The SNJM’s French-speaking and English-speaking Associates held their commitment ceremony together this year. The idea of bringing both groups together came to fruition in a beautiful way with this bilingual celebration on December 2, prepared by the Anglophone Associates Trio. In the past, the two groups have usually renewed their commitment on different dates and in different locations.

“We had some beautiful and precious moments,” says Sr. Claudette Bastien, liaison with the French-speaking Associates. “Our disappointment of the day was not being able to meet in person at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM),” she added, alluding to the health regulations in force following the outbreak of respiratory viruses at MJM.

The virtual format did not prevent the commitment ceremony from being experienced with great intensity and emotion. The opening hymn set the tone, while the thirty or so participants easily followed the carefully-crafted bilingual program.  Emotions could be felt as the commitments were renewed.

“The solemnity of the occasion was very much in evidence,” says Yasmine Matar, SNJM Associate. She was pleasantly surprised to also witness the renewal of vows by the SNJM Sisters present. According to her, this part was seen as a “moment of close communion between the Sisters and the Associates”.

The ceremony, which included readings and invocations to the Holy Spirit, also included a moment of raised awareness of conflicts around the world. We paused to offer prayerful support to the victims, particularly women and children, of the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and elsewhere. “This was in keeping with the SNJM’s focus on social justice,” said Yasmine Matar, who, like the other members of the group, is sensitive to the ideals and values upheld by the Congregation.

The success of the event confirmed the relevance of bringing the two groups together for the commitment renewal ceremony, which will now take place every two years.

Each group will follow its meeting schedule for the current year of activities. While the English-speaking group explores more of the “Thresholds of Transformation” material, the French-speaking group also meets monthly, addressing distinct themes. We hope to be able to hold the next such gathering in person.

The Eulalie-Rose Foundation officially launches its website this week. The directors of the charitable organization want to make the Foundation’s mission and orientations better known. Their goal? To facilitate and centralize the collection of donation requests that meet the selection criteria.

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary of Quebec (SNJM) have chosen the path of a foundation for several reasons, explains Sr. Claudette Bastien, a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. The first is “to ensure continuity of the vision that has guided our religious Congregation since its foundation 180 years ago”, she explains.

Indeed, before the creation of the Eulalie-Rose Foundation, the SNJMs of Quebec were already supporting various organizations in a variety of ways. Today, the Eulalie-Rose Foundation is taking up the baton by spelling out its orientations, values and selection criteria. “Our aim is to promote the full development of each person in all areas of their life, with a particular concern for those living in situations of poverty and exclusion,” adds Sr. Claudette.     

Supporting more organizations to create a just world

Keeping alive the spirit and mission of their foundress, Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, the SNJMs of Quebec want to contribute building a just, united and inclusive world directly linked to Quebec realities.

Among the other reasons for creating this foundation in January 2022 was the desire to make itself known to not-for-profit organizations, particularly in the places where the SNJMs have worked (from the dioceses of Sherbrooke to Joliette, via those of Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Jean-Longueuil, Montreal and Valleyfield). The Foundation focuses on those working in the fields of education, pedagogical support, the development of the arts, human and spiritual growth, personal development and social justice. It remains open to supporting projects from organizations working in Quebec, Canada and internationally, while keeping with the stated criteria.

With this official launch, the members of the Board of Directors intend to bring the Eulalie-Rose Foundation to a wider audience. All members of the SNJM network are invited to send the link to the Eulalie-Rose Foundation website to their contacts, where they will access all the relevant details and the application form for financial assistance. (French only)

Taking part in the Women’s Synod held in Montreal on October 13 and 14, Sr. Claudette Bastien was impressed by the quality of the interventions and the relevance of what she heard. Approximately a hundred people, from all walks of life, gathered to discuss the theme of this synod, Living Equality Today, held in parallel with the bishops’ synod in Rome.

The panels and talking circles during the Women’s Synod gave rise to many constructive exchanges. Among the messages repeated was the “desire to have egalitarian relationships and to be able to take part in decision-making bodies”, mentions Sr. Claudette. If in many writings, including those of Pope Francis, there is much talk of respect for the dignity of persons, Sr. Claudette reiterates “that dignity does not mean equality.” 

Virtual interview with Catherine Clifford, theologian and participant in the Roman Synod.

The interview with Catherine Clifford, theologian at St. Paul’s University and voting participant in the Roman Synod, was a highlight (see article in Présence Info) in many respects, not least “the hope in her words”, says Denise Couture, theologian and member of the feminist collective L’autre Parole. During her talk, Ms. Clifford made clear the importance of a change of attitude and even a certain openness to the diaconate for women, thus provoking a few surprises in the audience.

Strong and stimulating words

Organized jointly by Femmes et Ministères and L’autre Parole, the women’s synod held in Montreal aimed to “experience a parallel synod based on the principles of equality, justice and participation for all.  According to Denise Couture, this goal was achieved, not least through the diversity and richness of what was said. This was the case in the first panel, which presented various forms of equal discipleship that already exist, but are not very visible or well known.

Panelists at the first Women’s Synod

According to Denise Couture, the testimonies of the young people on the second panel were deeply moving for the participants. “You had to hear several young people talk about their isolation in Church, their attempts to find ways to live out a group spirituality, and their distancing themselves from the institutional Church. One said that the Church is toxic and dangerous, so she avoids taking her three-year-old daughter there. It was moving.”

