HISTORY

History

1951-05-12

Cardinal P.-E. Leger is in favor of the project of the foundation of a society of common life without public vows.

10 July 1957

Opening in Cromwell, Ct USA (Norwich Diocese) of the Holy Apostles Seminary

1951-08-15

The Archbishop of Montreal approves the project of foundation of the Society of the Holy Apostles, society of common life without public vows, for the formation of young men and adults thinking of the priesthood, for the direction of retreat houses and poor parishes.

1956-03-25

Decree of erection by Cardinal P.-E. Léger of the Society of the Holy Apostles as ‘pious union’.

1960

The Missionaries of the Holy Apostles begin their apostolic work in the Amazon of Peru

1962-08-15

Approval of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles as ‘pious union’ at Indiana, Peru, by Msgr Damase Laberge, o.f.m., bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Saint-Joseph-de-l’Amazone, Peru.

1965-08-15

Decree of the canonical erection of the Society of the Holy Apostles promulgated by Cardinal P.-E. Leger.

From 11 November 1965 to 10 January 1966

Visit of Fr. Remi Couture to Tchad and Cameroon concerning the Foundation in Africa

03 November 1966

Opening of the Holy Apostles Seminary in Nsimalen (Yaounde)

12 December 1966

Foundation of Seminario de los Santos Apostoles in Bogota (Colombia)

12 January 1967

Creation of Conceicio de Nova Aparecida Parish in Campinas (Brazil)

17 December 1967

Moving of the Holy Apostles Seminary from Nsimalen to Otele

28 March 1969

The taking over of the Minor Seminary of Saint Theresa in Mvolye (Yaounde)

1971-11-01

Recognition of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles as a Society of common life without vows and of diocesan right, by a decree from the Apostolic Vicariate of Saint-Joseph-de-l’Amazone (Peru), Msgr Laurant Guibord, o.f.m. The Society is attached to the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples (Propaganda Fide).

1972-03-07

Death of Mr Hector Durand, co-founder of the Work of the Holy Apostles.

May 1985

Opening in Assisi (Italy) of a Vocational Centre in collaboration with the French Poor Clares.

23 February 1986

Acceptance to take over Saint-Paul's Minor Seminary in Bangui, Central African Republic.

1987-03-26

Death of Fr. Eusèbe-Henri Ménard, Founder of the Work of the Holy Apostles. He is buried on the territory of the Society at the cemetery of ‘Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière-des-Prairies’ parish.

1987-06

Initiation of a process for the unification of both Societies founded by Fr. Eusèbe Ménard.

1995-08-30

From 30 July to 18 August, a Chapter General was held to prepare the unification of the two Societies.

1995-08-15

Founding of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles. The decree of foundation is read by Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte.

2000-06-29

Recognition of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles as a clerical Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right.

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The co-founder
Mr. HECTOR DURAND
1892 - 1972

A great man has left us

Mr. Hector Durand was born April 25, 1892, in Saint-Jean-de-Matha in the county of Joliette (Canada). He went to grammar school there and began his classic studies in Joliette Seminary. Following the example of his father, a small industrialist, Mr. Durand had a stronger liking for construction than for studies.

Before deepening his aptitudes, he needed experiences, one of which was his stay in western Canada. There, he met a nurse, Miss Clara Farrell, to whom shortly thereafter, he married. They returned to Montreal with a little money saved from the west. It is then that Mr. Durand built houses.

His spirit of initiative, his talent and his untiring work, always backed by his excellent wife, that allowed Mr. Durand to become, in a time of great economic difficulties, a champion in the construction of house.

At the end of the second world war, in 1945, Mr. & Mrs. Durand had a few hundred apartment houses, besides what they had built for their brothers and sisters. However, the tough Hector Durand, carried in the deepest part of his interior life, a seed that was only waiting for the providential occasion to grow and blossom.

This opportunity took place when Mr. Durand went on a closed retreat with the Franciscans of Chatauguay. The preacher of this retreat for businessmen was a young 29 year old priest, Father Eusebe Menard. His preaching, centered on the Word of God and more specifically on the Gospel, produced a shock whose effect was felt right up to the death of Mr. Durand.

Rightly, Father Menard always repeated that he realized his work thanks to Mr. Durand, who he always referred to as Co-Founder. In spite of ups and downs, the Menard/Durand relationship produced, in 27 years, fruits that could be compared with any priestly work.

Above, we have pointed out that the Biblical preaching of Father Menard in a time when the Sacre Scriptures where far from being found in every house. We have to also underline, with no less emphasis, the originality of the priest/lay collaboration, 15 years before the 2nd Vatican Council.

