Certain elements of Marguerite Bourgeoys’s message are as relevant as the Gospel: they were true yesterday, are still true today and will be always. The same applies, for instance, to the emphasis she placed on the great commandment to love. Other elements particularly stand out because of the context in which we live. What follows are some examples:
Human Dignity
Marguerite had an acute sense of human dignity and of equal dignity for all persons: each person is loved by God; for each one Jesus gave his blood.
This certainty led her to help everyone without exception. She spoke of teaching as a mission which must be fulfilled without distinction between the poor and the rich, between relatives and friends and strangers, between the pretty and the ugly, the gentle and the grumblers, looking upon them all as drops of Our Lord's blood.
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Respect for Creation, Listening and Dialogue
On Sunday, October 19th the OK Clean Water Project held its annual Brunch at the Centurion Conference and Event Centre with 100 great supporters in attendance.
Alana Giustizia spoke compassionately about her trip to Cameroon in February of 2014 and the welcome that she received from the people. She was moved by the dedication of many who work so diligently to bring clean water to their villages. Alana also praised the work of Sister Cathy Molloy, cnd the coordinator and that of Edwin Visi, the consultant who trains the villagers to ensure the water projects are maintained. Sister Cathy and Edwin journey with the people with the emphasis on dialogue to promote sustainability. Alana’s power point presentation illustrated the progress made over these eleven years with forty-three villages now accessing clean water. This trip also made it possible for Alana to visit with her aunt Sister Cecile Buote, cnd, who has lived in Cameroon for more than forty years.
On October 31, 1982, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Marguerite Bourgeoys a saint, something popular devotion had already confirmed in January 1700 in this way: “If the saints were canonized today as they were in the olden times, by the voice of the people and of the clergy, tomorrow we would celebrate the Mass of Saint Marguerite of Canada.” “The Pope of families” recognized in Canada’s first saint his own conviction that the family is the vital unit of society and the first school of life for men and women. In the homily pronounced on the day of the canonization of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, he brought to light “her unique contribution to the promotion of families, children, future spouses, parent.”
