Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles

The Work of the Holy Apostles

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 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.

THE SISTERS consecrated women, working in Quebec and Peru, adding the feminine dimension to the charism and mission of our apostolic works.

"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 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).

The Spirituality of the Holy Apostles

Our spirituality finds its origin in Jesus. We recognize Him as Son of God and especially as :

the Pastor who gathers his people within the great family of God's children;

the Prophet who announces the Kingdom of God and rejects personal and social sin;

the Priest who reconciles the world with his Father and sanctifies the Church.

It is centered on the Eucharist, the Priesthood and the Word of God.

Our models and our patrons are the Apostles and the Virgin Mary.

Our motto "United in the Lord Jesus" manifests our desire to proclaim that all human beings are called to become children of the same Father and to love one another as brothers and sisters.

To know more, please read :
Paul Longpré, Eusebe-Henri Menard, a true son of Francis, Fides, Montreal, 2000 (reprint 2003), 108 pages
Spiritual Testament of Father Eusebe-Henri Menard, Missionaries of the Holy Apostles, Montreal, 2006, 92 pages.
The revolution of love, Father-Eusebe-Menard Foundation, Montreal, 1985, 80 pages.

Prayer of the M.S.A. for Vocations.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus said unto us : "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few; pray therefore the Master of the harvest to send workers to his harvest." Full of confidence, we pray according to the desire of His Heart.

Give each Christian the awareness of his responsibility as citizen of the Kingdom and living stone of Your Church.

Choose among Your People apostolic workers, priests, deacons, religious, committed laypersons, so that the Good News may be proclaimed among all Nations and that Your Mercy be made known to all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Prayer to the obtain a favor through the intercession of Father Menard.

Father who calls us to follow Jesus, we bless You for the work accomplished by your servant Father Eusebe Menard. You chose him to give numerous apostles to your Church. Confirm the holiness of this messenger of your Word by granting us the favor we ask...

May we work, through his intercession and the power of the Holy Spirit, towards the awakening of vocations and the formation of ministers in the Church and for the world. We ask this of You, God of Love, for ever and ever. Amen.

For all favors obtained, please write to the Secretary General of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles : 8594 Berri St., Montreal, Qc, H2P 2G4 Canada.