Novena for the Centennial

Since 1921, the Quebec Foreign Mission Society is at the service of the Gospel.  We are celebrating 100 years; we wish to celebrate together the journey of our missionary commitment. We are celebrating the dynamism of our missionary Society, and with gratitude, we remember our past, we renew the passion of living the mission in communion in our historic present, and we rekindle the hope for the future.
 
This novena is meant for the members and associates, former members and associates, candidates and seminarians in formation, affiliates, friends, members of our Churches and/or local communities, the youth who belong to our networks, and the persons of good will who wish to join us in our thanksgivings to God for the dynamism and the renewal of our missionary Society. 

O God, whose heart is greater than the world, we thank You, for inspiring the Bishops of Quebec to begin the Foreign Mission Society in 1921.
 
Bible reading for reflection Mt 5.14-15
 
 “You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.”
 
Prayer of thanksgiving:
 
We praise and give you thanks, Almighty Father, for inspiring the Bishops of Quebec who have founded the Foreign Mission Society in 1921. We are very thankful for the great vocation and for being so generous in sending many missionary priests to different parts of the world. We are grateful that you have allowed this service of the mission of the Church throughout the world to be carried out for 100 years!

Commitment: We pray for Canada, especially for Quebec, that the Holy Spirit may touch the hearts of young men and women who are discerning and searching the meaning of their lives, that they may experience the loving presence of God in their lives and feel the desire to share their life for the mission.
 

Prayer for the Centennial of the SME

God ever faithful,
“Whom shall I send?” - you ask us.
On this path, on the same boat,
where we all are,
we answer to you:
“Here we are, Lord, send us" (Is. 6,8)
 
Your Spirit pushes us and carries us,
encourages us and sends us to mission
to the world and to all peoples.
It is your endless love
the one that moves us
"to run the risk of the encounter
at the service of the Gospel".
 
In today's Church and history,
here we are, Lord, send us.
We are a small Missionary Society that,
humble and confronted with many challenges,
wants to be part of the transformation of hearts,
minds, bodies, societies and cultures,
at all times and in all places.
 
Here we are, Lord,
at the service of your Gospel,
to bear witness to your love
and your salvation,
attentive to the needs of bread and justice,
freedom and work, dignity and peace
of our brothers and sisters,
taking care of all your creation as well.
 
Here we are, Lord, send us,
to seed hope,
to build up a new world,
holding your word and discovering your presence
in all peoples and cultures.
 
Reaching out to their encounter,
we proclaim that you are
the ever-merciful God,
whose love last forever.
 
May, the Virgin Mary, first disciple and missionary,
pray for us, now and forever. Amen.