MIC mission news, 1 janvier 2007, July - September 2007, Vol. 34, No 3

[" ECOTOURISM MISSION NEWS VOL.34, NO 3 | JULY \u2022 AUGUST \u2022 SEPTEMBER 2007 | $3.00 S I N C E 1 9 2 3 MIC An Awakening of Consciousness MIC PUBLICATIONS 500th issue*French edition Le Précurseur 490th issue*English edition MIC Mission News Publication of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Happy to present our 12 An Old Oak Tree Confides Lise Tremblay, M.I.C.14 Ecotourism Everyday Lorraine Pagé 16 Somewhere\u2026 For You\u2026 A Sanctuary Léonie Therrien, M.I.C.Spiritual Life 4 Ecotourism\u2014Just a Showcase?André Gadbois 6 Remembering Faces Pierre-René Côté, priest Special Feature 9 Le Précurseur\u2014500th issue The Precursor/MIC Mission News\u2014490th issue Youth 10 Spiritual DNA Yolaine Lavoie, M.I.C.COLUMNS MISSIONARY PRAYER INTENTIONS July 2007 For all Christians: Conscious of their missionary duty, may they actively help those involved in the evangelization of peoples.August 2007 For the Church in China: May it be a witness to an always greater internal cohesion and show effective and visible communion with the Successor of Peter.September 2007 For all missionary men and women: In following Christ joyfully, may they know how to overcome the difficulties they meet in their everyday lives.MASSES FOR READERS\u2019 INTENTIONS OFFERED IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES: January: Canada February: Cuba March: Philippines April: Haiti May: Canada June: Bolivia and Chile July: Malawi and Zambia August: Hong Kong and Taiwan September: Madagascar October: Peru November: Japan December: Canada CONTENTS VOL.34, NO 3 | JULY \u2022 AUGUST \u2022 SEPTEMBER 2007 ECOTOURISM\u2014AN AWAKENING OF CONSCIOUSNESS MIC Mission News Mission magazine published by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Ofces Missionary Press MIC 120 Place Juge-Desnoyers Laval, QC Canada H7G 1A4 Phone: (450) 663-6460 Fax: (450) 972-1512 Email: micmissionnews@pressemic.org Web site: www.soeurs-mic.qc.ca Directress of Publication Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, M.I.C.Administrative Assistant Carole Guévin Editors Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, M.I.C.Claudette Bouchard, M.I.C.André Gadbois Translation Claudette Bouchard, M.I.C.Robin Dick Regina Farrell Alexis Pearson Promotion Antoinette Castonguay, M.I.C.Elizabeth Relacion, M.I.C.Circulation Alma Couture, M.I.C.Thi Hien Duong Accounting Thérèse Déziel, M.I.C.Layout & Design Sophie Caron Printing Solisco Cover Agnes Mao, M.I.C., Taiwan Photo credit: MIC Editorial Board Monique Bigras, M.I.C.Pauline Williams, M.I.C.Geneviève Dick André Gadbois Tax Receipt Registration Number: NE 89346 9585 RR0001 Presse missionnaire MIC Legal Deposits Bibliothèque nationale du Québec National Library of Canada ISSN 0315-9655 Subscription rates (4 issues) Single issues: $3 (plus mailing costs) 1 year: $10, 2 years: $20, 3 years: $25 USA: 1 year: US$15 International: 1 year: $20 We acknowledge the nancial assistance of the government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) for mailing expenses.Mail-publications convention Number 0040064029 Registration Number (PAP) 11020 The cry of the XXIst century: Save Planet Earth! More and more we are awakened to the urgent need of caring for our planet.A vital awakening! We cannot flout the cry; we must act\u2026 After a year of hard work, vacation time is very welcome isn\u2019t it?This is an opportunity for many to travel, hike, walk or leisurely change pace.But\u2026 there is a BUT:how will we spend our vacations?Nowadays, we speak of ecology, many words borrow the prefix ECO to underline its importance: eco-science, eco-centre, eco-activities, eco-tourism, etc.All referring to a preoccupation with the environment\u2014touting respect for the planet and its inhabitants.Following the example of Moses and the Hebrew people, a new awareness is moving the citizens of planet Earth toward the Promised Land where milk and honey flow.(Ex.3:8) Is it an illusion, a new publicity trick, or a deterrent for critics of neoliberalism to lessen its negative effects?As mentioned in many of the articles written in this issue, ecotourism calls forth our responsibility as citizens of the Earth.We need a genuine revolution in our ways of thinking, consuming, recycling\u2026 Is it not time to say \u201cSTOP\u201d to certain habits we have and that degrade our environment?It\u2019s up to each one of us to consciously respond and act without delay.Let us be committed to restore and respect nature\u2019s equilibrium; let us elaborate our own green plan\u2026 Our ways of acting have repercussions, either we renovate or destroy.The situation is crucial: climate change, melting of glaciers, devastation of forests and riverbanks, etc.SAVE OUR PLANET EARTH!\u2014a mission that belongs to all of us.This mission can only be successful if we have the courage to act wisely according to the Spirit of the Creator: And God saw that it was good.(Gen 1:10) This summer, ecotourism also offers us occasions to be aware of people we meet, to be attentive to children\u2019s laughter, to be sensitive to young lovers, to appreciate the beauty of nature and capture moments of silence so rare in our lives.This other facet of ecotourism can enrich our lives and fill us with much joy.This issue invites us to either make a first step or to resolutely continue on with those steps that will lead us to the Promised Land.We will embellish and regenerate our planet if we responsibly take great care in not abusing it in one way or another and then pass on this magnificent heritage to the future generations who, in turn, will be able to savour the milk and honey of\u2026the Promised Land.Happy vacation time! Hope you enjoy reading the following articles.THE PROMISED LAND.micmissionnews@pressemic.org calls out to you! This column belongs to you.Share your impressions and comments with us in order to deepen our reection.Make yourselves heard! MIC Mission News does not publish unsigned letters, nor letters whose subject matter infringes on the journalistic code of ethics.We reserve the right to abridge letters.Denise Crépeau, Montreal, Qc With pleasure I read all the articles that appeared in the last issue of your ma - gazine.I congratulate you for the well chosen themes and the beautiful illustrations.May you continue in that line.Nathalie Croteau, Anjou, Qc It is Sunday morning, the sky is blue, the sun is shining bright, spring is near, what a JOY! I just read the three-part article of Sr.Marie-Paul Ross.What a beautiful woman; she explains and summarizes so well that little three-letter word: JOY.I love her statement\u2014MY CHOICE IS TO LIVE IN JOY\u2014Both young and old find joy in the contemplation of nature\u2026 This is what Claude and I wish to pass-on to our children.Joy is our best ally against moments that are more or less easy to live in a lifetime.Joy is gratuitously given to us, it cannot be bought.Therefore, it is up to us to pass it on, from day to day, in good times as well as in more difficult times.READERS\u2019 CORNER EDITORIAL MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 | 3 businessman goes to India for his vacation.On the shore, he sees a fisherman returning with a fish.Admiring the catch, he says: What a joy this is! You will go back to the ocean for more?I will come along, you must explain to me how you fish.