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It's our 105th Anniversary!
Each February 2, the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (QFMS) celebrates the anniversary of its foundation (1921). These are 105 years of missionary history, lived as grateful remembrance, trusting prayer, and renewed missionary sending at the service of the Gospel...
2nd International Youth Encounter
in Cochabamba
in Cochabamba
With great joy, we share with you that the 2nd International Youth Encounter for the Mission is now underway. This gathering, convened by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MIC) and the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (QFMS), brings together participants from various countries...
Photography Contest
Mission is also told through images. Each photograph is a story of encounter, service, and hope.
We invite you to participate in the 2025–2026 Photography Contest of the Society of Foreign Missions of Quebec, by sharing scenes that capture the life, dignity, and faith of the communities where the SME walks in mission...
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Diaconal and Priestly Ordinations in Nairobi
A Day of Missionary Joy!
A Day of Missionary Joy!
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Nairobi, Kenya, was the setting for a celebration filled with faith and joy for the Québec Foreign Mission Society (QFMS). On this occasion, Joseph J. Oluoch was ordained a deacon, while Michael Nadebu and Rafael Mbuva were ordained priests, all members of our Society...
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Genken 2025 meeting in Nairobi
A transformative step toward unity
A transformative step toward unity
and Synodal Mission
From September 16 to 30, 2025, the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (SME) gathered for a significant meeting at Nairobi, Kenya, — GENKEN 2025. Missionaries from across the world united under a shared purpose: to strengthen bonds, reflect on their mission, and deepen their collective commitment to a synodal Church. For many, this gathering was more than a meeting; it represented a moment of renewed unity and purpose, marking a pivotal moment in the SME’s evolution as it prepares to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future...
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Walking Together in Peace with Creation: A Celebration of 70 Years in Honduras
This theme guides our celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Society’s missionary presence in Honduras. I am profoundly grateful to God for calling me to be here and to celebrate this milestone alongside my fellow missionaries...
30 Years of Missionary Presence in Cambodia
Last Saturday, March 22, the missionary community in Cambodia gathered with joy and gratitude to celebrate the Thanksgiving Mass for the 30th anniversary of the presence of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society in the country...
25 Years of Missionary Presence in Kenya
A Journey of Faith and Commitment
A Journey of Faith and Commitment
This year marks a significant milestone for the Quebec Foreign Mission Local Group in Kenya as we celebrate 25 years of missionary presence (2000-2025)...
Pierre Samson and his Pearls of Solidarity with the Blaans
Since 1970, Pierre Samson, P.M.E., has been a missionary among the Blaans in the Philippines.
Since 1999, he has shared chronicles full of solidarity and life with this indigenous people.
His mission encompasses pastoral work, social action, and commitment to the most marginalized...
Since 1999, he has shared chronicles full of solidarity and life with this indigenous people.
His mission encompasses pastoral work, social action, and commitment to the most marginalized...
Pilgrims of Hope: Your Life Is a Gift to the World!
Now more than ever, the world needs pilgrims of hope: young people who live with purpose, answer God’s call, and dare to make their lives a gift. Are you ready?
Called, chosen, and loved!
The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare, meaning "to call." In this sense, each calling is an inner voice—personal and unique. A caring voice and a loving gaze that recognize and welcome who we are. As written in Mark's Gospel: “Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him” (Mk 10:21a). This loving gaze reminds us that God loves each of us personally above all...
Diaconal Ordination of
Raphael Mulwa Mbuva and Michael Ochieno Nadebu
Raphael Mulwa Mbuva and Michael Ochieno Nadebu
Last Saturday, March 1st, the diaconal ordination of our companions Raphael Mulwa Mbuva and Michael Ochieno Nadebu took place. This event was held at La Guadalupe Parish in Nairobi, Kenya, and was presided over by Monsignor Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, SJ, Apostolic Vicar Emeritus of Soddo, Ethiopia...
Missionary sending and renewal of commitment of José Ángel Medina Sánchez
On July 19, the Medalla Milagrosa Parish in Tegucigalpa was the setting for a moving celebration: the missionary sending and renewal of missionary commitment of José Ángel Medina Sánchez, a lay associate of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (SME)...
Missionary sending and renewal of commitment of Lilian Azucena Sánchez
On June 29, the community of St. John Paul II Parish in Namasigüe, Choluteca (Honduras) witnessed a deeply meaningful moment: the missionary sending and renewal of missionary commitment of Lilian Azucena Sánchez, a lay associate of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (SME)...
