grounds.

This annual event was organized by a committee made up of Sisters Hélène Harvey, Lorraine Mongeon, Lorna Cooney and Lisette Boulé.

Photos : Madame Julie Tétreault, SNJM affiliate