Fondation pour les Enfants de l’Équateur 4409, rue St-Hubert, Montréal, QC H2J 2X1 Tél. 514-525-4920 [email protected] www.fondation.enfants.equateur.org NEWSLETTER Autumn 2010 There is no lack of activity and unexpected events at the Mission The Mission of Pascuales is always swarming with activities and unforeseen happenings. It is through this daily bubbling of activity that the Mission can continue, which was one of the major concerns of the foundresses. The sisters will be returning to Canada in 2011 because of their age and for health reasons. It was therefore necessary to put in place future leadership at the level of the administration and management. Today, in this bulletin you will read about recent events, some of which are linked to future development. A large part of this bulletin is dedicated to the Women’s Center. Most of the participants are mothers and their personal development is essential for them personally and also for their family! We hope that our benefactors will be interested in their development to which they have a right. Their testimonies will convince you of the seriousness of their efforts. As we write to you, we are conscious of your active participation in the realization of this project. It is, in some way, your project through your donations, your interest and your support in so many ways. To date, the Mission is totally funded by Quebec and you must not underestimate the value of your support. This bulletin will be our only contact with you before the beautiful feast of Christmas and the New Year. We hope that you will be able to look back at the year that has gone by with a sense of gratitude for the blessings received and with deep confidence in the New Year. We will celebrate the birth of the Liberator who came to tell us over and over again that God is Love, only Love, and that he is very close to our daily life experience. Christmas may be a good time to interest one person in your surrounding to make a donation or to sponsor a mother or a child and in so doing, to experience, themselves, unexpected joy. Sister Marie-Thérèse Bourque President. Word from the President, MERRY CHISTMAS And HAPPY NEW YEAR Our Christmas tree at The Montreal Museum of Fines Arts in 2009. THE FUTURE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WORK The fact that the sisters will be leaving in 2011 has required a reshuffle in the management and administration of the Mission. As you know, the Mission was incorporated under the name Corporation of the Misericordia Sisters of Pascuales in 2002. The number of members on the Administrative Council has been increased to 10 members, to meet the requirements of government authorities. Four of the members are women and all of them are well known for their values and their social commitment. The two works of the Mission: the Women’s Centre and the Educational Daycare are completely run by reliable and competent Ecuadorian staff. A woman who served as assistant directress to Sr. Jeannine Vallières for three years has been acting as General Director for the last two years. The fact that the sisters will be leaving does not change anything to the commitment of the Misericordia Sisters of Montreal and of the Foundation. Close cooperation has already been established with the new administrators. (The President and two other members came to meet us in mid-October). Photo taken at the time of the visit of the Ecuadorians. From left to right Sr. Bernadette Gauthier, Sr. Rachel Demers, Sr. Jeannine Vallières, María Lorena Núñez. Standing: Mr. André Franche, Sr. Lucie Lebeau, Mr. Germán Martínez, Mr. Agustin Barrios, Sr. Marie-Thérèse Bourque M. Yves Poiré and Mr. Rafael González.. CANADIAN MARINES IN PASCUALES! The Misericordia Mission, now known as the Rosalie Cadron Mission, is becoming known in several Canadian provinces! You find this surprising? This is because of an amusing and unexpected event. Lately, the Canadian Ambassador in Quito, the Capital of Ecuador, called the Mission saying that a Canadian ship was moored at the port of Guayaquil for a few days and that the marines wanted to do humanitarian work. The offer was accepted since the road around the Infantile Development Centre has been soaked in mud and water for several months and the City which had been notified had promised to do the repair work in 2011! So, the Canadian Embassy called the city and asked if we could borrow some equipment. The city representative felt slighted and decided to immediately send workers and heavy equipment and the work was started that very week- end. Consequently, the marines had no more work to do. Suddenly, sixty marines arrived in three large bus loads! There was no time to lose so we presented them with cans of paint and paintbrushes and the walls of the Mission and of the St. John the Baptist School, in dire need of repair work, were quickly freshened. The marines came from different Canadian provinces and were delighted to meet our daycare students who put on a little sketch for them! Mr. Andrew Shisko, the Ambassador was also present with his assistant. He was pleasantly surprised to see the work that the Canadians were doing in Ecuador. We had been given a wonderful opportunity to make the “work” known! (See photos)