A full life.... dedicated to the Eucharistic Heart!
Here is the tribute presented by s. Marlaine Lalancette, Prioress General, at our dear sister Cécile Lambert's funeral on Friday, December 1. Here is a brief overview of our dear sister's life, illustrating the unique gift she was to the world, to her community and to the children she taught.
It is in the name of all my sisters that I pay homage to our dear Sister Cécile Lambert, letting rise from my heart a song of thanksgiving to God for his work in her life as a baptized person, as a beloved daughter of the Father, and in her life consecrated to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus as a Dominican Missionary Adorer.
Cécile was born on July 7, 1933, the first of three girls, after five boys! Her parents, Eva Fréchette and Philippe Lambert, were fervent Christians who went to mass even on weekdays when their duties allowed them to do so. They exemplified charity and devotion. Their family was deeply religious and close-knit, but great trials lay ahead. First came the death of her father, Philippe Lambert, at the age of 33, on February 19, 1936, when little Cécile was just 2 ½ years old. Her mother was left with eight children to raise alone. But on October 31, 1944, at the age of 39, she too died.
However, Divine Providence, all fatherly, watched over each of the children, who, despite separation and distance, wove bonds that kept them close to one another. And there is no doubt that their parents, from on high, interceded for each and every one of them.
Cécile attended the Légaré School in Beauport, under the direction of the nuns of the Congregation de Notre-Dame. She did well academically. In 1946, she entered the Youville orphanage as a boarder, where she remained for four years. She has fond memories of the sisters of Charity of Quebec. During a visit from her aunt, Juliette Fréchette, a member of this community, Cécile was impressed by this nun.
A little later, she heard about the founding of a community in a house on l’Avenue du Moulin. In 1952, on the occasion of the blessing of the sisters' new convent, she took her first steps and let time mature her “yes” to the Lord. In June 1956, she addressed a request to enter the community, which took place on August 2, 1956. She was welcomed by Mother Julienne du Rosaire, foundress of the Congregation. On February 2, 1957, she took the habit and was named Sister Cécile de Eucharistic. On February 2, 1959, she took her temporary vows, and on February 2, 1962, her final vows.
After her first profession, our sister Cécile de Eucharistic worked in the general secretariat as assistant secretary. She took unparalleled care to give a perfect performance! After six years in the secretariat, Mother Julienne du Rosaire offered her the opportunity to study to become a teacher.
September 1967: the doors of School Mgr-Robert opened. Our sister taught grades 2 and 6, experimenting with all grades. Finally, she settled on grade 3. As a teacher, Sister Cécile gradually developed her talents as a skilled educator and remarkable teacher. It was not always easy, because she had high ideals and, in the words of a colleague at work, she would look upon her pupils not just as intelligences to be filled, but as people to be shaped in every way, so that they become responsible, committed adults. And, believe me, it was not a question of doing away with traditional values that always have their place in life, such as discipline, hard work and politeness.
She remained in this position for 24 years, and never wavered punctual and always keen to perfect her skills. She was also keen to keep up to date with new teaching methods. Her open-mindedness, her love of beauty and her skill in needlework were also noteworthy. I'm thinking of knitting, sewing, embroidery, cross-stitching and knotted stitches, her patience did not run out. We witnessed this at recreation!
But she was also keen to keep up to date with municipal, regional, national, and international news. She had a keen sense of politics.
Sister Cécile always loved nature; one can just think of all the plants she grew and adorned her classroom with! And then there was beautiful music: she loved to attend the occasional concert, sometimes even the opera!
Another thing I noticed about her was her sense of humor: she laughed silently, almost with her eyes closed, before telling us something!
In 1991, she was withdrawn from School Mgr-Robert to take on a new task, that of assisting our General Bursar in her accounting work. For 19 years, she worked on numbers 5 days a week. And what a perfect job she did!
Her daily labors, whatever they would be, were offered with an apostolic heart. Only God knows how many of her sisters and brothers around the world benefited from her prayerful, offering support.
Our sister was also remarkable for her DOMINICAN SOUL, eager for the light of truth. Her love of Truth was reflected in her constant search for the right word, the right expression... Her dictionary was often used for this purpose. She had a great love for our Blessed Father Dominic. Perhaps her name infused her with Blessed Cecilia's feelings towards Dominic? All things Dominican were close to her heart.
More so, Sister Cécile, being consecrated to the Eucharistic Heart, manifested this by her total gift to Him, who makes himself present in the Sacrament of our altars. In the light of the teachings of our Mother Foundress, she always strove to grow in her love for the Host, to become a Host of Love, in the discreet way of the One who, in the Eucharist, loves to say to her in the depths of her heart:
"You are my beloved, my Cecile, if you do what I command you: love one another. Learn from me that I am gentle and humble of heart". This is how she cultivated kindness, gentleness, and delicacy in charity.
Finally, on January 19, 2011, she had to leave her beloved Cenacle for the Augustinian Sister’s Intercommunity Infirmary due to a serious illness. During these almost 13 years, Sister Cécile lived out the painful mysteries of her life, giving herself daily in suffering; she was shaped by the rhythm of the Eucharistic Heart, until she let herself be carried away "by Him, with Him and in Him" in His mystery of Love, on the morning of November 24. We would like to thank the Augustine Sisters and the nursing staff for all their care over the years.
Dearest Sister Cécile, thank you for your life, surrendered, offered, united to that of Jesus. You have fulfilled with love and fidelity the mission entrusted to you. Now, with you, we turn to our only treasure, the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, and we ask him to associate you with his resurrection, giving you in the Holy Spirit the joy of living in his eternal Love.
Love and glory to the Trinity, through the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus!
Marlaine Lalancette, o.p.
Prioress General
Friday, December 1, 2023
