Until the Ends of the Earth: A Celibate Story in Canada
Mylene Otou is a Missionary of the Covenant Community from Montreal, Canada. On August 31, 2025, she became the first Canadian Shalom Missionary to profess Vows of Celibacy for the Kingdom of Heaven.     Let us read her testimony about that day and everything that led to it.  A Day to Remember  As I am writing these lines, I recall that one week ago, I was here at home, at the same table, preparing myself for one of the most important days of my life: my First Vows of Celibacy for the Kingdom, which I would pronounce the next day. For the occasion, two of my Celibate sisters from my mother mission of Toronto were here to help me ...

Filled With The Holy Spirit
I have been part of the Shalom Catholic Community prayer group for over a year, blessed with the opportunity to share my testimony of how the Holy Spirit has transformed my life. I was born and raised, and live in Toronto, Ontario.  I did not quite grow up as a cradle Catholic, but my Mom’s side of the family has had a strong Catholic faith and history, coming from Malta. Although I was baptized at birth, I was not practicing my faith, since my mom was not anymore at the time, and neither was my dad. Besides attending Mass on certain days of obligation, such as Christmas and Easter, I did not have a deep understanding or interest of my faith, ...

It’s hard to put into words what the Shalom Charism has given me
I first prayed a rosary in December 2022, for no discernible reason except that I was exhausted and unhappy with my life. I surrendered and asked for help. Doors began to open after that, doors which I never expected to open. In January 2023, I found a tradition/ practice (and it found me) that seemed to bring out my courage, energy, and determination. Virgin Mary revealed herself to me there, and the Cross revealed itself in my heart. I began to live matters of faith. I dove into the world of this practice: I found my footing there, and I came to care for the people. It quickly rooted in my life & identity. Then my life crumbled in 2023 ...

A Jubilee Of My Soul: Four Sacraments in One Weekend
Three years ago, my spouse and I encountered something we never expected: the beginning of a profound and life-changing journey with the Shalom Catholic Community here in Boston. At the time, we couldn’t have imagined how deeply this community would become woven into the fabric of our lives. Today, it is hard to picture life without them. For me personally, the journey has been especially transformative. I did not grow up in the faith, and yet, through Shalom, I have come to know the love of God in an intimate and life-giving way. What began as a curiosity became an encounter — one that has led to countless moments of joy, healing, and growth. Whether it was spending time in ...

Nothing ever spoke to my heart as Jesus did
I was born in Omsk, Russia, but we moved when I was very young. I grew up all my life in Toronto. I was raised atheist, but in my teen years, my interest in spirituality and mysticism grew. I’ve explored many spiritual directions and groups. Nothing ever spoke to my heart as Jesus did. He said simply and truly. He was there when I needed Him most. His Mother was there when I needed her compassion most, in times of darkness and hopelessness. “He was there when I needed Him most” There was a situation where I finally came face to face with how broken my way was, how broken my heart was. 2023 summer. My deepest desire was crushed, ...

How a block party transformed a young adult’s life in Williamsburg
Hi everyone, my name is Eric and this is my testimony: It’s early 2022. I’m in my room alone and I’m about to do something I’m not proud of. When suddenly, I hear a strong voice warn me: “If you do that, I’ll leave you and never be by your side.” I gulp. “Huh … What was THAT?!? Am I hearing voices?!? I look around but clearly no one’s here.  And then … something deep down tells me it’s … … God’s voice.  I don’t know how I know. I just do. And when it hits me that God Himself — the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings — might’ve just given me an ultimatum … I do ...

Risen with Christ – Anthony Fiducia’s testimony
Originally from New York, Anthony was made a new person after experiencing the endless love of God. His life was deeply marked and transformed by the power of Christ. In the early ’90s, Mom was doing her best to raise five of us while dad worked hard but wasn’t really present. His message was: “Figure it out yourself.” Like many teens, I craved freedom, but without direction, I spiraled into self-destruction. Getting high became my escape—I lied, stole, and cheated to feed my habit. Eventually, I was sent to rehab, but I kept leaving, living on the streets or wherever I could crash. I finally returned and, with great difficulty, completed the program. It was a secular place, but my ...

Testimony of Love and Gratitude: Shalom Madagascar Mission Trip
A group of young people from Shalom Catholic Community in the United States went on a mission trip to Madagascar to get to know, to immerse themselves in and support the project The Space of Peace, a project of the Shalom Community in Madagascar. Mayline, a member of the Shalom Work in Boston, shared her experience during those days. Take a look: “Hi everyone! I’ve had the privilege of serving at Shalom Madagascar for a Mission trip with Shalom NY; we’ve been here for almost a week now. We spent one day in the capital of Madagascar (Antananarivo) and then the rest of the days at Shalom Madagascar in Antsiranana, which is in the countryside. From the very first day ...

From Hungary to New York: A Mission that Transformed My Life and Renewed My Vocation
My name is Andrea, and I am a covenant community missionary from Hungary. Two years ago, I began my mission in New York, living as part of the life community. In October 2022, just before the Feast of Saint John Paul II, I arrived to join this community as it celebrated its second anniversary in this vibrant city. I truly believe it was a gift of grace that God sent me on mission in October—a month dedicated to missionary work and to honoring saints who are great patrons of our vocation in the Shalom community. I come from a Greek Catholic family with strong traditions, where faith and family were inseparable. Growing up, this faith was a constant in my ...