Saint Broladre (Group A)

Cherry picking, open hearts, intercession, candle workshops, and castles on islands…what do these things have in common? Group A experienced all these things in our days in the north of France, at the Beatitudes’ community house in Saint Broladre. It is a quiet house, where many of the sick or disabled members of the community live. Many of them are talented artists who use their gifts to craft candles, icons, and paintings to sell and honor God. Even though we arrived late Friday evening, many community members were awake and excited to welcome us with smiles, the French double kiss on the cheeks, and the dinner they saved for us. This was only the beginning of the kind and hospitable gestures they made to us during our four days there. Through their laughter, selfless service, and affection, they made it hard for us to leave on Tuesday!

We made a few field trips while in Saint Broladre. We visited Mont Saint Michel, Omaha Beach and cemetery, when we left we got to be in Lisieux on the first feast day of Louis and Zélie Martin, who were canonized last year (more on that later!). We even got to go down the street to the house of the parents of Sr. Marie Liesse (Mary, cause of our joy) to watch the Euro Cup final of France vs. Portugal. France lost in overtime, unfortunately, but it was just another example of unexpected hospitality when 20+ Americans crashed the house of a French family to cheer for and mourn the loss of the national soccer team.

We were most touched by a time of intercessory prayer with the community. We pilgrims divided into groups based on the graces we are seeking: to give our lives totally to God, to discern our vocation, to heal from past wounds, or the intentions of loved ones we carry with us. Community members prayed over us, and then we gathered around the community and prayed for their intentions. It was a beautiful time of solidarity despite the language barrier and unity in our faith and love of one another.

Now group A has moved on to Nouan, a community house in the middle of the forest in the center of France. This house’s apostolate is putting on retreats, and we get to be some of those lucky retreatants. After a day of reflection with Jacque Philippe, we’ll take a long bus ride to Czestochowa, Poland, where we’ll reunite with the other groups whom we miss very much!