With a touch of sadness, on March 1st of this year, Bernadette left Amos to settle in Trois-Rivières in a residence more suited to her needs. Almost 50 years ago, in September 1974, she arrived in our diocese to take over the pastoral care of the parish of Mont-Brun, a very positive experience to which she would later often refer.
A native of Pont-Rouge in Portneuf County, Bernadette is a member of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, a secular institute of women founded in 1952 by Father Louis Marie Parent, O.M.I.
In September 1974, Bernadette receives from Bishop Gaston Hains a mandate to be the parish pastoral animator in Mont-Brun, a first for her and for the people of the area. Her 25 years of experience in education, both as a teacher and school principal, will serve her well in meeting this new challenge. Working successively with Michel Villeneuve, Gilles Martel and Bernard Tessier, she stays on until September 1982. In March 1983, Bishop Gérard Drainville entrusts her with a new mission: she is appointed parish pastoral animator in Sullivan, where Marcel Albert is the parish priest. Three years later, following her appointment as head of the Central House of the Oblate Institute, she relocates to Trois-Rivières, where she remains until December 1992.
In September 1994, Bernadette returns to the Diocese of Amos with a bachelor's degree and a master's in theology. Bishop Drainville gives her the mandate of diocesan pastoral coordinator, a position she will hold until September 2007. Over the years, this new responsibility leads her to walk many paths in the pastoral life of our diocese: catechumenate, faith journeys, religious movements, pastoral care of the sick, service to lay pastoral workers, pastoral training, adult faith education, Christian initiation and catechesis, formation in Christian life, service to pastoral animators, and communications.
After her service as diocesan pastoral coordinator, Bernadette, a woman of great faith, a good listener and a missionary at heart, was no slouch. She found a way to remain in service in Amos in a variety of ways, by being attentive to the people in her community, often offering them a listening ear. For several years, she was also responsible for bringing Eucharistic communion to people living in the small RPAs (residences for the elderly) in Amos.
After caring for others in so many ways, it is time for Bernadette to take care of herself, especially at the age of 92. Although it's time for a well-earned retirement, she continues to pray for us and the many people she has met along the way. She is now one of our prayer missionaries. We thank God for placing this woman on the missionary path of our diocesan church. A big thank you to Bernadette for all her years of generous service to us.
Raymond Martel, v.g.
THANK YOU for everything!
(Newsletter from the Diocese of Amos / April 2024, page 7)
