Act 3: Feast of the Jubilarian Brothers of the Province.
The Brothers of the Province were invited early to the Traditional Meeting of the Province to celebrate the Jubilarian Brothers.
This year, two Brothers were honored to celebrate their 50 years of Religious Life: Brothers Jean-Paul Peuzé and Mario Forino.
In the front row, Brother Jean-Paul Peuzé, Brother Mario Forino and Brother Hervé Zamor, Superior General
Brothers Jean-Paul Peuzé and Mario Forino. Brothers Franco Graziosi and Michel Bouvais retraced their 50 years of Consecrated Life, with Great Humor, Fraternity and Delicacy. For the occasion, Brother Jean-Paul’s mother and brothers and sisters came to surround him, as they had been able to do in 2023, during the 2 months of Hospitalization, a health ordeal that was now behind him, but which greatly affected his family and also the entire Mennaisian Family of the Province and the friends of Brother Jean-Paul, and there were many of them on that day to surround him.
Family of Brother Jean-Paul Peuzé, 2nd row above.
Brother Mario was also surrounded by his friends Luigi and Angelarosa, who had travelled from Rome to be present on that day.
Brother Mario warmly and brilliantly thanked all the French and Italian Brothers who, yesterday and today, have marked his journey throughout these 50 years.
The Jubilarians who celebrated their 60th, 70th, 75th and even 80th years of Religious Life were not forgotten, many of them – those whose health permitted it, were present in Ploërmel:
60 years old: Brothers Charles Coutard (in Haiti), Pioerre Créteau, André Eon, Robert Leroux. 70 years old: Brothers Pierre Berthelot, André Guerlais, Francis Patterson, Jean Pétillon, René Tandé (absent) and Robert Vicet. 75 years old: Brothers Eugène Huchon, Joseph Leroy (absent) and Gilles Pierre (absent). 80 years old: Brothers François Guédès and André Lesouef (both absent).
To all of them, more than 905 years of Fidelity, Fraternity and Mission! Let us give Thanks to God!
Here in the second row, from right to left, some Jubilarian Brothers: Brothers Pierre Créteau, André Eon, Pierre Berthelot, Francis Patterson, Robert Vicet, André Guerlais, Robert Leroux, Jean Pétillon
Time was short that Morning, but it was also time for the Mennaisian Family present in the Amphitheater to discover the video clip of this year’s Theme for the Mennaisian Network of France: “Come, live, become!”: watch it!!!! >>>>
Act 4: Celebration of the Bicentennial in the Green Cathedral of the Mother House.
That Morning it was still cool, but when the Sun came out, it came to set all hearts ablaze. For that Celebration, the Entire Parish of Ploërmel was invited to join the Brothers and share with the Entire Mennaisian Family present, the History of the 200 years of the Mother House.
The Provincial Brother invited everyone to meet under the Entrance Porch: The Procession began to move with the Portraits of Our Two Founders at the head (carried by Our two Jubilarian Brothers, Brothers Jean-Paul and Mario) thus recalling the arrival of Fathers Jean-Marie de la Mennais and Gabriel Deshayes on that day in 1824.
The Portraits of the Two Founders are carried by Brothers Jean-Paul Peuzé and Mario Forino, and the flag of Timor Leste, carried by Brother Stéphane Le Pape.
The Entrance Song set the tone for the Entire Celebration: “Come, let us sing of Our God, … He has come to give us Life! … Exult for your King, Dance for Joy!”
Many Representatives of the Consecrated Life were invited on that day: it would take too long to list them, but let us mention a few: Brother Etienne de Timadeuc, Brother Jean-François Croizé, Prior of the Priory of La Cotellerie, President of the Consecrated Life of the Western Region, the Brothers of St Gabriel, many Nuns from various Congregations, including the Daughters of Jesus of Kermaria, St Méen, St Jacut …
The Celebrants, from left to right: Father Jean-François Croizé, Father Mateusz Mikrut, Father Simon Chouanard, Father Noël Perrot, Father Léonard Lumbutu.
New surprise: Our Two Brothers for another time, Brothers Hippolyte and Théodose, who were present on the road yesterday between Josselin and Ploërmel, have also arrived in Ploërmel, and told the whole Assembly their Memories of the Mother House, 200 years ago: The Assembly was won over! The tone was set!
Brother Theodosius and Brother Hippolytus in full Story!
