Becoming Neighbours

Assisting newcomers to Canada through presence, prayer and friendship

By Fr. Peter McKenna, S.C.J.
May/June 2008

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Appalled by the plight of immigrants and refugees in Canada, hearing of their sufferings and situations of injustice, Srs. Frances Brady and Rosemary Hughes of Our Lady’s Missionaries joined women and men from 18 other religious congregations to establish Becoming Neighbours Joint Apostolic Ministry. Our Lady’s Missionaries (OLMs) already have a rich history of working with people of different cultures, languages and customs. It was only natural then that they chose to promote two-way cultural enrichment and sharing while assisting immigrants and refugees to become participating members in the multicultural context of Canada.

Our Lady’s Missionaries Becoming Neighbours companions and prayer partners, with Sr. Annette Collado (Xavieres), a Becoming Neighbours staffperson. Back row L-R: Srs. Mary Hughes, Frances Brady, Therese MacDonald, and Cecile Turner.Front row L-R: Srs. Elaine MacInnes, Pauline Doherty, Annette Collado, Myra Trainor, and Susan Moran.

Becoming Neighbours is a companion program in which immigrants and refugees during their initial adjustment to Canadian society are matched with members of religious congregations, their associates and friends. Presence, prayer, friendship and solidarity are the underpinnings of Becoming Neighbours.

Today, there are close to 50 companions involved in the Becoming Neighbours ministry including two OLMs—Sr. Myra Trainor who is a companion with Carlos and Jeny from Mexico, and Sr. Therese MacDonald who is a companion with Olga from Russia.

As well, each newcomer has a prayer partner who prays for them daily. Assured that their needs and hopes are remembered in prayer, they attempt to find a home in Canada. Close to 70 newcomers are remembered in this way. OLM prayer partners include Sr. Susan Moran who prays for Janet from Rwanda, Sr. Mary Hughes who prays for Alice from Burundi, Sr. Pauline Doherty who prays for Renardo from Columbia, Sr. Cecile Turner who prays for Salvador from Mexico, and Sr. Elaine MacInnes who prays for Jeny from Mexico.

Yes, Our Lady’s Missionaries are an amazing group of women. As you will read throughout this special edition of Scarboro Missions, these are women who have spent their lives walking with others in distant lands, often at great personal risk, and are now returning home to Canada. Aging, slowing down, declining in numbers and in strength, Our Lady’s Missionaries are Gospel women filled with the experience of life who continue to lay down their lives for their friends: the homeless, the imprisoned, the poor, the sick, the depressed, and now the immigrants and refugees of Becoming Neighbours. This giving and receiving is fashioning OLMs into a community of nurturers and wise ones.

Peter McKenna is the ministry director of Becoming Neighbours.

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