The Oblate
Missionaries of Mary Immaculate

For years, as part of my professional function, I used crafts with many children of 4, 5, and 6 years of age to develop their manual dexterity and as a means to awaken their artistic creativity.

Over the years, much to my surprise, I have adopted the creative objectives, first, having evolved to joyful moments of creating greeting cards and, secondly, to donate the financial proceeds to our Oblate missions in need.

I am grateful to my companions who, over the past years, have supported me by ordering my cards, original and exclusive in design, for the pleasure of those to whom they were to be given.

Yes, warm THANKS to all who have made it possible for me to fulfill my two-fold objective of having established Handicraft Creations that, in turn, allows me to donate to social and humanitarian causes!

Claire T.

I use various techniques in creating my cards

Permagano	Flowers soft	Iris Folding
Quilling	Embroidery	Decoupage

I live my mission every day and at all times as a consecrated layperson with the peoplewho are my work colleagues. All shoulder their share of responsibility and working together is a pleasure. The parish priest has confidence in me as an Oblate concerning pastoral work and in the promotion of the faith in the parish and in the diocese of Nakhone Rajsasima.

I strive to live my oblate commitment by my daily witnessing. I manifest the unconditional love of Christ to others who live around me. I renewmy vows of chastity, poverty and obedience every year according to the Constitution of the Institute of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

As an Oblate, living the 5 attitudes has helped to shape my life. For example, when I make mistakes in relation others close to me, I acknowledge those mistakes with simplicity and apologize. I am becoming more attentive to others and more open to them. That teaches me to serve with joy and happiness.

The above photo shows a group of seniors who meet with the purpose of maintaining the magnificent traditions of Thailandin order to pass theseon to future generations. It is through their generous communication and commitment of their time that activities for the children of the parish areorganized by these parish elders to transmit their traditions, like learning to celebrate and greet the New Year in Thai fashion.

I was invited to the bishop’s table for lunch. Father Malser who sat across from me asked me a question, “In comparison, which is the holiest, the Institute of the Oblates or the religious group of Mary?”
At that moment the bishop paid attention, waiting for my answer. I replied that all areequally holy since all pronounce the same vows. And Father said: Oh!That’strue.

I was pleased with this opportunity to explain my commitment as a consecrated lay person, a path to holiness for all the members of the Institute.

The above photo was taken in front of the residence of the bishop of Nakhone Rajsasima.

Netnalith W.

Good morning,

Through these videos, I therefore seek to give meaning to our experience during this pandemic, through the liturgical texts of the present time. I also seek, as Origen said, to bring out the "core"of the texts, in other words, the main message or symbolism behind the text, which strikes the imagination and gives a new perspective to the text .

I hope that these short videos will help you in meditation and make you live a renewed relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Risen One.

I thank my Oblate leaders who encouraged me to continue them.
Violaine Couture, here is my youtube channel

List of videos, French only. Click on the titles to view on the Institute's youtube channel.

10- Guéris-moi
Un chant que j'ai composé en 1998... avec Yolaine Pépin, Raymonde Pelletier et Henri-Louis Trudel comme interprètes sur un montage de photos de mon récent pélerinage à Jérusalem. Mon site web est en reconstruction www.violainecouture.com mais sous peu vous devriez être capable de le télécharger.

11- L'Eucharistie, processus pédagogique inédit
Voici le processus pédagogique de Jésus: il nous demande d’abord de lui faire confiance… Il nous demande individuellement : « Est-ce que tu me fais confiance quand je te dis que je suis le Pain de vie? » Il ne nous demande pas : « Est-ce que tu me comprends intellectuellement quand je te dis que je suis le Pain de vie? » Il ne nous demande pas de comprendre avec l’intelligence humaine, il nous demande de croire, de lui faire confiance… Et après viendra l’éclairage de l’intelligence spirituelle par la grâce de l’Esprit Saint, chacun à son rythme…

12- Ascension de Jésus descente de l'Esprit
Jésus avait annoncé son départ à ses disciples, d’abord son départ de la vie terrestre par l’annonce de sa passion et de sa mort, mais aussi il a annoncé son départ d’avec les disciples, une fois ressuscité. Il est demeuré avec eux dans son état de ressuscité pendant une quarantaine de jours, avec plusieurs apparitions en ligne, pour que les disciples s’apprivoisent à cette résurrection de leur Maître, pour qu’ils n’en doutent pas. Puis, une fois qu’il a senti que sa résurrection était mieux intégrée dans leurs esprits, il les quitte de manière plus définitive, en montant vers le Père. Mais avant, il les invite à se préparer à la descente de l’Esprit dans leur cœur. « Il faut que je parte pour que vienne sur vous le Paraclet, le Consolateur. » (Jean 15)

13- Pentecôte, du don de la Torah au don de l'Esprit
Si la Pentecôte juive (Shavuot) est la commémoration du DON de la Torah de Dieu à Moïse, la Pentecôte chrétienne, en complément, marque le DON de l'Esprit Saint à l'Église naissante. Les deux dons se complètent l'un et l'autre. Sommes-nous toujours dans l'ère de la Pentecôte, dans l'ère de l'Esprit Saint ?