\u2014 Go back for more\u2026 what for?asks the fisherman.So that you may catch more fish, says the businessman.\u2014 But what for?replies the fisherman once again.Well, after you\u2019ve sold your catch, you will have money.\u2014 But what for?You could then buy yourself a boat.\u2014 But what for?With a bigger boat you could haul in more fish.\u2014 But what for?Well, you could hire workers.\u2014 But what for?answers the fisherman.These people would work for you.\u2014 But what for?Then you would be rich.\u2014 But what for?You would be able to go and rest.The fisherman replies: This is what I am doing right now.At that point, Father Pierre stops his story; but here, unbeknownst to him I will continue.A clever businessman finds another fisherman.The latter is famished.The businessman buys him a small boat, transforms his little paradise into a major tourist site, sells sunshine in abundance but never allows his little fisherman to have enough finances to buy himself a bit of sunshine in Nice, Tuscany, Corsica or a bit of autumn in Lanaudiere, Vermont or even some winter in Quebec.Money has the power to transform and to destroy, the power to seduce and to blind our eyes, deafen our ears.It has the power to bring comfort for some\u2026 and misery for others.Very often money damages conditions instead of improving them, it can crush rather than create harmony.Why is it that the eyes of the clever businessman opened wide before the golden eggs of the fish, while the fisherman remained steadfast on welcoming the present moment?.Mystery! But equity is not so: the little fisherman has just as much dignity and deserves as much respect as the businessman.4 | MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 By André Gadbois After playing \u2018bulldozer\u2019, is mass tourism implementing a new voca - bulary to lessen the perverted effects it has engendered?The French priest, Father Pierre, tells us a story in his book \u2018Carnets intimes inédits\u2019 (P.166); it mirrors back to us a fact-of-life.ECOTOURISM Just a SHOWCASE?Photo credit : M.Turcotte S P I R I T U A L L I F E A NEW VOCABULARY Money flowing from tourism has \u2018bulldozed\u2019 and poisoned our planet Earth.It has scorned local populations, has been so de fiant of public opinion and infringed upon environmental laws, to such an ex - tent that businessmen now dare to speak about RES PONSIBLE TOURISM and ECO- TOURISM so as to reduce the perverse effects of mass tourism.Are we in the process of inventing a new vocabulary only superficially related to the truth and yet which people are now willing to hear?Such promotional terms as \u201cresponsible corporate citizenship and \u201csustainable tourism\u201d po lish the image of those agencies who recognize that, in the name of money and on the altar of abundance, they have sacrificed human beings and des troyed their natural ha bi tat.Michel Lemay, vice pre - sident of public affairs for a tourist agen cy states:We speak of the environment because tour ism can have negative im pacts on the na - tural sur round ings; but there is also the social aspect.Tour ism often contri butes to cultural level ling and now we are realizing the need to preserve cultural diversity, folklore and au - then tic craft industries.We also have to consider the question of equa lity for local popu - lations.Do they benefit from the money tou - rists are spending in the communities?(La Presse, April 11, 2007, Cahier Actuel, P.4)Who will cover the costs of repai ring this mess?Who will install functioning wastewater treatment systems for large tourist sites?When will employees from local communities be offered decent wages?Who will inform the clients (tou rists) that they are not at home?CHRISTIANS, STAND UP! In His image, God created man and woman.He also created nations and revealed to Moses that none should keep the other enslaved.His Son, by His Word, His actions and death taught us that we are all brothers and sisters with multiple talents (fishermen, businessmen, cooks, tourist guides, chambermaids\u2026) and that truth sets us free.This Son also taught us to pray, not for sunshine during our vacation but for justice and love on our threatened planet: that those who have bread may share it; that forgiveness and reconciliation nourish hope and that the Father\u2019s beautiful creation be well managed.He went to His death criticized for being a disturbing prophet; however, those who believed in Him, though disappointed and full of hesi - tations, recognized Him ALIVE.The recognition of His presence goes on to this day.We bear witness to Hisresur - rection when we choose to act responsibly without shirking our duty.We do this also when the Truth means more to us than just a promotional showcase: when it becomes our guide for daily living.A guide for work, love and friendship; a guide for poli tics, education and leisure time; a guide for our relationship with neighbours, for the practice of our faith and even\u2026 for the choice of our holiday destination.MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 | 5 Truth is not a promotional showcase.\u2014 Facial expressions \u2014here, there, everywhere! Everywhere, faces! One face stands out! A powerful, intimate, secret moment.A moment of intensity, thick with encoun ter, imprinted in my memory like a spurt of growth as a human being.Those moments of encounter have taught me, shaped me.\u201cRemembering Faces\u201d challenged me to admit and acknowledge to what extent I am who I am because of the hundreds of faces of people who, without knowing it, with no educational strategy whatsoever, have had an impact on my training, on the \u201cBUILDING\u201d of whom I have become.More than anything, I have learned that, sometimes, mere instances can last through time.\u201cAll aboard! On our way!\u201d There is no other way for me to begin the journey than to tell you about some of the faces that have impressed me along my journeys.They are my faces and my stories: for you, the reader, they are unfamiliar and strange.Nevertheless, the part of me that has never expressed itself even after my trips to Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia, France and Spain or even while in Montmagny and Drummondville, this hidden aspect of me will now make itself known.\u201cLast stop\u2014all passengers disembark!\u201d Yes, hasten the pace, and I hope you will take the time to wind back, so as to remember those trips you have taken and those faces that impressed you along the way.Though I will tell you about my experiences, do let your memory flash back to those words, and facial expressions that still speak to you today even though they might seem like they are buried away in some old photo albums.One day, when I was visiting an orphanage in Bolivia, a child less than two years old stretched out his arms with pleading eyes.I did not want to pick him up but then I could not resist.As I was about to put him down on the floor, our tears blended.Once again, I had to convince myself that he would never be my son and that I would never be his father.Those facial expressions, smiling or sad, welcoming or mean, perhaps even indiffe - 6 | MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 Remembering FACES By Pierre-René Côté Interesting, disconcerting, challenging, a text or rather a personal testimony that goes beyond explanation.With heartfelt words, Pierre-René tells us about the multiple encounters that profoundly touched