The English-speaking Sisters and affiliated members of the SNJMs recently gathered for a meaningful and convivial get-together at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) on March 14, on the occasion of the Chapter Circles meeting  and the feast of St. Patrick.

Gathered together, they took time for reflection and sharing, in preparation for the SNJM General Chapter scheduled for next July in Longueuil. This deep and nourishing sharing allowed each person to express themselves and deepen their understanding of the meaning of their commitment. The meeting concluded with a symbolic gesture: the lighting of a virtual candle, a sign of hope and unity.

A Celebration with an Irish Flair

Following this, it was time to celebrate! In a warm and joyful atmosphere, the fifteen or so people shared a meal filled with the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Games, gifts, songs and laughter were the order of the day, all accompanied by a traditional Irish coffee that added a convivial touch to the afternoon.

This celebration holds special significance for the Congregation. Several Sisters have Irish roots, a heritage that dates back to the very beginnings of the community. During the Great Famine in Ireland (1845–1849), Mother Marie-Rose welcomed Irish orphans who had arrived in Quebec under difficult circumstances.  This gesture of openness and solidarity has left a lasting mark on the history of the SNJMs.

Throughout the years, many English-speaking women of Irish, Scottish, and other ethnic origins have joined the Congregation, contributing to its educational mission and its influence. St. Patrick’s Day thus becomes an opportunity to remember, celebrate, and pay tribute to this heritage. It was in this spirit that Sr. Denise Riel, Provincial Animator, joined the group.

A Very Much Alive Solidarity

True to their commitment, the participants also made a concrete gesture of solidarity. During a time of prayer, a collection raised over $500, which was given to a refugee woman and her daughter from Cameroon and who is a parishioner at Holy Family Parish. This gesture is part of a well-established tradition at this annual St. Patrick’s Day gathering.

The SNJMs thus continue their commitment to migrants and refugees in line with their collective position adopted in 2017. Sponsoring Syrian refugee families and supporting various community initiatives are other tangible expressions of this commitment. Between inner renewal, shared joy, and concrete solidarity, this day reflected the full richness of the SNJM mission and values.

As a reminder, the various meetings of the English-speaking group are organized by Brenda and Richard Brisebois.

Photo credit: Sr. Pat O’Neill

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) in Quebec play an active and structuring role within the Congregation’s Laudato Si’ Steering Committee, established in 2022 to advance the orientations of the 2021 General Chapter regarding integral ecology.

This international committee supports the participation of the entire Congregation in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, promoting awareness, reflection, and concrete commitments in line with the encyclical published by Pope Francis in 2015.

Quebec Expertise Serving the Congregation

Julie Tétreault, SNJM co-worker, represents Quebec on the committee. Her contribution enriches discussions and highlights initiatives developed locally.

Quebec also benefits from the collaboration of a partner engaged in social and environmental justice. Simon Lantz, associated with the SNJM Quebec Justice and Peace Committee, has shared his research on several challenges related to integral ecology.

Among his contributions, he has:

• participated in the review meeting presented to the entire Congregation in June 2025;
• offered a mini-conference at Maison Jésus-Marie on the environmental impact of digital technologies, particularly regarding water consumption and management;
• written an in-depth article on the challenges of deep-sea mining, a topic expected to inform future awareness initiatives.

Encouraging International Sharing and Collaboration

The work of the Steering Committee facilitates the sharing of initiatives from the various SNJM provinces. This collaboration promotes a smoother flow of information and supports those responsible for animation and leadership in several regions.

In preparation for the next General Chapter in July 2026, certain meeting formats have been adjusted. Alternative mechanisms are being explored to ensure the continued sharing of resources, whether spiritual reflection materials or analyses of current ecological issues. Future communications to the entire Congregation will provide the relevant links to access this information.

Julie Tétreault

Sometimes a simple demonstration can bring a distant reality to life. During a presentation of the annual Share Lent campaign of Development and Peace — Caritas Canada (DPCC), Julie Tétreault, an SNJM co-worker, captured the audience’s attention in a striking way.

Wearing a mask to symbolize poor air quality, she played the deafening sound of a train passing every 30 minutes in certain Brazilian communities. The noise, which startled many Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) present, illustrated the extremely difficult living conditions faced by populations whose villages are crossed by the Carajás Railway.