MISSION IN LA CEIBA
A testimony from a mission in La Ceiba, Honduras, where faith, solidarity, and creativity intertwine in accompanying women, families, and the sick. A transformative experience of community, prayer, and shared hope...
An Afternoon of
Joy and Sharing
Joy and Sharing
That’s exactly how it was! Between smiles, songs, dances, applause, and hugs, the afternoon of January 18 was spent at the Madre de la Misericordia temple in Honduras.
It was a pleasure to see the faces of men and women uplifted by faith and the joy of sharing within the community...
It was a pleasure to see the faces of men and women uplifted by faith and the joy of sharing within the community...
Florencio Dubé and the Tent of Meeting
Father Florencio Dubé, p.m.é. tireless missionary of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society, devoted over 70 years of his life to the Peruvian people. Inspired by the “Tent of Meeting,” his mission was to gather, serve, and liberate. From Ica to Lima, he left an indelible mark of faith, justice, and love, a light for the poorest and most forgotten...
Welcome to the SMÉ House
in Sendai!
Passing by a white house in Sendai, Japan, an image of the Virgin Mary that offers the baby Jesus catches the eye. It's not just for its aesthetic beauty or how it harmonizes with the lightness and attention to detail typical of Japanese culture, but for other reasons as well...
Missionary Childhood: Little ones living and carrying
the good news
In our days, with a presence in more than 130 nations, Missionary Childhood, also called the Pontifical Society of Holy Childhood, helps kids and teens cultivate a missionary spirit by supporting them in sharing their faith and material resources, particularly with their least fortunate peers.
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Dilexi Te or the Treasures of the Church: The Poor
In a text that is both profound and demanding, Pope Leo presents an overview of Sacred Scripture, the history of the Church, and the witness of saints and communities across the centuries. At the heart of his message lies the essential truth: care for those in need is at the heart of the Church’s mission.
Dilexi Te's teaching, continues and deepens the social vision of Pope Francis. It confronts the realities of “social sin” and the unjust structures that create suffering, what Francis once called “an economy that kills.” The exhortation invites all people to recognize injustice for what it truly is, and not to accept it as “normal.” It warns against mixing a logic of exclusion with the Gospel message.
Carlo Acutis: young catechist in simplicity
Next September, in what will be the first canonization of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV will canonize two young models of holiness for today’s youth: Carlo Acutis and Giorgio Frassati. Although they lived in different times —Frassati in early 20th-century Italy and Acutis in the digital world of the early 21st—, both shared a deep faith and a concrete love for the most needy.
The joint canonization of these two blesseds highlights that each saint embodies a perennial message while being profoundly rooted in his own time...
The joint canonization of these two blesseds highlights that each saint embodies a perennial message while being profoundly rooted in his own time...
Welcome to Pope Leo XIV
The election of the new pope has brought joy and hope. Coming from the Americas—this time from the United States—he is a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, a missionary in Peru, appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in April 2023, and made a cardinal in September of the same year. Monsignor Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025.
Celebrating Our Shared Journey in a changing world
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2025 is inspired by John 11:17-27. The theme, “Do you believe this?” (v. 26), comes from Jesus’ conversation with Martha in Bethany after the death of Lazarus. It invites us to reflect on our faith and the hope it brings...
Communicating Hope from the Missionary Heart
Reflection on Pope Francis’ message for the
59th World Communications Day
Each year, on the Sunday before Pentecost, the Church dedicates a day to reflect on the role of communicators in building a more human, just, and fraternal world. In 2025, the 59th World Communications Day carries a deep spiritual and pastoral resonance: it coincides with the Jubilee Year and contains the final message of Pope Francis before his passing.
His message, titled “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts” (cf. 1 Pet 3:15–16), stands as a testament of faith, hope, and charity for all who, like missionaries, use words, images, and witness to announce the Good News.
Pope Francis: A Journey of Faith to Asia
Pope Francis, always unpredictable, continues to surprise us. This month of September, at the age of 87, he has embarked on the longest journey of his pontificate. Despite his health issues and difficulties walking, Francis remains steadfast in his commitment to reaching out to the most remote and smallest churches. He himself leads by example in the synodal and missionary conversion to which he calls the entire Church...
Our confrere
Mgr Réal Corriveau, p.m.é.
(1930-2025)
has entered Eternal Life
Mgr Réal Corriveau, priest of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society and Bishop Emeritus of Choluteca, Honduras, passed away in Laval on December 30, 2025, at the age of 95 years and 6 months. Born in Buckland on June 27, 1930, he was the son of Joseph Corriveau and Hénédine Mercier. He completed his secondary studies at the Seminary of Québec...
Our confrere Jules Boucher, p.m.é.
