The theme song of the 35th General Chapter of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), “The Call of Our Lives”, is featured on Robert Lebel’s latest album. The launch took place December 7 at Sanctuaire Marie-Reine des Cœurs in Montreal.

Robert Lebel in concert with Sr. Violaine Paradis, cnd.

As generous as ever, the singer, while performing several tracks from his new CD, let himself be carried away by the magic of the venue and the warm atmosphere.

During the presentation of the song associated with the SNJMs, Robert Lebel underlined the invaluable collaboration of Sr. Lorna Cooney. Among other things, he mentioned the extent to which the theme of the SNJM General Chapter in 2021 had touched and inspired him. “A unique call for a bold response”, he recounted, much to the delight of the dozen SNJM Sisters present at the launch. “That remark fueled our sense of pride,” confided Sr. Cooney.

Tribute to several saints, including Marie Rivier

The launch of Robert Lebel’s latest album was under the honorary presidency of Sister Angèle.

This event, mc’d by Sister Angèle, quickly evolved into a mini-concert. Between each piece, Robert Lebel explained the context and his sources of inspiration. This new album brings together songs commissioned by several Congregations and organizations. The CD includes lyrics and a brief description of each track.

The song Un évangile ouvert (An open gospel) recalls the challenge of Marie Rivier, foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. “Be a source that always gives without drying up.”

The album also contains an ode to Kateri, the first Aboriginal saint to die at Kahnawake in 1680. Un cœur de compassion pays tribute to the spirit and words of another Quebec saint, Marguerite d’Youville, foundress of the Grey Nuns of Montreal.

To discover the many tracks on this new album recorded with the Chœur du Plateau and to find out more about Robert Lebel’s activities, visit his website (in French only).

Photos credit: Robert Lebel

Hope is the common thread running through the latest UNANIMA International (UI) newsletter. Despite the harsh facts about the state of our world, with its conflicts, extreme climatic phenomena and their disasters, Executive Director Jean Quinn, fdls, highlights the many real signs of hope in this year 2024, while echoing the prophetic words of Pope Francis “Christian hope… is very important, because it does not disappoint. Optimism disappoints, hope does not!…”

To nurture this hope, the publication highlights an event held in Frascati, Italy last October to launch a multi-faith, women-led climate action network.

The 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) attracted record attendance. The theme of the event’s, “Just like home”, underlined the importance of local action to meet the challenges of the lack of adequate housing, rising urban poverty and lack of access to basic services.

The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is also the subject of an article. We learn about the role of Liana Almony, the NGO’s deputy director, who participated in and co-sponsored parallel events.

There is also information regarding the objectives surrounding the 2025 World Social Summit, especially related to inclusion, social protection, education for all… And we learn about the recent virtual meeting of UI board members, which featured a presentation on a climate action movement given by its founder, Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female president (1990-1997) and former United Nations High Commissioner.

The issue concludes with the presentation of two community testimonials that illustrate the diversity of commitments by religious Congregations around the world. These include the food program run by the Sisters of the Holy Union in Cameroon, and a testimonial by a survivor of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, who had been helped by the Religieuses de Jésus-Marie (RJM).

The fight against racism is the focus of a feature in the “Rencontre” magazine, published by the Centre culturel chrétien de Montréal in conjunction with Black History Month in February. It also mentions solidarity with the Haitian population and introduces us to the Centre Afrika. This organization welcomes Africans living in Montreal in a spirit of intercultural solidarity.

In the December issue, we reflect on Christmas and the Epiphany, “where shepherds and magi symbolize humanity near and far.”  As in other issues, the Current Affairs section highlights aspects of hot topics (in French only).

This time, we talk about the causes and impacts of the American election. We also turn our attention to Burkina Faso, where the Islamist movement is disrupting the recognized religious harmony of this West African country.

The Art section features works by James Wilson Morrice and Léonel Jules. We also feature an interview with Caroline Mailhot, a doctoral student in religious studies, whereby she explains the role spirituality can play in the treatment of psychosis.

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) of Quebec support the Christian Cultural Centre of Montreal. This non-profit organization positions itself as “a place where various points of view and analyses converge on the major contemporary challenges arising from the encounter between faith and culture”. The organization publishes four issues of its magazine to “promote dialogue between faith and culture.”

In each issue, the SNJMs submit a message related to one or other of the themes covered. This time, they reaffirm their stance on racism and denounce hatred and violence (page 33).

Joséphine Bacon’s presentation at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) on October 26 gave full meaning to the expression “going out to meet”.  A theme at the heart of the approach taken by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) several years ago to open to diversity and the multiple realities experienced by people from all walks of life.

An Innu woman of letters, poet, translator, interpreter and Innu-aimun language teacher, Joséphine Bacon won over her audience with the sincerity and simplicity of her words. Recounting part of her history in residential schools, she dwelt on their positive impact on her life. Her talk, interspersed with references to her writings, revealed her nomadic heritage.

