The Champagnat?s House

On Saturday 7 September, the last 48 participants and those in charge of the various services, including the translators, gradually arrived. All were warmly welcomed by the Hermitage community. The following day, at 11:30 am, the opening session of the General Conference took place,  with inspiring words from our Superior General, Br Emili Turú. He placed before the participants the significance of the house of the Hermitage, where “everything speaks of  Champagnat”. It is possible to find elements which were saved and well measured by the architect during the work of reconstruction which clearly allude to Marcellin’s presence in this place.  Emili also brought to mind those first brothers who came to the Hermitage inspired by the same Champagnat. He read parts of two of his letters, in 1837 and 38, inviting the brothers to come to the Hermitage to recover their strength and relax after the year of work. He also mentioned the icons made by Br Matías Espinosa, which will accompany the development of the General Council.

Then Br Emili invited the members of the mixed community of the Hermitage to introduce themselves. Each of them expressed the reasons for their being part of the community. Then, by regions, each participant was asked to give his name, province and the countries composing his province or district. Finally, those invited: Br Seán Sammon, the directors of the  Secretariats, the facilitator, Br Michael French, de La Salle Brother, the chaplain, Fr Edmund Duffy, Marist father, and the auxiliary personnel. After these introductions, there was time for socializing and lunch.

In the evening, at 6:30, there was the Sunday Eucharist, presided over by Mons. Dominique Lebrun, bishop of the diocese of Saint-Etienne, which stamped the General Conference, placing value on the Marist presence in the Hermitage, in communion with the local and universal Church.