The Oblate
Missionaries of Mary Immaculate

Every moment of the day is a special time, but how often do we miss out on it, living our daily lives as a normal routine? And yet, when we open our eyes and our hearts, so many beautiful things are expressed all around us.

Why not make the most of this beautiful season that God has given us, spring? A season that brings light, heralds new life, brings hope to our doorstep and brings us closer to Mother Nature.

Let's not stop at our age, because age has nothing to do with it, and life pushes the heart to find meaning in what we do. Even if frailty becomes an obstacle, nothing in the world should stop us, because the needle of the present moment cares little for tomorrow.

Let's remember that, no matter what winds blow, it's up to us to create springtime in our lives by staying totally connected to what we're experiencing. Let's not forget that the love we sow leaves its mark, like the buds that burst forth spraying the scent of a new day.

Whether we're 30, 50, 60 or 80 years old or older, whether we're ill or well, if in the depths of our hearts we learn to live our springtime in the present moment, no season will overshadow our hope.

Louise Fleury, Volunteer of God
Drummondville

Our founder, Father Louis Marie Parent, O.M.I., used to say: "Charity is God emanating from our heart to love another.”

This year, with all the difficulties we’re experiencing as a people, as Christians, because of the interference of the country’s political authorities, I'm trying to make this text a stimulus that increases my appetite not to criticize the people who put us in this state, but to hold them in my daily prayers. It’s very difficult for me to love them, but I pray to God for them every day.

With this text, I let myself be shaped by God’s hands, guided by his light, and I’m not afraid to face life with all its torments.

My dear companions, to tell the truth, Father Parent left us a treasure: our spirituality. We can be proud of our beautiful Institute, which is a living nucleus in the Church.

I give thanks to God for all He gave me, 25 years of grace within the Institute. I keep knocking at His door to renew my fidelity to Him. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude.

The Virgin Mary, my mother, a model of service. Like her, I remain available for the growth of the Institute.

Marie Cécile Printemps
Haiti

There are times when people are in search of spirituality to live a life of faith that makes sense, that nourishes the soul, that invites us to live in harmony and that challenges us to build around ourselves in the name of Christ. If this sounds like you, I’d like to introduce you to a spirituality that’s right for anyone who wants to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

It starts directly from the Gospel, and is very simple: build your life by letting yourself be guided by God’s Will in the present moment, in harmony with others and with yourself.

A positive spirituality in 5 life attitudes inspired by the Holy Spirit to Father Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I., founder of our secular institute, who wished to leave this legacy to all those who wish to grow in love. Here are our 5 inspiring life attitudes.

1st attitude: Presence of God
Paying attention to God’s presence in the present moment; he’s everywhere, in the person I walk by, in nature, in a sunset I admire and in myself.

2nd attitude: Abstention from destructive criticism
Cultivate a benevolent view of people. Each person is a reflection of God’s goodness. Having tolerance in my heart as the Lord sees the person makes me grow with his or her qualities.

3rd attitude: Abstention from useless complaint
To welcome events positively rather than complain about what happens every day.
Looking for the positive, there’s always some positive, it’s a question of opening my eyes. It puts light on my path and develops my sense of wonder.

4th attitude: Being of service
Concern for others. Jesus became a servant and he invites me to walk in service. It’s a good way to discover my charisms and talents. For my service to be effective, I have to be connected to the very source: Jesus. Mary is my model of availability.

5th attitude: Peacemaker
To strive to foster peace in all circumstances. If I live the first four attitudes to the best of my ability, peace will necessarily come within me and around me.
To become this peace specialist, I have to graft myself onto Jesus, who is the vine that feeds the branches.

So, after reading these attitudes, I invite you to stop and reflect about this in the depths of your heart and then, how about getting going?

Réjeanne Allard
Drummondville

Instrument of peace – Sri Lanka 
‘’Where there is Love there will be Peace.’’
If we look at the world around us in all the continents, the main topics being discussed are on ‘WAR’. Why? With Whom?? How??? For What???? The same goes for ‘PEACE’.

My duty is to pray for all these abnormal situations. My responsibility is, to bring love and peace wherever I am involved as a human being and as a Christian.

