The Workers of the Work of the Holy Apostles :
THE LAITY Men and women, who from the beginning have used their expertise and insights to collaborate with the mission and charism of the M.S.A.
THE SISTERS consecrated women, working in Quebec and Peru, adding the feminine dimension to the charism and mission of our apostolic works.
THE PRIESTS AND BROTHERS of the M.S.A. Community, dedicated "to promote, form and accompany youths and adults in their vocation to the priesthood and to other ministries in the Church" (M.SA. Constitution Art. 1).
An unlimited horizon that circles the globe :
Canada | U.S.A. | Columbia | Venezuela | Cameroon | Brazil | Peru | Europe
The co-founder
Mr. HECTOR DURAND
1892 - 1972
A great man has left us
Mr. Hector Durand was born April 25, 1892, in Saint-Jean-de-Matha in the county of Joliette (Canada). He went to grammar school there and began his classic studies in Joliette Seminary. Following the example of his father, a small industrialist, Mr. Durand had a stronger liking for construction than for studies.
Before deepening his aptitudes, he needed experiences, one of which was his stay in western Canada. There, he met a nurse, Miss Clara Farrell, to whom shortly thereafter, he married. They returned to Montreal with a little money saved from the west. It is then that Mr. Durand built houses.
His spirit of initiative, his talent and his untiring work, always backed by his excellent wife, that allowed Mr. Durand to become, in a time of great economic difficulties, a champion in the construction of house.
At the end of the second world war, in 1945, Mr. & Mrs. Durand had a few hundred apartment houses, besides what they had built for their brothers and sisters. However, the tough Hector Durand, carried in the deepest part of his interior life, a seed that was only waiting for the providential occasion to grow and blossom.
This opportunity took place when Mr. Durand went on a closed retreat with the Franciscans of Chatauguay. The preacher of this retreat for businessmen was a young 29 year old priest, Father Eusebe Menard. His preaching, centered on the Word of God and more specifically on the Gospel, produced a shock whose effect was felt right up to the death of Mr. Durand.
Rightly, Father Menard always repeated that he realized his work thanks to Mr. Durand, who he always referred to as Co-Founder. In spite of ups and downs, the Menard/Durand relationship produced, in 27 years, fruits that could be compared with any priestly work.
Above, we have pointed out that the Biblical preaching of Father Menard in a time when the Sacre Scriptures where far from being found in every house. We have to also underline, with no less emphasis, the originality of the priest/lay collaboration, 15 years before the 2nd Vatican Council.
The great strength of Mr. Durand was above all, his faith: his faith in the priest, his faith in the Church, his faith in Christ. Not only did he read the Imitation of Christ (the book on his night stand), he imitated Christ. For him, faith without works did not make sense. There's where we see why he spend his entire personal fortune not only to organize the Society of the Holy Apostles, but to work unceasingly, and perservered, almost with rest, for the last 27 years of his life in order to give more priests to the Church.
The last parragraph of his Testament, written by hand, and signed November 13, 1971, is significant for breadth of his intentions, and which could very well be, for us, a great opportunity to reflect: "I am sorry for not having built more houses to form priests."
He who has just died was a giant and those who knew him will only slowly discover the immense grace that the Lord gave them by letting them have interacted with a man such as he. His unattachment and generosity could not have reached their heights without his determination and his dedication. Not only his works live on, but also, for some time now, his apostolic actions go beyond the frontiers of our country. Africans, South Americans and Asians benefit from his generosity.
May God be praised forever for having given us Mr. Durand. May He give us from on high, a bit of his charity.
(Pierre Bouchard's Homily, March 9, 1972 )
The collaboration between the M.S.A. and lay men and women is an important aspect of the original vision of Fr. Ménard. "In our Society an important place is given to Mr. Hector Durand, co-founder of the Works of the Holy Apostles." (Const. M.S.A., Art. 210).
PERE-EUSEBE-MENARD FOUNDATION
In 1970, three laymen, M. Roch Ste-Marie, M. Leo Laporte and M. Gerard Gauthier obtained a Federal Charter for the Pere-Eusebe-Menard Foundation. They thus brought to a head the preparation undertaken by Mrs. Rita Beaulieu, M. Gerard Chamberland, Fathers Marcel Paquette and Roger Ouimet, at the suggestion of Father Eusebe Menard.