(1929-2025)
has entered Eternal Life
(1929-2025)
has entered Eternal Life
Fr. Jules Boucher, priest of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society, passed away in Montreal on December 9, 2025, at the age of 96 years and 1 month. Born in Shawinigan on January 11, 1929, he was the son of Albany Boucher and Fernande Larochelle. He completed his secondary studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Trois-Rivières...
Our confrere Marcel Veilleux, p.m.é.
(1941-2025)
has entered Eternal Life
(1941-2025)
has entered Eternal Life
Fr. Marcel Veilleux, priest of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society, passed away in Quebec City on October 21, at the age of 84 years and 9 months. Born in St-Victor de Beauce on January 15, 1941, he was the son of Charles-Auguste Veilleux and Madeleine Lapointe. He completed his secondary studies at the Seminary of St-Victor...
Sudan: The Condor’s Flight over a Silenced Tragedy
In a gesture of suggestive imagination, a French actor depicted himself in fiction reincarnated as a condor. Borrowing this powerful bird as a metaphor for the perspective and moral height needed to observe the world, we embark on a flight to Sudan, a country experiencing one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time, far, far away from Western attention...
We talk about Peace
In history, whether handed down in writing or through oral tradition, with mythical accounts, religious tradition or rather documents of a more empirical nature, we find numerous accounts of tragic and significant events. And yet, even in these sometimes dark narratives, the common converging point is peace, built by daring, sometimes heroic figures.
The “I Am” statements of Jesus
At the heart of the Easter season, the voice of the Risen One continues to resound with both strength and tenderness. Through the Gospel of John, Jesus not only reveals Himself, but calls us by name, like the Shepherd who knows His sheep. In His "I Am" statements, we find more than words: we discover paths of discipleship, lights in the night of the soul, nourishment for the mission, and meaning in the midst of suffering...
What does your ideal job have to do with Saint Joseph?
Is your dream job to work less or work on something you want to enjoy, so it does not feel like work? You are not alone, and there is probably nothing wrong with that. But this reflection could offer you a grain of salt to go deeper into that thought...
Do You Believe This?
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025
In 2025, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity offers a special opportunity to reflect on our shared faith. The commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the first Christian Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea in 325 AD, provides a unique occasion to revisit the roots of our faith and explore its relevance in today’s world.
Respond with Trust, Unfold the Mission, Serve with Love: The Annunciation
Discovering our call and mission is a journey of purpose. Being prepared and living up to it requires faith and courage. This is the powerful message that this young woman inspires across generations that call her blessed. On this March 25th, let’s celebrate her words that continue to echo through time: "Be it, according to Thy will."...
Innocents: A Call to Justice and Liberation
Immediately after Christmas Day, we encounter celebrations that, at first glance, may seem shocking against the backdrop of love, peace, reconciliation, and unity that characterise this season. On 26th December, we commemorate the martyrdom of Stephen, recognised as the first martyr who testified to his fidelity to the risen Christ, giving his life in the process...
John the Baptist: Voice of the voiceless in the desert
In times of uncertainty and change, it is essential to listen to the voice of the prophets, those who, like beacons in the darkness, announce life and guide our path. The voice of the prophets reminds us that, although storms may batter our lives, there is always a course that leads us to fulfillment, for all rivers flow into the sea...
The Generosity of Saint Nicholas: Inspiration for Advent and Life
We begin the liturgical year with Advent, a time that precedes a great celebration: Christmas. Advent brings with it the feast of Saint Nicholas, a man created by God and placed in the history of humanity like any other. This man knew how to listen to God’s voice within and direct his life toward the fullness of Christ...
Beginning of the 2nd Stage of Formation at Casa Emmaus, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
On September 12, the 2nd Stage of Formation began at Casa Emmaus in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This formation program of the Society of Foreign Missions (SME) aims to accompany young people who feel the call to mission ad gentes, helping them discern and strengthen their missionary vocation...
The Missionary Formation Process 2025-2026 Has Begun in Central America
With great joy, we announce the beginning of the missionary formation process 2025-2026 in Central America. The first gathering of this initial stage of formation took place in El Salvador, where participants took the first steps on this journey that seeks to strengthen the missionary vocation of our local Churches...
Solidarity without Borders
What if a reflection in the mirror could change a life?
In the dusty alleys of Kibera, in the heart of Nairobi, a single look sparked a mission: to restore hope to those who saw only emptiness and despair.
This is the inspiring story of Thomas Nyawir and Mirror of Hope, an organization born from a deep desire to change the way children see themselves — and their future...
