Lots of Places Today!

I'm not going to write long today. It was a good day, but long. The brief version is:

• We traveled to Fr. Colin's birth place -- Les Barbery. The place where his house stood is marked by a cross. I can tell you, his commitment to remain faithful to Mass was huge. Getting to the Church in St Bonnet Le Troncy from Les Barbery without a car, and I presume without a horse, was a real commitment. There's NOTHING around.

• St. Bonnet Le Troncy was the next stop. This is where Colin ended up living with his Uncle Sebastian after his parents died (his siblings where taken in by Sebastian as well. This house is not the Jean Claude Colin Museum. Fr. Ron celebrated Mass for us at the Church.

• After a delightful lunch in the museum we had coffee (I had tea) with a local family who showed us incredible hospitality. Jean Pierre, Michelle, and Jean Pierre's brother, Bernard were our hosts. We did our best to share through Fr. Bernd who did the translating.

• Second to last stop was Coutouvre where Jeanne Marie Chavoin (founder of the Marist Sisters) was born and lived. Her house had a small room in the cellar where they hid a priest who refused to sign the constitutional oath required during the Revolution. Like Colin's family they risked a great deal.

• Finally, we made a quick stop at St. Joddard which was the minor seminary Colin and St. Marcellin Champagnat attended. It is now the house of the Grey Friars a new and growing semi contemplative group with apostolate.

I think the highlight of the day was the gracious hospitality we experienced by the family at St. Bonnet Le Troncy. We spent an hour together -- I felt perfectly at home even though I do not understand French.

The views were fantastic. The French countryside magnificent! St. Bonnet Le Troncy is in the Beaujolais Region, but we didn't buy any wine. Here's Fr. Joel and the view of the area behind him.

When we got back to La Neyliere everyone was ready for dinner and glass of wine or two.