General servant of the community, Father Donald Cloutier confirms the intention to move the organization “as soon as possible”. As first mentioned in the independent media specializing in religious information Presencethe objective of the Marie-Jeunesse Family would be to divide into two houses. “There will be the general house and another where the others will be,” specifies Mr. Cloutier.
“We are considering relocating. We are at the preparation stage, therefore finding new places,” he explains.
“The place has become too big for our needs. It is also in the financial perspective of sound management of community assets.”
— Father Donald Cloutier, General Servant of the Marie-Jeunesse Family
The building is still not displayed on sales sites. However, municipal councilor Laure Letarte-Lavoie believes that the creation of housing could be interesting. “As it is not in the City, we will not be able to decide what will happen. But I am open to there being densification on the ground, to there being a community vocation and housing,” she mentioned in an interview with The Tribune.
Before housing the Marie-Jeunesse Family, the building served as a convent for the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. (Maxime Picard/La Tribune)
The community has shrunk considerably in the last decade. When they arrived at this location in 2014, around 90 people were staying in this building on rue du Conseil. “There are several factors involved. People simply came to a discernment that maybe it wasn’t their place, for all sorts of reasons that were personal to them. We have seen a lot of movement in recent years,” confirms Mr. Cloutier.
Community in decline
The Marie-Jeunesse community arrived in Sherbrooke in 1990. Houses have already existed elsewhere in Quebec, but currently the only one is in Sherbrooke. For Donald Cloutier, it is important to stay in Estrie. “Our mission place is here. We are a community of diocesan law. Our responding bishop is here, in Sherbrooke,” he says.
Mr. Cloutier adds that the class action authorized by the Superior Court against Marie-Jeunesse did not weigh in the balance.
According to their website, “the Marie-Jeunesse Family brings together single women and men, some of whom are priests. The members are united around a Marian and Eucharistic spirituality and a mission of evangelization mainly focused on young people. The members live celibately and lead a common life in a dynamic of chastity, poverty and obedience.
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