Enjoyment, Music and Beautiful Discoveries 2016-17 Programs at Maison Jésus-Marie
The program for the year 2016-17 at Maison Jésus-Marie is not yet fully completed, at least for the second half of the year. However, this program looks detailed and diversified enough to cover a wide variety of interests.
Asked by Sister Jocelyne Latreille, Coordinator of Community Services and Activities, to organize two cultural activities per month and one leisure activity, Sister Maryse Moisan, assisted by Sister Gisèle Lalande, began the task with the enthusiasm that characterizes her. After having greatly contributed to the organization of the resounding successful mini-concert in the Congregational House chapel on August 13, she spared no effort in planning a diversified program.
“There is no shortage of ideas. Unfortunately, we must choose from the many possibilities," pointed out Sister Maryse who is trying to start new projects at regular intervals.
Discussion Meetings with other Congregations
For the last two years now, the program has included gatherings called “Discovering Other Religious Congregations”. The original idea was to foster discussions with Sisters from other Congregations of the Diocese. “These gatherings were designed so that we could learn about their charism, their history, and their work” emphasized Sister Maryse, happy with the interest shown and the wonderful discussions which have taken place.
To date, the following Religious Congregations have participated in this series: the Trinitarian Sisters, Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Saint Hubert), the Congregation of Notre-Dame, Sisters of Saint-Hyacinthe and the Sisters of Sainte-Marie de Leuca. This year, the first gathering of this type will take place on October 7th with a visit from the Sisters of the Holy Rosary. Three representatives from this Congregation will present a slideshow.
Sister Nicole Grégoire of the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (November 16), and Sister Nicole Fournier of the Grey Nuns of Montreal (January 13, 2017) will also participate in this program which will end with a final gathering involving another Congregation which has yet to confirm at the time of writing this article.
Music…
Eager to continue the SNJM’s mission of education, especially in supporting students who are keen to perform in front of an audience before important exams, Sister Maryse is being attentive to maintaining links with former music students at the same time.
And so, on October 9th, Maison Jésus-Marie will welcome the Ensemble Blù Bambù, directed by Geneviève Parent, a former SNJM student. This Chamber Ensemble will bring together six musicians who will offer a repertoire by French composers.
Another former student, Lyse Archambault, accompanied by her son who is a cellist, will perform on October 30. This time, the performance will take place on the different floors, and promises to be an extraordinary presentation.
Christmas Carolling, with the English Sisters and Associates on December 3 and with the Chorale Arc-en-ciel, on December 18 are also planned, as is the annual concert presented by the young people from Maison des Enfants Marie-Rose in Beauharnois.
Incidentally, this series of performances/concerts began with the presence of the Harpissimo group, an ensemble bringing together a number of talented harpists, on September 25.
The program for this first half of the year started with an activity “Just for Laughs” at the beginning of September. It will be supplemented by holding leisure-time activities, a Bingo (October 19) an audio-visual presentation (November 4) entitled “Our Memories”. This last event will be accessible on all of the screens at Maison Jésus-Marie. Nor should the weekly fitness sessions on Fridays, under the coordination of Sister Pierrette Désilets, be forgotten.
Finally, to complete this already well-rounded program, Sister Maryse wants to launch a new series of gatherings entitled “Portraits of Women”. This series will begin with a presentation on the poet Rina Lasnier from the era of St-Denys Garneau. The conference will be given by her niece, Marie Lasnier (November 13).
In short, the Sisters from Maison Jésus-Marie will not be bored with such a program which will be complemented by other moments or special events such as the Mass on October 6, on the occasion of the Feast of Mother Marie-Rose.
