Madawaska (ME) – Heads of congregations and their followers in the three regions hosting the CMA 2014 have worked together to provide a rich spiritual component delivering events and various gatherings.  These activities will be added to the CMA 2014’s official program schedule coming out on June 18^th.

At the heart of the program schedule of the spiritual component will be an outdoor mass on August 15^th, (fête national de l’Acadie) in Madawaska, Maine at 10 a.m. (Maine time).  The mass will be celebrated by Bishops of Acadia of the Lands and Forests; this mass will kick-off this very important day for Acadians.  Since everyone will be wearing their best attires, the Bishops will proudly wear a chasuble exclusively designed for the event echoing the colors of Acadia.

‘Families have been the core of the World Acadian Congresses; they will participate in these ecclesiastical celebrations of the ‘fête national de l’Acadie’ as they will open the procession for the August 15^th mass.  It is important to note that historically, the Catholic Church played a major role in defining our national symbols. These symbols established our identity as a people’, explained Brother Jacques Lapointe, Coordinator of the spiritual component for Maine.

There will also be special Acadian masses celebrated in Edmundston on August 8^th, in St-Basile on August 11^th and in Témiscouata-sur-le Lac on August 24^th as well as in various communities on the territory to celebrate the Lord’s Day.  Furthermore, visitors and the general population will be able to take advantage of a variety of activities of a spiritual nature to mark tradition, recognize history and build the future of our Acadia.  To name a few, there will be:  meditation at Mizpah, a tour of the religious heritage of the Saint John Valley in Maine, the community of Ste-Anne de Madawaska will hold numerous activities including masses and entertainment under a festival tent, an evening of entertainment in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, in Cabano, visits of the Rivière-Blue Chapel, a mass and blessing at the St-Joseph church on August 9^th, a recital offered by the choirs of Van Buren, St-Leonard and Ste-Anne de Madawaska on August 10^th, a mass Acadie-Québec in Dégelis on August 10^th, a country mass in Saint-Honoré, a stations of the cross in Saint-Athanase and much much more.

‘The 5^th World Acadian Congress (CMA 2014) remains open to the world.  It is important for our organization to maintain traditions and showcase the Acadian people’s conventional customs.  The spiritual component of the CMA allows to uphold our abilities in an environment focused on the future’, stated Mr. Emilien Nadeau, President of the CMA 2014.

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For more information on the numerous activities of the spiritual component of the CMA 2014, consult the CMA’s website at www.familles.cma2014.com or get a copy of the official program schedule of the CMA 2014 on June 18^th.

In re… The World Acadian Congress is a gathering held every five years and it unites the Acadian diaspora from all over the world.  Many activities are planned over a two week period, i.e. from August 8^th to the 24^th, 2014.  The event draws on the community’s commitment and promotes the Acadian culture, heritage and amenities.

For more information or interviews, please contact
France Le Moignan – Communication Coordinator for the CMA 2014.
Tel:  506.737.2014 ext. 5436