An all-female quintet enchanted the audience gathered in the chapel of Maison Jésus-Marie during the November 6 concert. The program, which included works by Bach, Kodàly and Dvořák, took the audience on a musical journey to discover the melodies of Hungary and the Czech Republic.

A violin-cello duet set the tone for this brilliant musical performance. Throughout the concert, the musicians succeeded in bringing out the various tonalities, sometimes with nuance, while at other times there was a vitality and character that surprised and enchanted the audience by the rhythm and energy.

The applause and comments confirmed, without a doubt, the quality of the performance offered with a remarkable mastery. The quintet was composed of Tomoko Inui, on piano. She had known Sr. Lorraine Beauchamp when she was accompanying a church choir several years ago. Since then, Ms. Inui has been performing regularly at Maison Jésus-Marie, showing many facets of her talent as a musician. She is particularly fond of chamber music.

With her, were musicians Jung Tsal* and Mana Shiraishi on violins, Judith Davenport*, viola and Rebecca Morton*, cello. A great initiative if we judge by the pleasure experienced by both the audience and the musicians.

As Sr. Maryse Moisan, in charge of cultural activities, summed it up, this concert “felt good”.

* Members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (Ontario)

Photo credit: Sr Suzanne Brault

In looking back at the effect of the pandemic on Maison Jésus-Marie, the sacrifices of the resident Sisters and the efforts of the staff have been rewarded. This impeccable record – to date, no Sister has been infected or died from COVID-19 – is the result of a multitude of small and large decisions made and actions implemented, ranging from common sense to dedication to thoroughness.

Maison Jésus-Marie with its 2 pavilions, one for autonomous Sisters and the another, considered as a care environment, including palliative care, comparable to CHSLD’s (long term care and housing centres) was home to 140 Sisters as of March 2020. Two female administrators with experience in their respective fields: risk management and infection control, oversaw the measures put in place to protect the Sisters from COVID-19’

When asked about this long battle that forced them to put their personal lives on hold for several months, Geneviève Grégoire, Executive Director, and Amélie Rivard, Director of Nursing, acknowledged that they were deeply motivated by the ultimate goal shared by everyone at MJM: the safety of the Sisters and the staff. This deep desire led them to exercise vigilance as early as February 2020, even before the Quebec Public Health Department sounded the alarm.

Making Life Pleasant in Spite of Everything

The Sisters and the staff members have been marked by this pandemic. Everyone has come through it both changed and enriched. “We have learned to know each other better,” acknowledged Geneviève Grégoire, recalling, among other things, when the Sisters accompanied others to receive care at the hospital.

From left to right, Sr. Gabrielle Brunet, Marie-Ève Dupéré, Nursing Consultant; Sr. Beverley Wattling, Philippe Lemaître, Food Services Manager; Amélie Rivard, Director of Nursing; Geneviève Grégoire, Executive Director; Céline Latour, Head Nurse; Sr. Denise Riel, Provincial Animator; Sr. Michelle Gouin, Sr. Marie-Paule Demarbre, Sr. Jacqueline Longtin, Sr. Hélène Harvey, Sr. Suzanne Lavallée and Marie-Christine Rivard, Administrative Services Manager and Physical Facilities

These 20 months have forced the Sisters to adapt, something already difficult with advancing age. Nevertheless, the SNJM pavilion leaders have managed to respond to certain needs by organizing, within the limits of the health regulations, small activities to “lighten the impact of the pandemic on the life of the Sisters”, notes Sr. Marie-Paule Demarbre, Coordinator.

By means of short meetings, they also encouraged the Sisters to express their expectations and to share their reflections in order to better live through this period. According to Sr. Marie-Paule, “the various ways in which life was made more enjoyable helped to make the Sisters more and more resilient.”

If there is one thing to remember from this whole experience, it is without a doubt the feeling that everyone, regardless of their status within MJM, was 200% committed.

Everyone was united for the cause with their skills and goodwill. It is on the basis of this team success that we intend to continue to live the rest of this pandemic with a moderate optimism.

The members of the Quebec Leadership Team (PLT) met with four distinct groups to present the priorities for action during the year 2021-2022.  Unveiling the theme for the year “Daring to Respond to the Call“, they encouraged the Sisters to reflect on how they might commit to a personal and communal response to the first orientation of the Acts of the 35th General Chapter held last July.