14- Prière sacerdotale de Jésus et vie Trinitaire
La Trinité méditée avec la prière sacerdotale de Jésus. "Père l'heure est venue"... comment cette prière contient la relation trinitaire. "Père, qu'ils soient UN comme toi tu es en moi et moi en eux."

15- Amour et vérité se rencontrent
Amour et vérité se rencontrent, justice et paix s'embrassent ; la vérité germera de la terre et du ciel se penchera la justice. Le Seigneur donnera ses bienfaits, et notre terre donnera son fruit. Nous voyons ici comme deux pôles qui se complètent, ou du moins, qui s’entrecroisent : d’une part, l’amour et la vérité, et d’autre part, la justice et la paix. En effet, il ne peut y avoir de véritable amour sans vérité. Là où est le mensonge, il n’y a qu’un amour à l’eau de rose, un amour qui camoufle une réalité tout autre. S. Jean est très clair sur le sujet, là où il y a mensonge, Dieu n’est pas là. Donc, Dieu est vérité tout en étant amour.

Today, June 5, 2020, I want to pay homage to Eileen McBrearty on the 10th anniversary of her death.

She leaves her mark colored by her heritage, Irish on her father’s side and Scotch on her mother’s side. She enjoyed pushing us to the wall, provoking a reaction and exasperating us.

Her sense of responsibility made her demanding of others but she was easily forgiven because of her kind heart, her joie de vivre and her generosity.

People still speak to me about the attachment, friendship and affection they had for her.

Some time after her death a stranger stopped me in front of a store and said, “Madame, I want to offer you my condolences for the death of Madame McBrearty. I would see you together in church and I was struck by her smile. She was a good person.” For me, that comment was evidence that what we radiate influences our world.

To this day friends remember what she represented for them; they remember her tastes in food: French fries, hamburger, seafood, chicken with a good glass of wine. “Why not!” was her response when she was offered a glass of wine.

I believe it was her transparency that called us to love her as she was. A few months ago I met a priest who had worked on a committee with her. He said, “Ah, Eileen, I quite liked her; she knew what she wanted and would push things forward. She had a clear objective, to bring a project to fruition even if it meant upsetting some people.”

Rest in peace, dear Eileen. Thank you for having been part of our life, jarring us out of our routine to see with new eyes and step out of ourselves. Thank you for your love of life and for having left us your “I love.” that still resonates with us.

Paulette C.

I am a retired nurse. For a number of years my volunteer commitment has focused on being a greeter at a community centre for active seniors.
As well, I assist an outreach worker involved with tenants in a low-rental building.
Once a month I do a shift at a listening help centre.
Within the Institute, occasionally visit a companion who is unwell or who is experiencing loss of independence.

My spiritual life is important in my striving to live my mission well. My five apostolic attitudes are my point of reference.
I refer to Jesus in my daily life to model his example in my relationships.
What is essential to me in relating to others is compassion, openness, listening and recognizing each one’s importance.

I am guided and assisted by Love.

Pauline P.

When I was four I very innocently said in front of my family that I was going to become a nun. They all burst out laughing. That was it – no more sharing of secrets!

Twenty years later, during his visits to schools, the bishop of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, came to my class and spoke to me about the Oblates who don’t criticize, don’t complain, are consecrated but are not nuns and don’t wear a habit.

That was it – exactly what I had hoped for.

I started my probation six months after entering the Institute and have never looked back; I have never doubted that I am exactly where I belong.

Louise L.

Visit the page: To become an Oblate 

When I decided to join the Institute the attraction for me was the simplicity and the commitment that it offered: consecrating my life to God while remaining lay and committing to living the charity of Christ to transform my milieu through positive attitudes. One attitude in particular, the absence of criticism, always helped me to see the good and the beauty in every person and in the world.
F.T. Tremblay

Visit the page: To become an Oblate

An important event took place in our region of America North-East. Cécile Côté’s hundredth birthday

 A hundred years calls for a  celebration
Celebrating the hundredth birthday of one of the pioneer Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate was a joyful event for Cécile’s family, the Oblates, the Augustinians, the employees and Father Julien Campagnat, a close friend of the family. It was a niece, Louise, and her husband, Rémi Piché, who brought us together January 11, 2020, six dates before the actual birthday date.

We were welcomed at the Monastery of the Augustinians by family members including Louise’s daughter, Mégan and her little daughter Mia, who led us to the Frontenac Room and made us feel at home.

