International Mother Language Day – February 21st

8324  Is the number of languages spoken in the world.

43% Of languages across the world are endangered.

40% Of world population are unable to access education in a language they understand.

Why do we celebrate it?

To commemorate linguistic diversity and inclusion. Languages are tools for education, integration and development.

Multilingualism, the Church and the Sisters of Providence

1 Jesus lived in a plural society. As a native speaker of Hebrew, he was familiar with other languages like Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

2 The New Testament has been translated into1,658 languages.

3 Since its foundation, the Sisters of Providence had to learn different languages to spread their ministries. Back in the 1800’s Montreal was for its major part, an English speaking city but our Congregation was first formed by francophone sisters. Some of them had to learn English, Spanish and even native languages like Salish (from Montana) and Yakama or Sahaptin.