The Oblate
Missionaries of Mary Immaculate

In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I invite you to meditate on this beautiful prayer,
which turns us towards the God of love whom we know to be so good and merciful.

Lord, I rely on you.
I know your name, your wisdom and your mercy.
I know that you never abandon
those who seek you.

I give you thanks with all my heart.
I repeat all your wonders.
You fill me with joy.
You renew your trust in me every day.
You constantly urge me not to fear you.
You assure me that you are close to me, in me,
that you want to go to others through me.

My faults, my weaknesses, my pettiness
don't make you cold towards me.
You help me to improve every day.
You are in me like tenderness,
a friendship, a warm feeling,
an unchanging smile, a serene joy,
and you invite me to throw myself confidently into your arms.
I thank you for this. Amen.

Prayer, Father Louis-Marie Parent, o.m.i.
Excerpt from the book: Je t’accueille, page 139 (in French only)

1. Delicacy.

Delicacy is finesse in execution, elegance, skill, refinement in gesture, in the expression of a thought, in the way a compliment is delivered.

When it comes to welcoming and reaching out to others, it is not what you have to give, but how you give it. A good smile, a handshake, a kiss are always more effective than tranquillizers and aspirin in chasing away migraines, stress and worry.

Delicacy is a kind word on someone's birthday. It's a compliment, a word of sympathy, encouragement given at the right moment, something refined that springs from my heart to light up a look, to start a smile.

I am not alone. Someone is living under the same roof. I have an apartment or I live with my family, or I'm part of a team, so if I'm aware of the delicacy that lies within me, others will benefit from my presence, and I'll certainly feel closer to them.

If someone were to think of all the joy they have in their heart, they would give their joy by wrapping it in indulgence and forgiveness, and they would go out to others and bring their sunshine, their light, their warmth.

Delicacy is the exquisite fruit of love, a liberating power that pushes aside mediocrity and routine, stimulates generosity and weakens selfishness.

Excerpt from the “Collection Volontaires de Dieu”, Father Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I.

Read:

You know how to love! 2. Being Considerate

You know how to love! 3. Learning to listen.

“You did not choose me; I chose you.” (John 15:16)

My consecrated life is an extraordinary adventure, a long road of happiness, challenges and holiness. I grew up in an environment where the parish church across the street was my nearest neighbor. The distance between us was barely six metres. And next door, only a wall separated us from the convent of the Sisters of Saint-Hyacinthe. I felt a deep fascination to the sisters, with whom I studied, from an early age. A fascination I kept secret for a long time. I liked the congregation, the only one I knew.

When I was 19, I first spoke to one of these nuns about my desire for consecrated life. This led to a two-year training period at the congregation's house of formation. But the Lord decided otherwise. Back home, I continued to take on many responsibilities in the service of my parish. For example, preparing children and young people for the sacraments of Christian initiation. Five years later, thanks to the arrival of a Voluntas Dei as my new parish priest, I learned of the existence of secular institutes, in particular that of the OMMI. That's how he put me in touch with the person in charge of the Oblates. Shortly afterwards, I started my aspirancy to become an Oblate without hesitating.

My first assignment was in Chauffard (1984-1991), sent to open a home centre for girls aged 16 to 25. It has to be said that at this stage I was different from the 19-year-old I was before. I was not scandalized by anything anymore. My naivety vanished. I understood and saw situations through different eyes. I found great joy in working with the young girls and the most vulnerable people in the parish. Their testimonies of faith, trust, serenity and peace edified me. My time in Chauffard was a time of spiritual growth and solidarity, fostering a warm and welcoming team spirit. I had moments of intense joy, of deep communion with God, of frank fraternity with my companions. But life together is also sometimes a “trial”; during my journey I have also experienced moments of doubt. Incomprehension, illness, death and difficulties have sometimes shaken me. Without my first seven years at Chauffard, which provided a solid, well-forged foundation for my vocation, there have been times when I could have given up. But God was watching... It was in those moments that I experienced the strength, perseverance and power of love.

Jesus my great Love has helped me to grow in faith even in the midst of trials, to overcome obstacles and remain faithful to my commitment. I learned to discern God’s will in life’s events, to live in trust and abandonment. Today, I look back on 40 years with gratitude. Years rich in experiences in which the unconditional love of Jesus has given me the strength to forgive myself, to pick myself up and to move forward. I thank him for everything. May His flame of love continue to light my way and guide my steps until the day He calls me to the hereafter.

Marie-Juliette Sulface, Haiti

We know Mary by many names. Little Thérèse used to say: “Mary is much more a mother than a queen”.

She is Mother; she is the mediatrix of all the graces that God grants to all his children. Mary loves all her children.

On the cross, Jesus presented her to us, saying to John: “Behold your Mother.”

Mary is powerful in the heart of God. It was Jesus who said: “Whatever my mother asks of me, I give it to her”. This was her intercession at the wedding feast in Cana.

That's why we can always say to her: “Mary, go ahead!”

