january-february-march Issue

Summary

contents

(VOL. 62, No. 1 /January-February-March 2019)

Columns

Spiritual Life

Transmit to Establish Roots – André Gadbois

How do we live in OUR world? What do we give to OUR world? Do we care about the future of this world, a future that has been entrusted to us? The many “shipwrecks” we are witnessing these days, both near and far, do they bother us? Are we so entrenched in our comfort and success that we forget OUR world? Are we aware of the uprooting caused more and more by the winds, the waters, the powers of this world
and the widespread affronts imposed on human dignity? Millions of human beings, including thousands of children, were well established in their part of the country, often happy and fulfilled. Yet now they are cruelly uprooted and abused, forced to leave everything behind and put down roots elsewhere, far from their happiness. The words of the French pop singer and author Christophe Mae beat in my heart: Where is happiness? Where is it? Where is it?

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Cultures and Mission

To Be Firmly Rooted – Éric Desautels

The integration of immigrants often makes the headlines. For decades, this question has been debated. The success of integration depends largely on the individual’s sentiment of belonging in terms of collectivity. The French philosopher, Simone Weil, stated that rootedness is perhaps the most important need and the most unsuspected of the human soul. It is the most difficult to define. A human being takes roots by
including his need to participate in the life of a community, to feel a sense of connection to a place, and to maintain temporal links, e.g., to cultural history and to hopes for the future. Rootedness arises from the process of belonging, community projects and heritage.

From Mountains to the Jungle – Audrey Charland

Here is a selection of stories, reflections and commentary from my travel journal that I wrote during my stay in Peru. I hope that these
passages and photographs will give you a good idea of my many adventures in South America where, in some regions, the Missionary
Sisters of the Immaculate Conception have been working since 1960.

Youth

The Fantasies of God in Délia’s Life – Suzanne Labelle, m.i.c.

All fanciful our creative God can be in bestowing particulartalents to saintly people, healso takes pleasure in providing them with mere “common sense”which they need if they are called to be trainers or educators. Let us see how this applies to Délia Tétreault who welcomed in her missionary project young women enamored of ideal but maybe not yet mastering a well-balanced judgment necessary for persons called to live in mission countries where cultures differ.


In the early beginnings of her young Institute, Délia observed that the aspirants, many of whom were still in their teens, were sometimes
overzealous in asceticism without considering the impact this could have on their health. She watched carefully their diet, making sure it
was whole, simple and sufficiently abundant. No question for her and her daughters to become sick and consequently unable to be useful
in mission areas where we accepted to live under the worst climates.

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IN FOCUS

EXODUS: UPROOTING — TRANSPLANTING

The Story of a Vocation – Rosa Yung, m.i.c.

I was born in a large family of twelve, five boys and seven girls; I am the tenth. After my birth my mother paralysed and was treated with Chinese medicine. Consequently, I was absorbing that medication; due to lack of nourishment, my immune system was weak. After a few months I had small pox, my parents did not think I would survive. The hospital was not their choice so they kept me at home and treated me
with precaution and much tender loving care. Gradually, I recovered but I remained the tiniest and smallest one of the family.


My parents were extremely devoted to the Buddhist doctrine . This religion was handed down to us from generation to generation. However,
strange as it may seem, they sent me to a Catholic school. I was six years old when I began to hear about God.

Societies Made to Be Tightly Knit – Maurice Demers

In the provincial elections of 2018, Deputy Andrés Fontecilla was elected with more than 5,300 votes in the Laurier-Dorion District1; he is a
beautiful example of a well-integrated Chilean immigrant into the Quebec society. In 1981 he fled, with his family, the authoritarian regime of Augusto Pinochet in Chile and they settled in Quebec. Being an adolescent Andrés became a child of Bill 101 – the Charter of the French Language. As a young adult, he worked with organizations against poverty in his Laurier-Dorion district. For almost fifteen years, he was the coordinator of the Community Council Solidarités Villeray. Mr. Fontecilla is not the first Chilean immigrant to have been involved in politics. In 1990, Osvaldo Núñez was deputy of the Bloc Québécois 2 in the Bourassa federal constituency. During the 1970s he lived in Chile and was a militant within the Popular Unitary Action Movement (MAPU). Mr. Núñez worked for Salvador Allende’s government; he was dismissed when the latter was overthrown on September 11, 1973. Five months later, he fled from his country and came to Quebec.

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Immigration and Resilience – Suzanne Lachapelle

Boat people as well as Syrians, each wave of immigration corresponds to a dramatic chapter of human history: war, natural cataclysm, political or social violence, intolerance. Sister Lucille Lasalle knows very well those disturbing upheavals because she worked at PROMIS, an organization which helps newly arrived immigrants or refugees in their individual and social integration pursuit.

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ABOUT THE MICs

Thank you from Haiti – Carmèneta Beauplan, m.i.c.

In the MIC Mission News magazine, Vol. 44, No 1- appeared an article entitled: On the Trail of Délia. The content described the condition of our formation house which was no longer safe and needed to be rebuilt. We have learned that a sum of Canadian donations has been received which will allow us to pursue the construction of a new residence for the postulate where the MIC formation will take place. With all my heart, and in the name of all our young Sisters in training, I thank you; I am most grateful for your spirit of sharing. For years to come, your  generous support will remain engraved in my heart, in our hearts.

