lavalday06

Laval Day Celebrations - September 2006

The Mauritian community of Toronto and area came together on Sunday September 10th, 2006 to celebrate the feast of the Spiritan's Blessed Jacques Laval. The Mass was held at the Church of Saint Louis-de-France in Toronto, presided over by Fr. Bernard Kelly, CSSp. Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick, CSSp gave the homily and spoke to the congregation about the Fr. Laval's relationship with the people of Mauritius, especially the poorest. After the Mass, Mr. Nicholas Han, leader of the Emmaus Companions, read greetings from Maurice Piat, CSSp, Bishop of Port-Louis. No Mauritian gathering would be complete without a wonderful meal. Everybody had brought their own special dish and all was shared out over the rest of the afternoon. The weather was perfect for the day and all who attended took home good memories of another Laval Day celebration.

Prayer in Honour of Jacques Laval

Heavenly Father, we thank you
for the life and work of Jacques Laval, for this reminder of Your Son
and His plan to gather all people.
May Your Spirit widen our horizons and enlarge our hearts.
In all seasons, help us to pray.
Give us eyes to see the possibilities in unpromising situations.
Grant us to heed the cry of the poor and the terrible silence of the oppressed.

Ground our respect for each other, men and women, black and white, in Your love for each of us.
Overcome our reluctance to trust each other.
And if it please You, heavenly Father, give Jacques Laval
to Your Church as an official guide along the way. Stretch out Your hand in power.
Through his intercession, work new wonders.
AMEN

Luke 24: 13-17 - Images of two slightly mystified and down-in-spirit disciples plodding along, homebound to their village on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Jesus, the Teacher, joins Cleopas and his companion and patiently takes the time to clear their minds and eyes before revealing His Resurrected Self to them. Elated and re-energized, the two disciples run back to Jerusalem to spread the Good News.

History does repeat itself! Almost two millennia later, it was another reawakening of sorts that inspired a group of Catholics to embark on their own spiritual journey of self-discovery, renewal and service.

It all started in the fall of 1999 with a pastoral visit of the Bishop of Port Louis, Mauritius, to the expatriate community in Toronto. Despite the brevity of his stay among them, Bishop Piat's down-to-earth spirituality touched all who congregated at his Eucharistic celebrations, retreats and formal and informal gatherings. The community's thirst for the spiritual, clearly palpable, was temporarily satisfied in the joyful celebrations of the moment, enhanced, no doubt, by the colourful and happy resonance of a shared "lingua franca". The yearning for more had been rekindled, though. At Bishop Piat's gentle urging, a small group volunteered to continue the work he had started.

In January 2000, a first plenary meeting of the EMMAUS, a lay Catholic group, was born. Its audience is mainly, but not exclusively, the Mauritian community in Canada; its mission, a fairly succinct one;

In response to the call received at baptism and reaffirmed at confirmation, we pledge to:

Deepen and nurture our faith,

Live and share the Good News with Mauritian families in Canada and the communities in which we live.

Affiliation of the group with the Archdiocese of Toronto quickly followed. In those early days, practical realities and constraints were swept aside by the group's contagious enthusiasm, and it probably took on too much too fast. Some six years later, a wee bit wiser (and greyer) and armed with a clearer perspective, EMMAUS has developed a more eclectic approach, focusing on some well-established and much-anticipated annual ministries and celebrations.

Our journey together has proceeded along two parallel but inter-related paths

Individual companions have progressed in their spiritual journey, in their own unique ways and at their own pace. A happy corollary of that individual growth is the increased involvement and integration of EMMAUS members in their own communities and local parishes. At the same time, we have also reached out to the community. One of our signature events is the annual small faith-sharing sessions that we hold in five different regions of the Greater Toronto Area throughout the Lenten season.

In early fall, the Messe du Père Laval brings together Mauritians and friends from all corners of the metropolitan area to celebrate I"Apôtre de I'le Maurice.

The younger (of age and of heart) have not been forgotten along the way. Their enthusiastic involvement has been a key element in the success of our participation in Out-of-the-Cold programs. And who can forget 2002? The North American Mauritian community came together under the umbrella of EMMAUS in an unprecedented spirit of goodwill and generosity to sponsor and host 27 World Youth Day pilgrims from Mauritius and Reunion.

Six years and a small first circle were symbolically completed with the recent visit of Port Louis,Vicar-General Gerard Sullivan. One simple and profound lesson learnt:. EMMAUS. We continue in the deeply-held belief that the Lord's mission is not an overnight project and small or even tiny steps add up to real progress over time.

Following the departure of Father Justin Desroches, our first Spiritual Director, Spiritan Father Paul McAuley has patiently and enthusiastically journeyed with us, ever ready to dispense much-needed guidance and counsel while tending to our spiritual needs.

Our theme song is "Companions on the Journey". Like the disciples in Luke's Gospel, the EMMAUS companions are "on a journey of faith, breaking bread and sharing life." So, join us and "Stay with us"