Not So Quiet Quiet Day

(Can you see the kids in the background? About 65 of them are here They're from a Marist School somewhere here in France. And the Seniors are playing Bocci Ball.)

Our silent day today was not so silent. La Neyliere was invaded by seniors playing Bocci Ball, and by lots of children and young people from a Marist school. They came to prepare for what is called a 'profession of faith'. By the looks of their bags they’ll be here for months. While, the property is not quiet, the noise and energy around us reminds me that life goes on even when I am in this kind of sacred space of quiet days. Sacred space can’t really be confined. It’s where I/we find God. He was fairly easy to find in the play of both young and old.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Colin would be happy with the way the property he bought at La Neyliere is being used. It’s probably not exactly what his 1800 mind would have envisaged – but I thnk he would have seen what's happening here now as a kind of mission – except in this regard the folks are coming here instead of the missionaries going there. It’s a reverse Bugey experience! Frs. Bernd, Paul, and Jean-Bernard are a good missionary team along with the rest of the staff here in reaching out to every and anyone who comes through these doors.

(A portrait in oil of Fr. Colin in the Colin Museum.
It was painted by Marist Father Philipon, during Colin's life.)

The Marist missionary spirit lives on here as it does in all the places where Marists are.

Tomorrow is Fr. Bruce's birthday! We won't talk about how old he is, but he's gettin' up there. We'll have to toast him in St. Symphorien.


(Here's a picture of Fr. Bruce standing in front of the Marist Brothers
Cross outside St. Marcellin Champagnat's birthplace.
It has the names of all the places where Marist Brothers are --
it's a long list. Can't tell whether the cross is tall or Bruce is short.)