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Quebec Cultural - Religious Revival Launched in a McDonald's Restaurant

8 of 12 new priests ordained at Eucharistic Congress were from one community - most members 23-25 years old

 By John-Henry Westen

QUEBEC CITY, June 20, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - One prominent feature at the International Eucharistic Congress, which concluded Sunday in Quebec City, was the presence of thousands of young people.  Among the youth was one particular group of smartly dressed 20-somethings who have formed a religious community of both single and married members and priests.  Of the twelve men ordained to the priesthood at the Congress, eight were members of Famille Marie-Jeunesse (The Family of Mary's Youth).

While most religious communities in Canada are at an average retirement age, the majority of the members of this new community are between the ages of 23 and 25.  With many of those same communities becoming extinct, Marie-Jeunesse is growing by leaps and bounds; in 1999 there were 37 members, compared with today's 120 living in houses in Sherbrooke, Quebec City, Tahiti and Belgium.

The most striking difference between Marie-Jeunesse and other Quebec orders, however, is their fidelity to authentic Catholicism.  No sixties-type push for women priests, gaia worship, and eneagram lectures.  The new community is fully pro-life and fully pro-family and devoted particularly to the Eucharist and to following the example of the Virgin Mary in faithful adherence to Christ.

LifeSiteNews.com interviewed members of the new community at the recent Catholic Media Convention in Toronto. At one of the masses at the convention, Quebec City Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Salt and Light Television Chief Fr. Thomas Rosica stood in awe before the spectacle of a choir filled with such joyful young people; indeed, the choir members seemed to glow more than smile.

The source of that constantly exuded joy became clear as Cardinal Ouellet announced with fatherly pride that these young people were from Marie-Jeunesse, a new religious community of men and women founded in his archdiocese. Immediately follwing the Media Convention closing mass at which the community sang. the Cardinal embraced every member of the choir and engaged in animated conversations with them as a much loved father would be engaged by his children.

Fr. Dominic Lerouzes, ordained as a priest to the community 5 years ago explained to LifeSiteNews that the order is a contemplative community that prays about 3 or 4 hours per day. Beyond that Fr. Dominic said their work is to just be themselves while giving "assistance in the faith to young people." They place a strong emphasis on joyful  music with a preference for "contemporary rhythms."

What appeared as a smart-looking uniform for the choir members was in fact the religious habit of Marie-Jeunesse. The habit of the community parallels their youth with what amounts to an all-white hoodie, accompanied by khaki pants (for the men) or full-length khaki skirts (for the women).  Pamela Buchner, one of the members of Marie-Jeunesse, explained that the white tops represent the Resurrection of Christ and the habit not only suits the youth, but also their active life committed to evangelization.

Founded in Sherbrook Quebec in 1982, the community began as a youth group after the founder - then-seminarian Real Lavoie - saw children playing outside the rectory of the church where he was living.  He overheard that one of them had a birthday but was not able to have a party at home. Lavoie offered to host a small celebration at the rectory for the youth and to provide the cake.

The youngsters enjoyed the party and were open to the small introductions to faith Lavoie offered.  They agreed to meet the following week at a McDonald's restaurant in Old Quebec with Lavoie footing the bill.  Rather than four, eight turned up at McDonalds and the next week over a dozen.  Eventually, related Pamela, McDonald's became too expensive and the meetings, therefore, moved to parks with picnics and soccer games.

Pamela explained, "It was the joy of being together, the fraternity," that brought the youth back week after week. They eventually opened a house to welcome the ever-growing number of youth who came to partake in the meetings.

It wasn't long before Lavoie was asked by members of the group to live in community together - the first vows were made in 1996.

Members vow poverty, chastity and obedience in spirit of joy and abandonment.  The community runs a school of evangelization, which involves learning how to become Christians living in the world as well as the development of life skills.

LifeSiteNews.com asked Pamela about the source of the community's most evident characteristic - their great joy.  She was quick to respond: "Jesus.  Our prayer life with Him, we belong to Him, He gives us that joy."

Fr. Dominic explained that the reaction of the Quebec people to the order has been very positive. He stated that the people of Quebec no longer know what is going on in the Church and their view is mostly of the Church prior to the 1960s. Now, he says, "when they see young people who are very happy going to Church they are amazed."

LifeSiteNews.com bumped into the founder, now Fr. Real Lavoie, at the Eucharistic Congress. Asked how he felt about the new priests in his community he said, "It is good news for the Church Universal because they are priests for all the church."  Even though he practically raised some of the young new priests from childhood, Fr. Lavoie gave credit to Christ for their formation.  "It is the Church which has brought them up," he said.  "The same Church to Whom Christ said I will be with you till the end of time."

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