him during his many travels around the world; he recalls the numerous facial expressions that have left their mark.1 S P I R I T U A L L I F E rent, but nonetheless wounded by some dramatic event\u2026.all these faces have one common feature.What is this feature?They have become a part of you.Somehow, they have touched you and so you are no longer the same, unknowingly you have changed.Through my \u2018exposé\u2019 I hope to break down the walls of silence, of unconsciousness, or perhaps of forgetfulness to bring back to light the intimate and secret encounters which continue to linger within you notwithstanding time and distance.You have just embarked on my train, but now go on to your own destinations.See and hear once again those facial expressions that have touched you deeply and have transformed your being and your history.Be attentive to these \u2018productive distractions\u2019 and respect them.The whole world belongs to you Geographically moving about, my trips brought me back to a childhood expe - rience.A mental snapshot of Joe Bégin flashed in my memory.He was our family\u2019s neighbour and when I was four or five years of age, he took me to a mountain.From its peak, on a clear day in May, we could see the State of Maine, its green mountains, and beyond Quebec to the Laurentians.Joe helped me contemplate the vastness and beauty of nature.I was in awe before the lush green landscape.Sensing my reaction, Joe Bégin looked at me and said: \u201cThere you are my boy! From where you stand, the whole world belongs to you.\u201d That moment and that statement were engraved in my heart for always.Joe had taught me that I was a \u2018citi - zen of the world\u2019 and that all of planet Earth was my own.Today, as an adult, I believe our family neighbour wanted to bless me with a gift\u2014that of discovering something beautiful\u2014and share with me his contemplative outlook.Joe Bégin did not give me the world, but he invested me as heir of the earth, making me an active participant in my own time and in my own way, like so many other citizens of the earth who in the past took on that privilege.Though I kept it a secret for years, truly I now say that Joe Bégin\u2019s statement followed me everywhere I travelled to: on the height of Mount Sinai, with people at the heart of Jerusalem, at Mont Blanc in the Alps, on the boat crossing the North Sea while contemplating the wind turbines plan ted deep in the ocean, from the top of a mountain gazing down at the cityof Port- au-Prince in Haiti, while navigating on a stormy sea along the seacoast of Ireland\u2026 Beyond one\u2019s self We all have travelled.At one point in our lifetime we all walked away from home, from our familiar surroundings, to enter into someone else\u2019s world.You and I can come across millions of people without ever meeting them\u2014such as in airports.We walk right by a variety of stories: romantic, tragic, crazy, each one different from the other, and without even taking notice we go our own way.Preoccupied by our personal agendas, we move around as in a shell.Whether in Dorval, Amsterdam, Brussels or Mexico, we hasten to be in con trol of our schedule, our luggage, ourselves.We don\u2019t see the many faces that About the Author Pierre-René Côté, priest \u2014is associate professor at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Science at Laval University in Quebec City.He is a collaborator for Agapê, a Centre for Christian training.About the Artist Léonard Parent, known as « BASQUE » was born in Trois-Pistoles, Qc.Painting since 1948 and inspired by nature, BASQUE paints people and things with emotion and mystery.The paintings of this leading figure reflect the soul and image of his country.To know more Basque Gallery, Rimouski Au P\u2019tit Bonheur, La Malbaie http://www.auptitbonheur.com/ Photos 1 Here I am 2 Facial expression 3 Companionship 4 Child of light MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 | 7 2 cross our path.They don\u2019t leave an impression unless we come to grips with our selves and, in an instant, become conscious of our humanity above and beyond our status as \u2018traveller\u2019.Finding the \u201cother\u201d, divesting one\u2019s self Leaving behind my world, my power to control, and finding myself elsewhere: only then can I begin re-learning how to live\u2014 it\u2019s like a re-birth.It\u2019s rediscovering the simple things of life: how to go from one place to another, how to find shelter, how to speak, eat, dress, how to contact people.With my new outlook on life I re-evalu- ate my former ways of being and living: the world I came from, the advantages I had, the economic, cultural, social and political privileges, the superiority complex I carry around though unaware of it but feeling it when I am in the presence of the poor, the humble: victims of our domination.The strength of the \u201cother\u201d and my limitations I also measure my limitations, my frailties, my failings, my own inner poverty, different from that of the POOR, but no less real.Encountering the \u201cother\u201d, remembering those faces I have kept hidden in my me mo ry, help me become more human among other human beings.I learn to accept a new relation- ship\u2014that of \u2018being with\u2019 in a covenant relationship; individuals can no longer be strangers.A new world arises I learn to set fear aside.I discover that everywhere on earth human beings want to experience wholeness for themselves and for others for whom they are responsible.They want their basic needs to be met: drink, eat, dress, have a shelter, work for a living.They wish to be respected in their dignity and to break away from all forms of evil, suffering, misery, of humiliations.Stripped from my former world, I discover my oneness with all of humanity on planet Earth.More so, if I can put names to those faces I have come across in this world, nothing is more absurd and revolting than conflicts and wars.The sacredness of life drives us at all times to acknowledge the sources of conflict, negotiate to find solutions, resol - ve the problems, and to establish clear and just rules so that life may be served well and flourish.I have become more preoccupied and in-tune with the justice and peace issues to prevent evil rather than resolutions.The latter are often words half-way clothed with injustice, misun der stand ing, fear, violence and halfway clothed with hope and courage.I was a citizen of the world, all of planet Earth was my own.