This first orientation invites us to “adopt new worldviews, attitudes and ways of being through encounters with a diversity of peoples, cultures, faith traditions and collaborators in mission.”

What personal and communal response will we dare to make to the call to encourage encounters with others who are different from us, in order to better know and understand the other’s history and culture?

The small-group format favored stimulating exchanges among the participants and allowed them to further explore and share their comments regarding this first orientation and possible follow-up to the Acts of the General Chapter.

It was mentioned that “when we encounter the other in a spirit of kindness and compassion, that encounter transforms our ways of being and doing; and makes place for a new vision of other people and of the world.”

During these meetings, the members of the PLT recommended that the Chapter Circles be continued and even expanded. These virtual small-group gatherings brought together Sisters, Affiliates and partners to explore the themes proposed in the Chapter process. The recommendation has several aims, among which are: to increase a sense of belonging by providing topics for conversation and dialogue; and to continually seek to educate ourselves and develop “new worldviews”.

It should be noted that, due to Covid protocols, these four meetings replaced the traditional Fall provincial gathering.

Photo credits: Sr. Suzanne Brault

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) of Quebec have joined the Diocesan Centre in supporting the Shoebox Project to help homeless women. The effort, which is accepting donations until November 25, aims to collect shoeboxes containing essential items and gifts for homeless women, and will be distributed by 26 shelters in the Montérégie region.

Roxanne Gagné, Colette Beauchamp, Lyne Groulx, Francine Vincent, and Sister Marie-Paule Demarbre at the information session at Maison Jésus-Marie.

At information session, on November 11 at Maison Jésus-Marie, Mrs. Roxane Gagné, the head of operations for the Montérégie, recalled the creation of the organization ten years ago by the Mulroney sisters-in-law in the Toronto area, and spoke of the importance of this annual campaign for homeless women.

“It is often the only kindness these women receive during the holiday season, which is an extremely difficult time for them.” Sharing a few comments and anecdotes from her involvement over the past few years, Ms. Gagné insisted on the importance of the effort for these women. “They often feel invisible to passers-by, who have difficulty saying a simple hello to them on the street.”

While the contents of the shoeboxes include many daily necessities, it’s the addition of a greeting card or a little non-essential gift that can make each woman feel special and give them hope. Among other things, Ms. Gagné recalls one woman who confided that when she feels very alone, she touches the little pendant she received to remind herself that someone, somewhere, has thought of her. These little touches are just as important and give a little comfort and dignity to these homeless women.

The 2021 edition the Montérégie Shoebox Project aims to collect some 615 boxes. This is an increase of more than 50% compared to the last two years. While this objective might seem ambitious, the addition of new partners such as the SNJM and the Diocesan Centre, which is serving as a collection point for the shoeboxes, bodes well. This is especially true since the Sisters are promoting it within their own network, specifically with the staff of Maison Jésus-Marie and the provincial and general administrations.

Those interested in donating to this campaign have until November 25th. For more on the preparation of the boxes and their contents, please visit the Montérégie section of the Shoebox Project website.

Photo credits: Sr Suzanne Brault

A moment of prayer and celebration was organized at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) on September 20th to mark the Season of Creation. The prayer, prepared by Sr. Michelle Gouin, was inspired by an ecumenical celebration and various documents proposed during this Season of Creation.

For many participants, the prayer was inspiring and conducive to reflection on the following questions:

• How does creation inspire me to be a better person?
• What can we do to nurture the fertile soil of our lives?

In her introductory remarks, Sr. Michelle recalled the existence of this papal initiative in 2015. At that time the Holy Father launched the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in order to offer “each believer and community the precious opportunity to renew their personal commitment to their vocation as guardians of creation…” he wrote.

This initiative was in line with that of the Orthodox Churches, which had proposed a “time of creation” from September 1st (the beginning of the liturgical year for the Orthodox Churches) to October 4th (the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi). In 2019, this World Day has become the Season of Creation covering the same period from September 1 to October 4.

Read the text of the prayer and celebration here (in French only).

