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The community of the
Marist Fathers in
collaboration with the
Pastoral Team
and the
Pastoral
Council
have drawn a
Mission Statement which underlines the main orientations of the work carried out
at Notre Dame de France.
THE MARIST FATHERS' COMMUNITY
From its very beginnings in 1865, Notre Dame de
France has been entrusted to the care of a Marist community at the behest of the
Archbishop of Westminster.
After a brief break from 1987 to 1992, it is once more under the
responsibility of an international group of Marist priests. They minister to a
francophone parish and its chaplaincies and are involved in various projects of
this part of London, in partnership with the English parishes of the region.
Today, this team is made up of five Marist priests:
the Superior
Jean-Marie Bloqueau and Father Christian Andraud (both French), the rector:
Father Joaquin Fernandez ( Spanish) Father Martin McAnaney and Father Edmund
Duffy (both Irish).
They continue the mission of their predecessors together
with the other members of the pastoral team and the different councils of the
parish.
The community endeavours to be at the service of one and all, in the same
way as Mary was and is at the serviceof the mission of her Son.
A Marist European Province which gathers the
former national provinces has been created this year 2008. The new province
has been erected on 1st June 2008 by the superior general Ian Hulshof. The
seven provinces and delegations become Regions.
The Provincial Superior of the new Province designated at the end of
february 2008 : John Hannan,
former Irish Provincial has chosen the members of his council. They
are : Joaquin Fernandez (Spain), provincial Vicar, Ad Blommerde
(Netherlands), Jean-Marie Bloqueau (France) et Martin McAnaney (Ireland). It
is because of his functions as provincial Vicar that Joaquin Fernandez can
no longer continue being rector at Notre Dame de France. However, Jean Marie
Bloqueau et Martin McAnaney will be able to carry on working at Notre Dame
de France.
The following websites will tell you more on the history of
the Marists, their spirituality and the details on the life of St Pierre
Chanel and St Marcellin Champagnat.
www.maristfathers.org
www.maristinternational.org
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THE PASTORAL TEAM
The pastoral team meets once a week. The team makes sure that
all projects of the various mission groups are proceeding as well as they
should. Its members also pray and reflect together.
Together with the Mission Council. it tries to abide by the orientations
stated in the Mission Statement.
The members of the team, are:
Father Christian Andraud, SM
Father Jean-Marie Bloqueau, SM
Father Joaquin Fernandez, SM
Chantal Brown
Emmanuelle Caron,
Mathurin Zeze
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THE PASTORAL COUNCIL
The Pastoral Council, in collaboration with the
Pastoral Team, is responsible for the mission of Notre Dame de France which is
broadly outlined in a mission statement that one can read about below.
Meetings take place at Notre Dame de France, twice a term and are attended
by representatives of different groups covering activities of the
parish: chaplaincies, prayer groups, charitable organisations, etc... (the
groups being based either at Leicester Square or in other parts of London) or
individuals chosen for their expertise or giftedness in a particular field.
The meetings are presided by the rector of Notre Dame de France or a member
of the pastoral team delegated by the rector of Notre Dame de France who
is the president by right.
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MISSION STATEMENT
In 1865, the Marists fathers started a mission to the French community of
London. This mission was continued throughout the years till the present
time. However, now it includes the whole of the francophone community of
London without loosing sight of the pastoral needs of the area.
The people in charge of the mission nowadays are: the Rector of Notre Dame
de France, Father Joaquin Fernandez, and the Superior of the Marists'
community, Father Jean-Marie Bloqueau, who have been appointed or empowered
by the authorities to whom the mission is answerable: the Archbishop of
Westminster, the Chaplain-General of Francophone communities and the
Superior-General of the Marist Order.
In June 2007, the Marist community and the Trustees of Notre Dame de France have redefined the present mission under the following terms :
1. The mission of the Marist Fathers of the Society of Mary at Notre
Dame de France is the creation, maintenance and enhancement of pastoral care
to the Roman Catholic Francophone community in London. By its very nature
this community responds to the call to evangelise, reaching out to other
people particularly those who frequent the West End and share the
environment with us.
2. We understand this mission as building up a Christian community
committed to evangelisation in word and action. This community is based in
the church of Notre Dame de France, Leicester Place and includes expatriate
French and all French-speaking people. It is recognised by the Aumônerie
Générale des Français à l’Etranger and the Diocese of Westminster as an
ethnic chaplaincy, and contributes to the pastoral care of the West End.
3. Particular
elements of this vision include but are not exclusive to:
- Ministering to the spiritual needs of the Francophone community in London,
and preparing individual and groups for the sacraments;
- Providing religious education for children and adults;
- Creating opportunities for the Francophone community to engage in charity
and other evangelisation activities;
- Collaborating with other individuals and organisations with similar
concerns;
- Developing leadership in spiritual and pastoral affairs;
- Supporting other pastoral activities in London's West End.
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