A Campaign in Solidarity with Affected Communities

This year, the Share Lent campaign supports Justiça nos Trilhos (Justice on the Rails – JnT), a partner organization that accompanies communities affected by the Carajás Railway.

This railway connects the largest open-pit iron mine in the world, located in the state of Pará, to the port of São Luís in the state of Maranhão. Along its route, it passes through many villages where living conditions have become increasingly difficult.

Local populations must cope with several challenges:

• the constant, overwhelming noise of passing trains;
• iron ore dust that seeps into homes;
• pollution and vibrations that weaken houses;
• safety concerns and the difficulty of crossing the railway tracks.

On the Path of Justice

Under the theme “On the Path of Justice,” the campaign highlights a concrete achievement after more than 20 years of mobilization. Thanks to the work of Justiça nos Trilhos, 312 families — about 1,300 people — have been relocated to a new village called Piquiá da Conquista, away from industrial facilities that were harming their health and quality of life.

As Flavia, a 31-year-old community leader from Piquiá da Conquista, explains:

“At times I wanted to give up, but my family told me: ‘You must continue.’ With the Comboni missionaries, we learned that the struggle is difficult. Despite our suffering, the relocation to Piquiá da Conquista has been a great source of joy for us. It is also an inspiration for other communities.”

A Gesture of Solidarity

In support of the campaign, the SNJMs of Quebec, in addition to making personal donations, will participate in a silent hunger supper on March 26. The symbolic meal — consisting of bread, a piece of cheese, and water — is intended as a gesture of solidarity with those living in precarious conditions.

For Julie Tétreault, this annual gathering remains a meaningful moment:

“The Share Lent presentation is always a wonderful opportunity for dialogue and awareness with the sisters.”

As Pope Leo XIV reminds us:

“Justice becomes concrete when it reaches out to others, when each person is given their due, until equality in dignity and opportunity among human beings is achieved.”

The SNJM birthday celebration, held on February 13 at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM), took on special meaning this year as it coincided with Valentine’s Day. Under the unifying theme “Celebrating with Heart,” the event honored both the gift of life and the joy of friendship in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

At the invitation of the Quebec Leadership Team, Sisters and SNJM Associates from across the province gathered in large numbers for this annual celebration. Since last year, the event has embraced a strong intergenerational dimension, thanks to the participation of some twenty students from Collège Durocher–Saint-Lambert (CDSL), who shared their energy and creativity.

Youth Fully Engaged

The students played an active role throughout the day. Their dynamic presence was evident at each activity station: creating colorful Valentine’s Day cards, presenting their social engagement initiatives, leading botany workshops, sharing Quebec-style fables, and challenging participants with math riddles.

They also introduced the Sisters to an immersive virtual reality experience, offering virtual visits to Canada’s national parks — an activity that sparked both curiosity and wonder.

Music, Discovery, and Shared Moments

Students with musical talents added an extra festive touch. In small groups or individually, they moved throughout the residence — even visiting the upper floors — to offer musical moments to the Sisters, including those unable to leave their rooms.

In her opening remarks, Sr. Lisette Boulé highlighted the deeper meaning of the gathering:

“We wish to heartily celebrate the gift of life and, at the same time, the celebration of friendship and love par excellence: Valentine’s Day.”

Following a reflection on popular expressions related to the heart, the assembly joined in on the chorus of Les yeux du cœur by Gerry Boulet, performed by a group of students.

A Meaningful and Inspiring Get Together

The joy shared throughout the day reflected the richness of these intergenerational sharings. Curious and open, the Sisters appreciated the vitality and commitment of the young participants, who left with smiles, calling out, “See you next year!”

The celebration concluded on a convivial note with refreshments served in the first-floor lounge, specially renamed the “Heart Café” for the occasion.

The event was organized by a committee composed of Sisters Lisette Boulé, Françoise Bernard, Lorraine Mongeon, and Hélène Harvey, in collaboration with Marie-André Rho from Collège Durocher–Saint-Lambert, who coordinated the students’ participation.

