When I arrived
in Montreal on May 30, 1970, André welcomed me with the joy of a man who had
waited a lifetime. For a brief week we stayed with his sister Monique and her
husband Jacques, whose warmth helped ease the shock of stepping into a
completely new world.
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| André's mother and father |
Soon, however,
André had to return to his work in Gatineau, leaving me alone with Monique and
Jacques. Those days were difficult. I had newly arrived in a foreign country,
unsure in both French and English, separated from my family, and navigating the
end of my former religious life. I felt vulnerable and painfully alone. Yet
André wrote to me every single day and came to see me on weekends, and his
tenderness gave me the courage to begin again.
Our material
life was humble, but our happiness was overflowing. After a year of struggle
and oceans between us, we were finally building a life side by side. And with
Odette, André’s kind and loving sister, living nearby, I felt supported in this
new land.
2. A simple Life, But Happiness Beyond Measure
We began our married life in simplicity and poverty. We had brought nothing from our former religious lives and accepted nothing from our families. We were living in the first rented André's small one bedroom basement on 57A Caron Street in Hull, and later in an apartment on the 9th floor of 215 Muchmore Street. André's mother had lent us $200 to buy basic furniture—a set we still cherish today.
Soon, I became pregnant. we went together for monthly checkups on Daly Street in Ottawa. In December, 1970, André received the official laicization documents from Rome, making him free at last to marry in the Church.3. The Church Wedding: March 7, 1971
On March 7,
1971, we were married in the Church in the chapel of the cathedral, St. Rédempteur
parish in Hull, completing our union spiritually and sacramentally. Odette and
René served as our witnesses. This was our third and final wedding—the one
that sealed our vocation of love before God.
André’s joy that day was profound. He held my hand with an emotion shaped by years of longing, sacrifice, and unwavering fidelity. For him, the journey that began at EAPI, survived interrogations, separation, uncertainty, and nearly impossible obstacles, had finally been blessed.
4. Éric’s Birth and Becoming a Family (1971)
Every month André accompanied me to see
Dr. Richard at his clinic on Daly Street. Those visits, and André’s attentive
care, helped me feel grounded in a world still unfamiliar.
On April 17,
1971, having reached full term, André drove me to the General Hospital in Ottawa. During labor, the nurse panicked and ran to call the doctor. Dr.
Richard arrived in haste and performed a Caesarean section. André was deeply
anxious, but the moment he saw our newborn son, Eric, his joy was indescribable.
Éric was
baptized at St. Rédempteur Parish in Hull—the same church where we had been married
in the Catholic tradition. He was a beautiful baby: bright-eyed, expressive,
gentle. In those early months, André shared all the housework, helped with
laundry, changed diapers, and took tender care of both mother and child. These
early gestures—simple, loving, and constant—laid the foundation for a
marriage built on true partnership and mutual respect.
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| Odette, Godmother—Mammie—René, Godfather |
5. André’s Work with CCIC and CIDA (1971–1972)
When André
returned to Canada in 1969 after EAPI, he worked briefly at the Canadian
Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) in Ottawa. His linguistic
abilities, his formation as a Jesuit, and his cross-cultural insight were
immediately noticed.
In 1971, life
opened a new door when he was hired by the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) as ghost writer for CIDA President, Paul
Gérin-Lajoie. This was the beginning of a remarkable twenty-six-year career
marked by international postings, diplomatic responsibilities, and deep
contributions to development work across continents.
The new job
brought a stable income and a sense of security after years of poverty and
uncertainty. It allowed us to dream beyond survival and imagine a future with
room for growth, generosity, and opportunity.
6. A New Home on Doucet Street
With André’s
new position and Éric’s arrival, we were able to purchase our first home—a
modest house at 132 Doucet Street in Hull (Gatineau), Québec. It became
the heart of our early Canadian life. Slowly, piece by piece, we furnished it
with care and gratitude. It was simple, humble, filled with warmth—a place
where Éric would take his first steps and where we would shape our first
memories as a young family.
7. Becoming Fully Canadian
These years
were marked by quiet transformation. I learned French, adjusted to long
Canadian winters, discovered new styles of cooking, and mastered the rhythm of
Western housekeeping. I cared for Éric with patience and tenderness and built a
peaceful home grounded in affection and mutual respect.
People noticed
my gentleness, my discipline, and my spiritual depth. Our marriage flourished.
André adored me, and I supported him with love, stability, and faith. Together,
we formed a marriage that was both intimate and resilient.
8. Looking Ahead: International Life Begins
By the end of
1972, André’s career at CIDA was progressing rapidly. International
opportunities were emerging, and soon a major posting was proposed: Saigon,
Vietnam.
It meant
stepping into diplomatic life, into a war-torn region, into an entirely new
world. It also meant that our family would grow again, with the birth of our
second child, Marc, during this period abroad. The posting promised challenges—danger, cultural adjustment, uncertainty—but also extraordinary experiences
and deep personal growth.
Our journey,
which had taken me from Reddipalem to Hyderabad, to the United States, Rome,
Manila, and then to Canada, was now preparing to stretch even further.
André was
excited. We felt fear mixed with faith—but above all, love gave us courage.
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