The immediate aim of this foundation, defined in the charter, is to come to the help, by all means available, especially of charitable, humanitarian and religious works that the Works of the Holy Apostles or the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles are undertaking in the Third World, with the exclusion of developed countries.
The Pere-Eusebe-Menard Foundation has three campaign subscriptions a year directed at its benefactors by means of its newsletter MISSION-ACTION and two others by means of its bulletin.
Besides humanitarian and evangelical works to which the Foundation brings its support, it also administers a Relief Fund for the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles in order to help them in case of illness and to assure them a suitable retirement.
FONDATION PÈRE EUSÈBE MÉNARD
1195 rue Sauvé est
Montréal (Québec) H2C 1Z8
CANADA
Tél.: (514) 274-7645
Fax: (514) 274-7647
E-mail: info@fondationperemenard.org
THE SOCIETY OF THE SISTERS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES (S.SS.A.)
WHO ARE THEY?
"The Sisters, from thee very start of the Word of the Holy Apostles, worked with Fr. Menard. Since 1946, many members of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of St. Francis lent their domestic help in the administration of St. Pascual Baylon's Apostolic School. These Religious are aided by some women laity; one of them, Miss Laurette Toupin, then professor at Montreal University, was to become Sister Marie, the first Superior of new religious society.
"Slowly but surely, other women, young and old, showed the same interest and offered to consecrate their lives for this priestly work, and especially for "late" vocations.
"The met under Father Menard's direction, first with the Third Order Franciscans, and later in the Society of the Sisters of the Holy Apostles.
"The Society has as its goal, to promote priestly and religious vocations in the Church. To accomplish this, the Society lends its female touch to the Holy Apostle Fathers in the education of the aspirants to the priesthood; in the retreat houses, they participate in spiritual and liturgical animation; they word with different parish groups and, finally, help to give the Church apostles by encouraging dialogue with young women; this is done through seminars on the mission of women, their role in the Church, and particularly in religious life.
"The Sisters of the Holy Apostles work in Canada as well as overseas".
(Cf. 1946-1966. L'Oeuvre des Saints-Apôtres, p. 66).
Soeurs des Saints-Apôtres
5631, boul. Maurice Duplessis
Montréal-Nord, Qc H1G 1X8
CANADA
Tél.: (514) 327-1616
MISSIONARIES of the HOLY APOSTLES "FRATERNITY" IDENTITY
This "Fraternity" at better yet, "sorority" was founded as a Lay Association of women committed to the Gospel, who live their baptismal promises in community according to their own charism. They were erected by Monsignor Laurence Guibord, O.F.M., at the request of Rev. Fr. Eusebe Menard, as an institution integrated into the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles Fraternity.
It is a group of women committed to living their intimate union with the Lord Jesus in communion with the entire Mystical Body of Christ.
The Missionaries of the Holy Apostles Fraternity was born from the providential meeting between Fr. Menard and five ladies, the majority of whom were teachers, in Sept. 1980. From then on, they received orientation, advice and eval-uation from Fr. Menard. They wanted to .strengthen their charism and grow in their unity of the same spirit.
This female branch of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles live their spirituality following the example of Mary, who was the first missionary of the Holy Apostles, and of the first Christians, as is narrated in the Acts of the Apostles, according to the Gospel mentality of Francis of Assisi.
These women want to be for today's priests, what the holy women were for Jesus and the Apostles: strongly united among themselves in Jesus Christ, intensely living their baptismal consecration, particularly in what refers to the royal priesthood.
Its reason to be and to live is that of Christ and Mary.
They want to serve, that is to say, to help to humanize and evangelize our brothers, humanity by means of all the works suggested by the signs of the times in which we live.
The charism of this Fraternity is to promote priestly, religious and committed lay vocations by means of prayer and the proper presentation of the ministerial and the royal priesthood of the people of God.
Their mission is to humanize and evangelize, preferencially among the neediest in: high schools, retreat houses, bible schools and schools for leaders, with a special dedication to the study and preaching of the Word of God to Vocational Pastoral work and social action. Other activities and forms of work consists taking care of the poor, the sick, orphans, the abandoned. ... being the voice of those who have no voice, the hands of those who have no hands, the bridge between those who have and those who have not.
