On Sunday 14 July, the Session Poitiers group followed in the footsteps of the "Marche à terre" in Montbernage. In the morning, the group joined Abbé Jean Paul Russel, priest and vicar general of the diocese of Poitiers, and Bertrand Cherrier sscc, provincial of France, on the Joubert bridge. They took turns explaining the historical and religious context of Montbernage and the spiritual heritage of Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, whom Father Coudrin had met. The Good Father continued the evangelising work begun by Grignon de Monfort in this poor, working-class district on the outskirts of Poitiers. The history of the church is linked through a chain of saints. After this, the group went to Avenue de la Croix Rouge. The red cross (symbolising redemption and ascension) refers to the cross in Saint Hilaire's cathedral in Poitiers. Father Coudrin studied at the lycée opposite the cathedral and knew the history of this cross well.
Immediately afterwards, the group joined the community in the Montbernage chapel for the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by Bertrand Cherrier and led by the African choir, “Mary, Queen of the Heart”. In his homily, he commented on the Gospel of the 15th Sunday of Year B: "We must set out to evangelise with nothing but faith in Jesus Christ. It is a faith that will save the world. Like Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and Pierre Coudrin, we must have the humility to go on mission with nothing, so that others may be saved., to proclaim the Gospel. We accept to leave with nothing and no guarantees. We seek to proclaim the good news in poverty and discover freedom. In the context of violence, Grignon de Monfort and Coudrin proposed to preach the gospel with gentleness". Afterwards. Aperitifs and picnics were served for everyone.
In the afternoon, the group visited the 4th century Saint-Jean Baptistry, the first historic building to be owned by the State. It is the oldest in France and Europe. There was also time to visit the cathedral of Saint Hilaire de Poitiers (13th century) with its famous stained glass window with the red cross. We were reminded of the words of the Good Father: "My sons and daughters are the sons and daughters of the cross".
Link to the photo gallery: https://acortar.link/9xEGXl
07/15/2024