The Province of Canada celebrates!
Carrying on with the feast of the Assumption, patron saint of the Institute, some 175 confreres, friends, lay Marists and family members of the two Jubilarians, gathered on Saturday 17 August at Marcellin Champagnat High School to join in celebrating the "100 years of dedication and service" of these two worthy confreres, Brothers Réal and Yvan.
"The Brothers will turn their hands to anything" said Marcellin: the two Jubilarians have put into practice and continue to put into practice this wish of our founder, each one in his own field. REAL: he is the teacher, the organizer of youth teams, community, animation committees, formation in Haiti for six years and is currently in the novitiate of Sri Lanka (as part of Lavalla>200), and at the same time he is working to complete a doctoral thesis in pastoral care… YVAN: he is the builder, the man of a thousand manual talents, the builder, the "raised cassock and dirty hands" in the manner of Champagnat, 40-year's stability in the maintenance of the Provincial House and ÉSMC, interrupted by two internships in Africa to respond to emergencies. He is now working at the Foyer Champagnat in Château-Richer.
Thus, Yvan and Réal have given us the opportunity to meet Brothers, parents and Marist friends, in the same fraternity and in the presence of the Lord, for a meaningful Eucharistic celebration led by Father Guy Guindon, a Sulpician priest, friend and teacher of Brother Réal, by the Most Reverend Alain Faubert, former student and cooperator in Haiti, auxiliary bishop of Montreal, and by Father Raymond-Marie Moreau, a Marist Father; the liturgy was provided by Mr. Pierre Rancourt and a team of highly talented musicians and singers of great quality. This liturgical highlight was planned by Brother Bernard Beaudin: the souvenir booklet of the celebration allowed for valuable participation by the assembly. The celebration continued "around the same table" where the exchanges showed the great unity at the heart of this thanksgiving ceremony.
Some may ask : "When will the next gathering take place? "In the words of Abraham, we respond, in faith: "God will provide …"
After the celebration, the Marists, brothers and lay people, were invited to visit the new house acquired by the Province for the animation of the young people of ÉSMC and the region. Jonathan Drouin and his wife, Marie-Pier, who are in charge of this new project, welcomed a large number of visitors, a sign that this initiative is attracting a great deal of interest from our lay Marists.