Thank you for having taken into consideration our safety and our mission. For such thoughtfulness, may the Lord bless you and grant you prosperity.
Be reassured of our prayers to your intentions.

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Clara Lambert, the Wordsmith – Marie-Ève Bouchard

Clara Lambert is a frequent reader of Géo Ado, a French magazine meant for young girls between 10 to 15 years of age. While browsing through the magazine, she discovered a competition organized by another magazine entitled Julie, from the Milan Press Group.

The magazine, Julie, received 324 texts including 19 outside of Europe for the contest – “Mots d’elle”. The text submitted by young Clara Lambert, a Grade 6 student at Notre-Dame de Protection School, appeared among the ten winning presentations, standing out as the only one recognized outside of Europe.

Clara explains: “I read the contest rules and its theme, which was inspired by a column in the magazine written in the first-person singular. We had to think of a famous woman and recount an important day in her life.”

Mond’Ami Is Celebrating – Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.

his year, the Missionary Childhood Association, so called Mond’Ami in Quebec, Canada – is celebrating its 175th anniversary. Founded in 1843, it is one of four Pontifical Mission Societies which is dedicated to foster children’s awareness of the missionary nature of the Church. Its motto: CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN expresses the spirit of the Association and thousands of projects are supported by young students who care about the less fortunate children in developing countries.

In the Diocese of Montreal, Qc, the celebration of this anniversary brings us back in time. In 1917, Msgr. Paul Bruchési, who was then  Archbishop of the Diocese asked our Foundress, Délia Tétreault to re-launch the Holy Childhood Association as it was called in those years. With steadfast dedication and joy, our Foundress, took up the challenge. In that era, other dioceses called upon the Missionary Sisters of the
Immaculate Conception to promote, in various ways, mission awareness in their parishes.

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God’s Surprises

When I entered my community, I chose it because it was Canadian and mission oriented. The Foundress, Délia Tétreault, originally from Marieville, QC, had established her first house in Montreal. In 1974, when I was in Haiti, I had quite a surprise when I heard the Superior General, Sr. Monique Préfontaine, declare that our community had become international. I was stunned... but I assure you, I regret nothing. Since then, my heart blossomed, it opened up to world-wide realities. What joy and how enriching it is to discover the beauty in all those different cultures.

 

Should it not be as such in our world of today? The global upheaval with its millions of migrants searching for a refuge in host countries and soliciting our welcoming hearts is an opportunity for all of us to discover the hidden beauty in other cultures. Haitians,

Arabs, Asians, or Africans, it does not matter who they are. As we get to know them, the Lord opens our minds to wonderful surprises. The world-wide community invites us to have universal hearts.

At the end of a Eucharistic celebration, which took place during an international gathering of our MIC community, we experienced the fraternal joy of being together. No matter the color, or the place of origin, it was with affection that our arms encircled one another in an expression of love and unity. Outsiders who were present observed the scene and commented: Look how they love one another. And someone else added: To think that some people are racist, they do not know this happiness...

Throughout this year, we will offer some points for consideration in light of the many social changes that disturb us. Often we feel invaded by the newcomers. However, upon reflection, have they not come to give us a helping hand? Everywhere we see signs that read: WE ARE HIRING! We do need manpower. Let us trust the newcomers and let us help them live through their losses by offering them the two fundamental pillars of becoming integrated in another culture: language and employment.

As you read the content in this issue, may your heart respond to the daily needs and challenges of today’s society. We wish to offer you the happiness of experiencing the richness of internationality. However, we need not choose, it comes as God’s surprises.

The Team

Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, Directress of publication

Originally from Quebec, Sr. Marie-Paule was a missionary in Haiti; she worked with high-school students in the field of catechesis and also in youth ministry.  She is now directress of the MIC Missionary Press.

Translator : French to English - MIC Mission News

Sr. Claudette is a former missionary in Malawi, Africa.  She also worked in the Archdioceses of San Francisco, California; Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Colombia as Archdiocesan coordinator and promoter of mission awareness activities. Within parish contexts, she coordinated religious education programs and accompanied youngsters on their faith journey.

André Gadbois, Editorial Board

Married and father of two children, André Gadbois, after several years in pastoral work, taught children with serious learning disabilities for 20 years and was school director for ten years. He has been very involved with catechumens of the Church in Montreal, and is the editor of their journal, le Sénevé.

Audrey Charland, Editorial Board

Audrey Charland, a 25-year-old graduate student with a master’s degree in Religious Studies, is trying her hand at something new: first the thesis, now the news article! After studying the history of Catholic missionary nuns in India, she has joined the MIC Missionary News team as the new Communications and Development Officer. This position will allow her to take on new and exciting challenges, and put her knowledge and skills into practice.

 

Éric Désautel, Editorial Board

Éric Desautels is a PhD candidate in the department of

Humanities at Concordia University’s Centre for

Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture.

 

Maurice Demers, Editorial Board

Maurice Demers is an associate professor in the Department of History,

Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Sherbrooke. He is the young father of three children.

 

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