Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles

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Father Menard's Words

“"The 'unloved'. Children to whom we have forgotten to say 'I love you'."

"The hand of the layman supporting the hand of the priest is supporting the world."

"What an immense privilege it is to be able to help the least of this world."

"Widen your outlook and your heart; extend it to all countries and towards all peoples."

"Let us not ask God to make us happy but useful; happiness will come later."

"What I know about tomorrow is that Providence will rise before the sun."

"The taste of shared bread has no equal."

"One cannot help someone without receiving more in return."

"God does not ask for success but for effort. Providence will do the rest."

"Each gesture that we pose has a repercussion on the whole world."

A short biography of Father Eusèbe Ménard, o.f.m.

A Quebecer born January 6, 1916 in East Broughton, Beauce County and christened Henri. His father was a modest shoemaker who, to provide for his eleven children (nine boys and two girls), kept a small shoe store adjacent to his shop and home, a few steps away from an asbestos mine that employed most of the local manpower.

Young Henri attended elementary school in his village while some of his elder brothers had already started their secondary studies away from home. There were little chances that Henri would be able to pursue his studies since his family was financially unable to provide for them.

It was a stroke of luck that Canon Bernier, founder of Canada's first late vocation seminary, that of St-Victor-de-Beauce, happened to come to East Broughton on a recruiting mission. Divine influence undoubtedly helping, Canon Bernier did not hesitate to take to his late vocation seminary the fourteen year old youngster whose qualities largely made up for his youth and lack of financial resources.

Following six years of study at St-Victor, he entered the Foreign Missionaries' novitiate in Pont-Viau where he remained but one year because although the missionary's purpose was truly his, the spirit he was seeking was that of St. Francis of Assisi. So, he went knocking at the Franciscans' door and was immediately welcomed in. There, he was given his patron saint's name of Eusebe. He completed his theology studies and was ordained priest in the Fall 1941. He went on to further studies in sociology at the University of Montreal until 1943.

His oratorical talent prompted his superior to appoint him preacher at the Franciscans' retreat house in Châteauguay, near Montreal where, during three years, he distinguished himself not only by his eloquence but also by the evangelic message he was passing on.

In 1945, Hector Durand, an important Montreal contractor and business man, after attending one of Father Menard's retreat, offered him his financial support for a church organization, either already in existence or to be established. It was, for them, the beginning of an association that was to last over twenty-five years and would be difficult to match.

Their major project was the foundation of the Holy Apostles started in Canada and taken abroad later on by Father Eusebe. In 1972, Mr. Durand's untimely death put an end to his apostolic work on earth, to which he had so generously devoted his fortune, his time and his life.

Since 1962, Father Menard has worked mostly in the United States and Latin America. With unfailing ardor, he continued to promote adult sacerdotal vocations and lay Christian commitment.

While his Canadian foundation spread out as far as Africa, Father Menard was establishing missions in United States, Peru, Columbia and Brazil.

Father Menard was died in Montreal on 26th March 1987.

His Writings

AT ALL TIMES, IN EVERY AGE

INTRODUCTION
The hours slide across the ancient sundial...

The time is always ripe for hearing a new call.

The time of the harvest had come. And the ripe grapes, all swollen with sun and nectar, lay waiting day in and day ou, in constant danger of being lost, of drying up or rotting on the vine; waiting for the harvesters to gather them and carry them to the cellars of abundance.

The master of the vineyard knew this and was attentive.

One morning he went out at dawn to hire some laborers. In the square at the center of town he found dayworkers who had come for the harvest. He agreed on a wage with them, perhaps a piece of silver, and sent them into his vineyard.

Since these first workers weren't enough, he came back around nine o'clock in the morning looking for men still without work and said to them, "You go into my vineyard too, and I'll pay you a just wage, according to your hours of labor." And they went.

But the harvest turned out to be so abundant that even more hands were needed. Around noon and again about three hours later the master of the vineyard came back to the hiring place. He was sure he would find the workers he needed, In fact, when he first planted his vine he knew that there would never be any lack of laborers in his country; if so, he would have never undertaken such a vast planting. He once again found people ready to work and sent them into his vineyard.

Meanwhile, the day grew older. And undoubtedly some storm or another was threatening or some devastating cloud of locusts was advancing. The harvest bad to be safe in the cellars before nightfall at all costs.

The shadow of the sundial read five hours past noon when the master of the vineyard returned to the square and found some men unoccupied:

"How is it that you have stayed here A day doing

"Well, no one has hired us."

Were they too timid to go looking for work? Or did they think they wouldn't make good harvesters and gave up all hope?

But the master, a good judge of men, sized them up differently: "Go ahead; you go work in my vineyard also."

Heeding his call in spite of the late hour, they left in great haste for the harvest of the ripe grapes.

After the day had ended, the master of the vineyard said to his foreman:

"Call the harvesters and give them their agreed wage, starting with those who came last."

The latecomers each received one piece of silver, the same as those who had worked since sunrise. The last men were understandably somewhat jealous. But the master has another way of seeing things. What counts for him is the harvest gathered in his cellars; without it, everything - or almost everything - would be lost. He is happy and wants everyone who participated in saving the harvest to have a share in his joy, whether they spent many or few hard hours in the sun, had more or less know-how, showed greater or lesser zeal in the final hours.

Think about it: There was much worry and fear during the day; but because everyone responded to the call, tonight the entire harvest rests in great vats in the immense cellar. All are invited to the same rejoicing. How good and overflowing will be the wine of the wedding feast in this kingdom!

And you, reader and friend, perhaps it's you that the master of the vineyard of humanity wants to see at the hiring-place sometime today; you who have already spent some 17, 18, 25 or more years on this earth.

Perhaps in reading through the pages which follow you will hear a call; or perhaps a call you have already heard will become even clearer.

Don't shut your heart, don't harden yourself with resistance as if this book were an intruder - at least not without having run through a few of these pages. Don't let the chance to answer slip through your fingers: "If you really want me, Lord, I'm ready to follow you."

If God allows our planet to carry over three billion people in our day, you can be sure that he has also made plans for a proportionate call of at least one million apostles and priests. Perhaps you are one of them.

The harvest of souls is waiting for you. The gathering in of men is in danger of perishing for want of laborers, like the ripe grapes on the hillsides.