We have received some letters…
Formation session in Paris on 21 and 22 June 2025: account and testimonies
The Lay Commission for the Sharing of the Charism met in Paris between 21 and 22 June 2025 for an in-depth training course on the origins of the Congregation, with two days devoted to studying letters written by Father Pernet to lay people in the 19th century; the aim was to organise an action plan for the coming years and to meet with the General Council of the Congregation.
The Commission for Sharing the Charism with the Laity met in Paris between the 18th and the 24th of June, for a formation session to deepen our understanding on the origins of the congregation, with two days devoted to studying the letters Father Pernet wrote to the laity in the 19th Century; The aim was to settle a plan of actions for the following years and to meet with the General Council of the Congregation.
The Commission was glad to extend the meeting to more than 23 laity and partners who came from Spain, France, Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, Brazil and Vietnam.
The meeting started with a beautiful prayer, animated by the group from Spain, who gave a letter from Father Pernet, addressed to each one of the participants, with a sheet on which they had to write their answer; a very moving moment when each one felt he/she was directly communicating with Father Pernet.
Then, Sr. Nathalie, Superior general of the Congregation, came to welcome us and officially opened the meeting.
On the 21st, Céline Hirsch-Poynard, archivist of the LSAs, described the context of the 19th century and of the Congregation foundation.
Sr. Véronique Thiébaut, archivist of the Religious women of the Assumption, presented the Charism, Spirituality and Mission of the congregation, based on the different types of documents, in addition to Father Pernet’s letters, with three main moments: understanding, expressing ourselves and seeing the implications for today
On the 22nd, there was a pilgrimage, starting with a quiet time on the Founders’ tombs, a place of deep spirituality
Still in silence, the group went to the Congregation museum, where Sr. Colette Faillenet and Sr. Véronique told us the entire history of the Congregation, from its foundation until today; we deeply thank them for this sharing.
Then we walked up to the house of the Religious of the Assumption at Auteuil, with Sr. Véronique who told us the story of Saint Marie Eugénie from the beginning of the Congregation. A very nice place, full of stories of life, love of the neighbours, and deep spirituality.
Then the group moved to rue François 1er, where Father Pernet has lived for 26 years. A mass was celebrated by an Assumptionist father, Patrick Zago, who with simplicity told us parts of Father Pernet’s life. Then the group went out in the garden for a picnic.
This is when Patrice and Marie-Pierre Girard, a married couple who belong to the group for the Beatification Cause, talked about Father Pernet at the time he lived in this house.
We went back to the Mother House, with candles in our hands, and we walked in procession up to the Chapel of the Founders, where we received a beautiful “Sending” with the following words:
« It is not enough for you to work for your own good and that of your family. You must in addition extend the Reign of God around you and in society according to your abilities and your means ».
(Etienne Pernet, 1897)
Stripped, barefoot… we went closer to the sources, origins, beginnings of the congregation by means of some letters written by Father Pernet to the lay people of that time, and through the places, the Mother House, the museum, the pictures, objects, tombs of the founders, the Religious of the Assumptions house…
We are grateful for the work accomplished by those who lived before us, for this discovering of letters with others. We are happy to know the lay people who accompanied Father Pernet, because I feel that I belong to this dream Etienne Pernet had to change reality.
Keeping on working will not be easy… we are living in a wounded, suffering world in which we could give in to despair…. The reality of Father Pernet was difficult too, but he was convinced that it was possible with others… This is what we have found out in his letters… His words invited us to love, to be creative, to pray, to take care, to trust, to sanctify our relationships with others; to be apostles in the working-class world, to be strong and to be far-sighted… The Little Sisters and Lay people have brought hope in the middle of pain and hardships… today they keep on bringing hope, they inspire us and invite us to share their charism.
Mamen Moraga, Laywoman from Granada, Spain
The outcome of the meeting was beyond my expectations. First of all, I would like to highlight the working conditions. The very high temperatures during the weekend were taken into account, and we have been working in good conditions; communication was perfect thanks to the Spanish/French simultaneous translation. And so, the participants could share freely. We began our work by introduction on the social and political situation in the 19th century in France, showing us why Etienne Pernet could not stay indifferent to the general suffering. The context of that time favoured selfishness. Reading the different letters to the lay people, we discovered how he cunningly made them aware of the role each one could play for general well-being. We are all instruments into God’s hands to rebuild family and society and here are the means He gives us: prayer, instruction, charity, zeal.
Allow me to quote a letter from Etienne Pernet to the Fraternity :
“God wants you to renew your commitment to live as true Christians, but he is asking you to unite together to help each other and to make his law reign in your families”.
Epiphane Sounga, Layman of the Grigny Fraternity, France
