Saturday, May 3rd, 2014
Our long journey to southwestern France (the Landes region) began with a 6:00 am breakfast Soon we were boarding our bus, leaving Paris at 7:00 am to arrive at Richelieu at 11:00 am. There we were welcomed by Fr. Patrick Pouplin,
the parish priest and representatives of the local parish community and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Together we
celebrated Mass, with our Assistant Director, Fr. Adam Bandura (Province of Poland) our presider and homilist.
Photo: At Richelieu, sharing the midday meal
with parishioners
We could not stay long,
however, since we needed to arrive by nightfall at our next destination, the
“Berceau” (birthplace) of our founder, Monsieur Vincent de Paul.
Photo: Just a few steps away from the parish church and the old Vincentian buildings attached, are the remains of The Gardens of Richelieu
Sunday, May 4th, 2014
After our first of two nights at St. Joseph Hall in the Berceau, and an early "petit déjeuner" we made our first visit to the church in the village once
called Pouy (now named after Vincent) where Vincent de Paul was baptized.
Photo: St. Vincent de Paul Church – where Vincent
was baptized
Our next stop was Our Lady’s shrine in Buglose, where we
visited the parish church as well as the Chapel of Miracles, located on the
expansive grounds behind the church. Our Director provided us with the story
behind this shrine – well known even to Vincent and his family in the 1600's, as well describing our
Congregation’s history and presence in this area.
After our midday meal we boarded our bus to Dax, there where we began our walking tour of this town famous from Roman times, to the Rue des Fusillés, where Vincent stayed as a young student, at family home of Monsieur Comet, his patron. We then stopped in front of what had been the Bishop's palace but today is the town hall. We could only view the outside of the Cathedral of Saint Mary because it was closed in the afternoons. However, we were able to spend time at the hot springs in Dax and to enjoy the gardens and sculptures of the public arean of the city.
Photo: Refreshing ourselves at the hot thermal spring-waters of Dax
Nicely concluding our Sunday together was our concelebrated Mass within the Ranquines - Vincent’s childhood home, led by Fr. Samuel Rinley Foster (Honduran missioner of the Barcelona Province).
Photo: Mass inside the Ranquines
Monday, May 5th, 2014
After our morning departure from the birthplace of our founder, Vincent de Paul, we stopped at nearby Tilh. The newly ordained Vincent de Paul had been named as pastor there, although he was never able to successfully pursue his claim. Nor were we able to visit the country church, it being closed this morning. So we looked, took photos, and enjoyed the countryside. Then we went to Bétharram - a place of pilgrimage, a baroque shrine of the
XVIIth century, a jewel of Pyrenean art. By noon we had arrived at Lourdes, to stay at
a retreat center called the Centre Assomption, only a short walk away from the
center of the Shrine dedicated to our Lady.
Photo: Our group of missionaries outside
the Basilica at Lourdes
After lunch back at the Centre Assomption, many of us went to visit and to pray at the Grotto ; for the majority of our group this was our first and likely only opportunity to visit this famous center of prayer and healing. We gathered for a 4:30 pm mass at the Basilica, where we had reserved the small chapel of Saint Ann.
Photo: Mass in the Chapelle Ste Anne
Celebrating it principal was Fr. Antonio Carlos Da Silva
Alves (Fortaleza Province, Brazil). After dinner, we joined the other pilgrims at Lourdes for traditional
candle-lit evening procession.
Photo: Candlelit procession at
Lourdes
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014
Immediately after our early breakfast, we departed from
Lourdes, heading in the direction of Ars, over 700 km away. But first we stopped at Tarbes to concelebrate
Mass in the Cathedral where Saint-Vincent was ordained sub-deacon and deacon. Fr.
Joaquín Nwaorgu (Province of Nigeria) presided and preached at our Mass, celebrated in English, Latin and Spanish.
Photo: Our group of the missionaries
after Mass at the cathedral in Tarbes
By early evening, after a long journey, we arrived at Ars-sur-Formans, a small village of Dombes known to the whole world thanks to saint Father Jean Mary Vianney, the 19th century "Curé D'Ars".
Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
Very early this morning many of us went to see the home of
the Curé d' Ars and to pray once again in the Basilica next door. After
breakfast, we went to Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, which at the time of Vincent de
Paul was named Châtillon-des-Dombes. It was at Châtillon where Vincent de Paul first
organized the first Confraternities of Charity, which later became known as the
Ladies of Charity and today the International Association of Charity (AIC).
This one, the first of its kind, began in reply to a dire need in the village.
We celebrated mass in the chapel which once had been the quarters of Vincent de
Paul, whilst he was briefly the pastor here. Our principal celebrant and homilist today was
Fr. Geowen Porcincula (Province of the Philippines).
After mass, guided by the Daughters of Charity who serve as docents here, we looked at a presentation on the events of
Châtillon and visited the parish church.
Photo: Our group prays in what had been for Monsieur Vincent, his personal quarters as pastor of the parish of Châtillon-des-Dombes.
By early afternoon we had departed for our long return trip to Paris, with a picnic
along the way. To end our pilgrimage
together we prepared and enjoyed a late supper in the Salle Pouget.
Thursday, May 8th, 2014
Fr. Dan Borlik began our day's work with a brief summary reflection of where we had visited these past few days along with highlighting our experiences these days of an "intercultural community." He offered us an article we would study today in
preparation for tomorrow’s conferences with Fr. Robert Maloney.
In the afternoon, everybody had an opportunity (and Metro tickets!) to discover Paris.
Friday, May 9th, 2014
Our presenter today had once served as our Superior General for 12 years – Fr. Robert Maloney. During the morning sessions he
explained the subject of “horizon
shifts” within Congregation in the course of last 40 years. Some of the
examples were our new found understanding of the Vincentian Family, a change
in our attitude towards people who live in poverty, and the new manner of
service and administration in the Congregation.
Photo: Fr. Bob Maloney (Eastern Province, United States) presents Systemic Change
Fr Maloney's method this afternoon was story-telling, as he recounted numerous stories of systemic change in our time, beginning with the remarkable yet simple story of dramatic change in the region of San José de Ocoa in the
Dominican Republic, in a hilly region of 100 small villages. Due to the lack of potable water was the root cause of many tragic difficulties such as infant mortality, unemployment, and a host of other social ills. When one visiting member of the Society of St. VIncent de Paul began collaborating with the pastor and the residents to channel water down from the nearby mountains, village life was transformed. Fr. Maloney underlined the essential strategies
for Systemic Change. Happily we have begun to witness additional examples within the Vincentian Family such as Fr. Pedro Opeka
in Madagascar and others in the Philippines, Kenya
and elsewhere.
Chronicle and photos by the CIF Directors
