Let's Recall
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Regional Meeting, May 31, 2025, Trois-Rivières, Quebec NORTH AMERICA EAST REGION.
On May 31, the feast of the Visitation of Mary to her kinswoman Elizabeth, it was fitting to hold a regional meeting marking the 73rd anniversary of the founding of our Institute. The Regional Council had the excellent idea of reviewing what had taken place at this time last year. This synodal process, enriched by the contributions of Oblates who had offered their suggestions, guided the organization of this year’s gathering. It’s hard to say exactly how many Oblates were involved in ensuring the smooth running of the day: the 45 Oblates and 5 Volunteers of God present in person, as well as the 8 who joined via Zoom, all saw that each person had something to offer, a word, an action, to make sure everything unfolded seamlessly. In this sense, we can truly say that everyone shared the load, each according to her abilities. Bringing the day to life were: Denise Dubé, President of the Institute; members of the Regional Council, Marie Martineau, Denise Rivard, and Raymonde Haché (who joined via Zoom); Diane Beaulieu, the day’s host; the Lyric Quartet, Céline Girard, Denise Rivard, Marie Martineau, and Solange Beaudoin; and Réjeanne Mathieu at the piano. The first tribute of the day, appropriately, was to Mary of the Visitation, under the skilful guidance of Diane Beaulieu, the youngest Oblate in the region. She led us in praying the Word of Luke (1:39–56) in the spirit of Lectio Divina. This Gospel passage clearly shows how the Holy Spirit was at work in the four characters of the story. We found ourselves reflected in Mary’s availability, zeal, and service, as she set out without delay, and in Elizabeth’s attentiveness to the presence of God, revealed to her through her son John, joyfully stirring in her womb. The lessons of that encounter remain ever-relevant. “Magnificat,” we can sing. “Magnificat,” we can sing for so many visits of the Lord in our lives and in the life of the Institute over the past seven decades! At beautifully decorated tables, a festive and delicious meal was served with grace and good humor by two young girls from Diane’s family and three of their friends. The hot three-course meal reflected the wishes expressed by last year’s participants. Once again, the synodal process proved effective. It was a deeply appreciated moment of communion and sharing. In the afternoon, we paid tribute to 27 Oblates from the region celebrating the anniversary of their entry into the Institute: 8 were marking 70 years, 10 were celebrating 65 years, 5 had reached 60 years, 1 was celebrating 55 years, 1 had reached 45 years, 1 marked 40 years, and 1 was celebrating 35 years. This distribution of jubilees clearly highlights the range of ages in our region. It is worth noting that 95-year-old Louisette Bouchard, the only Oblate still living who was present at the founding of the Institute in 1952, joined us for the meeting via Zoom. Each Oblate received a two-minute tribute which, despite its brevity, was full of sincerity, gratitude, and heartfelt wishes. We were treated to a quick yet touching overview of the lives of these companions, some of whom were previously unknown to us. We discovered the unexpected journeys of several who, over the years, had to move many times to meet the needs of the fledgling Institute, learning as they went, trusting in Providence… one could say, in the school of Father Parent: ever ready to serve, always available. To conclude, we received a surprise from one of our own currently in palliative care at home. Paulette Chénard, celebrating 70 years in the Institute, gifted us (via video) with a moving account of her journey with the Oblates. What generosity and courage she showed in speaking so openly about her life in the Institute: a life of service, adaptability, surrender, and deep attentiveness to others. Her testimony was a powerful witness to what a life aligned with the Creator’s intentions can bear, even in the midst of illness. Click on the image, video in french:
A few hours of happiness, a beautiful atmosphere of love and mutual acceptance, renewed vitality and hope for the future, and rich moments of communion. Such are the words that best capture the spirit of our day. A heartfelt thank you to all who helped make this moment of grace possible!
Claire Demers |