During the reading of some of her poems, an atmosphere of warmth and peace pervaded the room. “Everyone was hanging on to her every word,” said event organizer Héloïse Vincent-Ozell, a partner on the SNJM Québec Justice and Peace Committee. During her presentation, Ms. Bacon shared her relationship with spirituality and its expression in her life. She also spoke of her relationship with nature. Her words touched her audience.

Partner on the SNJM Québec Justice and Peace Committee, Héloïse Vincent-Ozell next to Sr Claudette Bastien, at the presentation.

The meeting concluded with a lengthy question-and-answer session, a perfect illustration of the openness of heart and mind of the Sisters and guests to the perspectives of the Aboriginal world presented by Joséphine Bacon. She embodies a generation capable of bearing witness with sensitivity and charisma, and fighting against the oblivion and disappearance of a culture and its traditions.

This meeting is part of the action program of the three partners of the SNJM Québec Justice and Peace Committee. The latter has two main components: training and awareness-raising for Sisters and members of their network, and involvement with organizations linked to the themes of the SNJM’s corporate stands. In Héloïse’s case, she works on the “migrants/aboriginals” theme.

Photos credit: Sr. Suzanne Brault

The UNANIMA International (UI) Board of Directors meeting held last September in New York enabled members to observe the progress made during the last eight years. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on the future of the non-governmental organization (NGO) set up by Religious Congregations of women in 2000.

Representing the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) on the Board of Directors, Madame Hanane Hakkou appreciated the discernment process under the theme “Becoming a synodal organization”. The session was led by Sr. Patricia Murray, Director General of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG).

Members of the UNANIMA International Board of Directors. SNJM representative Hanane Hakkou can be seen in the third row, third from the right.

Like the other members of the Board of Directors, Ms. Hakkou is well aware of the major challenges facing the NGO, which must both consolidate its foundations and pursue a mission that has expanded in recent years. The members were able to see this for themselves with the presentation of the results of the last eight years by General Manager Jean Quinn, fdls.

An overview

In addition to providing inspiring details of the thinking process of the members of the Executive Committee, the latest issue of the UI Newsletter gives an overview of recent activities under the heading “News at the UN”. We see the extent of the NGO’s reach, with its participation in official meetings and side events. We also discover the scope of its interventions, notably those on the intersections between homelessness and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) work in a camp for internal refugees in northern Nigeria.

The publication also highlights a number of items related to the Pact for the Future and other events since the summer season. It concludes with the “Community Testimonials” section. This introduces us to a project set up by the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) in northern Nigeria, working with women and children in camps for internally displaced persons.

Here is another information-packed newsletter on a range of global issues. It is available in English, Spanish and French.

Photo credit: UNANIMA International

There was no shortage of action over the past year for the Comité d’action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII) (Action Committee against the internal and international trafficking of human beings), as the annual report shows. In her opening remarks, IsaBelle Couillard, sgm, underlines the presence of signs of hope.

Catherine-Laure Juste and Sister IsaBelle Couillard in front of an MP’s office. Photo credit: CATHII – Renaude Grégoire

In particular, she talked about the countless meetings and links with international organizations. The President also recalled the actions taken with government authorities to adopt and improve laws to better protect victims and survivors.

CATHII supports organizations working with migrant workers, for example, on the issue of open work permits. The Action Committee continues its advocacy work to obtain a provincial anti-trafficking plan from the Quebec government.

Training the younger generation

The annual report also highlights the success of the CATHII-University program at the UN. This program enables young academics from all disciplines to learn about the various facets of human trafficking, both here and around the world.

Among the players in this field, CATHII is noted for the addition of this “education” component since 2020. Some sixty academics from all walks of life have attended the training sessions, in addition to taking part, for a few days, in the activities of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN in New York.

The program will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2025. Those in charge are planning a special event in the Spring to bring together all CATHII-University participants at the UN. In addition to festive elements, the event will feature a session focusing on intervention practices with victims of trafficking.

Alongside this inspiring Quebec initiative, the report also points to a similar approach by Talitha Kum with its “Ambassadors” program, which reaches all member countries of this international coalition. Among the “Ambassador” participants is Sofia-Elena Ranke-Farro, a partner on the SNJM Québec Justice and Peace Committee, who is also involved with CATHII.

20 years already!

In short, reading this annual report is a way of discovering all the facets of the actions undertaken by the organization, created by religious congregations working in Quebec in 2004.

At the same time, to better grasp how far we’ve come, the organization has published a special newsletter to mark its 20 years of existence (in French only). Activities are planned for 2025 to celebrate this anniversary. CATHII is a recognized conversation partner across the country, with all governmental and ecclesiastical bodies (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops).

Photo credit: CATHII – Renaude Grégoire