\u2014 4 3 S P E C I A L F E A T U R E Le Précurseur\u2014500th issue The Precursor/ MIC Mission News\u2014490th issue Celebrating a Bit of History In 1920, Délia Tétreault\u2014a woman of vision with a glowing heart, had one desire: that God\u2019s Love for all humanity be known and spread worldwide.To reach her goal, she inaugurated a mission magazine: Le Précurseur and three years later the English editionThe Precursor.A well-chosen title, reminding us of St.John the Baptist who proclai - med and prepared the coming of the Lord.Though the magazine is now called MIC Mission News, it has remained faithful in conveying the Gospel message and is still a link between peoples of different cultures.We Pay Tribute This event is an excellent occasion to say \u201cThank You\u201d to all the people who, from the very beginning, have contributed to spreading the Good News.Our gratitude reaches out to all of you, faithful apostles, who do not fear in giving your time to promote the magazine and recruit new subscribers.The missionary press is a way to witness the Good News and for those who wish, to share the Sacred Fire of the Spirit.For your wholehearted commitment we say \u201cThank You\u201d.A Wish Like Venerable Délia Tétreault we wish to make the Mission known by means of our magazine, MIC Mission News.Its inspiring articles communicate the Christian values so much needed in our world today; they also present facets of evangelization that carry a message for our times.As we celebrate the 500th publication of the French edition and the 490th issue of the English version we have a wish: that of gaining 500 new subscribers from now until the end of the year 2007.To find a new subscriber means promoting the Mission of Jesus who is the source of Peace, Joy and Love.How about it?Let us join hands and work together to achieve our goal: it is possible.We walk united in the service of the Missionary Church! The Editorial Team Please make your cheque payable to: MIC MISSION NEWS 120 Place Juge-Desnoyers Laval, QC Canada H7G 1A4 Phone: (450) 663-6460 Email: micmissionnews@pressemic.org I nd a New Suscriber Name: Address: Apt.: City: Province/Country: Postal Code: Phone: ( ) Subscription in Canada: 1 year: $10 2 years: $20 3 years: $25 In the USA: 1 year: US$15 Other countries: 1 year: $20 By Yolaine Lavoie, M.I.C.WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL DNA?Often we tell children:You look so much like your father, or\u2026 like your mother; you have the same eyes, the same nose or\u2026 the same way of walking! This is altogether na - tu ral since DNA is the genetic molecule passed on from parents to their offspring.At the heart of each person, there is also a life-eternal seed that is meant to germinate and grow; it will never die.This is the Love of God in us, our spiritual DNA.Not even death can separate us from this kind of DNA because we are created in the image and likeness of God.Thanks to this spi ri tual DNA, we can acknowledge that all human beings have the same Father.Being of the same Source we are therefore all brothers and sisters in the great human family.How to help children capture this truth?The little ones understand very well that when we love one another we resemble our Father.One day, a student told me: I think that when we really \u2018feel\u2019 God, we have many friends.Indeed, when we share the same va - lues, the same spirit sets us apart as children of God, and we realize that we are all part of the same family.This is marvellous! I remember little Mario who one day said: My mother is like God because she loves me very much.Theologian in the making, he had discovered in his mother the Love, Gentleness, and Generous Heart of the Father.Is not God\u2019s great dream, to see us resemble Him in all our being and doing?Always according to the Word and example of Jesus\u2026 WITNESSING GOD\u2019S TENDERNESS In one of his exhortations, Pope Benedict XVI said: Mission-minded children are the witnesses of God\u2019s tenderness.Missionary Childhood is one section of the Pontifical Missionary Works.Its goal: to instil in the children\u2019s hearts a desire to be missionaries, reaching out to children of the world by means of prayers and sharing materially with them.Missionary Childhood supports more than 4,000 projects, benefiting youngsters throughout the world.Pope Benedict XVI encourages educators to cultivate the missionary spirit in young ones so that they may become passionately involved in reaching out, reflect- Spiritual D.N.A.Nowadays, it is undeniable that DNA is a sure way of finding a person\u2019s identity.This molecule containing the specific genetic instructions of each individual is in a certain way, equal to an ID card.In her mission awareness activities Sr.Yolaine Lavoie, an ingenious MIC Sister, explores the idea with Madagascan children.Is there really such a thing as spiritual DNA?10 | MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 Y O U T H ing God\u2019s Love and Tender care.He states: Children are precious collaborators of the Gos pel and apostles of Christian solidarity for young ones in dire need.HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION Who could forget the Holy Child - hood?When missionaries came to visit our schools and spoke to us about children in faraway countries, our young hearts would respond positively.The world would open up before our eyes, and a calling was heard, that of children helping children.In Canada, this Association aroused and encou raged many missionary vocations.Nicole Giguère\u2019s documentary \u201cAlice au pays des gros nez\u201d mentions that missionaries\u2019 visits in schools sensitized Quebecers to the possibility of adopting Chinese girls.A WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION The Holy Childhood Association exists in 110 countries.In Madagascar, at the natio - nal office of the Pontifical Missionary Works, I can testify as national secretary that Pope Benedict\u2019s appeal has not left us unmoved.CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN This slogan rallies us in our mission awareness activities.A mission-minded child will pray for the children of the world.Around planet Earth a spiritual link is crea - ted among young ones.Also, once a month, these children will add their pennies to the Universal Fund\u2014Children\u2019s Solida rity for Mission.In developing countries, this Universal Fund enables missionaries to organize projects benefiting chil dren.It is a Catholic, non-government organization; it is funded by children for children.THE MICs AND THE ASSOCIATION As in Madagascar, the MIC Sisters in Haiti also foster the missionary spirit in children.Since 1980 they periodically offer them a mission magazine:Ti Moun Mysionè.This publication helps students expand their knowledge, taking them beyond their own country and problems; they discover other children from around the world and they are called to also be WITNESSES OF GOD\u2019S TENDER CARE.Every Saturday, Sr.Rosette Lafor tune, M.I.C.hosts a program on \u2018Radio-Soleil\u2019; she introduces the theme of the maga zine, talks about concrete, updated events experienced by the children mentioned in the articles.The stories deeply touch the Haitian youth; as they become more aware of other children\u2019s plights, they count their blessings and pray for all the youngsters around the world.In Canada, THE HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION is the missio na - ry movement through which students develop a love for missions and become acquainted with children around the world.On their website http://www.missionso- cieties,ca/child.htm a students\u2019 corner ap - pears where young people can discover how they can help those who are living in inhumane conditions and extreme poverty.In all the MIC schools, in South America, the Philippines, Japan or Hong Kong, where there are Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception, the Holy Child - hood Association is honoured.Many movements and activities are created in a spirit of solidarity so as to develop spiritual DNA: that Love so precious to all of us brothers and sisters of the great universal family of the Father.Magazine Ti Moun Mysionè MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 | 11 A mission-minded child is a child who reaches-out to children around the world.