Their spirituality is that of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Jirón Industrial No. 477
Vitarte (Lima)
PERÚ
Tel.: (51-1) 494-1551
Canada | U.S.A. | Columbia | Venezuela | Cameroon | Brazil | Peru | Europe
MARIAN CENTER
MARIE-REINE-DES-COEURS
Chertsey, Québec
On 26 October 1961, Father Eusebe Menard wrote this beautiful profession of faith: “...I promise to promote on this property that was given us today by Miss Emma Curotte the cult of the Blessed Virgin...”
Since then, a popular movement of marian devotion begun by Miss Curotte has grown progressively. In August 1993, the property of Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs was designated as a Marian Center by Mgr Gilles Lussier, Bishop of Joliette.
This sanctuary situated at Chertsey, about one hour from Montreal, attracts an ever growing number of pilgrims who come from all over to venerate the Blessed Virgin as Mary, Queen of hearts (Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs). The spiritual and pastoral animation of this pilgrim site is assured by a team of religious and laypersons who belong to the Work of the Holy Apostles.CENTRE MARIE-REINE-DES-COEURS
1060, chemin du Lac Beaulne
St-Théodore-de-Chertsey, Qc J0K 3K0
CANADA
Tél.: (450) 882-3065
Fax: (450) 882-3759
JOHN VIANNEY COLLEGE
Montreal, Quebec
A school established by the M.S.A. to educate and instill christian values in young men and women who will be the future leaders of the church and the world.
Collège Saint-Jean-Vianney
12630, Gouin Est
Montréal, Qc H1C 1B9
CANADA
Tel.: (514) 648-3821
Fax: (514) 494-8401
SEMINARY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT
A seminary established in 1957 for the education and formation of adults. Many religious communities and dioceses send their students to this seminary which is under the direction of the M.S.A.
HOLY APOSTLES COLLEGE AND SEMINARY
Prospect Hill Road
Cromwell, CT 06416
USA
Tel.: (860) 632-3000
Fax: (860) 632-3030
HOUSE OF STUDIES
Washington, D.C.
Father Ménard purchased a number of houses in Washington in view of the formation of the future priests. They are presently occupied by the students in theology in the United States. They are also used for residences for Missionaries of the Holy Apostles who may be taking advanced studies or sabbatical time.
MSA HOUSE OF STUDIES
1335 Quincy St NE
Washington DC 20017
USA
Cromwell, Connecticut
Ce séminaire fut établi en 1957 en vue de l'éducation et la formation d'adultes américains. Plusieurs diocèses et communautés religieuses envoient leurs étudiants à ce séminaire pour leur formation sous la direction des Missionnaires des Saints-Apôtres. Chaque année, ce séminaire accueille une centaine d'étudiants de tous âges venant de partout aux États-Unis.
HOLY APOSTLES COLLEGE AND SEMINARY
33 Prospect Hill Road
Cromwell, CT 06416
USA
Tél.: (860) 632-3010
Fax: (860) 632-3030
MADRE-DE-LA-DIVINA-PROVIDENCIA PARISH, BOGOTA
This parish is situated south west of Bogota. The pastoral objective is to build a community within a renewed Christian community where a holistic development of the person is promoted and where there exists an atmosphere of love, hope and life.
Parroquia Madre de la Divina Providencia
Cra. 63 No. 21-40 Sur
Villa Claudia
SANTAFÉ DE BOGOTÁ, D.C.
COLOMBIA
SEMINARY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES BOGOTA
The Seminary of the Holy Apostles of Colombia exists for the last 29 years. During this time, about 120 priests were prepared for religious communities and dioceses. This work wants to answer the vocational dimension of our charism by offering a specific service within the Church.
Av. Circunvalar - Carrera 3ra, No. 52A-50
Apartado Aéreo 52795.
Santafé de Bogotá, D.C.
Colombia
Tél.: (57-1) 287-4494
Fax: (57-1) 340-3579
PARISH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES LOS TEQUES
After six years of officiating at San Luis, it was promoted to the status of a regular parish and consecrated under the patronage of the Holy Apostles. The people are very proud of their new church and of their dynamic parish.
PARROQUIA DE LOS SANTOS APÓSTOLES
Calle Principal de Lagunetica
Apartado postal 286
LOS TEQUES 1201
ESTADO MIRANDA, VENEZUELA
Tel. (58-212) 322-1516
FORMATION CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS
DUNS SCOTUS, LOS TEQUES
This center was founded in order to form christian leaders with the charism and mission of the M.S.A.
