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

At the 35th General Chapter of the SNJM, Pat Murray, IBVM, held the attention of sisters, affiliates and partners present. Referring to world events and their impact on global society and contemporary religious life, she saw an invitation to two movements, “firstly to go deeper within and secondly to extend the embrace of our lives to the needs of our world.”

In keeping with the theme of “The Call of Our Lives”, Sister Murray linked four aspects to the process that each person can undertake for transformative leadership:

• Acknowledging wounds
• Fostering interculturality
• Practicing radical hospitality
• Building global brotherhood and sisterhood

Her words resonated with SNJM sisters who were called upon to discuss them. “We are invited to rebuild our relationships with ourselves, with others and with God,” said one participant, who insisted on the need to “dig deeper”. Others emphasized the importance of listening, recalling that we “didn’t know how to listen to ourselves and the world, without judging the world.”

The importance of listening to all people, especially those who are suffering, is also essential. “We need to be more attentive to people who are going through difficult things, who have hidden suffering and who don’t feel understood enough.”

Discovering the culture of others

The question of interculturality brought to light the benefits of being in regular contact with people of different nationalities, especially at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM). It requires creativity to get to know each other’s culture and discover what is hidden under the tip of the iceberg. Similarly, we must learn to be creative in our hospitality towards strangers to be able to help those in need.

Some sisters are comforted to know that they share the same challenges and realities with each other, and that, through their “small daily actions”, they participate in building this renewal. While each person’s abilities must take into account their own limits and context, their actions are nevertheless still relevant.

Commenting on the words and actions of Pope Francis in her talk, Sister Pat Murray highlighted his attitudes and the movement he has inspired to create a synodal Church. She remarked that the Pope’s ability to acknowledge his mistakes resonated with sisters, as did his promise to show more compassion and kindness, to be more benevolent, and to support and listen to the needy.

The place of women in the Church

The speaker recalled the collaborative work among women religious congregations under the umbrella of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), which includes some 2,000 communities with over 700,000 women religious worldwide. Closer collaboration with male counterparts has also recently begun.

In this journey to build global sisterhood and brotherhood, she also addressed the place of women in the Church and the important role they can, and do, play. Acknowledging that several steps have been taken to increase the place of women in the Church by Pope Francis, Sister Pat Murray recalled that even Pope Francis has said “we haven’t understood how and why women are important in the Church.”

As one participant pointed out, women are not readily accepted in the Church even though they have knowledge, skills and experiences to share. Still, several took the opportunity to express their determination “to share their particular charism.”

While no one present was able to precisely answer the question raised by one participant “What can we do to change things in our current context?” some mentioned the importance, as religious women, of continuing with their commitments wherever they are: whether it be with refugee committees, on boards of directors, or in parishes.

On this point, as with the creation of a synodical Church, the sisters agreed that we must think outside the box. Sister Murray added with a note of optimism that “we will see the presence and leadership of women flourish.” She concluded by saying “we can only answer the call of our lives by walking together, sharing the lights of the Holy Spirit, as we move toward the edge of tomorrow.”

Elena Lasida’s remarks, during her presentation to the 35th General Chapter of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), resonated with her audience on July 19, judging by the comments made afterwards.

The guest speaker presented her vision of the world in relation to the theme and orientations of the 35th General Chapter. After defining the concept of “Kairos” time as an opportune moment, she emphasized that there is a choice to be made, either to cling to the past or to invent the future. She then addressed the theme of “The Call of our Lives” by highlighting two ways of living: by continuity and by renewal.

Finally, she had the “genius”, as one participant put it, to build bridges between the four rules of Pope Francis and the four orientations of the Chapter.

Recalling the history of the Congregation, particularly in associating education with artistic and musical creation, Elena Lasida emphasized that the Congregation was well placed to use its long experience to help us rethink living together on our common home.

