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Fransalian International

"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

Editorial  SFS  Fr. Mermier  General Curia  SFS Publications      News from the Provinces Brazil   East Africa England Franco-Swiss North-east India Nagpur  Pune   South-west India Visakhapatnam     Hearty Congratulations Fr. D. Kuzhupil  Fr. E. Mayoraz Fr. A. Fernandes Fr. A. Mookenthotam Fr. A. Mangatt  New Priests   Vol. 3  May 2001

Fransalian International

Jubilee 2000

(Annecy, 23rd May 2000)

Some 36 confreres took part in the Jubilee Mass, 2000. All of us gathered together at the tomb of Fr. Mermier, near our Generalate, Proupeine. The confreres read out some reflections of Fr. Mermier, and then prayed for the universal Church. Fr. Bibollet delivered a talk on 'the Spirit of St. Francis de Sales lived by Fr. Mermier.’ After the dinner, we took an hour to share our experiences, and deliberated on matters pertaining to the future of the Province. It was followed by Holy Mass in the Visitation church presided over by Bishop Hubert Barbier. Fr. Vannay, the former Provincial, in his homily, exhorted us to be bearers of peace and joy to all.

Farewell to Bishop Barbier

In April 2000, Pope John Paul II elevated Bishop Hubert Barbier to be the Archbishop of Bourges. During his 20 years as Bishop of Annecy, Mgr. Barbier was the image of Christ, "the good shepherd". This ever-smiling bishop always appreciated the work of the Fransalians. He recalled with gratitude that the first MSFS were all diocesan priests ever ready to help in preaching missions and taking charge of parishes. Mgr. Barbier is also very fond of St. Francis de Sales; he remarked that Mgr. Fremyot, St. Jane de Chantal's brother, was the Archbishop of Bourges too.

Salesian Retreats

Since 1986, a team of Salesian preachers organized by Fr. Bill Gallagher OSFS, is conducting Salesian spirituality retreats in France and Switzerland. It consists of eight days of prayer and reflection, with the help of the 10 Meditations from the "Devout Life", under the guidance of a director (who may be an MSFS, OSFS, Visitation sisters, or even lay people). These retreats have already been preached in German and English attended by several people. These have also evoked interest in the United States.

Missionary Project in Ville-la-Grand

In July 2000, two teachers (women) and three schoolboys of our St. Francis de Sales' school Ville-la Grand, spent two weeks in Peru, particularly in the mission of Macucani, on the "altiplano". Some Indian Sisters of the Holy Cross of Chavanod are working there among the poor people. Our school supports this mission in different ways.

Week of Human Rights and Solidarity

Fr. Nicolas Desboeufs, the chaplain and his team, organized for the Third Year students of our school at Florimont, Geneva, a week on 'Human Rights and Solidarity'. All the pupils could reflect and make action-plans with the help of the invited resource-persons working in different organizations (such as prison chaplains, Christians Against Torture, Missio-OPM, and Amnesty International). On the occasion, Fr. Francis Moget, shared his experience of being a missionary in India. The programme was concluded with a prayer for peace and justice.

Nortre-Dame de la Gorge

In the mountains near Mont-Blanc, "top of Europe", the MSFS have a house which was first the presbytery of La Gorge. During 130 years, there were confreres living in this house and attending to the needs of the pilgrims to Notre-Dame de La Gorge. It became then the holiday house for the Province, especially in summer. Now Fr. Joseph Rey will be there throughout the year welcoming those who look for solitude and silence in this splendid barock Assumption Church. St. Francis de Sales visited this former parish in 1606.

Fr. Yves Carron msfs