The international panel of women theologians was another highlight for the university theologian. “These women showed the injustice experienced in the Church at present and the possibilities of various actions to overcome this injustice. In my opinion, their words were powerful and relevant.”

Well-identified strategies

The significance of this Women’s Synod is that it has “clarified who we are and where we’re going.” And above all for having identified the four strategies that are currently in use and needed. “We need to reiterate that we need these strategies, and re-express the solidarity between us.”

These four strategies are based on the following elements:

• An approach to demanding gender equality in all Church ministries supported by the Women and Ministries group.
• The approach put forward by the collective L’autre Parole consists in creating and building alternative communities of equal disciples.
• Another strategy encourages action now, even if it means suffering the consequences. This is the case of a group of 300 Catholic women priests around the world.
• The other strategy focuses on denouncing discrimination against the Church by civil law.
• For Denise Couture, “different strategies are necessary, and people can adopt several at the same time.” This is the case, she says, of women religious “who are both in the institution and free to build communities of equal discipleship, justice and equality. They do both at the same time.”

Acting in solidarity

The Women’s Synod is part of the worldwide movement launched by the Catholic Women’s Council (CWC) throughout the Roman Synod process. During this second stage, a number of groups have taken various actions in support of the theme of the movement. The PDF file contains a list of links to groups and details of some of the campaign’s activities.

In closing, a second event is scheduled for December 8 in Quebec City. It is in keeping with this spirit of nurturing multiple solidarities, in this case with social feminists. The colloquium, entitled Femmes et gouvernance : des rapports à changer entre l’État et l’Église? (Women and Governance: Changes to be made in the relationship between the State and the Church), will look at the question of patriarchy in the Church.

General view during the closing celebration.

Photos credit: Ms. Jo-Ann Lévesque

October 28, 2023 marks the 180th anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM). An important date that recalls the modest beginnings of this first Congregation of teaching Sisters founded by Canadian women.

On October 28, 1843, Eulalie Durocher and Mélodie Dufresne set off from Beloeil to join Henriette Céré, already a teacher at École de la Fabrique in Longueuil. Since then, more than 7,000 women from some 30 different countries have followed in the footsteps of these pioneers, working and still working on several continents.

At the provincial gathering of Quebec SNJMs on October 6, 2023, Sr. Denise Riel, provincial animator, recalled this significant anniversary. We have a cloud of witnesses above us… consecrated women who have gone before us, who have sown seeds, who have given life to the mission. Women who paved the way with creativity and daring… And they have transformed so many people, young and old, so many milieus, so many generations and societies.

“Our first Sisters paved the way. And for 180 years, we have followed in their footsteps, faithful to our charism and our values, throughout time and the ages, between productivity, detachment, fragility and faith, always attentive to the newness of the Spirit…”

Celebrating and sharing the SNJM legacy

The SNJMs of Quebec will be joining with others to mark this anniversary at key moments during the year, whether through religious ceremonies or special activities. A leaflet to mark the anniversary is available in the Marie-Rose Chapel at the Co-Cathedral during weekend celebrations.

At the same time, parishioners and devotees of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher take advantage of the chapel’s new layout to discover the story of this inspiring woman and of the Congregation. A religious community, moreover, that continues to defend the rights of marginalized people and the principles of integral ecology. In addition to the redesigned signage incorporating QR codes and web links, there are three artifact display counters, also complemented by web-based information.

For everyone’s convenience, the six posters are linked to this website, which you can consult at any time. Each of the three artefact counters covers different aspects. The first deals with the foundress Mother Marie-Rose and the Congregation. The second focuses more specifically on education, while the third illustrates some facets of the SNJM’s ongoing mission.

In conclusion, during the founding ceremony a few days later in 1843, the three young women received their religious names: Marie-Rose (Eulalie), Marie-Agnès (Mélodie) and Marie-Madeleine (Henriette). The event was held in the church that has since become the Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue. The links between the SNJMs and the Co-Cathedral go back to the earliest days of the Congregation’s foundation.

Development and Peace – Caritas Canada’s new “United for the Earth” campaign focuses on protecting the defenders of environmental and human rights in Honduras. People are invited to sign a letter addressed to the Honduran ambassador to Canada by February 25, 2024.

The letter-signing campaign aims to encourage the Honduran government to protect those fighting to preserve their water and land, particularly in the face of mining exploitation. The letter also calls for an investigation into killings that have gone unpunished. Other demands include compensation for the victims, revocation of the mining permit and restoration of the Carlos Escalera National Park.

“Communities are displaced, rights violated, access and the right to water denied to give priority to extraction, the plundering of resources.” – Leonel George, member of the Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa, Colón

Honduras is one of the five most dangerous countries in the world for people working to protect the environment, water and land. These activists are often threatened, criminalized, imprisoned and even murdered! Development and Peace – Caritas Canada chose this theme for its campaign at the request of its partner in Honduras, ERIC-Radio Progreso.

Presentation at Maison Jésus-Marie

Details of the campaign and how to get involved will be presented at a meeting at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) by Julie Tétreault, SNJM volunteer. The meeting will take place on Friday, November 3, at 2:30 p.m.

In the meantime, you can watch the campaign launch webinar. The signature campaign is coupled with a fundraising campaign that enables the international solidarity organization to support some 80 projects in Canada and abroad (42 countries).

For an overview of the specific situation in Honduras, consult the thematic fact sheet.