\u2014 In Canada, the Holy Childhood Association helps students develop a love for missions and become acquainted with children around the world.http://www.missionsocieties,ca/child.htm n the 4H Club, we learned about and developed a respect for nature, for all living things.One of our preoccupations was tree conservation.We were made aware of the importance of respecting the environment.Over the years, I remained attentive to nature\u2019s call and I cultivated the love of life, and of life in abundance! Nature has always been a place where I can recharge my batteries.But today, what is becoming of our planet?What happens to life when our forests are burned down, and our rivers and lakes, even the beautiful Saint- Lawrence, have become garbage dumps?Our country is rich in fresh water and we use this water without a thought to the future, like any other overexploited natural resource.And yet we know that this trea sure is exhaustible.Our solidarity with other peoples has made us aware of the situation of women and children who walk for kilometres to draw their daily reserve of water at the cost of immense effort! The summer season gives us the chance to get back to nature, to taste the joy of feeling surrounded by life, peace and calm, away from our bustling cities.Let us listen as a witness to our sick planet as she speaks: \u2014 O great oak tree, so proud and strong, tell us about your life.You seem so solitary.\u2014 I was planted in the soil of this marvellous planet at the same time as an infinite number of brothers.Our leaves pro tec ted the smaller trees from the harsh rays of the sun.The wind, the birds, and the bees all contributed to our reproduction by spreading our pollen.Now that I am the only one of my kind left in this valley, how will I be able to reproduce, to ensure the survival of my family?At the end of our yearly cycle, we fertilized our habitat with our leaves: they enriched the soil that conserved the humi - dity it needed during the dry spells.Little rodents gathered our acorns in fall to help them make it through the winter.During my life as a great plant, I saw my fellow oak trees disappear one by one.Man needs us trees and we are proud to help him out.Do you see my leaves?If they don\u2019t look young, don\u2019t put it down to my age, because I renew them every spring.Harsh winters don\u2019t scare me: I may look dead but I live within.I silently get ready to welcome the spring sunshine, and my sap runs anew.I offer myself to Man\u2019s service, 12 | MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 By Lise Tremblay, M.I.C.THE SECRETS OF AN OLD OAK TREE As a member of the 4H Club in her home town of Saint Félicien, Quebec, Sister Lise developed a great concern for the health of the planet.During her childhood years, long before the Kyoto Accord, she had started taking action at her own level.As a missionary in Haiti for many years, she was always preoccupied with ecology.From her years of attentive listening to nature, she shares with us today the secrets of the old oak tree\u2026 I and my pride is to know that I\u2019m useful! All my neighbours have succumbed to a sad fate.I needed their company to be able to resist the sun\u2019s burning rays.Alone, I can no longer absorb all the carbon dioxi de.Acid rain and toxic gases prevent me from keeping my beautiful green leaves, the sign of my vitality.\u2014 What happened to your friends?\u2014 It happened many years ago.I found out from those who went before me\u2026 Man took what suited him.We felt we were being useful to him to cook his food, build his houses and furniture, and warm him self in the cold season.Then one day, Man came with his powerful machines and he spared nothing, not even the little ones! It seems Man had more important needs\u2026 But Man forgot about the future.\u2014 And how is it that you were spared from the \u201cclear cutting\u201d?\u2014 As you can see, it\u2019s the stream nearby that saved my life.I can tell you quite frankly that people really did try to plant other trees.But we\u2019ll have to be patient, because the natural environment where we grow has suffered serious damage.We were injured right down to our roots.And we\u2019re not used to the chemical substances we have to absorb.Since the ozone layer was destroyed, the saplings have had trouble surviving to maturity.On top of that, with global warming, insects have come up from the south and invaded the young buds.Insects are useful for our ecosystem: they help to oxygenate the soil, feed the predators and spread pollen from the plants that feed and shelter them.But since the insects from the south have no predators, their over-proliferation has become harmful\u2026 Nothing is perfect!, as the fox in the Little Prince would say.Long ago, the stream gurgled at my feet and refreshed me\u2026 Today, its cool mountain water is quickly warming up.Algae are taking over and the foreign bodies piling up in it are killing off the amphibians and other aquatic animals: they can no longer get enough oxygen to survive! And that\u2019s how I came to be so alone.Luckily, the sound of birds singing still cheers me up; at night, I shelter them.But they also complain: their sometimes melancholic songs express their own difficulty to survive; their feathers have lost their lustre.In spite of everything, they struggle on with their mission to give joy, constantly adap - ting to all the whims of the changing climate.In their own way, they tell us that life is worth protecting\u2026 We could keep listening to this great sage for a long time.Today, why not say YES to our planet and commit ourselves un - com promisingly to its survival?It needs us.If during the summer season, every one of earth\u2019s citizens did a little something for the environment, millions of I LOVE YOUs would be sent to the earth\u2026 Are we not responsible for the vast universe that the Creator so freely gave us?Sister Lise at the foot of a 300 year-old oak tree In certain countries children must draw water everyday.E C O T O U R I S M , A N A W A K E N I N G O F C O N S C I O U S N E S S To say millions of \u201cI LOVE YOU\u201d to the earth.\u2014 hese past few years, our consciousness has been awakened by the environmental threats that exist around us.Ecotourism is a new concept which attracts numerous followers and which directs programs offered by travel agencies.But what does it mean exactly?Generally speaking, ecotourism takes into consideration the conservation of biological and cultural diversity.While enjoying and taking in the beauty of nature, eco systems must be protected, and the welfare of the local population must be respec ted.But, does one need to leave his or her own surroundings to experience ecotourism?For many, travelling is a rare circumstance perhaps because of financial reasons or ill health, for others, it\u2019s a choice.Either way, all travellers eventually come back home and spend more time in their own envi ronment than touring exotic places.REINVENTING ECOTOURISM No need to pack-up a suitcase to experience ecotourism.Every day, every hour, we can live that reality, and it can take on a multitude of forms: being outdoors and taking advantage of the warm sun, the gentle breeze, the wonderful aroma of blooming flowers; contemplating the moon\u2019s silver lining and the starry sky; listening to the falling rain and the high-pitched song of the cicada; taking public transportation to go visit the beauties of nature