A weekly journal by
Bishop François Thibodeau, C.J.M.
Choose year: 
The following documents are offered in PDF format
English Translations by Fr. Leo Grégoire, I.V.D.
  • Thanksgiving for 1996 - December 31, 1996
    Painful Illnesses and Deaths / New Priest and Seminarians / Sharing and Solidarity / Sunday Gathering / P.P.C. and P.E.A.C. / Solidarity / Towards the Jubilee of the Year 2000
  • Peace, Joy, and Health at Christmastime! - December 24, 1996
    Where Is Jesus? / The Word of God / Associated with Every Human Being / With Eyes of Faith / Opening Our Hearts / Christmas 1996
  • "Keep Alive the Memory of Jesus" - December 18, 1996
    At the Heart of Our History / "What Is His Name" / Jesus / The Christ / Jesus Christ
  • In Solidarity with Our American Brothers and Sisters - December 11, 1996
    World Hunger / Synod for America / Social Justice Ministry Programme / Human Rights / Towards a Year of Charity / Effects of the Seminar
  • Life Is Sprouting Up Everywhere - December 4, 1996
    Congratulations, Archbishop Léger! / Social Justice Ministry Seminar / A Difficult Context / Challenging Figures / Hopes and Concerns
  • A Sign of Hope for Our World (6) - November 27, 1996
    The Paths of Hope / The Prophetic Voice of the Gospel / Bishop Marie-Antoine Roy Prize / Diocesan Centre / Open House
  • A Sign of Hope for Our World (5) - November 20, 1996
    Integrated Social Programmes / Solidarity with Our Fellow Canadians / A Greatly Needed Collection / 25th Anniversary of the Diocesan Centre
  • A Sign of Hope for Our World (4) - November 13, 1996
    Integrated Social Programmes / A New Ethic / Following the Paths of Solidarity / Solidarity with the Peoples of the South / Trip to Bogotà, Columbia
  • A Sign of Hope for Our World (3) - November 6, 1996
    Poor Children / To Further the Liberating Work of God / Disciples of Jesus / To Stand Tall / Following Up
  • A Sign of Hope for Our World (2) - October 30, 1996
    Women / Aboriginal People / Uprooted Persons / Families
  • A Sign of Hope for Our World (1) - October 23, 1996
    Au Urgent Task / Serious Motives / How To Recognise the Poor Today / Poverty in Canada / An Important Year
  • Daily Joys and Challenges - October 16, 1996
    Thank You to John Paul II / Welcome to Our New Collaborators / Welcome and Mission / Maintenance and Construction / Group of One Thousand / Open Doors
  • Basic Christian Communities - October 9, 1996
    A Helpful Session / The Time Has Come / What Are the B.C.C.s? / What Do B.C.C.s Do? / Acts 2:42
  • Glory and Honour to Collège St-Louis! - October 2, 1996
    A College that Had Been Anticipated / Hopes To Be Fulfilled / A High Ideal / Deserving Pioneers
  • Synod of Bishops on America - September 25, 1996
    Prior Consultation / The Questions / Encounter with the Living Christ / Conversion in the Church and in Society / Communion in the Church / Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue / The Church Faced with the Problem of Sects / Evangelisation and Culture / The Church and Means of Social Communication / The Church and Social Solidarity / The Church and Social Problems / The Church and the Promotion of Human Life / Other Common Themes
  • Why Have You Told Me to Love? - September 18, 1996
    Solidarity Caravan / "What Does This Remind You Of?" / A Link / Ongoing Solidarity
  • "Anxious but Not Hopeless" - September 11, 1996
    A Keen Awareness of One's Mission / Pastoral Mission / There's Work Ahead! / Participation of Diocesan Offices
  • Strengthen the Work of Our Hands - September 4, 1996
    Bread of Misery or of Life / Source of Joy and Pain / Difficult Situations / The Key to the Social Question / Partners with God
  • To My Brothers and Sisters of Southern Victoria Deanery: Peace and Joy in the Lord! - August 31, 1996
    Changes in the Southern Victoria Deanery / New Responsibilities / 1997 Pastoral Visitation / 1997 Eucharistic Congress
  • Whoever Sows Broadly Harvests Abundantly - August 28, 1996
    New 1996-1997 Pastoral Year / A New School Year / Religious Community Meetings / Appointment
  • The August Fifteenth Calls - August 21, 1996
    A Sacred History / Irresistible Calls / New Calls
  • Nothing Will Ever Separate Us from Love! - August 14, 1996
    Are We, the Poor, Loved? / Are We, the Sick, Loved? / Are We, the Bereaved, Loved? / A Conviction and Firm Faith / Have Nice Celebrations, Acadia!
