Meetings in the diocese.2, or: priests need to pray too!

 

Mgr Pierre D'Ornellas Arceéveque de Rennes
Monsenor Pierre D'Ornellas, Obispo de Rennes (Francia)

Meetings in the diocese.2, or: priests need to pray too!

 

On Monday 4 August, the rains gave a brief respite, allowing Mgr Aguirre and Mgr Pierre D'Ornellas, Archbishop of Rennes (France), to fly in from Bangui.

In the afternoon, we begin the spiritual exercises... It's not a kind of gymnastics or training! Or rather, it is!  It is a week of prayer and reflection, which we live together with all the priests of the diocese and a few nuns.

We live it in silence, letting ourselves be accompanied by the Bishop of Rennes, who helps us to discover and rediscover the Mercy of God, through the Gospel of Matthew.

It is a precious time to "recharge our batteries", and to listen to God.

The days are punctuated by prayer, catechesis, and the celebration of Mass.

On Friday afternoon we move to Maliko, where there is the chapel inaugurated on 25 March, dedicated to Our Lady of Hope.

Here we celebrate confessions: a beautiful sacrament, where God's mercy shines through.

Once confessions are over, we set off on foot for a short pilgrimage to the cathedral.

But we make three stops along the short walk, visiting other cathedrals in the diocese: the cathedral of the sick (the Bangonde hospital), the cathedral of the elderly (the Hope House, which shelters elderly people and victims of witchcraft accusations) and the cathedral of the children (the Maman Tongolo centre for orphaned children).

A moment of prayer and a blessing for all those who are in need, and who find mercy and healing in the bosom of the Church.

Arriving at the Cathedral, we enter through the Jubilee door, and go to the Crucifix, which we venerate by touching it.

Today, Sunday, we concluded with Mass, during which the nominations and transfers of priests for the new pastoral year were read out.

Casa Speranza
Maison Espoir
Casa Esperanza, con los ancianos

Il vescovo con Leone XIV !
L'eveque avec... Léon XIV !
El obispo con Leon XIV !