Given the enthusiasm expressed by all, this intergenerational experience may well inspire future community activities in a similar spirit.

Photos credit: Sr. Hélène Harvey

During the Day of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Saint-Jean–Longueuil, some sixty women and men religious gathered for a meeting that was enriching, fraternal, and deeply spiritual. The theme of the day was “Love Will Never Pass Away”.

Creative and Meaningful Facilitation

he gathering was facilitated by Francine Vincent, Coordinator and Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Coordination Service (SCPD), and Mario Houle, fic. Once again, this duo demonstrated creativity and pastoral sensitivity, offering a well-balanced approach in which symbols, gestures, and reflections helped create an atmosphere that was both prayerful and welcoming.

A Eucharistic Journey Enriched by Sharing

Designed as an extended Eucharistic celebration, the gathering was interwoven with moments of prayer, personal testimonies, small-group sharing, rituals, music, and song. Three key themes structured the experience:

• gratitude, symbolized by roses;
• passion and compassion, represented by candles;
• hope, expressed through balloons.

Inspiring Testimonies

Personal testimonies brought depth to each theme. Father Charles Mangongo, a Vincentian religious, offered thoughtful reflections on gratitude, while Sr. Nicole Alarie, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus community, spoke about passion and compassion.

Sr. Florence Vinet

The testimony of Sr. Florence Vinet, SNJM, which focused on hope, particularly resonated with participants through her sharing vivid examples and the depth of her message. She reminded those present that hope touches every human reality: people facing great hardship, families coping with illness, individuals experiencing job loss, and young people struggling with addiction.

“These are all calls to pray, personally and as a community,” she emphasized, “to nourish hope and give meaning to life.” She also expressed her deep trust in Jesus, “who promised to remain with us until the end of the world.”

Drawing on the writings of Charles Péguy and the image of the little girl Hope, Sr. Florence invited participants to welcome this Hope—“fragile yet essential, discreet yet powerful”—giving renewed meaning to Péguy’s words: “Hope sees what is not yet and what will be.”

Giving Thanks for the Gift of Consecrated Life

Presided over by Réjean Poirier, diocesan priest and Vicar General, the gathering was an opportunity of offering gratitude for the precious gift of Consecrated Life, for commitment through poverty, chastity, and obedience, and for the witness of prayer, fraternity, and mission.

The celebration organized at the invitation of Bishop Claude Hamelin, Bishop of the Diocese, was held on January 31 in the chapel at Maison Jésus-Marie.  In addition to those present in person, some fifty resident sisters participated via closed-circuit television, further extending the sense of communion experienced throughout the day.

Photos credit: Sr. Hélène Harvey

An information workshop titled “What’s the Point?” was recently offered to the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) to provide an update on the Jubilee Year 2025 action campaign launched by Development and Peace—Caritas Canada (DPCC).

Offered in a friendly, informal format, the meeting helped clarify the campaign’s objectives while encouraging dialogue. It was facilitated by Kim Piché, Interim Regional Animator for Central-South Quebec, whose role is to strengthen ties between the Diocesan Council of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and religious communities on the South Shore.

“Turning Debt into Hope”

Carried out at both national and international levels, the campaign “Turning Debt into Hope” aimed to address the structural causes of debt in impoverished countries. In addition to awareness-raising activities, a petition was launched calling on creditors and political leaders to cancel or unconditionally reduce debts deemed unjust and unsustainable.

In Canada, the petition gathered 60,626 signatures, exceeding its initial goal, while 223,287 people added their names worldwide. Ms. Piché highlighted, that beyond these figures, the campaign has succeeded in raising awareness among a wide audience and provided opportunities for dialogue on the issue of debt.

The Commitment of the SNJMs

Ms Kim Piché and Sr. Beverley Wattling

As Ms. Piché noted, participation in DPCC’s annual campaigns helps “unite the voices of committed Catholics to denounce social injustice and support partners in their struggle against inequality.” This conviction is shared by the SNJMs, who continue to collaborate with various organizations to strengthen actions in support of social justice and equality.

The SNJMs also plan to continue this partnership during the next Development and Peace—Caritas Canada campaign, which will begin with the season of Lent.

Photo credit: Sr. Hélène Harvey