  • Beneficial Spiritual Moments - August 7, 1996
    Novenas and Feast Days / An Unforgettable Forty Hours / The Presence of Youth / Presence to Victims of Disasters / Family Presence / An Evaluation to Pursue
  • God's Marvellous Deeds in Our World - July 31, 1996
    "We Are A Priestly People" / A Thanks-Giving People / A People Called to Holiness / "We Are A Prophetic People"
  • The Marvellous Work of the Holy Spirit - July 24, 1996
    "Keep Alive the Memory of the Lord" / The Memory of the Church / "We Are the People of God" / A People That Benefits from God's Mercy / A People That Recognises the Mercy of God
  • The 125th Anniversary of Ste-Anne-de-Madawaska - July 17, 1996
    For More Than Three Years Now... / The Church at Ste-Anne / Who Was St. Ann? / A Diocesan Shrine
  • Could It Be Like A Golf Tournament? - July 10, 1996
    Step One: To Go / Step Two: To Seek Out / Step Three: Team Work / Step Four: Growth / The Bible and Golf / Next Tournament
  • A Gorgeous Summer Season! - July 3, 1996
    Appreciation / Priestly Ordination / National Holidays / 1996 Graduates / Happy Wedding! / Appointments
  • Together to the Year 2000 - June 26, 1996
    Brief Evaluation / We Have Remembered / Three Suggestions / Sharing the Word of God / Family Prayer / The Sunday Gathering
  • 1996 Appointments - June 13, 1996
    Heartfelt Thanks / Signs of Hope / Diocesan Responsibilities / Parish Responsibilities / Priests' Senate
  • An Unforgettable Congress - June 12, 1996
    Special Homecomings / An Essential Memory / "Don't Be Afraid! Open Up!" / A Personal and Community Experience
  • "Do This in Memory of Me" - June 5, 1996
    Eucharistic Congresses / The Restigouche Deanery Awaits You / Renewal and Celebrations / Corpus Christi Sunday / Thanks and Outlook
  • Necessity To Prepare the Changes - May 29, 1996
    Attachments Shown / The Departure of Jesus / A Huge Worksite / A Garden To Cultivate / Building Up the Body of Christ
  • A Message for the Separated and Divorced - May 22, 1996
    We Are Not Here to Judge You / You Are Always Members of the Church / Services Offered to You / Family Pastoral Ministry / Social Ministry / Pastoral Ministry / Maintaining the Ideal of Indissolubility
  • St. Martin of Restigouche: Energetic People - May 15, 1996
    Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph / Farms, Businesses, and Homes / Sacramental Initiation / Cellule-Jeunesse / A Major Symbol
  • Priests in a Changing Church and Society - May 8, 1996
    In the Midst of Change / Only for That... / Closely Associated to the Episcopal Ministry / Bonds of Reciprocity
  • The Bishop's Faithful Collaborators - May 1, 1996
    What Is Most Important? / A Spirit "That Makes Us Strong, Loving and Wise" / The Blessed Day of Our Ordination / A Deep Spiritual Life
  • Generous Commitments - April 24, 1996
    World Vocation Sunday / Priests' Annual Retreat / Priestly Ordination / First Eucharistic Congress
  • St-Jean-Baptiste: A Hope-Filled People! - April 17, 1996
    Gratitude to the Filles de Marie-de-l'Assomption / Women of Hope / Links of Friendship and Hope / At the Service of the Word and the Community / A Hidden Treasure
  • Marvel, Gratitude, and Solidarity - April 10, 1996
    Edmundston-Mexico Mission / "Stabat Mater" / Chrism Mass / Routes of the World, Path of Christ / Msgr. George Travers
  • At Easter, May We Be Recognised As A People of Praise! - April 3, 1996
    A People of Praise / A People of Blessing / A Mission of Love
  • May Yours Be A Memorable Holy Week! - March 27, 1996
    Chrism Mass / Way of Solidarity / A Time of Grace / Concerns and Hopes / Group of 1000
  • Wonders Are Still Done at Kedgwick! - March 20, 1996
    By Your Riches Maintain Their Courage / World of Youth / The World of Workers / The World of the Elderly and the Sick / A Community Capable of Looking After Itself / Essential Collaborators
  • St. Quentin, A Very Lively Parish! - March 13, 1996
    Unforgettable Days / Friday, February 23 / Saturday, February 24 / Sunday, February 25 / An Unfinished Visit / Appreciation and Blessing
  • A Profound Gratitude to Women - March 6, 1996
    Landmark Precedents / Woman Taken Up with Justice Issues / In Difficult Times / New Challenges
  • Called by Name - February 27, 1996
    What Would You Have Me Do? / If You Hear... / Open Doors at the Seminary / Admission Criteria for the Seminary / Family-Seminary, Parish-Seminary
  • Now Is the Acceptable Time! - February 21, 1996
    Lent In the Restigouche / Pastoral Visitation / Basic Attitudes / A Stimulating Programme / Share Lent
  • Letter to Couples - February 14, 1996
    Love Is of God / Dignity of Marriage / The Wedding Guest / An Important Mission / A Mission of Love
  • The Edmundston Diocese's Financial Situation - February 7, 1996
    A Great Follow-Up / A Difficult Budget Balance / The Diocesan Centre / In Search of New Revenue / The Group of One Thousand
  • Thank You to Directors of the Communications Media - January 31, 1996
    A Third Meeting / "Giving Direction to Culture" / Beneficial Alliance / The Challenge of Communicating / A Special Thank You
  • Can A Bishop Be Involved in Social Affairs? (2) - January 24, 1996
    The Canadian Bishops / In Solidarity / A Full Programme / Priority Questions / Pastoral Attitudes
  • Can A Bishop Be Involved in Social Affairs? (1) - January 17, 1996
    The Church in the Midst of the World / Would You...? / An Important Directory / An Authentic Inspiration
  • Congratulations to Our Young People! - January 10, 1996
    Terrific Solidarity / Missionary Solidarity / Young People on Radio / Confirmees Who Edify Me / Amazing Letters / A Young Person's Prayer
  • Already Two Years among You! - January 3, 1996
    Proclaiming the Word of God / Celebrating the Sacraments / Governing the People of God / Other Tasks Await Us