The Secular Branch in France met for their annual national weekend from 25-27 September. This is a regular occurrence, but this year it was different. Given the context of the pandemic, many members were absent. We had thought a lot about whether or not to hold the meeting but it seemed important to us to hold it so as not to disappoint those who had prepared for it.
For our venue we chose a community of the Sisters of Charity (Saint Vincent de Paul) located in the suburbs of Paris. This location was perfect as it allowed us to focus on the theme for our weekend which was the Venerable Madeleine Delbrêl (1904-1964) who used to worked in a nearby town.
We gathered on the Friday night, beginning with an indoor picnic, (the autumn chill was just too much!) The first night is always important because it allows everyone to get to know each other, and gives us a chance also to meet the people who joined us during the year. Of course we continued to respect the social distancing. The next day, after breakfast and mass, we met for a first session with those who arrived on the Saturday morning. We went round the different groups who were present and apologies were given for those who were absent. To prepare for this round table, each group was asked to share their experience of how they found the two months of confinement that had been imposed in France. There were sharings of beautiful examples of fraternity and solidarity among the members, and also extended towards vulnerable or isolated people. The confinement also became a more intense time of prayer and spiritual readings. However, it did cause great upheaval in everyone's life.
In the second morning session, Fr. Bernard Couronne reminded us of what commitment to the Secular Branch is, what it can contribute to us, and also the specific gifts we can each bring to this fraternal group. We were given a questionnaire to help us position ourselves and reflect on our commitment.
On Saturday afternoon, we went to the nearby town, to the place where Madeleine Delbrêl lived. A woman of modest origin, she discovered the faith after meeting a young man who later joined the Dominicans. After studying nursing and social work, she founded with two other working women, a house of hospitality where charity really found its home, helping the poorest without distinction of origin or political affiliation. She died suddenly at the age of 60. Many in the group knew her by name, but few knew her journey and her life. This meeting made us want to discover more about her When we returned to the place where we were staying, we saw a report on her life, a video created by the Association that manages her house and her memory.
After that, we gathered again around our table and we were given information on the theme of the year 2020/2021: the “martyrs” of the Commune.
After dinner, we organised a time of adoration from 9 pm to 2.30 am. Everyone had the possibility to sign up for shifts of half an hour or every hour.
On the Sunday after breakfast and morning prayer, we went to Picpus for the Sunday Eucharist and proceeded with our commitments and renewals. This year we had a new commitment, that of Isabella Pisano. She has been part of the Montgeron group for a few years and wanted to join the members of the Secular Branch. Six people renewed their commitment for 3 years. Three others from the Brittany group, who were absent this weekend, will renew their commitment at a meeting in Sarzeau on October 10.
Christophe PAVARD,
coordinator of the ss.cc. Secular Branch (France)
10/04/2020