CENTRO DE FORMACIÓN DE LIDERES CRISTIANOS
"BEATO DUNS ESCOTO"
Apartado postal 286
LOS TEQUES 1201
ESTADO MIRANDA, VENEZUELA
RESIDENCE OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
NKOL-BISSON, (YAOUNDE)
Founded in 1991, this residence is for the members of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles who have made their temporary promise and who are pursuing their studies in philosophy or theology. If there is enough room, they may also receive students from other religious communities of the diocese.
Let us mention that the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles is a member of the consortium of studies in philosophy at St-Joseph-de-Mukasa Institute and of the consortium of studies in theology at St-Cyprien Institute.
RÉSIDENCE SAINTS-APÔTRES
B.P. 185 (casier 96)
Yaoundé
Cameroun
Tél. et fax: (237) 223-74-21; 200-75-65
PARISH OF SAINT-CŒUR DE MARIE OMVAN
YAOUNDE
This parish is situated 25 kilometers from Yaounde. In 1995, at the request of the local bishop, the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles accepted the responsibility of this parish with the help of sisters of St-Joseph from Poland.
It is a vast mission comprising 50 villages spaced out over a territory of about 87 hectares. Because of its space, its facilities and the future of this region, this parish has a promising future.
PAROISSE SAINT-CŒUR DE MARIE OMVAN
B.P. 185 (casier 109)
Yaoundé
Cameroun
OTHER PASTORAL WORKS:
HOUSE OF PROBATION ST-KISITO
B.P. 185 (casier 231)
Yaoundé (Febe-village), CAMEROUN
Tél. : (237) 608-32-51
PARISH OF SAINT-FRANÇOIS D’ASSISE D’AFANOYOA
B.P. 185 (casier 196)
Yaoundé, CAMEROUN
LITTLE SEMINARY ST-ANDRÉ
CATHEDRAL PARISH
Bafia
B.P. 185 (casier 146)
Yaoundé, CAMEROUN
Parishes
En In Brazil, all pastoral work by the M.S.A. is centered on parishes. This work is closely tied to the project of the Church of Brazil. There is a coherent plan that indicates a journey in faith. As an example, we will give the activities that take place at a human level and those that concern social welfare.
Human level : encounters to reflect on the value of life, tournaments and sports activities, community services oriented towards political involvement in ones city, country and the world. We try to make youth aware of the suffering that many endure and the misery and complete helplessness many experience in a modern consumer society.
Social welfare: This a means to put into practice the requirements of our christian faith. By giving food to the hungry, by working in soup kitchens, by clothing the naked through bazaars, visiting and caring for the sick by means of a drugstore that distributes medicine, helping families with food baskets, receiving street children, alcoholics, free typing lessons, giving legal advice to persons who need it.
All these activities are done by volunteers who wish to live their faith in accordance with the message of Jesus Christ.
RÉSIDENCE
Rua Marechal Rondon, 235
Jd. Chapadao
Campinas, BRASIL
Tél. et fax: (55-192) 41-1704
HOGAR SAN PEDRO
This medical clinic set up in 1979 by our Founder, Father Eusebe Menard, receives children and families from among the most underprivileged in the region of Ricardo Palma, 40 kilometers from Lima, Peru. Most of the children are abandoned or too poor to be taken care of elsewhere.
This center has room for 64 patients and offers them and out patients medical services. It also assumes the cost of different medication or treatments used as curative or preventive measures.
Many volunteers, some from the Province of Quebec, go regularly and work in the administration of this Center.
HOGAR SAN PEDRO
Calle 5 de Setiembre No. 219
Ricardo Palma, Prov. de Huarochirí (Lima)
Apartado 87
LIMA 15 (Chosica)
PERU
Tél.: (51-1) 361-8342
Fax: (51-1) 361-8590
WINNETKA COLLEGE
Winnetka College was founded in Chaclacayo in March 1953. In 1980, Father Eusebe Menard acquired the college for the M.S.A.
From the beginning, the orientation of the CEP Winnetka was to stress a personalized education: “There is no such thing as a bad student but only misunderstood ones”. When the Holy Apostles take charge of the college, they give it a motto: “Humanize and evangelize”.
Over the years, CEP Winnetka has been a huge success. The college has given excellent professionals to the Peruvian society.
COLEGIO "WINNETKA"
Las Moreras 450
Apartado 24
LIMA 8 (Chaclacayo)
PERÚ
Tél.: (51-1) 497-1978
Fax: (51-1) 358-0107
HOGAR EMAÚS
This a residence for our priests who work at Blessed Trinity Chuch.
