Friends of Saint Marie-Leonie
Dear Friends of Saint Marie-Leonie,
We continue our reflection on the life of Saint Marie-Léonie Paradis, who challenges and accompanies us on our journey of faith. Let us ask her to help us see God, especially during this Christmas season, so that we may intensify our hope in his daily coming with the eyes of faith.
The entire jubilee year 2025 was lived under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” Being pilgrims means that we are always on the move with the expectation of Christ's coming in our hearts. The theme of Advent continues to focus on the hope of his coming into our world thirsting for peace, joy, and love.
Here are some thoughts from Saint Marie-Léonie:
“Let us rekindle our hearts with the fire of divine love, in order to warm the surface of the earth. Poor Jesus finds nothing on this poor earth but hearts frozen by indifference.”
"Jesus is very small in the manger to teach us that the humble and the little ones have his special graces. "
May the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and Saint Marie-Léonie accompany us so that we may always keep in our hearts this hope that will transform our vision in the year 2026.
Merry Christmas and a Holy Year with peace, joy, and love in our hearts.
Rachel Lemieux, p.s.s.f. Nov. 2025
For those who would like to make a donation, Mass offering or lamp, you can now do so in 3 ways.
- Online: with a credit card
- By Interact transfer
- In person: at the reception desk of the Centre Marie-Leonie Paradis in cash, debit or credit card.
ONLINE:
Go to our website on this page:
https://www.centremarie-leonieparadis.com/fr/dons-et-services-en-ligne/index.php
INTERACT TRANSFER:
- For mass fees and lamp offerings:
It is essential to e-mail us the details of your order and your intentions. Send to: centre.marie-leonie@videotron.ca
- For donations with tax receipt:
It is essential to e-mail us your full postal address, as for all donations received during the current year, we issue an annual tax receipt in February of the following year.
Send to: centre.marie-leonie@videotron.ca
Once you've sent us your e-mail with your requests, we'll send you the information you need to make the Interac transfer.
SERVICES OFFERED
(no tax receipt, as the money does not stay at the Centre Marie-Leonie Paradis).
- Masses announced with their intention: $10
- Masses read with intention: $5
- Large lamp offering with intention: $7 (new price)
- Small lamp offering with intention: $2 (new price)
*The Centre Marie-Leonie Paradis sends the money for the Masses and the intention to missionary priests. It is impossible to have a mass celebrated on a fixed date.
*The Centre Marie-Leonie Paradis will light your lamp for you, along with your intention, at Saint-Michel’s Cathedral in Sherbrooke. The lamp will burn for 6 days or for one day (depending on the size) with Mother Marie-Leonie.
Woman of great faith and action December 2025
Matthew 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on his right: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, saying: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”
And the King will answer them: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Choosing a state of life
When she heard through Camille, who dropped in at the Paradis home in January 1854 while on a visit to his ailing mother, that not only did the Holy Cross Community include Fathers and Brothers, but also Sisters who devoted themselves to teaching children and also, in those days, to domestic service in the establishments of the Fathers and Brothers, she immediately felt called to this vocation. She was still only 13 years and a few months old... But that didn't matter! Since her father was still in California, she requested her mother's permission to join the Sisters.
Upon returning from California shortly afterwards and hearing that his dear Élodie had entered the convent without his permission, Joseph Paradis was completely beside himself. He attempted to go for his daughter and bring her back home, but nothing could weaken her resolve. She ran to the chapel and begged the Blessed Virgin to keep her and to let her die rather than allow her father to force her out of her convent. So great was her anguish that it provoked lung hemorrhage. A flow of blood welled up to her throat. Frightened and seeing in this a providential sign of his daughter's vocation, Joseph Paradis gave up his plan and went back alone to Saint‑Philippe de Laprairie. Élodie was able to stay at the convent!
Book: A Mother who was “All Heart”, p. 18-19
How did you choose your life and what strength did your faith give you to remain faithful to it?
“Friends of Mother Marie-Leonie”?