Photo credit: Sr Suzanne Brault

Religious Heritage Days

The September 12 re-opening of the Centre Marie-Rose (CMR) was a great success and was welcomed by some 80 people to mark the start of Religious Heritage Days. Along an outdoor route with six stations, visitors were able to discover much about the heritage site of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM).

Visitors were thus able to immerse themselves in the history of Longueuil and of the first female religious congregation of teachers founded by a Canadian woman. As they walked, visitors learned about the evolution of the 18th and 19th century buildings on the site. The guides covered many aspects, including the vagaries of the now-defunct St. Anthony’s Brook, which at one time was a source of trouble for both sisters and local residents.

At several points along the route, the tour guides highlighted the values of the SNJM, their corporate stand on current issues and the presence of the SNJM in many parts of the world. In summary, the outdoor tour appears to have satisfied visitors’ curiosity, judging by their enthusiastic comments.

The information piqued their interest in the museum space at the Marie-Rose Centre, which is once again open to the public after having been closed during the pandemic.

The Marie-Rose Centre offers visitors guided tours of the facilities, which include a museum, the original chapel, the historical rooms where Mother Marie-Rose, the founder of the SNJM, lived, as well as the Foundation house and the archive exhibition room. The Marie-Rose Centre is located at 80 Saint-Charles Street East in Longueuil (in the former Longueuil Convent).

Consult the photo album and the video clip.

A festive meal was organized at the Congregation House to mark the end of the 35th General Chapter of the SNJM on Thursday, July 29. Six sisters from Quebec who were delegates to the General Chapter — Jacqueline Aubry, Jacqueline Boudreau, Lise Bluteau, Lisette Boulé, Claudette Bastien and Denise Riel — joined the twenty resident sisters.

For the occasion, a special menu was prepared by the chefs of the Congregational House. The atmosphere was festive. The affectionate exchanges between the sisters were joyful. They discussed the Chapter’s most intense moments, the evocative rituals as well as the theme song composed by the singer-songwriter Robert Lebel. Happy in the moment, many extended their meal to savour the occasion…

The Hospitality Department of SNJM’s General Administration took the initiative for this festive meal. Sr. Lorraine Mongeon, in charge, wanted to thank the delegates from Quebec for their participation in this important event. It was also a beautiful way to end the two intense weeks — lived to the fullest — by all the SNJM sisters who had online access to many parts of the Chapter.

Some of the delegates from Quebec stayed at the Congregation House during the 35th General Chapter which was held under the theme “The Call of our Lives”. They were able to enjoy the encouragement of their sisters as they shared the evening meal. 

In her presentation on her intercultural residence where she lives with migrant and refugee women, Sister Huguette Fleurant discussed the challenges the residents face on a daily basis. In her straight-forward and good-humoured way, Sister Huguette shared the story of this multi-cultural communal living project that she could not have imagined when she arrived in Manitoba seven years ago.

A partial view of all those present during Sister Huguette Fleurant’s remote presentation.

“God was waiting for me there.” Sister Huguette explained how, after a year’s sabbatical to learn English at the House of Peace organization in Winnipeg, she initiated this project of welcome and sharing. “I discovered my mission,” she revealed, enthusiastically underlining that this project is about communal living, prayer and sharing.

People who take part in this communal living situation do not do it for financial reasons. Everyone pays their share for accommodation, food and services. “We have the motivation to build something: a welcoming environment,” she said.

“We feel helpless in the face of their story.”

The residents — some of whom have suffered extreme poverty and/or domestic abuse, or gratuitous violence in refugee camps where they lived – had the strength to act. “We come together to speak out and to be heard,” says Sister Huguette.

Lia, Sister Huguette, Jenny and Esther, in the back.

This residence, that receives no government support, has brought together women primarily from the Philippines, Myanmar and Eritrea. Strong and determined, these women each come with their own cultural baggage and have had to adopt English as their lingua franca to communicate amongst themselves. Still, they have no illusions that it’s easy to translate all the subtleties of each woman’s life in a language that is not their own.

The challenge, however great, has the merit of forcing people to pay better attention to each other — to make that extra effort to understand each other and it’s all the more challenging because everyone has had different experiences. Sister Huguette admits, “You feel powerless in the face of their story,” referring to the “deep sadness” expressed by those who have witnessed soldiers kill refugees in camps for no reason.

