It is with great joy that we welcome the arrival of the Semences du Verbe Catholic Community in our diocese. Present in Montreal since last February, this contemplative and missionary community brings new vitality to the heart of the city, in service to the Church and evangelization.

Founded in Brazil in 2004, the community brings together members from all walks of life—lay people, consecrated persons, priests, and deacons—united by the same desire: to proclaim the Word of God and to promote the dignity of every person as a child of God. Already active in eight countries, it now provides pastoral service at the Domaine du Fort de la Montagne, while preparing to offer spiritual formation and evangelization activities for Montrealers.

Inspired by the Virgin Mary and rooted in prayer, fraternal life, and attention to the poorest, the Semences du Verbe Community reminds us that proclaiming the Gospel begins with a life given, lived by the Word, and carried out in mission.

Discover their history, vocation, and mission in the following text.

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“What we have seen and heard, we proclaim to you.” 1 Jn 1:1-3

The Catholic Community Seeds of the Word was founded in Brazil (Palmas, Tocantins) at the call of the first archbishop of the archdiocese, Msgr. Alberto Taveira Corrêa (now archbishop of Belém-Para, also in Brazil).

Founded on July 16, 2004, in Palmas (Tocantins), it is a private association of the faithful with legal personality, recognized by the decree of canonical recognition and approval on March 29, 2005, by Archbishop Alberto Taveira Corrêa. On the same date, its statutes were definitively approved.

The Community is part of the “New Communities” of the Catholic Church and is a member of “Charis” (International Service of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal). It brings together members from different states of life: lay people (single, couples, families), consecrated men and women, priests and permanent deacons, in a life given full-time to the service of the Church and evangelization. It has 300 members and is present in eight countries, with various houses and missions: Brazil, Portugal, Dutch-speaking Belgium, Canada (Calgary and, more recently, Montreal), Italy, the Philippines, Mozambique, and Venezuela.

Contemplative and missionary, the Community's vocation is to make the Word of God accessible to all and to help everyone grow in the dignity of being sons and daughters of God. Through the liturgy, the Word of God, fraternal life, and mission to the poorest, following the example of the Virgin Mary, the Community proclaims the Good News of salvation “for the life of the world” (cf. Jn 6:51).

The contemplative nature of the Community is manifested in its relationship with the Lord through daily prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Adoration, Lectio Divina, the Eucharist, and personal prayer. This contemplative life nourishes the missionary life of the Community, seeking to discover and value the seeds of the Word hidden in hearts.

In Montreal, since the beginning of February, the Community has been providing pastoral service at the Domaine du Fort de la Montagne (former seminary of the Priests of Saint Sulpice), welcoming groups who come for a time of encounter or retreat. We hope to soon be able to develop our own activities of evangelization and formation in the spiritual life.