that surround us and that charm people who come as tou - rists; tasting our good fruits and vege tables grown locally in abundance; enjoying fresh water and cold ice cream; sa vou ring the sim ple things of life without over-spending and consuming.Above all, in the wide open spaces, allow the heart to discover what is most beau tiful in one\u2019s life: spending time together with loved ones; playing with children and hearing their laughter; sharing some activities with couples and family mem bers; rediscovering each other; visiting aging parents or elderly friends\u2014to be a ray of sunshine in their lives.All of these loving actions are possible and fill the soul with marvelous memories\u2014perhaps less 14 | MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 By Lorraine Pagé ECOTOURISM EVERYDAY Summer is finally here! This beautiful season offers us \u2018time-out\u2019 to relax, to rest, to leisurely enjoy nature in all its splendour.T About the author Lorraine Pagé \u2013 Ex-president of Montreal Teachers\u2019 Alliance, Mrs.Pagé was the first woman to sit as president of a Quebec Central Union.Now retired, she presides over the Administrative Board for the MIC Missionary Press. exotic but no less real.So many ways of benefiting from nature in an environmental perspective while contributing to our well-being and that of others.It is possible to be \u2018green-friendly\u2019 in one\u2019s own environment, and renew one\u2019s self without having to pack-up and leave.AT THE HEART OF ECOTOURISM By preserving nature, the best of our human existence is also protected.Saint Benedict once said: Listen with the ear of your heart! To complete his thought one could say: See and smell with your heart! This summer, may our senses be opened to the incomparable beauty that surrounds us day and night, to taste and see in the ordinary moments of our existence the blessings that are ours to relish.This is a fabulous invitation to a different way of living eco- tourism\u2014that of the heart and everyday in one\u2019s own environment.E C O T O U R I S M , A N A W A K E N I N G O F C O N S C I O U S N E S S Allow the heart to discover what is most beautiful in one\u2019s life.\u2014 HAT IS A SANCTUARY?Tradition and experience tell us about a space away from other spaces\u2014a definite area, not chosen, but rather discovered by persons who listen.A place that contains a certain something that is sacred and that only the silent heart can capture and appreciate.Rocks, lakes, streams, mountains, woods, a small church at the end of a path\u2014all these are guardians of that special sacred space and are disco - vered by persons who vibrate in tune with its created and creative energies.Moreover, it\u2019s out of this unfathomable silence that earth came forth from the hand of God.And this earth contained a special sacredness because God walked in the garden with the human beings whom He created in His Image and Resemblance.(Gen 1:26; 3:8) Being in touch with the sacred character nature conceals means that in the heart of all human beings there is also a Sacred Space, a Holy of holies indispensable for proper breathing and oxygenating one\u2019s self.Whoever loves Me, my Father will love him, and my Father and I will come to him and live with him.(Jn 14:23) This Divine Presence within us is an inscrutable mystery.Yes, our heart is a sacred space where The Faithful Friend, Jesus, wants to break Bread\u2014the kind of food we long and search for without even knowing it: the bread of tenderness, forgiveness, consolation, understanding, the bread needed to continue walking on the right path.(Lk 24:32; 1Kgs 19:7) This quest for the Infinite, for the Sacred Space, is probably what urges a great number of men and women thirsting for Silence, Plenitude, Presence and Prayer to take up the pilgrim\u2019s staff and go where the Holy Spirit invites them; a pilgrimage is first and foremost a spiritual journey.AN INCOMPARABLE WEALTH OF SANCTUARIES We have heard about the Sanctuaries in Europe.Perhaps you have visited some of them: St-Jacques of Compostelle, Lourdes, Saint Peter at the Vatican, Lisieux, Assisi, to name but a few.The Province of Quebec offers an incomparable wealth of sanctuaries.At the end of the XVIIth century, New France had a few, one of which is the Shrine of St Anne of Beaupré.In the early XXth century, there were at least 26 in Quebec.In 1950 the number grew to 82 and today it continues to increase.Where are these sanctuaries located?16 | MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 By Léonie Therrien, M.I.C.SOMEWHERE.FOR YOU.A SANCTUARY If you are taking time to read during these summer days, could it be that, unconsciously, you are searching for a sanctuary?A mini reflection on this subject is offered to you today.When speaking of sanctuary, we often think of \u201cpilgrim\u201d or \u201cpilgrimage\u201d.To begin, my wish for you is that this three-faceted theme may find an echo in your heart.W É C O U T O U R I S M E , É V E I L D E S C O N S C I E N C E S THE FAMILY\u2014A SANCTUARY OF LOVE At the Fifth World Meeting of Families in Valencia, Spain, (July 8-9, 2006), Pope Benedict XVI mentioned that such a gathering should provide a new impetus for proclaiming the Gospel of the family as the sanc tuary of love, life, and faith.In his ar ticle, Father Joël-Mar ie Boudaroua, O.P.states: It is quite interesting that the Pope, speaking of families, would use the term \u201csanctuary\u201d\u2026 This is a place we come to with reverence, as it holds a mystery in itself: Mystery of God and Mystery of man\u2019s heart.In using this word \u201csanctuary\u201d Pope Benedict XVI wants to draw our attention to the ineffable dignity of the family; he endows it with a sacred character.(Esprit & Vie, No.16, Pages 31-32) MEMORABILIA OF YESTERYEARS How can I end this article without pre - sen ting a very special sanctuary to you.It is a small room where a great woman of our times has lived.Her name is Délia Tétreault, born in Marieville, Qc; she is the foundress of our Institute (1902) and was declared venerable by late Pope John Paul II in December 1997.During our centennial year, in 2002, the Museum of Civilisation in Quebec City presented a magnifi cent mis- E C O T O I S M , A N A W A K E N I N G O F C O C I O U S N E S Photo credit: M.-P.Sanfaçon, M.I.Csionary exhibition.This was a great opportunity for visitors to come into contact with their roots and give thanks for a page of history written by this daring woman of the Canadian Church.A special invitation! Come and visit this SPECIAL SPACE, this sanctuary, as a pilgrim.We would be pleased to welcome you; with a scheduled appointment, you can have a guided tour.This sanctuary is known as The Délia Tétreault Centre, located at our Mother House: 314 Cote St Catherine Road, Mon - treal (Quebec),H2V 2B4; Tel: (514) 495-1551.A WISH From the special sacred space, we moved on to the sanctuary of the fami ly\u2014 that of LOVE.Only an opened heart can turn \u201cwithin\u201d in order to make contact with the Sacred Presence.To capture the callings from the Divine, it is inwardly that one must go.My wish for you?That you may experience a true pilgrimage within your heart, in your home or in one of those holy areas that lead to the Sacred Space where Joy, Serenity and Love are found.A fountain of youth from which to draw life! Within your heart,in your sacred space, dwells the ever abiding