This project is an opportunity to better understand the reality of migrants and refugees who are forced to flee their homes because of poverty, malnutrition, political conflict and other reasons. “These marginalized people did not choose to be vulnerable.”

The beauty of the project is the participants’ determination to be attentive to “the nuances of other peoples’ cultures.” Despite the constant challenge to understand each other, the residents clearly express their desire to “live together to go deeper into the others’ culture.” This requires openness and patience to stay attuned to what is being said and to give extra space to each others’ experiences. This desire is also fueled by their belief in God.

An Enriching Experience

A table of prayers stones.

The home’s monthly schedule includes a group prayer meeting. It’s a time to stop and remember those in need in their prayers. Conflicts within the home are managed as they arise. It is out of the question that a disagreement remains unresolved, which forces all participants to speak openly and to reconcile their differences quickly.

Beyond the everyday challenges of communal living, there is also the richness of sharing, the learning of new skills and the natural generosity that each person brings. This desire to “walk together and grow together” is in keeping with the spirit of Emmaus.

This cross-cultural project was made possible with the support of SNJM leadership teams from Manitoba and Quebec — from its inception. The close relationship with the Winnipeg community, in particular with Lesley Sacouman’s network of contacts at House of Peace, facilitated many things, including moving from one house to another and setting it up.

Sister Huguette made her presentation remotely to about fifty sisters and SNJM affiliates during the last meeting of the year of the SNJM Justice and Peace Committee in Quebec. At its conclusion, several members of the audience applauded her courage, openness and her personal growth. “Bravo for having been able to integrate with other cultures and in another language” expressed one of them, and the provincial leader of Quebec concluded by saying “I thank you for what you have become.”

More than 400 people attended the Robert Lebel concert presented as part of the 35th General Chapter of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) on Sunday, July 25. The event required considerable technological prowess for those watching remotely, including a closed-circuit broadcast and live-streaming, in addition to those present in the chapel of Maison Jésus-Marie, in Longueuil, Quebec, where the concert took place.

Invited to lead a spiritual pause in the middle of the General Chapter schedule, Robert Lebel, a priest and singer-songwriter for more than 40 years, was very happy to reconnect with the public. “This is the first time we have performed in front of an audience in 18 months,” he said. He was a bit nervous before starting his rehearsal with long-time pianist-accompanist Sylvie Payette, a former student of l’École de Musique Vincent-d’Indy, an institution created by the SNJM.

Judging from the reactions of those present and the comments from all over, Robert Lebel’s concert was “a moment of grace”. One of the audience members admitted that she sang along with all the songs, including, of course, the theme song of the 35th General Chapter, “The Call of our Lives.”

Lebel performed many well-known songs from his repertoire to which the audience followed along with arms raised, and then gave him a hearty round of applause.

In addition to the sisters present, SNJM affiliates and partners from around the world also felt the joy of the composer’s music. “I experienced this moment as an hour of prayer,” expressed one audience member. For many, this was a much-needed pause of levity during this time in which the Congregation is facing the many challenges of the future.

It should be remembered that the theme song and the concert are an initiative of the Coordinating Committee of the General Chapter. The organization of the concert is the work of the directors of Maison Jésus-Marie and the communication and technology services of the General Administration of the Congregation.

Photo credit: Sr Suzanne Brault

A celebration was held on June 16 in support of the six sisters delegated from Quebec to the 35th General Chapter of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM).

Very active throughout the Chapter year which began on October 6, 2020, the sisters of the MJM were happy to be able to express their support in this way. They were able to take advantage of the moment to briefly share their reflections and calls with the delegates. It was a great moment of joy for all. As it should be, the meeting took place in the respect of the sanitary instructions.

The six delegate sisters from Quebec are: Denise Riel, Claudette Bastien, Lisette Boulé, Jacqueline Aubry, Lise Bluteau and Jacqueline Boudreau. The Quebec delegation also includes two associate representatives for the English and French-speaking communities, Brenda Brisebois and Anne-Marie Montpetit, as well as two partner representatives, Jacques Bordeleau and Francine Cabana.

Those responsible for this initiative intend to hold another meeting after the Chapter to review the whole process, this time bringing together the delegate sisters, the affiliated persons and the partners.

Photo report: Sr Suzanne Brault