News
October 2020

Recherches : Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, m.i.c.

1920

The unforgettable year when Délia Tétreault inaugurated the French magazine Le  Précurseur. Her goal was to inform the public of the Sisters’ works in the missions and to promote interest in mission oriented activities. The MIC Sisters had been in China since 1909 and their heartfelt stories depicted the language of that era.

China, Canton

The zeal of the missionary sisters

On a torrid summer day, Sr. Marie-Louise Chevrette, a Missionary Sister of the  Immaculate Conception, arrived at the foundling home of Saî Koan. Streaming with sweat, the guardian asked her why she had walked such a long distance. Her reply: it was the only way she could travel through the city because the Sisters were too poor to take other means of transportation; she added that she was willing to accept the heat and fatigue for those little ones whose souls were waiting for their baptism that would guarantee them eternal happiness. A woman stood out, approached Sister and said: Please, follow me! The lady led her through dark alleys and finally to a dark room where a dying baby was lying on an infected pallet. This is my child, said the pagan woman, he has been ill for a long time and now he does not smile a/nd refuses to eat. Please pour your holy water on his forehead that he may find happiness; if you have come such a long distance on foot in the heat of the day, there is something about what you do that is superhuman. After the child was baptized a radiant smile appeared on the infant’s lips and the mother rejoicing knew very well that the special water did give happiness, and she thanked the Sister.

Le Précurseur, Vol. 1, May 1920 : 11-12

1930

The MIC Sisters arrived in Japan in 1926. They had to adapt to new customs and in winter the houses were not heated.

JAPAN, NAZE, NOVEMBER 10, 1930

Letter from Sr. Madeline Maillet

Ours is a real Japanese dwelling with its straw mats and paper doors. It contains 81 mats, each measuring 3x6 feet. It is perhaps no larger than your work-room, but the Japanese regard it as a good size house. In winter, as there is no heating system here, the houses are very cold. It begins to freeze in the month of November and a thaw does not come until the middle of April. Last winter our dear Sister Superior suffered much from chilblain and spent many sleepless nights. In September we began to give “koshukwai” that is language courses which last about three weeks to a month as announced by the papers. A course in French began on September 15th and lasted until October 4th. We are currently teaching knitting. We hope that the young girls who follow these courses will soon form a circle, the aim would be to help the poor.

The Precursor, Vol. 5, March-April 1931: 105

1940

The Second World War had deep implications for the international community. Millions of lives were lost during the war. The missionaries throughout the world also suffered from the brutality.

CHINA, SHEK LUNG LEPROSARIUM

—THE SCOURGE OF THE WAR, by Alfred Fabre, m.e.p. of Paris

Bombs were dropped on November 21, 1938; dead and wounded abounded. The Sisters  of Shek Lung devoted themselves unreservedly to the rescue work. The defenders of the refuge, chosen from among the lepers, could not withstand the assault of the machine-guns; and the pillage continued for several days, several hours daily. The Sisters also had revolvers aimed at their hearts and heads. They were stripped of their veils and guimpes, their beads, crucifixes, medals and rings. Nothing could have grieved them more than to be thus divested of their insignia of spouses of Christ. Their house too was despoiled of all its contents: sewing machines, garments, bed-clothes; their library was emptied into the bandits’ baskets. Even their most intimate letters and retreat note-books became the prey of the pillagers.

The Precursor, Vol. XII, November-December 1940: 686

In 1921, the MIC Sisters arrived in the Philippines. Specialists in the field of education, they recognized in their students attitudes that stemmed from the wartime atmosphere.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

—IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY

In the beginning of June, our pupils returned to us light-hearted and cheerful. We registered three hundred and fifty; this means that three hundred and fifty are prepared to receive the seed of truth. On watching these noisy children at play and elsewhere, we can almost tell what they will be tomorrow. Some have a characterized aptitude for war and handle with dexterity pocket knives or toy guns. Others more peaceful command respect and awe their comrades. The latter are for us precious auxiliaries in the maintenance of discipline.

The Precursor, Vol. XIII, March-April 1941: 110