On Sunday, May 10, the day after the liturgical feast of their patron saint, the community of Sainte-Louise-de-Marillac Parish gathered in thanksgiving to mark the 75^th anniversary of its founding. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal, in an atmosphere of faith, gratitude and hope.

In his homily, Archbishop Lépine invited the faithful to reflect on these words: "Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and tomorrow." He recalled that the holiness of Christ must be honoured in our hearts, drawing a parallel with the Lord's Prayer: "Hallowed be thy name." To hallow the name of Jesus Christ in our lives is to recognize his living presence within us.

"Because God dwells in your heart, he dwells in us," he said. The Christian faith, he explained, is precisely this: God within us. Christ came into the world to be present at the very heart of our existence, in our very soul and spirit.

Archbishop Lépine also spoke of the intimacy to which God calls us. That closeness can at times unsettle us, for we often prefer to remain in control of our lives and of our own choices. Yet there is no cause to fear the presence of God within us. On the contrary, that presence is a source of trust and consolation.

"You are never alone," he said with conviction. Through illness, suffering, family trials, difficulties in communication or moments of uncertainty, Christ remains present. With Jesus Christ, we are never alone.

The Lord's presence is also made manifest in the parish community itself. For 75 years, Sainte-Louise-de-Marillac Parish has been a place of faith, prayer, liturgy, steadfast witness, solidarity and commitment. Across the generations, men and women have borne witness to the love of Christ and allowed this community to grow in hope.

Archbishop Lépine also invited the faithful to keep Christ at the centre of their lives, noting that to give oneself to God means to give oneself fully, with trust and generosity, for that surrender bears fruit in our own lives and in the lives of others. Encouraging the community to recognize God's action through its faith and engagement, he called on each person to give thanks to the Lord, who makes of us his instruments in the service of his love and his presence in the world.

He further invited the faithful to continue living and expressing the goodness, the truth and the beauty of God through their daily lives. Through his Spirit, the Lord sustains us with the strength and confidence to face the uncertainties of our time.

"This is a remarkable time to bear witness that God is present," he said.

As the parish marks this 75th anniversary, the community gave thanks for the many fruits borne across the decades. As Sainte-Louise-de-Marillac Parish looks to the future, all are invited to continue bearing witness to the presence of Christ in their lives and within the community, in the faith, solidarity and hope that have sustained it for three quarters of a century.

Maribel Mayorga
Press Officer, Archbishop's Office and
Director, Communications and Media relations
Archdiocese of Montreal