The path of the heart
A spiritual retreat was conducted in a welcoming, joyous, and fraternal atmosphere at the Bon Air house in Quebec City on February 7, 8, and 9, 2025, for a group of nine young men from diverse backgrounds. With the guidance of Lourdes Varguez, a nun from Jésus-Marie, Bernard Duquette, PMÉ, and Pedro Perna, the young people explored God's immense love for everyone...
The Saint Joseph Stopover
Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, a group of very special people gather in the former Notre-Dame de Foy church. Closed to worship for 3 years, it was reopened to welcome an extraordinary project called the St-Joseph Stopover. The first stopover called “halte” in french was founded in 2013 in Granby. Notre Dame de Foy is the 10th in Quebec... Why this unexpected multiplication?...
A Daring and Invigorating Presence in Quebec
“Be a meaningful, daring, life-giving and hope-bringing presence to those living in situations of hardship, isolation or in search of a path to meaningful living and liberation.”
The Maison Bon Air
A place of hospitality and fraternity
The Maison Bon Air of the Foreign Missions Society of Quebec currently offers a living environment that combines the hospitality of the House of Bethany with the caring of the Inn of the Good Samaritan....
A red thread
In the heart of the Limoilou neighborhood in Quebec, Juan Ramon Moncada, pmé, joins as a volunteer at the Popote Roulante. There, he meets Nicole and Claude, who share emotional memories of Réal Blain, a former missionary priest of the SME in Japan who was crucial in their lives...
Key protagonists and themes of Advent
Advent is a time of unique depth—a cycle of preparation and reflection that invites us to open our hearts to the arrival of Jesus Christ and the “inauguration” of God’s Kingdom, a realm of justice and freedom...
Advent: A Call to Journey with the Poor
In this season of Advent — a time of hope, anticipation, and preparation — we reflect on the call to encounter Christ in the poor and marginalized. As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, we are reminded of the powerful message left by Gustavo Gutiérrez, Catholic priest and founder of Liberation Theology, who passed away this year...
Embracing hope: Advent and journey
We begin a new liturgical cycle. Changes in the seasons and calendars are important as they help us become aware of time and the significance of life. Everything is grace when we look at events through the eyes of faith and with hearts wrapped in hope...
Living Advent through silence
We have grown up immersed in liquid societies, accustomed to constant physical, mental, visual, and auditory motion. This frantic pace shapes us into less authentic people, living on the surface of life. Yet deep within, we recognize a longing for moments of solitude and stillness… to pause...
Walking with Migrants and Refugees:
A Divine Mandate
A Divine Mandate
In light of the current global events, the poignant message of "God walks with his people," chosen for this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees, is especially meaningful. It serves as a reminder of God's consoling presence. It’s a somber call to prayer, reflection and action, on behalf of those compelled to leave their homes in search of safety, dignity, and a brighter future...
Building Bridges in a Fractured World
Living in a fractured world, with so many wounded along the way, we are called to solidarity. We must become tents and field hospitals, as Pope Francis invites us. It is essential for the Church to take risks in building solidarity and fraternity, breaking down the walls that divide us. We must be a prophetic Church, inviting everyone to the banquet of God’s love and generosity...
The journey of refugee & migrant athletes
Olympics beyond borders
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Olympic Team, which will compete for the third time in the Olympic Games (OG), represents millions of people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide. According to UNHCR, it is estimated that by September 2023, around 114 million people will have been forced to leave their homes across the planet...
The influence of faith and the church on olympic sports
A transcendent connection
We are about to begin the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will start with the opening ceremony on Friday, July 26.
Often, we see these kinds of events as simply sporting events and fail to visualize details or alternative teachings that can enrich the meaning of sports in general...
Often, we see these kinds of events as simply sporting events and fail to visualize details or alternative teachings that can enrich the meaning of sports in general...
Do not abandon me in old age
A call for intergenerational solidarity
IV World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, July 28, 2024
In our current society, which often idolizes youth and views old age as a burden, Pope Francis' message for the 2024 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, "Do not abandon me in old age," resonates with special urgency...
The transcendence of the years
Discovering the wisdom and mission of the elderly
In the story of Ruth and Naomi, we find a clear teaching about the importance of protecting and caring for the elderly. This story shows us a touching example of solidarity and love between generations...
Motherhood of God
A Reflection for Mothers` Month
In this month of motherhood, we would like to reflect on a figure that is often overlooked in our theological discussions: the "Motherhood of God". Although God transcends gender, we use images and metaphors to speak of Him...
Who is Your Mother?
