Champagnat Space in the church of Marlhes
A church dedicated to Saint Saturninus but which placed itself under the protection of the saint of the area when, in 1999, was created the parish of Saint Marcellin en Pilat.
A church which has just passed 100 years since its consecration in 1911…
A pulpit and stalls which have just cleared a centrury of existence since being set up in 1912…
A Champagnat corner, at the entrance to the church, which has become too confined to receive the ever growing number of groups coming from all around the world and who like to stop at this place before reaching Le Rosey…
A painting dating from the first half of the XX century but somewhat hidden in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament…
… such are the circumstances which have led the parish committee, together with the parish animation team and the diocesan sacred art commission to consider a new space for Champagnat, larger, more welcoming, and bringing together the three elements: statue, painting and stained glass window.
* The statue of granite carved by the sculptor Pierre Brun, and representing Marcellin bursting from the rock.
* A portrait of Champagnatpainted on canvas, restored and prominently positioned.
* The window of the artist Balmet representing Marcellin Champagnat in train of visiting a school.
* Behind the stalls, at the back, 7 windows have been painted by Marlhians of all ages, recalling in four languages the little virtues Marcellin knew how to practise: humility, simplicity, modesty, generosity, spirit of work, hospitality, humour. The lighting recently put in place, and the brightened up back wall, allow the highlighting of the colours.
3 June – Inauguration
The church of Marlhes filled up very quickly at Mass time on the Sunday morning. Members from the different parishes and the community of Marist Brothers did not want to miss the inauguration of the new space dedicated to Saint Marcellin Champagnat.
At the beginning of the celebration, the faithful who created the windows entered in procession and placed their materials at the foot of the granite statue representing Marcellin.
Brother Lucien Brosse retraced the history of the church, which turned a hundred last year, the history of the Champagnat space since 1955,and then the project of setting up the new space.
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Read more (in French):
- Why a new space for Champagnat ? (Project – April 2012) – WORD
- History of the statue of Marcellin Champagnat which is in the church of Marlhes (Father Emmanuel de Marsa)