Presentation Through the Year 2012...

The purpose of this section "Through the Year..." is to present through images certain important events, but also "everyday" life in our Fraternity throughout the world.
Events of the past year can be accessed under the following link: 2011.

February 3, 2012: Croix des Vents-St Joseph School Pupils visit England

The Pupils of the '2nd class' at the Croix des Vents- St Joseph School in Sées, France (a boarding school of the FSSP) travelled to England last December, in order to gain exposure to English culture and to practice their English in a solid Catholic environment. For the week that they were in England, the pupils had English lessons in the morning; followed by excursions to London, Reading and Oxford, in the afternoon. They also had the opportunity to meet and speak with some English Catholic families. The School thanks all those who helped to make this trip possible: in particular, the Fraternity Apostolate in Reading, without whose help such a trip would not have been possible; the Benedictine monks of Douai Abbey, for their warm welcome; as well as the many people who were kind enough to receive us. Many thanks to all.

January 18, 2012: Recording a CD in Pequannock, NJ

At the beginning of February 2011, then more recently in mid-December, the parish church of Pequannock saw its choir locking itself within its walls to record Christmas songs. The project was not something new since a first CD had already been recorded and released in June 2010. The idea of recording a CD was born not only from the desire of many parishioners, but especially as a practical means to keep track of the different pieces of music learnt and sung at the cost of much hard labour over the past five years.

With about 35 members, most of whom are musically talented teenagers, the choir met two weeks before Christmas to make digital recordings of polyphonic songs in Latin, German and French as well as English Christmas Carols, all of which they sing with great pleasure before and during the Christmas Midnight Mass every year.

The undertaking, although executed in a very amicable atmosphere, was not easy to set up. Firstly, one must find a date that accommodates everyone, then overcome the passing colds and coughs, and finally above all to record the entire program in a mere five or six hours, whilst being forced to omit corrections that a perfectionist would hardly be satisfied with. But now it is completed. Our voices make music, but a computer is necessary to produce graphics and the combined result is a CD which a music house based in Manhattan will produce.

Those with musical ears will certainly find some imperfections (and we will willingly concede them), but they will not stain the pleasure that all the young singers had in realizing this recording, nor the joy they have to sing together Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. For those interested, the CD will be released in the fall of 2012...

January 14, 2012: Feast of the Epiphany in Nantes (France)

At the invitation of Fr. Philippe Joachim, FSSP, the Vice Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary, Wigratzbad and 12 seminarians were present at the Fraternity apostolate in Nantes for the feast of the Epiphany, 2012.  Fr. Hubert Bizard preached on vocations during the sermon in the church which was particularly full for the visit.  All of the servers of the parish other than the torch bearers (known as the ‘petits rouges’ because of their cassock) were replaced by the seminarians from Wigratzbad.  Following the Mass there was a reception organized by ‘Faith and Tradition’. The occasion was a great success, and Mr. Jehan-Michel Rondot, thanked everyone in particular for their devoted work, and spoke of the strong growth of the community throughout the last 20 years. Originally having a priest only every second week, they now have two priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter present fulltime at the church.  A number of young men from Nantes are currently in formation at the seminary in Wigratzbad, and in just  the last two years two others have been ordained priests for our Fraternity.   

January 9, 2012: Mass of St. Genevieve, Patron Saint of Paris

Thanks to the gracious welcome of Fr. Rougé, pastor of Sainte-Clotilde, the many members of the Fraternity who were in Paris following Christmas celebrated a solemn Mass on January 3rd in honor of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris.  As can be seen from the photos, the faithful in Paris were quick to fill up the beautiful Basilica for the occasion.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Guilhem Le Coq with Rev. Karl Marsolle and Hubert Cœurderoy as deacon and subdeacon. The sermon was preached by Fr. Arnaud Evrat, General Secretary of the Fraternity.  All who were present expressed their pleasure to have been able to pray for the intercession of St. Genevieve in such a fervent and glorious manner in the very heart of Paris.