Faithful Friend.Lower Saint Lawrence, Qc: Sanctuary of Saint Anne of La-Pointe-au-Père.Estrie, Qc: Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Beauvoir.Lanaudière, Qc: Mary Queen of Hearts in Chertsey (Marian Centre).Mauricie, Qc: Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Cape.Montérégie, Qc: Sanctuary of Marguerite d\u2019Youville in Varennes, Sanctuary of Kateri Tekakwitha in Kahnawake, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Rigaud, Sanctuary of Saint Anne of Sabrevois.Montreal, Qc: Saint Joseph\u2019s Oratory, Notre Dame Basilica, Chapel of Notre-Dame-of-Bonsecours, Sanctuary of Réparation-du-Sacré-Coeur, Sanctuary of Mary Queen of Hearts, Sanctuary of Saint Pérégrin.Quebec City, Qc: Cathedral-Basilica Our Lady of Quebec, Canadian Montmartre, Sanctuary of Saint Anne of Beaupré.Saguenay-Lac- St-Jean, Qc: Saint Anthony\u2019s Hermitage of Lake Bouchette\u2014 Sr.Nancy with pastoral agents Photo credit: MIC TAIWAN Assisting women in prison Dear Readers, My pastoral parish work in Taipei often takes me into the unknown.Today, I want to share with you the outcome of a new project within prison walls.\u201cCHOICE\u201d a 3-day self-awareness programme that leads one to an encounter with God is given to the women prisoners of the Toyuan County prison.I accepted the invitation to help in facilitating the small group sharing.The 85 participants are all AIDS victims.Some Catholic volunteers come every week to give catechism classes and do the best they can to accompany the women with care and understanding.As I listen to their stories, I am touched by the sufferings they undergo and the reasons that led them to drug addiction.These women now have a sincere desire to do well and to walk in the right path, but they are aware of their vulnerability once they are released from prison and go out again into the world.Their environment does not give them encouragement, healthy friendships and acceptance which they need so much.Looking for a decent work often poses a big problem and they experience rejection and isolation.For those who come to know God and believe in His love, praying helps them to overcome the difficult times and they find strength and courage to break through and succeed in their goals.From deep within my heart, I feel a vibrant calling to come to the help of these women; their sincerity and openness move me to compassion and understanding.Sr.Nancy Vy So, m.i.c.Taipei, Taiwan KANYANGA, ZAMBIA Stop Aids, Keep the Promise! Greetings from Zambia, A two-day celebration of World AIDS Day was organized by staff members of our Kanyanga Mission Health Centre under the theme: STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE! Clients on home-based care were given some instructions on topics related to AIDS.Sisters Jeanne d\u2019Arc Corriveau, Virginia Guerrero, Catherine Mkamanga, Wezi Chihana, Ketty Ndhlovu and myself joined the HIV/AIDS clients and their caregivers, the pastors and members of other Churches and people at large in a meaningful ecumenical candlelight scriptural celebration in the church at Emusa.During the prayer service, about 300 persons lighted their candles to signify HOPE for all those affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.All were invited to remember and pray for those who had passed away.It was a day to be grateful and thankful to the Kanyanga Churches Home Based Care who united to respond to the needs of patients living with HIV/AIDS.Among the many people present, there was Senior Chief Magodi.In his remarks he en cou raged people to go to VCT (Voluntary Counselling Testing) day and to discontinue some cultural practices such as polygamy so as to stop AIDS.In Zambia about 16% aged between 15 and 49 are infected according to a Health Survey of 2006.The two day celebration was indeed a success because of the leadership and enthusiasm of the team from Kanyanga Mission Health Centre, a health institution that has the powerful motto: \u201cIn Jesus\u2019 Name, be healed!\u201d.Sr.Jacqueline Vachet, M.I.C.Directress \u2014 Kanyanga Mission Health Centre Sr.Jacqueline at the hospital Photo credit: MIC etters from here and abroad JEANNINE FORCIER, M.I.C.\u2014 Originally from Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.\u2014Sister Jeannine leaves for Zambia, Africa.Not unknown to her, it is with joy that she is returning to the land of her dream.While she was in Canada, she worked at the Gene ral Secretariat of the Congregation, and also offered her pastoral services in assisting the sick Sisters.Her new assignment will be to teach English and the history of our Institute to the young MICs in formation.RITA GUAY, M.I.C.\u2014 Born in Montreal, Quebec, Sister Rita has been in Zambia and Malawi for over 40 years.Her apostolate?Promoting the status of women (20 years in Chipata, Zambia), working at the diocesan level for the family movement and the formation of young religious women.She has recently returned to Malawi and will resume her work, while offering to all surrounding religious communities a formation program to religious life.ANA ALVARADO, M.I.C.\u2014 Born in Lima, Peru, Sister Ana returns to Japan after a brief home-leave in her native city.Particularly talented in linguistics: French, English, Japanese, she will resume her work with the immigrants and young Japanese.This responds to her charism \u2014\u2018to be all for all\u2019 with enthusiasm and joy.YOLAINE LAVOIE, M.I.C.\u2014 Sister Yolaine is from Ville-de-la-Baie, Quebec.After a brief home-leave in Canada, she is returning to Madagascar.Very dedicated to the Pontifical Missionary Works, and as secretary of the national team in Tananarive, she will continue focusing her animation on the faith and missionary education of the children.YOU ARE MY WITNESSES \u2014 Lk 24:48 May the Spirit dwell in you and give you a heart as vast as the world, ever joyful in hope! May He inspire you to bring the light of Christ to the world with the apostles\u2019 eagerness! Send to: MISSION PROCURE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 121 Maplewood Avenue Montreal, QC Canada H2V 2M2 Phone: (514) 274-5691 Thank you for your solidarity! Enclosed, the amount of $ Name: Address: Apt.: City: Province/Country: Postal Code: Phone: ( ) Do you want a tax receipt?YES NO Your departure gifts help our missionaries Marie-Berthe Fleurent, M.I.C.(Sister Sainte-Émérentienne) 1907-2007 Sainte-Perpétue, Quebec During her school years, Marie-Berthe enjoyed reading stories about missionaries working abroad; these tales awakened within her heart a desire to serve as a missionary.Having graduated from nursing school, she was assigned to Manchuria, China where she worked in a dispensary.Wars made life difficult for the missionaries; however, Sister Marie-Berthe was among the last ones to leave China.She then went to Taiwan where she helped the less fortunate.When she returned to Canada, her apostolic heart kept in touch with all her Chinese friends and immigrants.Her pioneering spirit and faith guided Sr.Marie-Berthe throughout her many years of service and long life.Hélène Hébert, M.I.C.