Sister Julienne Lefebvre (Michel Archange)

IN MEMORY OF

Sister Julienne Lefebvre (Michel Archange)

who died at Maison Jésus-Marie,

Longueuil,

September 2, 2006

Your faith is expressed through eyes that see, hands that build and lips that speak words of love, of justice and of hope. (her niece Janine)

Julienne Lefebvre, daughter of Michel Lefebvre and Paméla Loiselle, was born in Saint-Barbe, on August 18, 1917. She is the second youngest of a family of 8 boys and 2 girls. When she was four years old, her family, moved to a farm at Saint-Étienne de Beauharnois. Her mother, a former student with the SNJM’s in Valleyfield, had taught for several years before her marriage.

As a child, Sr. Julienne began her studies at Saint-Étienne-de Beauharnois and then went to high school in Beauharnois. It was there that she met the SNJM’s. She received two teaching diplomas, in both elementary and secondary education. In 1924, she entered the SNJM novitiate and pursued her teaching vocation. She summarizes this part of her life as follows: “In the postulate and novitiate, I really missed my family and the country. But, I loved prayer, the chapel, walking on the mountain (Mount Royal) and even the molasses tarts.”

Sister Michel first taught in schools in Montreal. She made her final profession on August 5, 1943. Sister Catherine de Cardonne, a classmate of her mother, encouraged her to take courses in home economics in both Saint Lambert and Sainte-Martine.

At the end of the war, the Community asked if she would accept to go on mission to Basutoland, in southern Africa. She said, “My answer was short: if I am asked, I will accept”. In that era, the Congregation asked for parental consent, which my parents gave. In 1947, along with three other Sisters, we left, expecting to stay forever. I have never regretted that decision. From the first years, I taught elementary and high school, while studying Sesotho and English. I also became very interested in the art and customs of the Basutho people. Seeing my great interest, the Department of Education offered to send me to the university in the Republic of South Africa, for a year of studies.

When I returned to Basutoland, I was named the principal of Mazenod Teacher Training College where I worked for 47 years of my 50 years living in Africa. Throughout those years, I worked with three generations of students, either at the Teachers’ College or the “École Supérieure”. I mainly worked in the field of education and with members from the Department of Education. I was always interested in the African Sisters of our Congregation. I must say that I was close to them and, when I asked to return to Canada, I left behind a community that I loved.

When we look back at Sister Michel’s life, we see a talented woman, who was resourceful, skillful and open to the needs of those around her. Her creativity led her to fashion several practical and useful objects: a wood stove for use out doors, kitchen utensils, etc. She drew up plans and oversaw the construction of classrooms as well as a boarding school. She developed programs of studies, founded a school that taught home economics and sewing, organized nutrition and medical services for pre-school-aged children, took charge of school activities and extra-curricular activities, as well as local, popular feast day celebrations. She organized adult education classes and set up libraries and resources for buying books from England. She arranged to have students subsidized by some benefactors in Quebec. She obtained bursuries for over a hundred students a year.

She edited a bookon dietetics for the teachers. Over and above all that, she was responsible for the artistic formation of several artists in Mazenod.

Sister Michel was also in administration within the Congregation: counsellor in the pro-province and local superior. She was in charge of the professional formation of the African Sisters. She also designed and supervised the construction of a chapel.

In May of 1988, according to local custom, a huge feast was held in honour of this very noble woman who was celebrating her 50th anniversary of religious profession. Invitations were announced over the radio throughout the country in order to reach as many former students and acquaintances as possible. Thousands of people came to thank “the bride of the Church of Lesotho” for her tremendous work in that Country.

So, why did I ask to return to Quebec? “For two reasons”, she says. “I had turneD eighty and I wanted to write the history of our Congregation in Lesotho while my memory and my ability to write still allowed me to do so. Within five and a half years, Sister Rose Leona and I wrote GO FORTH, later translated into French and titled, QUITTE TON PAYS. My second reason for returning to Quebec: in case I ever got sick, I did not want to be a burden on the African Sisters in a country where there is very little available health care for those who are sick.”

Back in Quebec, Sister Julienne was very active and involved with the people of Saint-Martine, who had supported her in her apostolic endeavors. She was greatly loved by the Sisters in Saint-Martine who will always gratefully remember her loving and joy-filled presence.

In a eulogy, her niece, Janine Lefebvre, deemed her a great prophet And builder. . . like Charles de Foucault who had built up the desert. She remembered Sister Julienne as a born teacher, an international educator. . . In Lesotho, you were nicknamed “the white black” because you understood the spirit and will of the country in fulfilling the desires for education of so many in Mazenod. You were not influenced by race, language, nationality, religion or social class. Free from all prejudice, free like Christ in the Gospels. . .You are an example of holiness and courage.

M. L’Abbé Gilles Ménard, chaplain, along with twelve priests, including eight Oblates of Mary Immaculate, concelebrated the funeral Mass at Maison Jésus-Marie, on October 2, 2006. Many people attended this very moving celebration. The Sisters of Lesotho, who so loved Sr. Michel and so appreciated her work, were present in their own way, through the reality of a message, sent by Sister Gisèle Foucault.

Sister Julienne died, after a short illness, at the age of 89, and with 68 years of Religious profession. Her body is buried at the Saint Antoine-de-Padoue Cemetary in Longueuil.

Standing before the Master she served with such great love, she now sees him face to face.

Your faith is expressed through eyes that see, hands that build and lips that speak words of love, of justice and of hope.