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.
  • "I Shall Sing the Mercies of God" - December 26, 2001
    "Memorial of God's Goodness" / Fear of Happiness / Exceptional Visits / Wonderful Families / Bethlehem and Nazareth / Three Lessons
  • My Christmas Prayer for 2001 - December 19, 2001
  • Women of Faith (2) - December 12, 2001
    Your Neighbours / Our Pioneers / Pioneers of the Church in America / Women of the Bible
  • Women of Faith (1) - December 5, 2001
    Gratitude / Our Mothers / Yourselves
  • Gratitude to the Grey Nuns - November 28, 2001
    Prayer to St. Marguerite d'Youville / A Heart Aflame / Zealous Disciples / Saint Vincent de Paul / Option for the Poor
  • A Kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace - November 21, 2001
    The Faith of a Condemned Man / What Reign? What Kingdom? / At the Heart of Life / Rereading Our History / From Commitment to Faith / Life and Kingdom / Gifts to the Diocese
  • The Greatest Saint of Modern Times - November 14, 2001
    Doctor of the Church / "I Do not Die, I Enter into Life." / An Eternity / A Humble Request / Unshakable Confidence / "My Vocation"
  • An Extraordinary Child Named Theresa - November 7, 2001
    Her Desire / Her Elevator / Her Father / Trust and Love / A Secret / Expansion / A Gift from God
  • Happy Birthday, John Eudes! (1601-1680) - October 31, 2001
    Call to Holiness / Shepherds after the Heart of God / Requisite Pastoral Formation / Bearing the Miseries / Discovering God's Tenderness / Missionary Zeal
  • How Can Such a Gift Be Enjoyed? - October 24, 2001
    "Proclaim the Word" / "Practice Lectio Divina!" / "Read the Word!" / "Meditate the Word!" / "Pray the Word!" / "Contemplate the Word!" / "Live the Word!"
  • Prayer and Action for Peace - October 17, 2001
    Praying for Peace / Gestures of Peace / Being Peacemakers
  • Let Us Be Peacemakers at All Cost! - October 10, 2001
    WYD 2002 / Synod 2001 / New Heads / Vocation Ministry / New Millennium
  • A Peerless, Lasting Gift - October 3, 2001
    Serious Responsibility / Vital Links / Follow-Up, Please! / Hold Fast! / Take Me on Board!
  • "Living with the Heart" (7) - September 26, 2001
    The Life of Jesus and Mary / Heart of Mary / Words of Love
  • A Tribute to Our Elders - September 19, 2001
    "A Grandmother Is Something Great!" / A Special Link / One Hundred Years of Life! / Giants of Our History / We Need You!
  • Demanding, Exciting Priorities - September 12, 2001
    The New Evangelisation / "With Your Everyday Life" / Family- and Parish-Based Religious Education / "WYD 2002" / Team Life / An Enthusiastic Response
  • "Living with the Heart" (6) - September 5, 2001
    Qualified Shepherds / Many Writings / Missionary Successes
  • "Living with the Heart" (5) - August 29, 2001
    Call to Boldness / A Call to Consecrated Life and to Mission / Prayer / Vocation / Mission / Forming Jesus in Us
  • Lessons from the 1951 Congress, Which Are Still Timely - August 22, 2001
    Marian Devotion / First Mass / Vocations
  • An Extraordinary Pilgrimage! - August 15, 2001
    Papal Message / Beginning of a New Pastoral Year
  • "Living with the Heart" (4) - August 8, 2001
    A Fateful Choice / Tears of Blood / A Call to Prayer and Contemplation / Call to Mercy / "Missionaries of Mercy"
  • "Living with the Heart" (3) - August 1, 2001
    Spirit of Jesus / A Covenant, A Contract / Call to Holiness / What Must We Do?
  • "Living with the Heart" (2) - July 25, 2001
    His Life Continued / Growth Exercises / At the Heart of Life
  • "Living with the Heart" (1) - July 18, 2001
    Marvel / Song of Praise / Our Thanks / At the Heart of the Jubilee
  • Celebrating Christian Marriage (4) - July 11, 2001
    Community of Life / New Covenant / Mystery of Unity and Love / Human and Christian Responsibilities / Marvel
  • Celebrating Christian Marriage (3) - July 4, 2001
    Heart Surgery / Open Heart / Communication / Openness / Tenderness / Forgiveness / Faith / Mission
  • Celebrating Christian Marriage (2) - June 27, 2001
    An Enlightening Word / A True Revelation / Meaningful Songs / With or Without the Eucharist / A Wish
  • Celebrating Christian Marriage (1) - June 20, 2001
    What Changes in 50 Years! / Liturgical Renewal / How Is It with Us? / What Is Basic in All This / What Presence?
