Days of Commemoration of the Bicentenary of the arrival
by Jean Marie de la Mennais and the Brothers
at the Mother House of Ploërmel.
The First Brothers arrived in Ploërmel (Morbihan) in 1824. This was the beginning of the History of the Mother House of the Brothers La Mennais. Its Bicentenary was celebrated this Weekend of September 14th , 2024.
At that time, three Brothers and ten young people left Josselin. They settled in Ploërmel, in the Former Ursuline property purchased by Father Gabriel Deshayes.
The Walkers cross paths with two Brothers from another time!
Walking was an opportunity for Meetings, Sharing, …
The walkers would follow the Oust for a certain distance, a small River which was part of the Nantes-Brest Canal.
Picnic Stop
This was Act 1 of those days of Commemoration: on that Saturday, two groups of Mennaisian Brothers and Lay People retraced the path from Josselin to Ploërmel on foot. The Air was fresh, but the Sun is radiant!
Surprise! 2 Characters awaited the Walkers! 2 Brothers from another time! … for 20 minutes they would tell their Memories of the Mother House!
A group of Walkers left Josselin, 16 km; another group joined them at Midday to have a Picnic, and do the last 7 kilometers together: Fraternal Atmosphere under a Radiant Sun… arrival in the Middle of the Afternoon at the Mother House which was preparing for the Big Celebration the next day… That Afternoon, the Mother House was transformed into a Real Hive of Brothers Friends, Volunteers… all at work to prepare the Green Cathedral where the Celebration the next day would take place.
Brother Yannick Houssay, Provincial, Mr Patrick Le Diffon, Mayor of Ploërmel and Brother Hervé Zamor, Superior General cut the ribbon of the new 1824-2024 Exhibition
Audience attentive to the Explanations given by Brother Yannick Houssay, Provincial.
Act 2: Inauguration of the New Exhibition in the presence of many Guests, including the Mayor of Ploërmel. A special thank you to Jean-Baptiste Mercier who designed this Exhibition. He put all his Knowledge and Passion into it to reveal the Secrets of the Mother House: A Modern Exhibition, using all Current Image Techniques, with a good place for Artificial Intelligence! We saw among other things our Founders talking together and telling us about their Foundation Projects…
Artificial Intelligence made Our Founders talk!!!!
Numerous Panels, equipped with QR Codes (referring to Recordings, Web pages, etc.) told the “Secrets” of the Mother House.
Model of the Mother House made with a 3D printer.
Jean-Baptiste Mercier, Director of the New Exhibition; he was warmly thanked for his Passion, Ingenuity and Brotherly Tenacity in the realization of this Exhibition.
Truly an Exhibition to discover! It would remain at least the entire year of the Bicentennial!
A Glass of Friendship was served at the end of the Evening in front of the Majestic Facade of the Mother House.
Next Day Act 3