Fr German’s message
NEW CONTRACT
From
Monday September 26th to Friday October 7th om Monday
September 26th to Friday October 7th I was not at the
parish. There were many reasons why I was gone.
As
you know, the contract between me, the diocese of Blois in France, and the Los
Angeles archdiocese, which determines my presence in the American Church, comes
to an end on June 30th, 2017. I left to meet with my bishop and to
ask him for authorization to stay for six more years in the Los Angeles
archdiocese beginning July 1, 2017.
Mgr.
Jean-Pierre Batut, bishop of Blois, invited me to lunch on Wednesday September
28th. We shared the meal with the vicar general of my diocese and
afterward I had a one-on-one interview with my bishop. I had prepared a fairly
exhaustive file to present to him the activities that I do in the Los Angeles
archdiocese and in the Orange County diocese. I also talked to him about my
mission regarding all the French-speaking communities that are in the United
States. I talked about all of you, and the joy, sorrow, challenges,
difficulties, and plans that we have in this community which gathers people
from all continents.
Mgr.
Batut wanted me to return to France because I have been here for twelve years
and he needs priests in the diocese. Our discussion was congenial and I greatly
appreciated the time that he set aside to listen to me and understand the
reasons why I wanted to continue the mission in the American Church.
In
the end, he signed the contract that I had in my documents, and which had
already been signed by Mgr. Gomes, archbishop of Los Angeles. When he signed
it, I felt a profound joy and we went to a little chapel in the diocese to give
thanks to God. Thank you to all who had prayed for this purpose. I felt your
support and I was really at peace and in the hands of the Lord. I also signed
it and committed myself to continue to share with you the mission that the
Church has entrusted to me, both for today and for tomorrow.
That
was the first reason for my trip to Europe.
I
also went to Europe because from Friday September 30th to Tuesday
October 4th we had the annual meeting in Barcelona (Spain) with
representatives from French-speaking communities around the world. The theme
was the family. We had conferences, celebrations, meetings and very interesting
visits. I will tell you about all that in an upcoming message. Those days were
the second reason for my trip.
The
third reason for my trip to France was the celebration of André and Paulette
Bichot’s 50th wedding anniversary. This French couple welcomed me in
Tours in January 1983, when I first arrived in France. They were with me on
September 24th 1984 when I first came back to seminary. They have a
lot to do with my vocation.
The
fourth reason for my presence in France was to present a file, which was a
little complicated, about the marriage of a couple of friends of mine, which I
am to preside over next year (in July 2017) in my diocese. The celebration will
be in the church where I started as a priest.
I
thank the Lord for being able to make this trip despite the difficulties and
despite all the questions I asked myself before leaving.
Have
a great week.
Fr Germán October 23rd 2016