Read the homily of the Arzobispo de Paris, Monseñor Laurent Ulrich
See photos
Many people arrived at our chapel while the Lord was exposed in adoration. The silence helped us prepare for what we were about to celebrate. Many took the opportunity to engage in a meditative and prayerful reading of the message written by Sister Rekha Chennattu, our General Superior, for the occasion.
As the chapel filled with religious from different congregations, friends of the community, and parishioners from the Parish of the Assumption of Passy, we were able to begin a brief rehearsal of hymns for a celebration in which melodies, instruments, and dances from different continents would be present.
The celebration was presided over by the Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Laurent Ulrich, who, in his homily, recalled the fundamental role of Saint Marie-Eugenie in education and in the building of a society based on the values of the Gospel. He highlighted how her vocation arose from a profound experience of God and from hearing the preaching of Father Lacordaire at Notre-Dame de Paris. He also reminded us that, for this reason, her relic is placed on the new altar of the Cathedral of Paris. He emphasized the central theme of the day's readings, highlighting the importance of being collaborators with God, bearers of hope, and builders of a more just and fraternal world.
The liturgy was lived with great fervor, enriched by the diversity of languages and cultures represented in the assembly. The hymns, carefully prepared, helped express the joy and communion of those of us who today follow the charism of Saint Marie-Eugenie.
The certainties that Mother Marie-Eugenie communicated to Father Lacordaire in a letter from 1841 inspired the intercessory prayers.
After the celebration, we shared a buffet, where the fraternity experienced in the Eucharist continued. It was a moment of encounter, gratitude, and exchange between sisters and laypeople who, from different parts of the world, walk together in this mission.
Thus, our celebration concluded, with the certainty that the legacy of Saint Marie-Eugenie remains alive and urges us to be signs of hope in today's world.
This article was originally written in Spanish and has been translated automatically. If you notice any errors, please report them to Mercedes Méndez.
Inspired by the words of Mother Marie-Eugenie, (Lettre de Marie Eugenie au père Lacordaire (1841) cf. Origines 1 – Partie II. Chapitre XI.). let us pray with confidence and commitment. Let us open our hearts to the needs of the world and present our supplications to the Lord by singing:“Dona nobis pacem, Domine.”
Reader 1: "I believe that we are placed here precisely to work for the coming of the reign of our Heavenly Father over us and over others." Reader 2: Lord, in this time of violence and division, we pray for peace in the world. May our efforts, prayers, and commitments contribute to the coming of your reign of love and justice.
Reader 1: "I have difficulty hearing the earth called a place of exile; I see it as a place of glory for God." Reader 2: Lord, as we enter the jubilee year, grant your Church to be a sign of hope for the world. May we recognize your presence at the heart of our lives and bear witness to your glory.
Reader 1: "I believe that Jesus Christ has freed us from the past through his sacrifice, so that we may be free to work toward the fulfillment of the divine word he came to bring." Reader 2: Lord, we entrust Pope Francis to you in his illness. Strengthen him with your power and peace, and give him the momentum needed to continue his mission in service of your Gospel.
Reader 1: "Make known Jesus Christ, liberator and king of the world; teach that everything is his, that, present in our souls through the life of his grace, he wants to work in each of us for the great work of the reign of God." Reader 2: Lord, bless the mission of the entire Assumption family. May our missions and our testimony contribute to the transformation of the world according to the spirit of the Gospel.
Reader 1: "I believe that each of us has a mission on earth… concerned only with doing whatever he may have destined us to do, and leaving him all the successes of time and eternity." Reader 2: Lord, we pray for us who are gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. Teach us to surrender ourselves to you in trust, to welcome your mystery with an open heart, and to let ourselves be transformed by your living presence.