Renewal of Vows of the Jubilee Brothers during the Eucharist
Tout me monde s’attendait à une journée grise et pluvieuse …. Mais le pari était de vivre cette journée dans le parc de la Maison-Mère, sous le soleil ! Et le miracle a eu lieu : une belle journée ensoleillée ! Jean-Marie de la Mennais veillait sur sa famille !
Everyone was expecting a Gray and Rainy Day… But the bet was to experience that day in the Park of the Mother House, under the Sun! And the Miracle happened: a Beautiful Sunny Day! Jean-Marie de la Mennais was watching over his Family!
The day began early in the morning as the Mennaisian Family of the Province was invited at 9 a.m. for the Launch of the Year! More than 150 Brothers and Lay People of the Mennaisian Family responded to the call!
Various moments and interventions punctuated that Meeting which took place, as every year, in the Amphitheater of Lycée La Mennais on the site of the Mother House. Songs and Prayer times inaugurated the Day.
First Act of the Celebration: Discovery of the Theme of the Year, which would be spread over 2 years: “Tell me Words that make you live!” And the Assembly was invited to share these Words via Smartphones! As good Students, the Sharing gave rise to a Shower of Words: without any surprise: Hope, Joy, Peace, Fraternity, Kindness, Jesus were strongly acclaimed; we also found other words that clicked: Smile, Together, Family, Poetry, Attention … etc. What a Program!
2ème acte : prise de paroles de divers intervenants : tout d’abord du Frère Hervé ZAMOR, Supérieur général qi a partagé les grandes nouvelles de la Congrégation : Indonésie, Timor Oriental, Haïti, Congo, Ouganda …. La Famille mennaisienne présente a prêté une oreille très accueillante à toutes ces nouvelles du monde entier !… Avec une pensée particulière pour les secteurs qui souffrent aujourd’hui : Haïti, Congo spécialement.
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Brother Hervé Zamor, Superior General |
Mr. Denis Chevrel, Provincial Delegate for the Tutelle |
Mr. François Péron, General Delegate of Estival |
 Mr. Alain Caillon, President of Assific |
Then the Leaders of the Tutelle (Organization of the Network of Mennaisian Schools), Estival (Association of Holiday Centers of the Network), Assific (NGO), took the floor to present what happened in 2024-2025, but especially to present the Projects and everything that is “to come”! At the end of the Presentation, the Entire Mennaisian Family of the Province was invited to experience in July 2026, the Pilgrimage of the Mennaisian Family to Lourdes from July 13th to 17th, 2026! (4th Edition!)
Brother Joseph Zziwa, from Uganda and Brother Emmanuel Komakech, the first in Rome, the second in Ploërmel |
On the right, behind, the Brothers of Spain Alberto Ramos, Miguel Aristondo and Brother Justino Santiago sharing with Brother Daniel Gautier |
At the Meal, from left to right, Bros. Joseph Zziwa, Noah Tusasirwe, Mathias Senfuka and on the left Bro Emmanuel Komakech. |
To close these first two Acts of the day, let us note the International Color of the Assembly: In addition to the Entire Community of the Casa Generalizia, Brothers from Spain, Italy, Uganda, Haiti, Benin, and Togo were present… The day had taken on the International and Missionary Color of the Mennaisian Family!
3rd Act: Jubilarian Day. As every year, the Mennaisian Family Day of the Province is an opportunity to honor all the Jubilarian Brothers; 50 years, 60 years, 70 years and even two Brothers who are celebrating 75 years of Religious Life this year.
Some Jubilarian Brothers – from right to left, Brothers Michel Colas, Louis Séité, Paul Goupil, Gérard Hautbois, Bernard Prigent, Pierre Berthe
75 years of Religious Life: Brothers Jean FROHARD and Hervé PERON.
70 years of Religious Life: Brothers Paul GOUPIL, Albert LE DORLOT, Jean MAGAT and Claude RALLIC.
60 years of Religious Life: Brothers Pierre BERTHE, Yves CAILLERE, Michel COLAS, Dino DE CAROLIS, Gérard HAUTBOIS, André MOREL, Bernard PRIGENT and Louis SEITE.
Even though not everyone was present, everyone was in the Prayers and Hearts of those who participated in that day. 910 years of Religious Life is no Small Feat!
And 2025, only one Brother was honored on the Occasion of his 50 years of Religious Life (1975-2025): Brother Hervé ASSE.
It was Brother Pierrick BUSSON who took it upon himself to present the Jubilee and the past 50 years. Those who know the Speaker, suspect that the Assembly present was won over by the Eloquence, Humor, and Parabolic Language of the Speaker!
For that 3rd Act, Brother Hervé’s Family joined the Assembly: 3 Generations of Cousins! Brother Hervé had the right to reply! but an Intervention above all to thank, God First for His Faithfulness to him, then to thank his Formators and his Family.
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Brother Pierrick Busson presenting the Golden Jubilarian. |
Brother Hervé Asse, giving thanks…and giving thanks to God |
4th Act: all that remained was to give thanks during an Open-air Eucharist. That took place in the Green Cathedral of the Mother House. For the Second Consecutive Year, the Parishioners joined the Mennaisian Family (there was no Mass in the Parish). Mgr Raymond Centène, Bishop of the Diocese, presided over the Celebration, surrounded by the Parish Priest, Father Simon Chouanard, and Father Léonard Lumbutu, Vicar in Ploërmel.
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Bishop Raymond Centène, Bishop of Vannes |
The Musicians: Brothers James Hayes, Alain Josselin, Henri-Marie Besnard |
Brother Yannick Houssay, Provincial, Introduced the Celebration |
Brother Mario Forino, of the Casa Generalizia, reading the 2nd Reading |
Bernard and Catherine Le Roy singing the Psalm. |
View of the Assembly |
The General Council and the Jubilarian Brothers |
Brother James Hayes accompanied by Bros Henri-Marie Besnard and Alain Josselin took care of the Musical Accompaniment, and Bernard Leroy, Mennaisian Lay Associate, invited the crowd to join wholeheartedly in the Day’s Thanksgiving.
The day’s bet was met: a Sunny Eucharist, with 3 drops of water at the final Blessing! And the rest of the day: Full Sun! Let us give thanks to God.
Brother Hervé with his Family (his Cousins) |
Brothers and Laity of the Mennaisian Family, happy to share |
The youngest Members of Brother Hervé’s Family |
Bro. Hervé receiving the Papal Blessing |
A gift from the Spanish Brothers (Bros Luis Manuel Cuesta and Justino Santiago) |
Part of the head table. |
Last Act: a Friendly Drink for all and a Fraternal Meal for more than 150 Guests! A time for Fraternal Meetings with the Exchange of Smiles, Gifts, etc. in the Mennaisian Family.
Brothers and Lay People of the Mennaisian Family with beaming faces, happy to share… like a Successful, Sunny, Warm and Fraternal Day.
Testimony of the Golden Jubilarian, Bro. Hervé ASSE