Assembly of the Vice-Province of France
[FR]
SAINT LAURENT-SUR-SEVRE – France. On Monday, November 24, 2024, the assembly of the Montfortian Vice-Province of France took place in Saint Laurent-sur-Sèvre.
The Provincial, Father Paulin RAMANANDRAIBE, SMM, offered the opening prayer, delivered the introductory address to the assembly, and introduced Father Jean Claude LAVIGNE, OP, the speaker on the theme: “Living Internationality.” The morning concluded with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Marco PASINATO, SMM; all the elderly confreres residing at the Sagesse nursing home participated in this Eucharist, including the staff. After Mass, we all had lunch together in the “Olivier Maire” dining hall.
In the afternoon, Father Jean Claude gave us a summary in six points for experiencing internationality:
The point of Simon of Cyrene: Restoring or re-establishing the "We." This is the shift from "I" to "We." Moving beyond the individual to enter the person… The point of Amos: The point of justice and truth. Religious life is not only a school of charity, it is also a school of justice. We must do justice to all those who are invisible. The point of Samuel: Little Samuel goes to meet Eli. This is the place of listening. To listen, from the Latin ab-audire, is to hear with the ears and to act. Spiritual accompaniment is a necessity today. It is essential for unifying the "I." The point of the Virgin Mary: This is the point of prayer and silence. The need to stop and descend into ourselves. A Montfortian is one who will give birth to God and offer Him to the world. Letting Jesus be born in our hearts so that we may give Him to others. The breach of the Beloved in the Song of Songs: It is the beauty of things… It is often the first step toward conversion; it is the preliminary experience of faith… The breach of Jeremiah: What do you see, Jeremiah? It is the breach of the word, of the liberation of the word. It is the word that makes us human. Every word is a risky word. Say what you see, what you feel… Turning back to our origins and rediscovering the joy of what made us religious.
Following Father Lavigne, Françoise GASNIER gave a short presentation on the administration and finances of the congregation. She spoke about the community's situation before the legal recognition of July 24, 2024, and its current situation with legal recognition. She emphasized that, following this recognition, the congregation now exists under French law and enjoys the freedom to allocate funds according to its needs. This necessitates a new rigor in legal and accounting management, ensuring consistency between canon and civil law. It also promotes a simplification of decision-making structures.
The Provincial announced the members of the Provincial Council who accompany the communities: Father Paulin himself will accompany Montfort-sur-Meu; Father Santino BREMBILLA, SMM, Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre; Father Ronel CHARELUS, SMM, Le Marillais; and Father Willi SELMAN, SMM, is from Pontchâteau. He announced that the trial for the death of Father Olivier MAIRE, SMM, will be held from January 19 to 22, 2026; Brother Daniel BUSNEL, SMM, and he himself will be called to testify. He also shared the year's program with key dates.
Father Olivier NANTENAINA, SMM, spoke about the communications department and the website. He urged the formation of a team of collaborators to manage the site.
Father Éric MANIRAKIZA, SMM, spoke about the "Marian Fraternity," which is becoming the "Montfortian Fraternity Mary Queen of Hearts." He is working on establishing a national committee. Father Willi SELMAN, SMM, is the coordinator in Montfort, Father Éric MANIRAKIZA, SMM, in Pontchâteau, Father Serge OCGENOR, SMM, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, and Father Robert NATUTWANE, SMM, in Le Marillais. Their national assembly will be held from December 6 to 7, 2025, in Pontchâteau.
Father Willi SELMAN, SMM, spoke about the projects at the Birthplace. Father Santino BREMBILLA, SMM, emphasized that the Pontchâteau project is entering its next phase. Father Luiz Augusto STEFANI, SMM, the former Superior General of the Montfort Missionaries, has been appointed the new rector of the Pontchâteau Calvary. Father Ronel CHARELUS, SMM, spoke about the progress of the pastoral project of the Parish/Shrine of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort of the Montfortian Family in connection with the Diocese of Luçon. Father Jean-Diderot DUGER, SMM, presented the situation of the new composition of the Marillais community, emphasizing that the 150th anniversary of the Montfortian presence in Marillais will soon be upon us, and the year 2030 will mark 16 centuries since the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Marillais. Finally, Father Marco PASINATO, SMM, spoke about the Statutes of the vice-province and the need to work on the Ratio Formationis, adapting it to the reality of the French vice-province. The day concluded with a blessing from Father Marco. Following Christ, in the footsteps of the poor apostles like Father de Montfort, the mission continues.
Fr. Serge OCGENOR, SMM
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