Notre Dame sisters launch national youth event

- photo supplied Rachelle and Millie Hoffos of Innisfail were part of a weekend for young adults put on by the Congregation of Notre Dame.

Special to the WCR
Pierrefonds, Que.

Five Central Albertans were among 14 women and men who took part in a young adult leadership weekend in late May in this suburb of Montreal.

Rachelle Hoffos and youth leader Jeannette Manser, both from Innisfail; and Kevin Arvay and Cassia Schramm from Olds were the young people who attended the weekend put on by the Congregation of Notre Dame.

Rachelle's mother, Millie Hoffos, who is a CND associate and serves on the vocation committee, also attended the event.

In addition to instruction in theology, time for prayer and community service, participants attended Mass at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and visited the adjoining museum dedicated to CND founder, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys.

Organizer Sister Susan Kidd is the congregation's vocation director for English-speaking Canada. She says the initiative, which was sponsored by the congregation, was in keeping with a commitment to reach out to youth.

"Our understanding with respect to vocation ministry is building bridges to young people. And so the weekend wasn't a recruiting thing for us, but it was very much how can we be with young people and help them to be the Catholics they're called to be."

Different groups of participants were responsible for leading various components of the weekend. They were asked to continue to help the congregation build bridges with youth following their return home.

"I think it was very energizing for everybody," Kidd says. "The sisters that are part of the community here absolutely loved them. The participants seemed very encouraged and supported by the sisters, and it was just overall a really positive energy boost for both the participants and the sisters."

The Congregation of Notre Dame is an international religious community with a strong presence throughout Canada. The congregation is pursuing its mission towards the transformation of society for a more just and humane world.

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