 Love In Action |
Report From CanadaNo One Is A Stranger In The Land Of GodBy Montreal News Group & Christian Thivierge (Originally In English) |
|---|
|
|
<Montreal>
fellow initiates were
very keen to act upon receiving
Master's instructions to assist
homeless people during this
difficult period. During January
and February in Canada the
weather sometimes goes below -40
degrees Celsius; so it's hard
for these people to survive.
Homeless Centers are their
mainstay during the winter,
where they get free meals and a
place to sleep.
The Old Brewery Mission is the
biggest homeless Centers in the
Montreal area. It accommodates
around 300-400 people for dinner
from the middle to the end of
each month, and around 100
people at other times. This
Center also has dormitory space
for up to 300 to spend the
night. Everything is free and
they continue to operate thanks
to donations and the generosity
of the public.
La Maison du Pere has a capacity
of one hundred beds, and
provides dinner and breakfast.
They also provide free services
such as counseling for
reorientation into the job
market, etc., and free
four-month therapy sessions for
alcoholics and drug addicts.
 |
| Looking at the blankets which seemed old and not warm enough, the relief team immediately purchased new ones for the shelter. |
We visited these places
beforehand. From the visits, we
could see that they needed new
blankets to replace the old
ones. In the kitchen, the cook
told us they need jam for
breakfast, and some other
general dry goods.
Fellow initiates worked in small
groups to purchase the relief
materials. The working group
included fellow initiates as
well as their relatives and
friends. Everyone contributed in
whatever way they could. In
addition, spiritual gifts such
as sample booklets and News
magazines in different languages
were also prepared for our
brothers and sisters of
different nationalities staying
at the shelter.
At the Old Brewery Mission,
after delivering the goods and
helping take them to the
storeroom, one staff member, who
works at night, gave the fellow
initiates a tour around the
Mission. Previously, he was also
one of the homeless persons
living in the Mission. After
getting out of his difficult
situation, he returned there to
work as one of the night guards.
He said that he has worked in
this Mission for six years
already. Although he could get a
much better salary elsewhere, he
chooses to work for the homeless
because he loves this work.
Hearing him talk, we were
touched by his sincerity. He
works and cares for other
people's well-being just like a
big brother. This is similar to
what Master always teaches us --
to work with a self-sacrificing
spirit for other sentient
beings, then we will be
compensated more than the
experiences we get during
meditation.
 |
| lankets for the homeless were put on the table in the dining room at the Old Brewery Mission. |
Blankets and food supplies,
along with sample booklets, were
distributed accordingly to the
shelters for the needy and the
homeless. Many of the workers,
brothers and sisters at the
shelters, were very impressed
and thankful to Master.
One sister was especially
touched. She had been feeling
God's presence in her life but
she felt she needed a Master to
help her and guide her in her
daily life. Therefore, when a
fellow initiate told her that
all the goods came from Supreme Master Ching Hai, she was delightfully
surprised. The sister wanted to
know if she could come to the
meditation Center to learn more
about Master and Her teachings.
She even took the bag of sample
booklets to the reading room
upstairs so the other sisters
could learn more about Master.
 |
| With Master's loving reminder to assist the homeless, the relief team enthusiastically packs the gifts at the Center in preparation for a visit! |
Another divine moment came when
a brother begging on the street
was offered a sleeping bag,
gloves, a scarf, bread and a hot
meal. The expression on his face
after receiving the gifts was
beyond human language. His joy
and happiness filled our hearts
with love. Thanks to our Divine
Mother (Master) we are able to
learn how to love others, to
show our compassion, and work
for the benefit of humankind.
Next week, we will continue to
visit some other Centers for the
homeless, for women and for
teenagers. We pray silently to
God to guide us to the most
needy places, so comfort and
love can be brought to these
less fortunate brothers and
sisters. We remember to bear in
mind that they are also saints,
coming to Earth to help us
progress and learn the lessons
of sharing and caring for each
other as members of our own
family. Since " No person is a
stranger in the land of God, "
we know we are living in God's
land.
 |
At the Welcome Hall Mission the relief team and an officer of the Mission take a picture together. |
Relief Activities, Phase III, in Montreal for the Needy and Homeless
By Montreal Center, Canada
(Originally In Au Lac Language)
After completing two phases of
helping the homeless people,
fellow practitioners in Montreal
once again were given funds from
Master to purchase additional
food and supplies. It was
especially cold these past few
weeks, colder than any other
year, from -20 C to -25 C.
Fellow practitioners from the
Montreal Center divided into two
groups to go to three places to
visit the homeless. A center for
adolescence, a center for people
over twenty-five years of age
called Accueil Bonneau, and
Maison du Pere (second visit).
Accueil Center prepares meals
for over 700 people daily.
When
fellow practitioners arrived at
this Center, it was already
lunch time. Upon knowing it was
Supreme Master Ching Hai's compassion that
who helped the needy with
clothing, food and basic
necessities especially during
the freezing winter, they were
extremely joyful, touched and
thanked Master for Her tender
love and thoughtfulness. Fellow
practitioners distributed each
gift bag which included a
blanket, socks, a T-shirt, soap,
and a free sample booklet. Upon
receiving the special gift bags,
they all sincerely expressed
their gratitude to Master. Some
inquired about the Montreal
Center's location while some
opened the sample booklet to
read.
After completing the
distribution outside and the
moving of food to the storage,
fellow practitioners were given
a tour of the Center by the
Catholic nuns there.
|
Nicole Fournier, s.g.m. ／General director |
|
The General Director Father Albert Brierley, o.ss.t.
|
|
Dear Friends,
Director General, Captain Denise Daigle |
|
Dear Friends,
Sylvain Turgeon
|
|
Dear Friend of the Mission,
Sincerely yours, Adrian Bercovici Executive Director |
|
From： Gerard Mangerel，Canada Report of donation to：Old Brewery Mission
1. Blanket 89 units
|
|
|
（Originally In English）
（Originally In English）
（Originally In French）
（Originally In French）
（Originally In English）
（Originally In English）