Convent of the Child Jesus - Yearbook (North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada)

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ir v More Sisters to Africa ON OCTOBER 6, the COCJ student body welcomed the new missionaries who were on their way to Liberia, a tiny country on the west coast of Africa. Mother John Joseph, the superior of the Plebo mission spoke to us for a few moments. In her talk she sketched a picture of the country and gave us a few insights into the Liberian society and behaviour. She touched, too, on the highlights of the missionary preparation course she had taken with her two companions, Sister Raphaella and Sister Mary Michael. We were also impressed by the fact that these missionaries were going to Africa realizing that they had much to learn from the natives as well as much to teach them. We were inspired too by their conviction that the greatest challenge was not that of adjusting to climate or overcoming fears but of giving Christ to the Liberians • Sister John Joseph WER LEFT I to r: Sister Raphaella, ter John Joseph, Sister Mary chael. LOWER RIGHT I to r: Sister John Joseph, Sister John of the Cross, Sister Mary Michael, Sister Mary Margaret.

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Step Mother Aimee Mother Aimee and Mother John of the Cross A 300 th Birthday nniversaries are always special. They are life’s milestones of progress whether of age, vocation, or achievement. This “First” Centenary of Canada is doubly special to the Sisters of the Child Jesus, for it also marks the “Tri”-Centenary of the existence of their Congregation. In 1667, the seed was sown through the generous acceptance of Miss Anne Marie Martel, at the request of her parish priest, to teach religion to the girls and women of LePuy, France. Miss Martel was a capable young woman of noble birth, yet with a simple, ardent faith. Her devotedness and sincere piety soon attracted a few other young women who joined her and thus their work spread to neighboring villages. People dubbed them the “ladies of instruction”. Six years after these humble be¬ ginnings, Anne Marie died, at the age of 28, without knowing that the group of co-workers she had inspired and left behind would soon grow in number and purpose and eventually become a Religious Congregation. At the turn of the century a community called “The Ladies of the Infant Jesus”, which was dying out, joined the Ladies of Instruction. It is here that the society added the name Child Jesus to its title. The 1700 and 1800’s proved trying centuries for the “Ladies of Instruction of the Child Jesus”. During the French Revolution, 1795, the Community was forced to disperse. Within a decade a few surviving members gathered again and the Congregation grew anew, only to be dispersed once more during the Religious Persecution of 1904. Again a few courageous members re-esta¬ blished the Community. From then on it grew steadily and branched out of France into Belgium, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Canada, and Africa, and eventually became known si mply as the Sisters of the Child Jesus. The Congregation has braved a trying past, is blessed with a fruitful present, and looks forward to a challenging future. •

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SPIRITUAL ADVISORS Father J. 0. Fournier, OMI, Pastor Notre Dame de Lourdes ' Parish Father J. A. St. Pierre, Pastor St. Joseph Calasanctius, Parish Father B. Bachynsky, Pastor Father V. Goldstein, OMI, Assistant All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Parish Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish IN THE few years Father Goldstein has been with us, we have profited much from his lessons in religion, his guidance, and his thought-provoking sermons. The influence of his practi¬ cal, down-to-earth philosophy shall re¬ main with us. We respect and admire his wisdom and his wit, and we shall always re¬ member him with affection. On the oc¬ casion of his leaving, we can only say we are sorry to see him go. We all join in wishing for him, wherever he goes, God’s richest blessings on his work. Father A. Marchildon, Pastor St. Andre ' s Parish