Dans ce JOURNAL je partage de temps en temps un aperçu de ma vie de chrétien catholique et de prêtre pour rejoindre d'autres qui désirent contribuer au bien commun et pour faire avancer l'ouverture personnelle à Dieu qui fait vivre toute l'humanité et veille sur nous. G.S.
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This was the year a certain seminarian intern was assigned to St. Kevin Parish, where he was welcomed by the Filippino Choir... a bunch of young people who were part of the "great immigration" of children of the Philippines to all parts of the world. Some of them were "live-in" maids living during the work week in the homes of their employers and sharing a small apartment on the weekend. One such apartment was the location where the Choir met after Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass for a "pot luck" supper. The atmosphere was very warm, fraternal, and convivial, a loving community which was a glimpse of Heaven.
In fact, many of these young people, women and men, were in their 20's or 30's and were, in effect, in a period of preparation and discernment regarding their vocation in life. The seminarian was on his way towards ordination, first as a deacon, and later as a priest. Others were discovering the "love of their life" and taking steps towards marriage. One in particular was taking steps towards religious life as a sister with the "Little Sisters of the Poor".
1983 to 2023
Teresita "Tessie" David and Willie Allonar married early in 1983 and are celebrating this year, in 2023, their 40th Anniversary. Your celebration last night was a joyful glimpse of "the Wedding Banquet of the Lamb of God" in Heaven. Jesus is in Himself the "Marriage between God and humanity", because He is both the Son of God and the son of Mary, wife of Joseph of Nazareth.
We join you in celebrating the reality that your personal sacrifices willingly made out of love for one another, your family, and for others, have allowed the Most Holy Trinity to pour out life, love, and blessing on many people. We understand that God has not finished with you yet - as He has not finished with each of us - and we rejoice in this wonderful mystery. We also remember that Jesus, during his short time in public life on this Earth, enjoyed fellowship at table with all those willing to sit and share with Him, and He calls us to do the same.
"We thank You, Lord Jesus, for continuing to grace our table fellowship and family celebrations. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, may we always make room at our tables to the stranger, the lonely, the "excluded ones", and those who feel unwanted for whatever reason. Open our eyes to notice them and our hearts to reach out to them. In this way, may You be pleased to make of us your missionary disciples for our day. Come, Lord Jesus. O my Jesus, I trust in You."
Alice Yao - Sister Rosemarie Thomas of the Little Sisters of the Poor - is also celebrating her 40th Anniversary in religious life. The seminarian, now Fr. Gilles Surprenant, is celebrating as well his 40th Anniversary in the priesthood in Montreal. All those young people who came together as the original St. Kevin Filippino Choir have also found their way in life: many to marry and have children and, in time, grandchildren; others to remain single "for the Lord" and serve the community and the Church through their dedicated presence and generous service. Some, I believe, have already found their way to "the Father's House" to enjoy, by God's infinite mercy, the rewards of their labours in this life.
We are joined in spirit and prayer by the Holy Spirit - the Lord and Giver of life - to the Heart of Jesus, the Divine Mercy, who ever brings us to his Father, who has brought us into being through the love and union of our parents. We give thanks to God for our parents, wherever they may be, who, despite their personal failings and human limitations, still received the grace to serve as instruments of the Most High, the Most Holy Trinity, in giving us life and nurturing us until we could find our own way in life, by the Grace of God.
"Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us anew with your divine life, love, and power, and make of us useful and effective instruments of your saving work in the world. Fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the FIRE of your Love."
I offer Holy Mass in thanksgiving to God - all this week January 22nd to 28th, which is also the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - in gratitude to God for all of us brought together by the Lord all those years ago, and also all those who have been added to our number during the course of these 43 years....
"Father in Heaven, may You be pleased to continue to bless us, our children and grandchildren, our parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended families, our brothers and sisters in religious life and in Holy Orders, and continue to make our lives fruitful in the saving work and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through the working and power of the Holy Spirit." "Our Lady of Ville-Marie and of the Philippines, pray for us." "St. Joseph and St. Brother André, pray for us." "St. Kevin, pray for us." "Sainte Marguerite Bourgeois and Sainte Marguerite d'Youville, pray for us." "Saint Kateri, pray for us."
Dans ce JOURNAL je partage de temps en temps un aperçu de ma vie de chrétien catholique et de prêtre pour rejoindre d'autres qui désirent contribuer au bien commun et pour faire avancer l'ouverture personnelle à Dieu qui fait vivre toute l'humanité et veille sur nous. G.S.
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© 2004-2023 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2004-2023 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC
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