Welcome to the Teams of Our Lady National Gathering as we celebrate 70 years of the Movement in Canada.
It is with profound joy and gratitude that we gather in Montreal, the city where the adventure of Teams of Our Lady first began in Canada in 1956.
Returning to this place of origins is especially meaningful as we celebrate the many blessings, vocations, friendships, and lives transformed through the Movement over the past seventy years.
This gathering is an opportunity not only to celebrate our history but also to renew our hearts by returning to the Source.
Our theme, “Remain in me as I remain in you,” reminds us that the fruitfulness of our marriages, our families, our teams, and our mission depends entirely on our union with Christ. He is the source of our love, our strength, our hope, and our holiness.
This year offers us yet another reason for thanksgiving.
The Church has officially recognized Father Henri Caffarel as Venerable, affirming the heroic virtues of the founder of Teams of Our Lady. This important milestone is a grace not only for our Movement but for the entire Church. It invites us to rediscover the richness of Father Caffarel’s spiritual legacy and his unwavering conviction that marriage is a path to holiness and that every Christian is called to a deep personal relationship with Christ through prayer.
As we celebrate these historic moments together, we remember with gratitude all those who have gone before us who generously answered God’s call and helped the Movement flourish across Canada. Their fidelity has allowed Teams of Our Lady to become a source of support, formation, friendship, and mission for countless families.
During these days, may we open ourselves to the grace of God through prayer, formation, fellowship, dialogue, and celebration. May this National Gathering strengthen our commitment to our vocation, deepen our love for Christ, and renew our desire to serve the Church and the world as witnesses to the beauty of Christian marriage.
As we look to the future, let us move forward with confidence and hope, rooted in Christ and inspired by the example of Father Caffarel. May we continue to build vibrant teams, holy marriages, and welcoming communities that help others encounter the love of God.
May Our Lady guide us throughout these days and always lead us closer to her Son.