Father Eusebe Menard obtained from the Archdiocese of Lima for Blessed Trinity Church the title of National Shrine in favor of prayers for vocations. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day and every day of the year.
Next, without neglecting this primary intention, Father Menard added another orientation to the residence; that of receiving priests who are passing through. That is why the house took on the name of ‘Hogar Emaus’ (the hostel of Emmaus). This house is well situated and therefore serves as a rallying point for the M.S.A. of Peru
HOGAR EMAUS
Jirón Lampa 771
Apartado 4177
LIMA 100
PERU
Tél.: (51-1) 427-7100
LA SEMILLA HOUSE
Besides being the headquarters of the Animator of the Peruvian Delegation, it also houses the M.S.A. postulants
MISIONEROS DE LOS SANTOS APÓSTOLES
Carretera Central Km. 28.5
Apartado 4177
LIMA 100
PERU
Tél.: (51-1) 360-3132
Fax: (51-1) 360-3170
LOS SANTOS APOSTOLES RETREAT HOUSE
This house is open principally to parishes and colleges and offers spiritual exercises. The M.S.A. participate by offering Mass and the sacrament of Reconciliation. Subjects concerning the charism and mission of the M.S.A are given to youth and adults.
CASA DE RETIROS "LOS SANTOS APÓSTOLES"
Carretera Central Km. 28
Apartado 24
LIMA 8 (Chaclacayo)
PERU
Tel. (51-1) 360-3155
SEMINARY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
The Seminary of the Holy Apostles has given many priests to the different dioceses and religious communities of Peru.
The M.S.A. postulants are presently located at the Seminary.
The Postulancy is a stage of formation where the candidate can discern his vocation through different means: pastoral involvement, a propaedeutic year in order to undertake more advanced studie, etc.
SEMINARIO DE LOS SANTOS APÓSTOLES
Jirón Junín 891
Apartado 3790
LIMA 100
PERU
Tél.: (51-1) 427-4266
Fax: (51-1) 427-0390
VILLA LA PAZ RETREAT HOUSE
La Villa La Paz Retreat House is at the foot of the Andes and in a valley where the climate is hot; a magnificent climate where the sun shines all day long. In this house we receive parish groups, college students and different institutions.
Villa La Paz is a place for reflection, meditation and study for those who want to give a deeper meaning to their lives. It also offers a contact with mother nature and consequently with its Creator.
All the activities are oriented towards creating an atmosphere of peace and rest for all persons, especially religious, laity, public and private institutions; to help them get in touch with themselves and with God through rest, reflection and prayer.
CASA DE RETIROS "VILLA LA PAZ"
Carretera Central Km. 39.5
Apartado 2316
LIMA 100
PERU
Tél.: (51-1) 361-8390
Fax: (51-1) 361-8245
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY PARISH
The parish of the Immaculate Conception is situated in Ricardo Palma near the Villa La Paz Retreat House. The M.S.A. have serviced it for many years.
PARROQUIA MARIA INMACULADA CONCEPCION
Plaza de Armas
Ricardo Palma
Prov. de Huarochirí (Lima)
PERU
Tél.: (51-1) 361-1151
France and Belgium
Since 1991, a few friends of the laity from France and Belgium, in touch with certain members of the Society, .... Since then, each year, they take time for resourcing in Lyon on the first weekend of November. Each one, in his/her own milieu, promotes among young adults the experience of his/her stay at the French Poor Clares' Monastery, a stay which is an important time for vocational discernment and spiritual resourcing.
Contact :
Lionel and Florence BABOT
9 Place Jules Guesde 69007
LYON.
Tel : 0472769359
Italy
Since 1986, many young adults and adults from Canada and Europe come to Saint Clare and Saint Francis's country as volunteers at the Monastery of Saint Colette in Assisi (French Poor Clares) with the intention of living an intense moment of spiritual resourcing and vocational discernment.
Contact in Canada:
Father Germain Grenon, M.S.A. (514) 881-9201.
Father Jean-Yves Simard, M.S.A. (514) 329-0392.
Mrs. Yolande Samson (450) 668-0338.
Contact in Italy:
Saint-Colette Monastery: 075-81-64-89.
GÉNÉRALAT, 8594, rue Berri Montréal, Qc - H2P 2G4 Canada
(514) 387-2222 • (514) 387-0863 • infogen@msagen.org