We expressed with simplicity how Cécile had been loved by all and in all the milieus where she carried out her mission. We were unanimous in describing her unconditional love, her competence as a nurse (the inhabitants of the Magdalene Islands referred to her as their doctor), her joy, her tenacity, her prayer of supplication, her trust and the peace she radiated.

Cécile was visibly moved by the presence of our President, Denise Desrochers. With her usual polished skill and simplicity, Denise expressed a warm tribute to our jubilarian, a founding member of the Institute and missionary with a heart of fire, highlighting her audacious faith and her constant availability.

Those who knew her well can tell facts and stories about her many involvements.

Her niece Louise, who organized the celebration, told of her devotion to her aunt in the following terms: “I had the privilege at various times of being in touch with Aunt Cécile during her years at Neuville and St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, in the company of her brother, Émile, but more particularly between her two missions abroad, when she would touch down for a period of rest and to visit with her loving family. I have fond memories of these moments.

Since my early childhood she inspired me by her dedication, her tenacity, her capacity to learn and to adapt. She was before her time, always up-to-date, fearless and a go-getter, able to evolve in a world of constant change.

Her studies in education, nursing and psychiatry proved to be valued assets, allowing her to face up to the worse and appreciate the best. Having grown up one of 14 children on a farm with theparents and grand-parents, relationship, sharing and mutual help were part of her DNA.

What she accomplished in a century of life is impressive. She worked amongst the underprivileged in conditions that, at times, were hard. She would tell stories of her missionary life with the fireof one who was committed and happy with her calling. She was where she belonged.

She left her print on the roads of the world and in the memory of those with whom she rubbed shoulders.

Let us celebrate the hundred years of the woman she has been and remains in her head andheart and will always remain in our heads and hearts.”

The tribute continues with Martine Poulin expressing the gratitude the Haitians hold for Cécile.

I personally got to know Cécile through the witnessing of others as expressed by simple people. In 1956, Cécile was sent to Haiti as a missionary. She arrived at Tiburon, a small village at the southern tip of the island in October. She is thefirst nurse to work at that dispensary.

Ten years later, I was sent to Tiburon. The people still remembered Mademoiselle Cécile and ask about her. These are the comments Iheard: she was very competent, she knew how to treat her clients and her prayer was very powerful. Through herprayer she healedthe sickthat could not be healed by medication alone. (According to popular belief, these illnesses were attributed to evil spells.)

This beautiful witnessing I heard many times over! The people had perceived spiritual strengthin her. In 2010, after the earthquake, I returned to Tiburon for a visit and, still, people who had known her asked about her. Congratulations, Cécile, you were a witness. Thank you.

The celebration continued in joy around the sharing of food and a birthday cake. Gathered around our jubilarian we were of one heart as we watched herblow out the candles; engaged in the moment we forgot to take a photo.

In response to my message of congratulations to Louise for the success of the celebration, Louise wrote, “A celebration is a success only with the participation of people with heart, like our dear Oblates. What a fine group we were!”

Our thanks go out as well to the Augustinians who made the event happen by allowing us a place to gather; they joined in the celebration with us. Thanks as well to Rémi Piché who served as photographer providing us souvenirs of our gathering. Thanks to Louise and herfamily too who allowed usto be part of Cécile’s place in the great Côté family. It was a true celebration for all who were present.

Testimonies collected by Raymonde H.

Good morning

Every six weeks or so, for several years now, I gather a groupe of people who are interested in the Bible.
We explore together texts from the Old and New Testaments, while searching the meaning for our spiritual life.

When the pandemic started with the confinement, some were disappointed to be deprived of these meetings. So, I thought of making short "biblical videos" on Facebook, lasting 20 to 30 minutes. Each video ends with a prayer that links to its theme.

The result was that people asked for more and the number of listeners grew every time I posted a new video. So I prayed more to understand the will of God and I was looking for the most suitable themes for what we were experiencing at the present moment, in correspondence with the liturgical time of the year: Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, the Eucharist. ..

Through these videos, I therefore seek to give meaning to our experience during this pandemic, through the liturgical texts of the present time. I also seek, as Origen said, to bring out the "core"of the texts, in other words, the main message or symbolism behind the text, which strikes the imagination and gives a new perspective to the text .

I hope that these short videos will help you in meditation and make you live a renewed relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Risen One.

I thank my Oblate leaders who encouraged me to continue them.
Violaine Couture, here is my youtube channel

List of videos, French only. Click on the titles to view on the Institute's youtube channel.

1. LEVER LES YEUX VERS LE CHRIST
Au désert, Moïse éleva un serpent d'airain sur un poteau pour qu'en le regardant les Hébreux soient libérés des conséquences des morsures de serpents multiples. Le Christ a été élevé en croix pour nous libérer des maux qui nous assaillent. Il nous invite à lever les yeux vers lui.

