In recent years, the first Sunday of October has been re-entry point for the inhabitants of the village of Picpus. So, since the beginning of September, all the communities (SSCC sisters and brothers, Sisters of the Infant Jesus, Student hostel, St. Augustine House) have been re-peopled with new faces: there are twenty three at St. Augustine’s and eleven in the hostel. Réseau-Picpus had started up again and retaken the Mozart Room for rehearsals and other activities.
Sun, October 1 saw Paris automobile-free! This did not hold back the chapel filling up for the ten-thirty Mass. Nor did it impede Jerome Beau, Auxiliary Bishop from arriving on time aboard a petrolette to preside. A team of Réseau-Picpus prepared the celebration with the aid of a number of the young men at St. Augustine’s.
For the prayer of the faithful, each community or group of Picpus village was represented and the community prayed for the deployment of the specific talents of each group throughout the coming year. Before the final blessing and at the behest of the President of Réseau-Picpus, Bishop Beau blessed and sent out those responsible for each group to work in the vineyard of Picpus and beyond. We were reminded that the village of Picpus needs to see itself extended to the new school of nursing which to open doors on its cusp and indeed to the New Sorbonne whose construction cranes already dot our horizon.
Despite a persistent but light rain, the feast was followed with an aperitivo and a convivial lunch where the old made acquaintance with the newly arrived. And for a digestivo! Réseau had chosen to close the event with a ramble under the humid foliage of the historical garden of Picpus with the guidance of Bernard Couronne.
10/06/2017