The Arctic cold on February 4 was not enough to prevent more than 250 people from gathering at the Sanctuaire Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs in celebration of this year’s Diocesan Day for Consecrated Life. Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Christian Lépine, with Bishop Alain Faubert and several religious priests concelebrating. Those taking part were of all ages, representing various groups: men and women religious, members of Societies of Apostolic Life and the secular institutes, the Order of Consecrated Virgins, as well as consecrated laypersons and guests.

Saturday, February 4, 2023 – Sanctuaire Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs, Montreal

The entrance procession was very colourful, with some 20 consecrated individuals bearing the flags of their countries of origin. And this, by the way, is only a fraction of those who have come from many different nations to settle in our archdiocese.

The multicultural choir Ensemble Vocal Épiphanie de Montréal, which comprises approximately 20 members from various African countries, helped provide an atmosphere of meditation and prayer for the Eucharistic celebration. That ambience changed to joy and celebration when it came time for everyone to dance to the Gloria “O NKembo,” meaning ‘Glory to God’ in Lingala, a national language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Cold hands, warm hearts” was the theme of Archbishop Lépine’s welcoming address. In his homily, he invited and exhorted us to keep our hearts warm in all life’s circumstances, though our hands may be cold. Our hands may be tired and our bodies weary from a life of giving, he encouraged us, but our hearts remain warm with the warmth of God’s Love, against which nothing can prevail. The Archbishop also pointed to the consecrated life as a sign that God exists, that He does not do anything without us and without the consecrated life. He urged us to surrender ourselves to God all together, following the example of the Nazarene family, so that He may “accomplish his Work in us and through us, and keep our hearts warm.”

Before the offertory procession, and to the accompaniment of the Malagasy dance performed by members of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Seven Dolors, the jubilarians of 2022-2023 approached the altar to renew their commitments and vows of faithfulness by offering a special prayer for the occasion.

Following the beautiful Eucharistic celebration, we sat down to a festive dinner in the church basement. This was an opportunity for all to meet together and for those from different groups to get to know one another better and build fraternal relations again after the long period of confinement we had experienced on account of COVID-19. After this came various other presentations, including diocesan news shared by the two bishops attending and testimonials from the young people with Youth Ministry, with whose help we had organized “Le bien cache dans la cité” (“The good that hides in the city”). And to conclude this festive and joyful day, there were performances of traditional songs and dances, poems and sketches.

We experienced the truth of the Holy Father’s expression selected for this Day:

“We are like the tiles of a mosaic. Each is lovely in itself, but only when they are put together do they form a picture.”

Sr. Jacqueline Tchamgbade – Donatella Fiorani (Office for Consecrated Life)