Fr German’s message

NEW CONTRACT

From Monday September 26^th to Friday October 7^th om Monday September 26^th to Friday October 7^th 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 30^th, 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 28^th. 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 30^th to Tuesday October 4^th 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 50^th wedding anniversary. This French couple welcomed me in Tours in January 1983, when I first arrived in France. They were with me on September 24^th 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.