Christ, himself, is the giver of love and peace. We, his followers, must be the givers of love and peace as well through the simple act of our witnessing and charitable life. Being faithful to our daily tasks can bring peace among us. If we are not punctual and truthful in our working place that will disturb others, provoking unhappy situations; instead of making peace, we destroy peace. Therefore, we must be positive in our life. These little gestures can be offerings of peace and
happiness to God, to our brethren and even, indirectly, to our selves.

Let’s try to go from being GOOD to being BETTER and, finally, to being the BEST.

Reeta Gunanayagam
Oblate from Sri Lanka

« Peace be with you .... » Jn: 20,19 - Vietnam
All Christians and people of good will are called to engage daily, to build peace and to live peace in their environment.
We all long for peace, peace in our hearts, in our families, in our neighborhoods...

Peacemaker is someone who makes everything centered on God. It is an image of a humble heart, not seeking praise in the world, as long as God knows, that's enough.

When working in the community, in the parish, there are times when we are tired, without a word of praise, sometimes misunderstood, under pressure, say to ourselves: God knows everything, knows what we are doing, what we have to go through, what are we thinking, what are we sacrificing...but when we do work, let's do it as wholeheartedly as working for God, so that we will receive the reward God gives us as an inheritance for us. We can please God only when we live to love God and love our brothers and sisters and we can be messengers of peace, so that our lives and those around us can be peaceful.

Lord, give me your peace. Use me, so that wherever I am, I spread your peace to everyone I meet.

Doan Thi Ngoc Diêp, Oblate from Vietnam

Read:

Universal face of the institute (1)

Universal face of the institute (2)

Universal face of the institute (3)

Life is made up of 24 hours, and just one 24-hour period can give your life a lasting direction, a zest for life and the confidence to feel useful. These 24 hours are at my mercy today, yesterday's 24 hours can't help me, and tomorrow's 24 hours will be useful when they arrive

Progress in one's own life depends on the vitality of the heart, the efficiency of the effort, the rhythm of my energy, the vigour of my perseverance. If I know how to start afresh every day, I'll overcome failures without getting hurt, and I'll reach the end of myself.

If you want goodness from others, show them yours. I saw that I could be good, and I felt in myself a desire to be of service, to please, to lend good intentions to others. I saw that my qualities were like new elastic bands, and it's by stretching them that I can be useful to others.

Your treasure is buried deep within you. You don't think enough, don't fear anything, and you can do anything if you know whom to lean on.

A useless life is more regrettable than a premature death.

Personal reflections:
1. What are the greatest assets of human beings?
2. How does one sow goodness?
3. Explain in your own words the meaning of compassion.
4. Getting back to everyday life... why?

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

Read:

Start living again (1)

Start living again (2)

Start living again (3)

Every day, God our Father renews the certainty in my heart that I am loved: “You are my beloved child, in you I put all my joy.” These words create love, trust and hope in me. Christ's love opens my heart to an unconditional and universal love for others, to love them as He wants me to love them. His Spirit makes me attentive to the signs of His presence, in me, through me, and around me in the present moment.

In the Langelier residence where I live, I am involved every Friday with a team to lead either a liturgy of the Word or a Mass. I also try to be attentive to people's needs: listening, caring, supporting and comforting.

At Saint-Pierre Parish, I'm available to read, to serve, or to give communion at a Eucharist. Every Monday, I lead a small group to share our faith by deepening our understanding of Sunday's Word. I also share my faith in a catechesis team to prepare young people aged 8-10 for the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, and to accompany them on their journey of faith.

Time spent in prayer, alone or with others, gives meaning to my Oblate life and helps me to discover God's loving presence, to remain a being of service. Only with his strength can I realize his plan of love.

In my daily contacts, I try to sow trust in God who loves us. For Him, with Him, in Him:

- fears, insecurities, anxieties become Trust
- hatred, violence, war become Peace
- doubts, emptiness, powerlessness become Light
- nights, despair, gloom become Hope

Because God transforms everything for our Happiness.

Claire Pronovost

Let us create a time ...
Let us open our hearts to ...
Let us listen carefully to ...
Let us be more welcoming to ...
Let us put our loved ...