Belley & St. Peter Chanel

I did not blog yesterday because after dinner we went out to celebrate the anniversary of John Hopkinson’s going to Mexico 32 years ago. He’s now living and working with Base Christian Communities in Bolivia. We also ended watching some soccer in the bar – Kevin Stewart gave me the fundamentals.

I was also glad to hear that the retreat went very well – great job, Joe House! I’m glad I wasn’t there to have to deal with the rain on Friday night!!!

Our day pilgrimage on Tuesday was filled with many special moments.

• We did a mile and a half hike from one village to another to give a sense of what it would be like walking through the Bugey Mountains – fortunately for us it was a little warmer than the cold of winter when they would have done it.

(The Bugey Mountain Region -- our hike was fantastic!)

• We visited Bon Repos – the historical Mother House of the Marist Sisters. This is the house that Mother Jeanne Marie Chavoin and Marie Jotillon first moved into when the Colin brothers came to Belley as home base for their little mission band.

(Belley 'College' hallway -- during Colin's time it was filled with high school students. Colin, Chanel, and others walked these halls.)

• We spent some time at the Belley College where the Marist Mission Band lived above the Chapel in deplorable conditions. It’s the same school Jean Claude was eventually appointed as Director and saw the statue of Mary that he erected to dedicate the endeavor to the Blessed Mother.

• We also prayed in the L’Capuciniere, which was the where the first Marists took the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience after Rome approved the Congregation (1836). While it no longer serves as a Chapel and is owned by the government – we could still feel the presence of those first pioneers.

• We ended the day by celebrating Eucharist in the first Chapel of Bon Repos where Jeanne Marie Chavoin (founder of Marist Sisters) and her group of sisters lived.

To say the least the day was full and it touched my heart. It was a blessing that I am more than grateful for.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we spend the day contemplating the life of St. Peter Chanel. I’m sure the highlight will be Mass at his Shrine in Cuet.....................

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I was right! Mass at Peter Chanel's little shrine was incredible. His selflessness, his simplicity, and his perseverance even when things weren't going well rang out in the Chapel. Even the little group of children who were on site that day to prepare for First Communion seemed to fit perfectly.

(Mass at St. Peter Chanel Shrine)

We also visited the Church of St. John Vianney. He was a good friend of the early Marists. Since this is long, I'll just close with the picture of his body -- he is one of the incorruptibles of the Church.



(St. John Vianney's Body in the Basilica of Ars.)