He was buried on September 2, the first day of our Congress
Rolland Tessier, a full-time Pilgrim for the "Michael" Journal for almost 50 years, who was known for his ardent zeal by all the Pilgrims of St. Michael throughout Canada and other countries, died of a brain hemorrhage on August 31, 2006. He was 81.
One can say that he remained active on the battlefield until the very last days of his life. Two weeks before his death, he went to the Beauce area in Quebec to hold the monthly meeting. And a few days before our Congress, he had sent us a note saying that he would attend our Congress and the first days of our week of study.
He was then striken down by a cerebral hemorrhage that left him almost totally paralyzed. He could neither speak nor open his eyes. He could only move his left hand; he moved his fingers one after the other to show us that he wanted us to pray the Rosary. So when we recited the prayers, he was moving the beads of the rosary with his fingers, although he looked unconscious. He died a few days after, on August 31.
The funeral Mass took place in Sherbrooke, Quebec, on September 2, at 10 a.m., just before the opening of our Congress in Rougemont, which he was supposed to attend. The circumstances allowed him to have an international funeral, with representatives of France, Poland, Austria, the Philippines, Tanzania, Switzerland, Madagascar, Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, the United States and, of course, Canada. A priest from Poland and a priest from Tanzania concelebrated the Mass with the priest of St. John the Baptist's Parish in Sherbrooke.
For the repose of their fellow apostle, the full-time Pilgrims of Rougemont paid for thirty Masses to be celebrated by Father Edmond Brouillard, Oblate of Mary Immaculate, the chaplain of the Pilgrims of St. Michael.
Rolland Tessier was born on August 12, 1925, then the feast day of Saint Claire of Assisi. He embraced the spirituality of the patron saint of his birth. He cultivated the spirit of poverty.
He came across the Social Credit light during the Depression, when all families were lacking the necessities of life. He was in his prime, and was working as a mechanic in a stocking factory in Sherbrooke. Striken by the logic of Social Credit, he became its ardent promoter, devoting all his evenings and weekends to spread the good news of Social Credit. However, this was not enough for a noble soul like his.
In 1952, at the age of 27, he quit his job to join our Work full time. As soon as he arrived at our office, he was given by our Directress, Mrs. Gilberte Côté-Mercier, a mission to be accomplished on the road; this mission he did accomplish indeed wonderfully, as well as all the other missions that were to be entrusted to him afterwards: his first mission consisted in going to an unknown area, holding meetings and visiting families from door to door, and begging for his meals and nights'lodgings, relying on Divine Providence, never sleeping in the same bed two days in a row, moving from town to town every day, no matter the weather, and this, for months. He did similar missions for several years.
When he came back to our office, it was only for a couple of days, to receive another mission, and leave for another area. It was like that for almost fifty years. He never refused any mission. He was really an apostle of the road. He traveled all over Canada, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and in the French-speaking areas of New England.
He was a man we could trust, a man of duty and objectives. He was upstraight like a sword, and never afraid. He could face the most learned people, even though he did not himself attend school for many years, because he possessed a light they did not have: Social Credit. He expressed himself very well in public. He was often appointed by the Directors to meet religious and civil authorities. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mederic Tessier, were model parents; they raised him very well. They too joined our Movement, and put up our Pilgrims. Mr. Mederic Tessier also did the door-to-door apostolate work for many years.
Rolland Tessier was one of the seven Directors of the "Louis Even Institute for Social Justice" and the "Pilgrims of St. Michael".
He was deeply pious, and attended Holy Mass every day. He never missed the recitation of the Rosary and the Chaplet of St. Michael. He was punctual, always on time for work and prayers.
He had a special devotion to the Eternal Father. He had pictures of the Eternal Father printed (see picture), painted according to a vision of the Eternal Father to St. Marguerite d'Youville, with a prayer on the back, which he distributed wherever he went. He entrusted all his activities to the Eternal Father.
Here is the last message he had printed on his mortuary card :
"I die confident! Yes, I die confident in the Mercy of the Eternal Father. I ask Him to close His eyes on my many imperfections."
So many sacrifices, so much dedication, so much love for God and neighbor can only bring, from our God who loves us with an infinite love, mercy and eternal bliss. This is our hope.
We entrust Mr. Rolland Tessier with the mission of raising, among the young Social Crediters, a multitude of full-time Pilgrim apostles. Since he never refused to accomplish any mission we asked him on earth, we are sure he will accomplish this one too, as we write this article on October 1, the feast day of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, the patroness of missions.
Thérèse Tardif
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