The month of May will be filled with well-deserved and sweet words of affection about and for mothers. What if we step out of this norm and allow ourselves to be provoked by some ancestral words that still resonate as a polytonal composition in some ears of our days and reflect on the question "who is my mother" (Mt 12, 48)?...
A world without mothers would be inhumane (P. Francis)
The words of the Holy Father about mothers remain as valid today as they were when he first spoke them a few years ago. This month, dedicated to Our Mother Mary and in which many countries celebrate Mother's Day, is the perfect time to share some of the Pope's reflections...
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Little girl, rise up!
(Mark 5:41)
Many children—both girls and boys—experience true nightmares when they are taken from their families. Older children, other minors, and sometimes young adults also fall victim to false promises of a better life, only to end up trapped in what we call human trafficking.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
A beacon of inspiration for young generations
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, also known as "The Lily of the Mohawks," is a saint who deeply resonates with today's young generations...
Reflection: Saint Kateri
This Gospel text can help us find a place in Jesus' family, in his large community...
Missionary Testimony of Father Juan Bautista Prak Bunhong
Bunong Catholic Priest honoring his ancestral traditions in Cambodia
Moving testimony of Father Juan Bautista Prak Bunhong, a missionary priest of Bunong origin who has managed to find a balance between his faith and his attachment to the ancestral traditions of his people...
"My experience with Father Frank Bélec, brother and friend of the Mapuche People"
Testimony of Irma Porma
Irma Porma lives in Temuco, the capital of the Araucanía Region in southern Chile. From the very first contact, she was very excited to share her experience with Father Frank, whom she refers to as a great friend of hers and of the Mapuche People...
With You, I Learned
the Value of Solidarity
the Value of Solidarity
Every community kitchen or communal pot – as we call it in Peru – is a sacred space. When opening the door, we enter a place where vegetables and spices mix with what each woman brings from home: her struggles, joys, discouragement, hope....
Ecological Way of the Cross
Laudate Deum in Honduras
On Friday, March 21, in the Quezada neighborhood sector, the Ecological Way of the Cross Laudate Deum took place, an initiative promoted by the Mesoamerican Ecclesial Ecological Network (REMAM) in collaboration with the Parish of Mary Queen of Peace...
Hydroponics on the Hillside
Cultivating Hope in Comas
The food sovereignty project of the Local Group of Peru focuses on supporting Ollas Comunes and Comedores Populares on the hillside of Comas. Beyond food sovereignty, ecological conversion represents a path towards a sustainable and just food system....
Assuming a New Paradigm
Berta Cáceres
(1971-2016)
Berta Cáceres was an indigenous Lenca leader, feminist, and co-founder of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). Recognized locally and internationally as a brave defender of human rights and indigenous peoples...
Heroes for the environment
“Irmã” Dorothy Stang
(1931-2005)
This missionary defended the poor, illiterate peasants of the Amazon rainforest the greed and profit-seeking of landowners in the state of Pará...
Heroine of Peace, Social Justice, and Ecology
Wangari Maathai
During Laudato Si' Week 2024 “Seeds of Hope,” dedicated to promoting peace, social justice, and sustainable ecology, we honor Wangari Maathai, brave activist and founder of the Green Belt Movement.
The Creation and the care
of the Amazon
of the Amazon
Seeds of hope
Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si', calls us to an ecological conversion, to rediscover our relationship with creation and with all living beings. He tells us: “We are dust of the earth; our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air, and we receive life and refreshment from her waters” (Laudato Si', 2)...
We Forget that We Ourselves Are Made of Earth: People Displaced by Climate Change
According to the UN/UNHCR, in its 2023 report on Climate and Development in Honduras, it is projected that between 40,600 and 56,400 people will be forced to move within the country by 2050 due to the conditions generated by climate change...
A planet without plastic is possible...
Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, was an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to the environment. At the SME headquarters in Laval, Canada, our colleagues carried out a series of activities aimed at raising awareness about the global ecological emergency...
Our Magazine:
FALL 2023
WALKING TOGETHER
OCTOBER: MISSIONARY MONTHWINTER 2023
MISSIONARY ANIMATION IN MOTIONSPRING 2024
OUR CHURCH MUST BE MISSIONARY - MEDITATIONS FOR HOLY WEEK
The Foreign Missions Magazine aims to be an open window both on the commitment of the missionaries of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society and on the spirituality that animates them...
Our dear Jubilarians 2025 !
This year, we joyfully celebrate our jubilarian priests of the Society of Foreign Missions, brothers who have dedicated their lives to proclaiming the Gospel and serving peoples in mission.
Our presence along the years!
COUNTRIES OF MISSION
