After the Enlarged General Council, six of the participants had the privilege of going to France for a week to visit some of the places connected with the origins of the Society of Mary.
We began our pilgrimage at Fourviere, where the first Marists pledged to found the Society of Mary. It was at this holy shrine that our pioneers and so many of our sisters went to place their future mission under Mary’s protection. During the week we visited Le Puy, then went on to Belley and Cerdon, places important in the lives of the early Marists, especially Fr Colin and Jeanne Marie Chavoin, and then the Hermitage where St Marcellin Champagnat formed the early Marist brothers.
Our pilgrimage included visits to our smsm community in Ste Foy, the house built by Madame des Groues, which can truly be called the motherhouse for smsm. Today this is a powerhouse of prayer where sisters who have spent long years in active missionary service, have time to rest, and to pray for the needs of the world. We also visited the provincial house community in Bron, and the community at Point du Jour where three younger sisters are studying before returning to missions in Madagascar and Oceania.
