AROUND THE WORLD - North America

Canada today is totally different from that which Délia Tétreault knew in her day. A complete transformation has taken place. Immigration has made Canada a cultural mosaic. Almost every culture and every religion in the world can be found here. The country has developed connections with all the other continents. This phenomenon is amplified by free-trade, which is expanding across the Americas: One continent, one market! But the issues and challenges of this reorganization of commerce are enormous for the social and economic future of the population of our continent. In what ways will they impact the cultures and the ways of life?... The Church of Canada follows this process closely and engages itself in favour of a genuine solidarity with the least fortunate threatened by a market economy that tends to exclude them from the sharing of global wealth.

Many other challenges also await the Canadian Church. As she prepares to face a profound mutation, much reflection is needed on her part in view of the manner of taking action. This undertaking demands a clear comprehension regarding the evolution of the world and of the society where the engagement takes place. Hence the importance of events such as the Synod of the Churches of America and the first Missionary -Congress of America (CAM I) to redefine what type of presence will be hers at the hour of the emergence of a new world order. Inserted in this Church which seeks to found or refound the service of the Gospel in this world, we are invited to live diverse missionary commitments here in our country.

In the Country of the Origins

Canada, the place of origin of the Congregation, remains at the heart of our community's history. In Canada are the places where Délia Tétreault lived and where her early foundations were initiated, the place where the little museum is set up in her room and office and where her tomb is kept, where the Mother House is located as well as the General Administration, the archives and numerous other services to the whole Institute.

From the time of the foundation of the Institute, in 1902, Délia Tétreault wished to favour mission animation and to respond to the needs of her time: closed retreats, missionary work rooms, various services to the Chinese immigrants, etc. She organized many houses in Quebec. One could find M.I.C. sisters in Outremont, Montreal, Nominingue, Rimouski, Joliette Quebec City, Pont-Viau, Trois-Rivières, Granby, St-Jean, Chicoutimi, Ste-Marie-de-Beauce. Subsequently, houses were opened in St-Sulpice, Ville St-Laurent, Ste-Dorothée, and a few residences were sporadically established in Montreal. At the present time, there are sisters in Montreal, Quebec City, Pont-Viau, Ottawa.

The M.I.C. activities are mostly in mission animation, formation of lay missionaries, active presence among the immigrants and in various areas of pastoral service.