It's been a year since we started "volunteering" to support priests, especially elderly and sick priests. 

The Lord is allowing us to see some of the spiritual fruits of this volunteer work and the good it does for the Church as a whole.  

It is the "maternal presence" of the whole Church that is present with each priest we accompany.  

Today, we'd like to share some of these fruits with you through the testimonies of some of our volunteers.  

I thank the Lord for His Work and for each and every one of our volunteers. I am truly touched by how our volunteers care for our priests.  

"Lord, your love endures forever: do not stop the work of your hands." (Ps. 137:8) 

Sister Natalia Vazquez 
Coordinator of Human and Spiritual Support 
for priests of the Archdiocese of Montreal 
Office of Pastoral Personnel

***

I'm very happy to have known Abbé Gilles Verrette because he gave us so much joy. 

I loved it when he told us to pray a Hail Mary and ended by praying the rosary.  

He was very patient and kind with us. The Abbé even gave me gifts like chocolates! I hope to see him in heaven! 

Ninna-Victoria 10 (who visited with her mother) 

*** 

For me, visiting Father Gilles was always a joy, he left me with peace in my soul after every visit. Including the last time I saw him (before he was taken to hospital). 

He looked tired, he'd had a bad night, as he managed to tell us in a weak voice. I took him to the chapel, and despite his visible discomfort, he was ready to go to Holy Mass as usual. I didn't know it was the last time I'd see him, but my heart invited me to stay a while in the chapel by his side, and we prayed together, in the silent company of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Right up to the last moment, he gave me something to learn: no matter how tired or sick, it's always Jesus, our beloved lord, who's most important.  

Alejandra Lino 

*** 

"We thank Sister Natalia for allowing my husband Jean-François and I to meet Father Gilles VERRETTE and accompany him to his last day.  

We had a wonderful time with him, visiting him every other weekend in Angus. He called us by the name of our country (Côte d'Ivoire). 

Father Gilles loved the mother of our Saviour, the most holy MARY, and we had the pleasure of saying the rosary with him. My husband always waited for this precious moment to see him and say the rosary. He was generous, even giving a rosary to my husband and our son, who accompanied us on a visit. 

He was a humble man!  

The day we went and he was admitted to hospital, we thought we'd see him again, but alas, we did not. 

The Sister informed us of his critical condition, so on Friday 23/02/24, accompanied by my friend Georgette, we went to see him. He recognized me, I put a small image of Our Lady of Lourdes in his hand, he was very happy, and we meditated the rosary for the day!  

On Wednesday, he was in a very critical state, so we meditated the Stations of the Cross with him, and when he asked for water, we gave him something to drink because he was thirsty. 

Thursday was really the end, and we meditated on the luminous mystery to accompany him. 

Adèle Aboua Betis 

*** 

It's Saturday morning. We approach Father Gilles's room with gentle steps, always eager to meet him, aware of the great privilege we have to know this priest, his word and his presence... 

Father Gilles is there... in his room, in his wheelchair, by his bed...  

As soon as he sees us or hears our voices, a gentle smile appears on his face... His eyes and gaze, filled with benevolence, smile and welcome us... 

His voice is soft, warm... Father Gilles holds his rosary and knows that it will be a joy and a grace for us to pray it, saying his mysteries and prayers to God, to Jesus, to the Blessed Virgin Mary together... 

As he mentions the mysteries, Père Gilles offers us some deeply spiritual reflections for each mystery, and then invites us to continue praying to the Blessed Virgin like a gentle melody... We are in deep communion and recollection during these moments - often kneeling beside Père Gilles's armchair, all enveloped in the sweetness of his voice...  

Despite his physical suffering, despite the limitations of his body, Père Gilles emanated serenity, peace towards his fellow man, the joy of being a devoted disciple of Jesus, a child of the Blessed Virgin Mary...  

And when the rosary is over, Father Gilles asks us to take off his embroidered habit to go to mass... We accompany him to the chapel; we seat him in front of the altar in his armchair and kiss his hands, promising each other the next time we meet...  

Dear Father Gilles, we embrace you once again... Jesus, with the radiant Light of His Sacred Heart, will guide you on your ascent to Heaven... We love you! We love Jesus and His Blessed Mother! Bear them all our love! And only love on your soul's path to the Light!  

Milena Kirilova 

*** 

Fr Gilles let us feel his love for the Virgin Mary. He was very fervent in reciting the rosary every day. I think that's why he didn't ask for flowers, because the most beautiful flowers are every Hail Mary we can say for his soul. 

Nirley Vargas 

***  

On Friday, March 1, I received a message from Father Robert Lapointe, who is in charge of priests at Angus, informing me that Father Gilles Verrette was in his final moments. I sent a message to all the volunteers who had accompanied him. Everyone prayed at that moment.  

I hurried to his bedside. I arrived at the hospital at around 3.50 p.m., and he was in agony. I was able to accompany him, pray and sing, and at around 4.20 p.m. he breathed his last. I stayed to pray before this body whose soul had been returned to God.  

For me, it was a "sacred moment," a special moment that I'll never forget. I thank the Lord that his priest did not go alone: the Church was there for him, praying and accompanying him.

Sœur Natalia