She teaches us to pray through her Magnificat. With her, I can say: “My soul praises the Lord, He leans towards me, He works wonders, He lifts up the lowly and remembers His love.”

Mary abandoned herself to the will of the Father and said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord”.

Mary, our mother, teach us to always say to the Lord: “Here I am to do your will.”

Lilianne Rodrigue
N.A.E.

May 1 - With Mary, like her, I welcome with her smile.
May 2 - With Mary, I pray for countries at war.
May 3 - With Mary, I offer suffering children to God's mercy.
May 4 - With Mary, I marvel at what is around me.

May 5 - With Mary, I break the solitude and visit someone who is alone.
May 6 - With Mary, I take the time to greet the people I meet.
May 7 - With Mary, like her, I am a gift to help those around me.
May 8 - With Mary, I joyfully give service.
May 9 - With Mary, I avoid criticism by taking care of the ambiance.
May 10 - With Mary, like her, I speak softly.
May 11 - With Mary, the all-powerful, I support the pope in his mission.

May 12 - With Mary, who marvels, I express my gratitude.
May 13 - With Mary, I encourage with words of comfort.
May 14 - With Mary, I banish judgements.
May 15 - With Mary, and like Mary, I listen with an attentive ear.
May 16 - With Mary, I care for the elderly and pray for them.
May 17 - With Mary, I look at life with a joyful heart.
May 18 - With Mary, I protect our planet by taking concrete action.

May 19 - With Mary, I express my gratitude to someone close to me.
May 20 - With Mary, I say three Hail Marys for young people.
May 21 - With Mary, I give without expecting anything.
May 22 - With Mary, I make a surprise phone call.
May 23 - With Mary, I extend my hand freely.
May 24 - With Mary, I say a kind word to a neighbour or a friend.
May 25 - With Mary, with her universal heart, I pray for the world.

May 26 - With Mary, with her compassion, I pray for prisoners.
May 27 - With Mary, I meditate in my heart before speaking unnecessarily.
May 28 - With Mary, I lead in joy.
May 29 - With Mary, I show my gratitude.
May 30 - With Mary, I pray for families and grandparents.
May 31 - With Mary, I sing my Magnificat for all that the Lord has done for me.

Dear Mother Mary,
The month of May is dedicated to you so that I may be closer to you, imitate your virtues and pray to you with tenderness through the HAIL MARY of the rosary.
I feel privileged to be able to count on you to reflect your mysteries more clearly every day. Thank you for your “YES” frequently repeated that invite me to say mine again every day.
I love you and please bless the people I come into contact with.
AMEN!

Pierrette Blais

With a touch of sadness, on March 1st of this year, Bernadette left Amos to settle in Trois-Rivières in a residence more suited to her needs. Almost 50 years ago, in September 1974, she arrived in our diocese to take over the pastoral care of the parish of Mont-Brun, a very positive experience to which she would later often refer.

A native of Pont-Rouge in Portneuf County, Bernadette is a member of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, a secular institute of women founded in 1952 by Father Louis Marie Parent, O.M.I.

In September 1974, Bernadette receives from Bishop Gaston Hains a mandate to be the parish pastoral animator in Mont-Brun, a first for her and for the people of the area. Her 25 years of experience in education, both as a teacher and school principal, will serve her well in meeting this new challenge. Working successively with Michel Villeneuve, Gilles Martel and Bernard Tessier, she stays on until September 1982. In March 1983, Bishop Gérard Drainville entrusts her with a new mission: she is appointed parish pastoral animator in Sullivan, where Marcel Albert is the parish priest. Three years later, following her appointment as head of the Central House of the Oblate Institute, she relocates to Trois-Rivières, where she remains until December 1992.
In September 1994, Bernadette returns to the Diocese of Amos with a bachelor's degree and a master's in theology. Bishop Drainville gives her the mandate of diocesan pastoral coordinator, a position she will hold until September 2007. Over the years, this new responsibility leads her to walk many paths in the pastoral life of our diocese: catechumenate, faith journeys, religious movements, pastoral care of the sick, service to lay pastoral workers, pastoral training, adult faith education, Christian initiation and catechesis, formation in Christian life, service to pastoral animators, and communications.

After her service as diocesan pastoral coordinator, Bernadette, a woman of great faith, a good listener and a missionary at heart, was no slouch. She found a way to remain in service in Amos in a variety of ways, by being attentive to the people in her community, often offering them a listening ear. For several years, she was also responsible for bringing Eucharistic communion to people living in the small RPAs (residences for the elderly) in Amos.

After caring for others in so many ways, it is time for Bernadette to take care of herself, especially at the age of 92. Although it's time for a well-earned retirement, she continues to pray for us and the many people she has met along the way. She is now one of our prayer missionaries. We thank God for placing this woman on the missionary path of our diocesan church. A big thank you to Bernadette for all her years of generous service to us.

Raymond Martel, v.g.

THANK YOU for everything!

(Newsletter from the Diocese of Amos / April 2024, page 7)