The Celebration was Presided over by Father Simon Chouanard, who very recently arrived as Parish Priest of Ploërmel.
The Celebration was presided over by Father Simon Chouanard, very recently arrived as Priest of Ploërmel, himself a Former Student of the Brothers of Ploërmel on Saint-Nazaire, … visibly moved to find himself on this day at the Mother House, recognizing among the Assembly “his Former Masters”! The Father Priest was surrounded by Fathers Léonard Lumbutu and Mateusz Mikrut, Vicars of the Parish, Brother Jean-François Croizé, Prior of the Cotellerie and Father Noël Perrot (Spiritain and New Chaplain of Our Brothers in Josselin).
The Assembly would vibrate to the words of Father Simon Chouanard, when he would recall the Prophetic Audacity of Father de la Mennais, recalling that even today, the challenges of yesterday in Education, Instruction and Evangelization must be met here in France and in the World.
At the heart of the Celebration, the Jubilarians would renew their Vows of Obedience, Chastity and Poverty.
The Light… the Rule of Life… the Mennaisian Network sweatshirt… the Flag of Timor Leste… Are carried in procession during the Universal Prayer
A Procession during the Universal Prayer full of Symbols: Light, the Rule of Life of the Brothers, a Sweatshirt in the Colors of the Mennaisian Network, the Flag of Timor Leste (New Mission – see below), etc. carried by Brothers, Lay people and young people of the Mennaisian Family, and by Friends of the Mother House. This Procession would end with the Bread and Wine, which would become the Body and Blood of the One who gives Life in Abundance.
The Celebration would end with the sending of the Brothers to the New Mission in Timor Leste: A moment of Emotion certainly for Our Two Brothers present: Brothers Stéphane Le Pape (from France, Missionary in Indonesia for more than 20 years), Christian Usengimana (from Rwanda) and Philippe Douti (from Togo), who was not able to receive his Visa in time to be in Ploërmel on that day.
Sending of Brothers to the New Mission in Timor Leste by the Superior General
Brother Hervé Zamor, Superior General, called and then sent Our 3 Confreres:
“Brothers, today, from this Mother House of Ploërmel, in the name of the Institute, I send you to the people and the Church of East Timor. Go and make Jesus Christ known and loved by the children and young people of that Nation, the youngest and one of the Poorest in Asia.
Do not be afraid! The Lord goes before you! At the invitation of Pope Francis in his Message to the Bishops and Consecrated Persons during his recent Apostolic Visit to East Timor, go and spread “the Fragrance of Christ, the Fragrance of the Gospel, which enriches life and fills it with Joy” among the children and young people of the Diocese of Baucau.
As a token of this sending, I give to each one:
- this Small Statue of Jean-Marie de la Mennais which reminds you that your Community is part of a Body gathered around Christ while remaining faithful to the Charism and Spirituality of Our Founder.
- this Little Icon of Mary, which invites you to turn to her, as Mother and Model of your Missionary Life
To conclude, let us allow these strong words of Jean-Marie de la Mennais to resonate within us:
“The times are bad: Pray, and Console the Church with the Good Odor of all the Virtues. Encourage one another to use henceforth the days that remain to you to spend on Earth to sow Abundantly, in order to reap Abundantly in Heaven” (Last circular, December 24, 1860).
Good Mission!
The Celebration would end with the Traditional Photo of the Jubilarians.
Then would follow Beautiful and Long Moments of Meetings, Sharing, Reunions around a Glass of Friendship, then the Meal prepared by the Mother House (more than 250 Guests!) – also an opportunity for warm thanks by Brother Pierrick Busson, Superior of the Mother House, of the many Volunteers of the Parish who prepared that day.
Festive Meal
200th Anniversary Cake!
A New Poster of Jean-Marie de la Mennais’ Face was unveiled.
Around 4:30 p.m., all those still present meet one last time, at the Site of the Morning Eucharist, for a Final Sending Off by Brother Yannick Houssay, forcefully reminding: “Come, Live, Become!!!!”
On that Occasion, a New Poster of the face of Jean-Marie de la Mennais was unveiled. It was composed of more than 500 Miniature Photos of Faces of Brothers and Laymen of the Mennaisian Family, Logos, Establishment Photos, etc. This New Portrait would welcome all those who come to the Renovated Training Center, at the Mother House.
Everyone recognized themselves or recognized faces!