The Oblate
Missionaries of Mary Immaculate

1. Time is life

Time is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste time is to waste life. To control time is to manage one's life. To control time is to control oneself.

When we talk about making good use of time, it is not simply a matter of achieving a material output where we do a maximum of things in a minimum of time. It is rather a question of discovering the richness of time. It flows, it passes, it is a formidable instrument that allows you to do a lot, to work with a minimum of fatigue, to do more things and to do them better, to make life more interesting.

Time and motivation work together. They both have an alliance to which they must be faithful. Time without positive motivation is doomed; motivation without taking time into account is a dream, an illusion. Everyone has enough time to realize their desires, to realize their dreams, to plan their lives.

Many busy people get things done because time, motivation and thought go hand in hand in a friendly agreement. No one has more time than their neighbour. Everyone has the same amount of time at their disposal, twenty-four hours a day, an equal present moment for all. The only difference is how to use it.

To make good use of one's time, one must know oneself, be able to analyze one's reflexes and discover one's tendencies.

Excerpt from the “Collection Volontaires de Dieuˮ: Time… is Wealth / Father Louis-Marie Parent, o.m.i. (September 1983)

Time… is wealth (2)

Time... is wealth (3)

We are pleased to present to an excerpt from the program, “Une porte sur la vie,” hosted by Louise Fleury, pastoral worker at the parish of St-François-d’Assise Drummondville and Volunteer of God.

It is with generosity that Violaine Couture, Oblate, agrees to reveal this wonderful project that warms her heart: Bible sharing meetings on the “Aux 4 SENS des ÉCRITURES” web platform. In this accessible program featuring these simple and deep encounters, filled with meaning for our daily lives, Violaine accompanies viewers with true charisma.

Take a few minutes to watch and enjoy... In French only.

"Une porte sur la vie" program, September 2022
TV Cogeco and the St François d'Assise Drummondville Parish, thanks to animator
Louise Fleury, have made this TV interview that showcases the approach I use for Bible
studies, AUX 4 SENS DES ÉCRITURES...

The Institute is a group of consecrated women who commit themselves to follow Christ in order to live the evangelical counsels: chastity, poverty, obedience and to apply the attitudes of the 5-5-5. It is a big family where we help each other to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world and the leaven in the dough in the heart of the world.

The Institute has allowed me to fulfill myself and to use my talents to serve others. I am grateful for all that the Institute has given me, allowed me to be and all that I have received spiritually, all the riches and wonders. I give thanks for my 62 years of belonging to the Institute. Magnificat! Hallelujah!

Denise Lanoix, Montréal

Photo: AndPan614 de Pixabay

I joined the OMMI at the age of 47. I had been having strong feelings about my calling for several months, and things changed quickly when I got to know the Institute. My formation was intense. I learned a lot about the Church and our Institute and how to live the spirituality that has given meaning to my life.

I am inspired by the lives of my companions who have lived their consecration for many more years than I have. My daily life is "perfumed" by the Charity of Christ. The members of my team are also my friends.

I love the Church despite its imperfections and widespread criticism. The OMMI in North America is diminishing, but I know that the Institute will continue to flourish in other regions. We can be proud of our history.

Judi Mallett, Ottawa

Photo: Un perfekt de Pixabay

For me, to adore God is above all to express to Him my deep desire to meet Him through an interior and exterior attitude of humility. It is a way of living a one-on-one with Him, of entering into a relationship and dialoguing with the living which makes me know his love and his greatness. It is to discover in Him his magnificence, to discover through Him, my brothers and sisters in the Church. It is to leave him the first place and to commune with his great Love...

Let us read attentively this beautiful prayer that Father Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I. wrote. It illustrates well the face of this God who is, who was and who is to come.
Louise Fleury, Volunteer of God

 

O Lord,
You are the greatness of all that is great.
You are the beauty of all that is beautiful.
You are the goodness of all that is good.
You are above all that is good.

You dwell in all truth,
you give life to all the living,
you animate all movement,
you are the energy that resists, that activates, that energizes.
Before you, the sun is clothed in your light,
the moon is dazzled by your shadow,
the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains jump for joy,
the streams sing their hymns,
the stars twinkle like eyes on the face of the heavens.
In you, everything is filled with wonder...
I bow, I prostrate myself, I adore. Amen

Prayer: Adoration, taken from the book In Intimacy with Jesus page 174.
Father Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I.

Photo: Thomas de Pixabay

Every day, if we could learn to say: IT’S GOD, as naturally as we say, it’s sunny or it’s warm, many things would change in our life.

