Why do I speak of "Picpus Village"? Simply because on the site, there are several "houses" grouped around a church in an almost rural setting:
- The community of SSCC Sisters with seven members.
- The Pierre Coudrin community with five brothers. Angel Viñas of the Iberian Province will be with us for a few months and the two men, Jeremiah and John Paul, are with us for a year of “Live and Serve” discernment .
- Community of the Sisters of the Child Jesus for whom this is their general house, and truly international because of the seven sisters, only two are French.
- The Student Hostel, hosting 25 young people, who are accompanied by Sr. Evelyne and Christian Flottes.
- St Augustine House, Preparatory Seminary of Paris, with 22 young people, accompanied by three priests of the diocese with whom we have close and friendly relations: Fr. Gérard Pelletier their superior enjoys having breakfast with us when his charges are away on vacation or field trips.
- Finally the "colokaï" (contraction of colocation and Molokai!). Three young women live in the small house at the entrance of 35 and are very committed to Damien Brotherhood.
- In addition, the "village" welcomes every day between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. the activities of “Réseau-Picpus”: about 250 young people per week. This is not counting the church groups (catechism, confirmation, etc.) who meet on our premises Wednesdays and Saturdays.
On Sunday, October 4th we had a beautiful day of back to business. The Mass, that day presided by Christian Malrieu sscc, assembled the "village." We began with a "rite of assembly” on the "village square" where each community or group presented themselves and so gradually the worshipping congregation came together. We were many – a crowded Chapel! – to the point of running out of hosts for Communion.
The assembly was mostly young people. In Picpus Village I figure some sixty young people resident (students or young professionals) which is 2/3 of the "picpucienne" population.
In addition, a meal at the house of brothers highlighted the reassembly of the Picpus and St. Gabriel communities. We invited the sisters, headed by their "new" provincial, Jeanne Cadiou sscc, elected a few days earlier during a chapter (September 28-30) celebrated at Picpus.
But since Monday, "shh…," we are in deep recollection (a relative quiet) as our neighbors at St Augustine House to begin the school year are on a retreat preached by Bishop Jérôme Beau, Auxiliary Bishop.
I will therefore be quiet... until next time.
By Bernard Couronne sscc
10/09/2015