  • Appointments, 2001-2002 - June 15, 2001
    Faith and Availability / Gratitude / Vocabulary / Upper Madawaska Deanery / Edmundston Deanery / Grand Falls Deanery / Restigouche Deanery / Southern Victoria Deanery / Diocesan Services
  • Edmundston Cathedral: Beautiful Cathedral, Holy Cathedral - June 13, 2001
    Where Does the Word "Cathedral" Come from? / Who Is Concerned by a Cathedral? / Rights and Responsibilities / Living Prayers / A Living Heritage
  • Eleven Years After the Diocesan Synod (1987-1990) - June 6, 2001
    Much Progress / Mission and Evangelisation /A New Springtime / Families, Youth, and the Poor / Vocations
  • Graduation: A Big Step in Life - May 30, 2001
    Major Dimensions / Powerful Virtues / Startling Admiration / Plentiful Imagination / A Generous Life / The Commandment of Love
  • After the Referendum and the Elections - May 23, 2001
    Congratulations and Solidarity / The Referendum / Appointments / Financial Drive 2001
  • The Called by Name Vocation Programme - May 16, 2001
    Prayer and Discernment / "The Wind Blows Where It Will." / From St-Odilon to Edmundston / Wonder and Petition
  • Municipal Elections and Referendum 2001 - May 9, 2001
    Video Lottery Terminals / Municipal Elections
  • A Priest's Workday - May 2, 2001
    There Is No Longer a Typical Workday / Hesitations and Achievements / Three Key Ministries / Stimulating Tasks / Someone We Don't Know
  • What Do We retain from the Summit of the Americas? - April 25, 2001
    A Strange Silence / Globalization / The Church in the Americas / A Greater Awareness / A Point of No Return / Is A Sharing of Riches Excluded? / Ecological Disaster
  • An Invitation to Contemplation - April 18, 2001
    "Exultet" / Contemplating the Risen Christ / Yesterday, Today, and For Ever / A Sure Presence / Call to Holiness
  • Seek the Face of the Lord - April 11, 2001
    Wanting to See Jesus / To Sincerely Desire It / Triggering One's Thirst for God / Here I Am before Your Face / "The Heart of My Heart"
  • Under the Sign of Communion - April 4, 2001
    Witnesses to Love / "If I Have No Love" / A Spirituality of Communion / In Daily Life / The Diversity of Vocations / "Duc in Altum!"
  • A Pastoral Programme for the Third Millennium - March 28, 2001
    A Programme of Transformation / Holiness / Prayer / The Sunday Eucharist / The Sacrament of Reconciliation / The Primacy of Grace / Listening to the Word; Proclaiming the Word
  • Moments of Contemplation - March 21, 2001
    Thirst for God / The Witness of the Gospels / The Life of Faith / Jesus Is Altogether Other! / Whence Comes This Faith? / Like Thomas
  • The Legacy of the Great Jubilee - March 14, 2001
    One Uninterrupted Hymn / Today / The Fullness of Time / The Purification of Memory / Eucharistic Congress / International Debt / New Energies
  • With the New Millennium - March 7, 2001
    A Memorable Letter / A Face to Contemplate / Starting Afresh from Christ / Witnesses to Love / "Duc in Altum"
  • What Will Our Lent 2001 Be Like? - February 28, 2001
    "Catechumenate" / Initiation / Gratitude / We Pray to the Lord
  • The world Youth Days in Canada in 2002! - February 21, 2001
    Visits to Dioceses / The Cross, Symbol of the WYD / Toronto Programme / To Whom Are the WYD Addressed? / A New Millennium / Setting Afire! / Facilitation
  • 2001: International Year of Volunteers - February 14, 2001
    At the Core of the Gospel / The Multi-Faceted Christ / In the Midst of Daily Activity / In the Midst of the Diocesan Church / Year of Gratitude
  • World Day of the Sick - February 7, 2001
    beloved of God / A Renewed Faith / Mysterious Suffering / An Unmistakable Picture of Christ / "If Hope..." / Prayer
  • World Day of Consecrated Life - January 31, 2001
    An Exceptional Mission / Renewal? / Institutes and Associations / Springtime of the Spirit / Diversity of Vocations
  • Prayer for Church Unity - January 24, 2001
    Urgency of Unity / Achievements / A Page of History / Gospel of Reconciliation / Grass-Roots Ecumenism / Another Long Road
  • What Is Our Evaluation of Jubilee Year 2000? - January 17, 2001
    Evaluation Guides / Welcome and Respect of the Other / Cancellation of Debts / Rest for the Earth /The Holy Door / Pilgrimage / The Grace of the Jubilee / Convictions
  • The 2001 Bishop Marie-Antoine Roy Awards - January 10, 2001
    Good Pickings / At the Heart of Priorities / In the Midst of the Community / Friendship and Solidarity / A More Difficult Choice
  • I Never Thought That I Would One Day Be Bishop! - January 3, 2001
    A Weighty Cross / Proclaiming the Good Word of Hope / Celebrating the Cause of Our Hope / Sowers of Hope and Unity