An Afternoon of 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.

We started at 2 p.m. with songs led by a group of young people. Their faces reflected great joy and emotion as they sang... Fr. John Gréffard, with his exceptional smile, quickly welcomed the entire community, and Lu joined him in leading the prayer with a melody that helped us feel the sacredness of creation and of each life as holy ground...

It was a pleasure to see the faces of men and women uplifted by faith and the joy of sharing within the community...

The members of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (QFMS) were also feeling a bit nervous as they had to introduce themselves to the community, which welcomed them with loud applause.

Monsignor Guy Charbonneau didn’t take long to step forward and take the microphone to share a bit about the history of the QFMS. Faces filled with amazement could be seen as people listened to the words "70 years of work and dedication in Honduras." Some participants even mentioned missionaries who had previously accompanied them.

To make the atmosphere even livelier, Lu and Donna got the adults dancing in a beautiful, joyful dynamic. Laughter filled the air! Meanwhile, the youth were engaged in another fun activity led by members of the “Emproista” movement from the parish. The laughter and shouts of joy from children and teenagers echoed throughout the place.

One of the most impactful moments was hearing the testimonies of the missionaries, including Fr. Bernard, Beatriz, Fr. Erlin, and Rina. Each one shared a bit of their sacred story. It was truly enriching and inspiring to listen to them... The work of The Artist in them is astonishing and continues to unfold, even in the smallest things.

We concluded with the Eucharist, continuing to sing and clap with enthusiasm. Fatigue was there, but the joy and excitement of sharing our faith together prevailed. So much so that even after Mass, we continued with the QFMS Bingo, a game featuring the history, mission countries, faces of members, and important dates of the Missionary Society.

Without a doubt, this gathering was a great blessing for everyone!