(Sister Sainte-Hélène) 1911-2007 Notre-Dame-de-Pierreville, Quebec From her early childhood years, her beautiful black eyes were an attraction.Independent, reserved and orderly, Hélène loved beauty and goodness.In her heart, she had a dream\u2014to work with the lepers.Faithfully, she read the magazine Le Précurseur and finally found her way of life as a missionary.Assigned to work in Malawi and Zambia, Africa, Sr.Hélène worked in dispensaries, relentlessly responding to the needs of the sick and she was also involved in community services.Upon her return to Quebec, she continued helping families who remained close to her up to the end of her life.Sister\u2019s sense of responsibility and apostolic zeal were characteristics of a missionary imbued with God\u2019s Love Marie-Rose Fréchette, M.I.C.(Sister Marie-Rollande) 1913-2007 Saint-Côme de Beauce, Quebec Tenth in a family of thirteen, Marie-Rose experienced many hardships during her childhood years: a serious flooding, an epidemic, the death of her beloved father\u2026 When her studies were completed, she decided to become a religious; at the age of 22 she entered the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.At first she was assigned to community services in Canada and taught at our school in Outremont.Later, she went to Haiti; with enthusiasm and courage she committed herself to the education of children.When she returned to Canada, Sister Marie- Rose gradually lost her sight and hearing, however she would find ways to radiate sunshine by her prayer life and openness to the Will of God.| MIC Mission News | SUMMER 2007 awn of a New Life W i t n e s s i n g June 2007 I owe much to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.Still young, not yet six years of age, my parents enrolled me at the Child Jesus Kindergarten in Outremont.Later, the school took on the name of Délia Tétreault in memory of the community\u2019s foundress.I am grateful to my parents who decided to send me to that school where the religious were not only teachers but truly educators.I remember Sr.Marie-Albertine who, at the time, was my first grade teacher.She would speak to us about faraway countries, the mission lands, and her stories made us dream.Decades later, I am still persuaded that Sr.Jacqueline\u2014as she was called thereafter\u2014awakened within me the desire to be, if not a missionary, at least a globe-trotter journalist.I have remained very close to these religious missionaries; this is the reason why today I urge you to support the MIC Sisters who deserve our response.Founded in 1902, they were the first Congregation of missionary women in North America, and in the \u201850s they were already established in China, the Philippines, Japan, Haiti, Malawi, Zambia\u2026 they were also in Cuba, Madagascar, Taiwan and Bolivia.In fact, they were our first ambassadors of good will.Their humanitarian actions reached far beyond our borders to faraway nations, little known to us on the other side of the ocean.The time has come for us to offer them a helping hand.The MICs are in the process of publishing a book entitled Women Without Frontiers.It is the story of their early beginnings and accomplishments throughout the years; it also depicts the missio nary endeavours of the Canadian Catholic Church.This vo lume is being published by its author, therefore our moral and financial support would be greatly appreciated.Our society owes much to the MIC Sisters.Thus, this is a perfect opportunity for us to express our gratitude.Pierre Nadeau Journalist Your contribution to this project would be greatly appreciated.You may send your donations to: MISSION PROCURE, c/o Women Without Frontiers 121, Maplewood Avenue, Outremont (Quebec) Canada H2V 2M2 For more information, visit our Web site at: www.soeurs-mic.qc.ca or contact Sr.Mireille Morin at: TEL (514) 279-0514 | FAX (514) 279-3321 | m.morinmic@sympatico.ca THE CONTINENT OF HOPE: ITS FUTURE The Fifth General Latin American Episcopal Conference known as CELAM is a key ecclesial event focused on the evangelization of the entire continent.To give this Mission a vibrant launching, Pope Benedict XVI called upon all the bishops to Aparecida, Brazil for a general assembly.The theme?Disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ so that our people may have life in Him, \u201cI am the Way, the Truth and the Life\u201d.(Jn 14:6) The majority of Latin Americans were baptized into the Catholic Church.These believers count for almost half of the world\u2019s Catholic population.Conscious of its reality and its history, the Church is encountering tremendous challenges in discerning the signs of the times according to the Gospel.She has but one desire: to remain sensitive and to support the deep aspirations of the peoples baptized in the Risen Christ.Renewal always demands discernment, clear-mindedness, audacity.Today the Church must offer a meaningful presence, be a source of life and communion for all the peoples of a continent well-known as the continent of HOPE.As President of the Conference of Religious in Cuba, Sr.Gloria Pérez Pupo, M.I.C.was among the many participants who attended this important Latin American event.Let us remember all those Christians in our prayers.T O P U R C H A S E A D V E R T I S I N G S P A C E Carole Guévin : (450) 663-6460 #5303 micmissionnews@pressemic.org MIC Mission News thanks its sponsors and its donating membership for their generous contributions.Three Ways to Help Our Missionaries BEQUESTS IN YOUR WILL LIFE ANNUITIES Provide you with a life long income.Enable you to reduce your taxes.Provide you with a way to help our missionaries effectively.LIFE INSURANCE It is a capital paid after your death by your insurance company.Allows you to help generously without prejudice to the interests of your family.Your contribution, in the form of insurance premiums, is deductible from your taxable revenue as a charitable donation.Name: Address: Apt.: City: Province/Country: Postal Code: Phone: ( ) MISSION PROCURE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 121 Maplewood Avenue Montreal, QC Canada H2V 2M2 Phone: (514) 274-5691 Fax: (514) 274-3298 Email: generalat.mic@bellnet.ca Thank you for your generosity! SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA \u201cA healing path\u201d September 7 to 29, 2007 / May 2008 EGYPT & SINAI \u201cEgypt is a gift of the Nile\u201d October 15 to 30, 2007 THE MONASTERY TRAIL IN FRANCE \u201cOpening up to the Source\u201d October 22 to November 3, 2007 MORROCCO & THE SAHARA \u201cThe wisdom of silence\u201d October 24 to November 4, 2007 HUMANITARIAN PROJECT \u201cTHE DOMINICAN EXPERIENCE\u201d A Window on the world November 10 to 17, 2007 CRUISE IN THE CARIBBEAN \u201cFind your purpose in life\u201d with Jean Monbourquette February 7 to 17, 2008 CONTACT US TO RECEIVE OUR FREE BROCHURE! PERSONALIZED GROUP TOURS: Pilgrimages, retreats overseas, seminars and more Free proposals on request (514) 554-7965, (866) 331-7965 (toll free) www.spiritours.net Holder of a Quebec licence Photo : F.Homier P R I N T E D I N C A N A D A PP0040064029 R11020 Lord God, Creator of the Universe, You have entrusted to my care Planet Earth.Today, I am awakened to the fact that Mother Earth is in my hands.Help me to safeguard her bountifulness, to consume equitably, thinking of others and the future generations.Mutilated, Planet Earth suffers! She needs my friendship and help that she may become once again beautiful, generous, welcoming.With much love, I want to care for her that she may grow revitalised and luxurious.This splendid universe, God Father, You have created for me, for my happiness and joy.Help me to re-create this paradise where it is good to live in peace and harmony.Text & photo credit: M.-P.Sanfaçon, M.I.C."]