Perhaps your immediate reaction will be to say, we cannot always say that it is warm and sunny we can only say it when it’s really warm or sunny... You are right and this is the big difference between God and the temperature.

God does not change unexpectedly...

God is not a victim of uncontrollable forces…

God remains the same. He is always Love, He is always faithful…

God is Creator, He keeps on creating the world; he creates us at each moment…

God is Father – and Mother – he continues to give us life with love…

God is God, he is with us since his Son came to dwell among us and promised that he would always be with us…

God is Spirit, Love poured into our hearts to teach us to live and to love as Christ…

Therefore, every day our heart can say: IT’S GOD, if the eyes of our faith can recognize the signs of his presence… if the ears of our heart can remain attentive to his voice…

Finally, it is up to us to learn to live with God in daily life, to discover his presence in our everyday life… this can be learned in faith… as Cardinal Suenens once said:
“Ordinary faith is sufficient to see God in extraordinary events of life, but we need extraordinary faith to see God in ordinary daily events.”

If our eyes are watchful, if our ears are sensitive, we will learn to see God at work in our life and in the life of the world. We will be able to hear him and our heart will exult in wonder and gratitude: IT’S GOD!

Every day will become a day of celebration… There is no need to take part in great events, no need to dream. We only need to appreciate the beauty of simply living and loving! Yes, we will be filled with a sense of wonder every morning and at every moment, to simply be alive, to be able to breathe and to love!

Yvon-Joseph Moreau, Abbot of Oka

Photo: kien Virak de Pixabay

The Secular Institute of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate is a sure way to respond to the Lord's call through consecration in the world. The various meetings, especially of my team, help me to remain faithful to the mission and spirituality of the 5-5-5.

The Institute has also allowed me to fulfill my missionary vocation abroad, something I have always cherished. I am very grateful for this.

May the Lord bless the Institute and all its members!

Cécile Fortin
Montréal

Photo: Gerd Altmann de Pixabay

For me, the Institute is an invitation, a means to respond to a calling, an orientation in the Church. “Go and do likewise.ˮ (St Luke)

Its role in my life has given me the means, the tools to fulfill my mission.

This has allowed me to embrace a spirituality, to love like a leaven, to be a humble and loving presence in all the realities of each day, to respond to the many calls with generosity and to participate in a common mission: to live and give witness to the Charity of Christ.

I am grateful to the Institute for what I have become, for the solidarity, the fraternal life and the shared participation.

Suzanne R.

For me, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Institute is like celebrating my second birth. I owe everything to my parents, who gave me the best they could for my future... life, health, family and Christian education, a welcoming environment, schooling, learning about work, social life, etc. Thank you!

The Institute also gave me life for the same reasons. I owe it to people who were involved in my human and spiritual formation, to the animators who invested themselves in accompanying, listening to and learning about our spirituality and fraternal life. I learned that Charity was the greatest treasure to receive and to give. I learned to love! Thank you!

I recognize that the Authorities have taken on enormous responsibilities by entrusting us with missions, with commitments in the name of the Institute and the Church. I owe them for their confidence in me, in us, to do our part in our environment. I have studied, lived beautiful experiences in various services and exercised a beautiful profession! I have been nourished humanly and spiritually and benefited from health care. Thank you!

I am grateful to the companions of the various teams with whom I experienced the practicality of team life and Charity. I have experienced warm, pleasant and fraternal moments. Thank you!

I feel great gratitude and I can say: “The Lord has done wonders for me … Holy is his Name.” He did it beautifully through the Institute. And he is still doing it. Thank you!

You who are reading this today, don't forget to add your name to my list of gratitude, you who have loved me, helped me, accompanied me and more! You have made me happy and I will always enjoy it. Thank you!

Lina L.
Rouyn-Noranda

The Institute has allowed me to fully live the calling I felt from a young age to give my life to the service of the Lord and my brothers.

Thanks to team life, I learned to know myself better and to trust myself. I had enriching experiences that allowed me to grow humanly and spiritually.

I also realized my missionary dream. I thank God for these 15 beautiful years in Haiti. I discovered a joyful and resilient people, despite all their trials and difficulties experienced on a daily basis. Again, my self-confidence and my possibilities have grown in this community where I have had to make many decisions and take many initiatives.

Spirituality provides me with the daily nourishment I need to live in the moment.

Now that I am retired, I enjoy being part of a big family. The telephone is always there to communicate with the companions and, in a special way, with those of my team.

Thank you, Lord, for this calling and for God’s faith in me.

Madeleine C.