United States
Bachand Hall in the Limelight
The State of Massachusetts in the United States launched a campaign to end homelessness within ten years. In this perspective, the city of Lowell and the University of Massachusetts – Lowell joined forces to organize yearly conferences with the aim of studying every aspect of this question. This is what motivated the planners of the conference to invite those responsible for the Bachand Hall Project to offer a one-hour panel during its June 11 conference. Eight workshops, each addressing a different aspect of housing, were presented in the course of the day.
Sr. Cécile Cloutier and Sr. Pauline Leblanc, along with Mr. Éric Cousineau, adolescent outreach worker for the Department of Children and Families and liaison for the project, presented an overview of the five years’ existence of the Bachand Hall Student Residence. Three of the residents accepted to join with them to share their personal experience, which they did very well. The key question for several in the audience was: “Whatever could have motivated you to begin such a project?” How does one explain briefly the charism and the mission in such a context? Quite a challenge! We are grateful to God for the opportunity to be visible in this fashion and to touch hearts seeking to bring some relief to the suffering of their brothers and sisters.
Sr. Pauline Leblanc