The great strength of Mr. Durand was above all, his faith: his faith in the priest, his faith in the Church, his faith in Christ. Not only did he read the Imitation of Christ (the book on his night stand), he imitated Christ. For him, faith without works did not make sense. There's where we see why he spend his entire personal fortune not only to organize the Society of the Holy Apostles, but to work unceasingly, and persevered, almost with rest, for the last 27 years of his life in order to give more priests to the Church.

The last paragraph of his Testament, written by hand, and signed November 13, 1971, is significant for breadth of his intentions, and which could very well be, for us, a great opportunity to reflect: "I am sorry for not having built more houses to form priests."

He who has just died was a giant and those who knew him will only slowly discover the immense grace that the Lord gave them by letting them have interacted with a man such as he. His detachment and generosity could not have reached their heights without his determination and his dedication. Not only his works live on, but also, for some time now, his apostolic actions go beyond the frontiers of our country. Africans, South Americans and Asians benefit from his generosity.

May God be praised forever for having given us Mr. Durand. May He give us from on high, a bit of his charity.

(Pierre Bouchard's Homily, March 9, 1972 )

THE M.S.A. SPIRITUALITY

 Our spirituality finds its origin in Jesus. We recognize Him as Son of God and especially as :

• the Pastor who gathers his people within the great family of God's children;
• the Prophet who announces the Kingdom of God and rejects personal and social sin;
• the Priest who reconciles the world with his Father and sanctifies the Church.

It is centered on the Eucharist, the Priesthood and the Word of God.

Our models and our patrons are the Apostles and the Virgin Mary.

Our motto "United in the Lord Jesus" manifests our desire to proclaim that all human beings are called to become children of the same Father and to love one another as brothers and sisters.

To know more, please read :
Paul Longpré, Eusebe-Henri Menard, a true son of Francis, Fides, Montreal, 2000 (reprint 2003), 108 pages
Spiritual Testament of Father Eusebe-Henri Menard, Missionaries of the Holy Apostles, Montreal, 2006, 92 pages.
The revolution of love, Father-Eusebe-Menard Foundation, Montreal, 1985, 80 pages.

" I am glad your prayer book is making its way in way in the world. I am glad to have been able to help with the traslations, too. These past days I use this booklet for my own prayer... and find it refreshing. The rhythm of the sentences and the concise to the point challenges are helpful to anyone picking up this booklet to help with their prayer. The format is great too, just right for my purse or a guy's back pocket... Congratulations, Christian!  Sister Mary Ryan,  f.d.l.p.

This book is by Christian RODEMBOURG, a Canadian priest, Secretary General and Assistant General of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles. It is published by Nouvelle Cité Editions. The parish has at its disposal a few copies.

Here is what a few parishioners of Val-de-Cèze (France) had to say after reading the book:

-        “I like the content of this book because it shows us the unconditional Love of God and,…it is something I tend to forget! I have been encouraged, there where I am at. For God, what counts most is that I progress in spite of my imperfections, and His Love helps me, otherwise I would easily give up.”

 -        The reading of this book fills me with joy at this moment and for the future. It gives me a breath of love for the Church, for the Eucharist. It gives me the joy of working in the concrete events of my whole life, daily, in continuity with the mission, at mass : “Go in the peace of Christ”. This book is welcome for a district sharing for it allows us to reflect “concretely” upon each one’s place in the Church.”

 -        “The content of this book is clear, easy to read. It is full of poetry, “winks” from God that question me. It nourishes my faith in the future. I have met someone (Father Menard), a man of faith who renders God “accessible”.

 -        “This book is very easy reading, very close to our lives. It makes me love life where I am at.”

MISSIONARII SANCTORUM APOSTOLORUM

IN GENERAL CENTRE

Missionaries of the Holy Apostles

Dear Friend,
You who are seeking...
To give meaning to your life,
To find a reason to live,
To commit yourself to improving the situation of humankind and of the planet,
To transform the present situation of our society,
To work at improving universal brotherhood...

Jesus invites you :
"Come, follow me".

He sends you to realize your projects : "Go and proclaim the Good News to all creation".

Welcome to our website and discover!

Rev. Isaac-C. Martinez-Chuquizana, M.S.A.
Animator General

2012 GENERAL ASSEMBLY. PERU

Fr. Isaac Martinez, Animator General

Fr. Christian Rodembourg

Fr. Jean Braconin Kasiama Eleb

Fr. Roma Bertrand

Fr. Edward Przygocki,