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 and anticipate this moment with me.
Together, we arrived at the Saint-Joseph of Mount Royal Parish on the morning of Sunday August 31st. My Archbishop, Mgr Christian Lépine, the two priests of the Parishes I work for, and my Shalom brother and sister who would participate in the Rite of the Vows, were also there. After some logistic adjustments, we were ready to start the Mass.
My family was also present for the event, as well as some Shalom brothers who had travelled from far to be present on that day. During the Rite, I wore my Celibate ring for the first time and spent the rest of the mass admiring my hand with it!
The day went on beautifully as we celebrated in a restaurant, then went to the St. Joseph’s Oratory to thank him for this day and for the important role he played in my celibacy and in my daily life.
As I prayed the next day, God was telling me that this is a new time! It did indeed feel like the accomplishment of a long journey of discernment, one that started many years ago.
Young adult soul searching
For over a decade, I had participated in Youth Prayer Groups and Vocational Discernment groups. I did not only here in Montreal, but worldwide as I travelled and lived abroad, searching for something that I later discovered to be God’s will, my vocation, His presence. I somehow felt that there was something out there, other than married life, to which I could possibly be called to.
I met different religious groups and Communities which Charisma I liked, but somehow never fully identified to. I also was distracted by worldly ambitions of fame and success, and by romantic relationships which clouded my discernment.
When I met the Shalom Catholic Community, it was love at first sight! Around the same time, I had done a Novena to ask the Virgin Mary what my state of life was (calling it vocation at the time). My understanding, at the end of this Novena, was that I was called to build a Holy Family. As I got closer to the Community, one thing that was important for me was the fact that it was open to all States of Life, families included.
I joined headfirst, without looking back. After two years, as a postulant, I was sent on a mission to Brazil. I received my Tau, the visible sign of my election, and shortly after, I started hearing the quiet whisper of celibacy ringing in my ear. At the time, my Covenant Community Formator convoked all single people from our cell (prayer and formation group of the Shalom missionaries) to participate in a retreat to discern our State of Life. I registered to the retreat, then she announced there had been a miscommunication, and that this retreat was really one for the Candidates to Celibacy. I decided to attend anyways, since I was thinking about it. The retreat, which was online because of the pandemic, was beautiful and touched me deeply, I cried during all the preaching’s.
I wanted to go on and start the discernment process, which consisted in ten monthly personal retreats, along with readings and monthly personal and Community formation. My Life Community formator, who knew I had attended the retreat, totally encouraged me to do so. However, my Covenant Community formators, one of which was a celibate, both thought it was too soon. I was only a first-year Disciple, and we can only pronounce our First Vows after the First Promises in the Shalom Charism, as full members. They both said I had not received the formation about State of Life which we receive on the second year of Discipleship. I thought in my head: “It’s two against one.” And so, I gave up on the whole celibacy thing. I was mad a Jesus, as I felt He was rejecting me. I told myself: “Case closed. Now it’s marriage again.”
Home sweet home: Second Act of discernment
Time went on, I finished my time of mission and came back home to Montreal, in which we were founding a Diffusion of the Shalom Work, with other few Covenant Community members. I started working, found an apartment, living alone for the first time in my life. And slowly, silently, the celibacy thoughts started surfacing again. This time, I told myself and God that if another online retreat appeared, I would attend. Sure enough, they announced during the Online Outpouring of the Listening retreat that there would soon be an online retreat for Candidates to Celibacy. I kept my promise; I registered and attended.
I was touched again. I decided to start the retreats which, at that time, were no longer mandatory to send the letter to become a celibate. But I did want to do all the retreats, to discern well. A few events delayed the beginning of my retreats: I underwent surgery, and I didn’t have access to the first book that we needed to start the process. I even ordered it through Amazon; it got lost in the mail and I got a refund! That seriously made me question whether I was doing the right thing. Luckily, I recovered, and I found out we had the book in Toronto, and so in January of 2024, I started the retreats and readings.
During that year, I got lots of confirmations of my celibacy through events and through my prayer and the prayer I received from my formators. God eventually confirmed that I do have a special link with families, which is what had me believe back then that I was to have one myself. I am called to intercede for them in a particular way. I have attended and served in many weddings, and I am constantly called for more, it’s a part of my mission!
I finished the retreats in December 2024 and sent my letter in January 2025. I was shocked to get my positive answer from the Community after only two weeks! Shocked and extremely happy!
I wasn’t able to have my Celibacy mass at Easter time as we usually do it, because I had no ring. I decided to wait for my upcoming trip to Brazil to have my ring made there during the Summer. I asked my Archbishop to celebrate my mass, he accepted and chose the date of Sunday August 31, 2025. And here I am now, one week later!
Life and mission as a Celibate
As a celibate, the one thing that fills my heart is the fact that all my life, all my free time is dedicated to the Kingdom.
Even my job is, as I work as a Lay Associate for my Diocese. I am constantly called by my Community, my local Church and both my Otou and Shalom families to get out of myself and serve. When I get overwhelmed or tired, I think of my Shalom sister who has four small children and is sometimes overwhelmed as well. Just as she gives her life for her children, I am called to do the same with mine! Some of which have a name and a face, but most of which I will not know in this life.
It fills my heart to know that everything I am and everything I have is for God and His Kingdom!
Thank you, Lord, for making me entirely yours!