She spoke of:

• “To make room for beauty in a world ordered by utility and efficiency”…
• “Making room for the unexpected by developing one’s capacity to welcome in a world obsessed with prediction, anticipation and security”…
• “Making room for letting go in a world marked by mastery and control” by explaining that “letting go” does not mean giving up and resigning, but rather surrendering and letting yourself be transported.

She concluded on an optimistic note by saying “through this world that is disappearing, you have the sensitivity to detect the seeds of the new life that calls.”

Elena Lasida is a professor at the Catholic Institute of Paris (ICP), a doctor in economic and social sciences, and director of the master’s degree “Solidarity Economy and Market Logic” at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of the ICP. She has written several books including “Le Goût de l’autre : La Crise, une chance pour réinventer le lien“, she speaks regularly at conferences and participates as a researcher on social utility evaluation processes.

News of the fire at the bakery project in Lesotho — Retiumetse Church Project (RCP) — has provoked spontaneous gestures of solidarity. The association Association for Participatory Development (ADEP), which has been supporting this project since its inception, has donated funds for the replacement of the ovens that were completely destroyed in the fire. It is hoped that this will allow for the quick resumption of bread production, a necessity for the hundred or so families in the surrounding villages, the orphanages, and the center for the elderly.

Two employees were working in the bakery at the time the fire started. Thankfully, they were able to escape unharmed.

The bakery plays an important role in the Retiumetse Church Project, founded by Sister Gisèle Foucreault many years ago. Currently managed by Sister Sylvia Jone, the RCP includes a home for orphaned girls and a shelter for the abandoned and neglected elderly. It has several programs including education for young girls, empowerment training, providing the area with housing and access to water through the digging of wells.

In addition, the bakery is a source of training and employment for many people who work there. It also creates income for the RCP by selling bread to nearby schools, some of which employ SNJMs.

While the cost of reconstruction is being assessed, the project leader, Sister Sylvia Jone, is busy meeting immediate needs on the ground. In Quebec, the news sparked an immediate wave of generosity among the sisters and friends of Sister Gisèle Foucreault, who worked in Lesotho for 50 years and was the architect of many development projects in that country, including the construction of houses, the digging of wells and the establishment of this bakery. The collection of funds is already under way to purchase foodstuffs, such as flour, and equipment and building materials, such as cement blocks.

Any form of financial assistance from Canada can be directed to Fonds d’aide aux missions, 80 Saint-Charles Street East, Longueuil, Quebec, J4H 1A9. Please indicate “For Lesotho Bakery” and include your full contact information to receive a receipt.

Source photos : Sisters Sylvia Jone and Hélène Harvey

Bill C-15 was finally approved by the Senate of Canada by a count of 61-10 with nine abstentions on June 16, just days before the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. An extensive advocacy campaign had been underway since the bill passed through the House of Commons in December 2020. Several faith-based organizations, including the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), had joined in supporting its passage through the Senate.

The purpose of Bill C-15 (An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – UNDRIP) is to harmonize federal legislation with the UNDRIP. “This legislation will require the Government of Canada to examine federal laws, policies and practices and to take all measures, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, to ensure consistency with the Declaration. It provides the foundation for transformational change in Canada’s relationships with Indigenous Peoples”, said David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Aboriginal Relations, in a joint statement following its passage through the Senate.

Aboriginal women face double discrimination

For Viviane Michel, President of Quebec Native Women (QNW), the work is not over yet. She is concerned about the length of time it will take to review and standardize Canadian laws to comply with the UNDRIP. “In the meantime, Canada’s Aboriginal peoples, and more specifically Aboriginal women, are still not being treated on an equal footing with all Canadians. ”

Ms. Michel reminds us that “Aboriginal women are victims of double discrimination compared to Aboriginal men in many aspects of their lives. They must not be forgotten in all aspects of the implementation of the UNDRIP. ”It is in this context that she is calling on governments to undertake a genuine consultation with Aboriginal nations in order to be in tune with their realities.