Having recently arrived in the Archdiocese of Montreal, the Seeds of the Word Community continues an evangelization mission already present in several countries. Through this interview, its members reflect on their journey, their daily life, their perspective on the Church in Montreal, and the projects they hope to implement in the coming years.
 

As a starter, could you briefly introduce the Seeds of the Word Community? What characterizes your charism and your mission?

The Seeds of the Word Community was founded in Brazil by the deacon couple Georges and Marie-Josette, at the invitation of Archbishop Alberto Taveira Corrêa, then Archbishop of the Diocese of Palmas (State of Tocantins), where the community originated.

Present in eight countries across four continents, it brings together members from different walks of life (single people, consecrated persons, couples, families, priests, etc.) who dedicate their lives full-time to the service of evangelization. Contemplative and missionary, the Community's vocation is to make the Word of God accessible to all and to foster in each person the dignity of sons and daughters of God. Through liturgy, fraternal life, and mission, in the school of the Virgin Mary, it proclaims the Good News of Salvation "for the life of the world" (Pro Mundi Vita; Jn 6:51).

Your community has been present in Montreal for over a year. How did your arrival go, and what have you discovered about the Church and the reality of Montreal?

The Community arrived in Montreal on February 1, 2025, at the invitation of the Sulpician priests, who needed pastoral support for the former Grand Seminary of Montreal (now the Domaine du Fort-de-la-Montagne), where we settled. We made ourselves available to serve according to our charism of hospitality, service, formation, and spiritual accompaniment.

We were also warmly welcomed by Archbishop Christian Lépine and began to develop various missions within the Diocese of Montreal, notably through the proclamation of the Word of God, the dissemination of Lectio Divina—a method of prayer with the Word of God—and spiritual formation and accompaniment.

We give thanks to God for this work of evangelization within the Diocese of Montreal. It is a magnificent Church because of its history, its origins, and its roots, but one that also needs to rediscover the holiness of its foundations. We humbly wish to contribute to this renewal through our missionary life, our consecration, the witness of our religious habit, our joy, and our availability to serve others.

We are also very happy to discover the richness and cultural diversity of the diocese, the opportunity to evangelize in several languages, and the thirst for God that we encounter in so many people. We see Christ gradually touching more hearts and leading ever more souls to his Church.



What does a typical day look like in the Seeds of the Word Community? How do prayer, fraternal life, and mission fit together?

Our day begins with prayer: the Rosary, Lauds, and Lectio Divina. We desire to begin each day with the Lord, making Him the beginning and the goal of everything we experience, so that we may receive from Him the light and graces necessary for the day.

We then enter into what we call the "life of Nazareth," that is, the simple acts of daily service. We offer to the Lord everything we do, for the salvation of souls, the good of the Church, and the specific intentions entrusted to us.

The day continues with various times of service and prayer: the Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Mass, which is the high point of our day, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, times of personal adoration, communal adoration, and then Compline, through which we entrust our entire day to the Lord.

Of course, our schedule also adapts to the needs of each day according to the daily missions. However, we strive to maintain this balance between prayer, fraternal life, and the life of Nazareth, which forms the backbone of our vocation. For, in our mission, we proclaim what we have first contemplated, experienced, and received from the Lord.

Weekends are primarily devoted to retreats organized in our house, welcoming groups, and various missions in parishes and other communities throughout the diocese.

You often speak of "making the Word of God accessible to all" and discovering the "seeds of the Word" in each person. What does this mission mean in concrete terms in your daily life?

Making the Word of God accessible to all means, first and foremost, living it ourselves, so that our lives become a proclamation of the Gospel wherever we are: in our missions, in our daily encounters, even at the supermarket. We proclaim the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, living among us and desiring to reach each person.

This mission is realized through our availability to serve others, the preaching of the Word of God, the training we offer within the Community or in the various places where we are sent, as well as through spiritual accompaniment.

In reality, our entire daily life becomes mission, since, consecrated to the Word of God, our very life is our primary proclamation.

What projects or activities do you hope to develop in Montreal in the coming months? How can members of the community participate or get in touch with you?

We would like to develop more retreats and opportunities for spiritual renewal in French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, for young people, adults, and families.

We also offer sports nights and movie nights for young people.

Twice a month, on Wednesdays, we offer a Bible study in French, as well as a time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Thursday of each month.

We would also like to launch street evangelization missions, such as Nightfever, as well as Lectio Divina workshops.

The best way to follow our activities is to check our social media accounts (Instagram et Facebook).

Through their missionary presence, the Seeds of the Word Community seeks to contribute to the renewal of faith by inviting everyone to deepen their relationship with Christ through prayer, the Word of God, and life in the Church. Those wishing to learn more about their activities, retreats, or formation programs can follow the community on its Facebook and Instagram pages or participate in the various gatherings offered throughout the year.

Finally, what message would you like to share with Catholics in Montreal and with all those who wish to deepen their faith or are searching for meaning? God is alive and continues to act in the world and in our lives today.

We would like to encourage everyone to encounter God through his Word, by taking time each day for prayerful reading of the Holy Scriptures. We also invite everyone to fully experience the sacraments of the Church, which are true sources of grace, and to become involved in a community, group, or service within their parish.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

It is by serving God and others that we gradually discover the profound joy of the Gospel and that our faith grows.

By sharing their experience, the members of the Seeds of the Word Community remind us that all Christian life is called to become an encounter with Christ and a witness to the world. We thank them for opening the doors of their community and sharing their mission in service to the Church of Montreal.