2. LE SHABBAT DES ÊTRES HUMAINS ET DE LA TERRE
Voilà une pandémie qui nous jette soudainement dans l'immobilisation, dans un arrêt subit... Cela fait réfléchir... Peut-être sommes-nous trop dans l'activisme ignorant les besoins de repos pour le corps, l'âme et l'esprit? Et que dire du repos dont la Nature ne cesse de rêver pour se refaire une beauté? Dans la Bible, Dieu demande un repos hebdomadaire, le shabbat... pour que chacun puisse se ressourcer en Lui.
 
3. MARIE ET LA SEMAINE SAINTE
Marie, mère de Jésus. Nous nous interrogeons souvent sur son rôle, surtout au moment de la passion de son fils. Quel serait le message qu'elle voudrait nous livrer en cette semaine sainte?

4. PÂQUES : DU CONFINEMENT À LA LIBERTÉ
Le confinement que nous vivons en ce moment pèse sur chacun de nous physiquement et psychologiquement. Pâques est le rappelle de la libération que Jésus est venue nous apporter. Jésus a été "confiné" sur la croix pour nous sauver et nous libérer intérieurement. En lui nous avons la guérison. Il peut ouvrir la liberté intérieure alors que nous sommes confinés physiquement parlant. Tournons-nous vers lui.

5. PÂQUES : DU REPENTIR À LA CONVERSION À LA MISÉRICORDE
On confond souvent "repentir" et "conversion"... Bien sûr, les deux termes se rejoignent. Mais une petite nuance s'impose: le "repentir" est le début de la conversion, le moment précis où on se sent touché, où on se voit dans notre misère et où on la reconnaît devant Dieu. Ensuite vient la conversion, le retournement, moment où on prend la décision de changer et où on pose des gestes concrets pour changer. Vient ensuite l'accueil de la miséricorde de Dieu.

6. LE RESSUSCITÉ TRAVERSANT NOS PORTES CLOSES
Jésus ressuscité a traversé les portes closes du Cénacle où les disciples se rassemblaient suite à la crucifixion. Il peut aussi traverser les portes closes de nos coeurs, de nos esprits, de nos mentalités...

7. NICODÈME : DIEU ACCOUCHERAIT-IL DE NOUS ?
Nicodème ne comprend pas le concept de "renaître de nouveau". Il pense devoir retourner dans le sein de sa mère. Jésus l'invite plutôt à renaître d'eau et d'Esprit. Ainsi, nous pourrions dire que l'Esprit Saint "accouche" de nous dans le sens qu'il participe à notre transformation, à notre accès à la vie nouvelle d'en Haut.

8. L’EUCHARISTIE : LA RENCONTRE ENTRE L’ÉPOUX ET L’ÉPOUSE
À chaque fois que le prêtre élève l’hostie, nous sommes élevés un peu plus avec le Christ pour aller à la rencontre du Père. Le jour viendra, où nous serons élevés définitivement et soudainement pour être unis au Christ et au Père. Voilà la rencontre définitive de l'Époux et l'Épouse.

Presently I don’t feel as if I am in confinement; I am not alone, I am in the company of all of you are reading me. In fact, by living the presence of God in the present moment, He and I are always together. One day, the Oblate that I am, realized that God, in my life, is present in one place only: He is present in what I am living at the moment, in what is and not in what could have been. Confinement today is me choosing to be where I am otherwise I would not be where God invites me to live in his presence. Accordingly, here is a description of how my life is unfolding at this time:

Presently, while watching liturgies on TV, I find I am more attentive and interiorizing more even if I don’t have access to sacramental communion. I give thanks for the services I had been used to receiving and which I was not fully appreciating. I will be so happy when the cleaning woman starts coming back, when I can visit the hairdresser for a haircut, when I will be able to choose my fruit and vegetables myself. But I will appreciate as well the calm silence that presently envelopes me for long hours at a time, the moments of leisurely meditation of the Word without time constraints.

I am reinitiating myself to the cooking of meals and perhaps I will even come to enjoy it – I realize I am dreaming in color; eating out allows me to socialize. As I go for walks in my area I hear birds, I see strangers greeting each other, I see lots of children.


My greatest joy is to have the time to realize my niece’s often repeated request to write our family’s story, because, she says, “When you are no longer with us you will be taking the family memory with you.” It goes without saying that the family values I am striving to record are those of our family heritage; it will be as well the witnessing of the human values born of the gospel and of the faith that the family lived with joy.

Had home confinement never occurred I would never have known all that I was missing!

Louise S.

Pictures:
Sabine van Erp pixabay
Tanvi Malik pixabay