Notre Dame de France Mission

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MISSION

Marist Fathers

Pastoral Team

Pastoral Council

Mission Plan

THE MARIST FATHERS
From the earliest days of Notre Dame de France in 1865 a marist community assumed responsibility for it at the request of the archbishop of Westminster.

After a short interruption from 1987 to 1992 an international team of marist priests is responsible for the francophone community, for the chaplaincies, and for different projects in the (local) area in association with english parishes.

The community tries to be at the service of everyone, in the way in which Mary put herself at the service of her Son’s mission.

The present team is made up of five Marists priests who carry on the mission of those who went before them, together with the other members of the pastoral team and of the different councils of the parish:

P. Jean-Marie Bloqueau

(superior)

020 7440 2650
jmbloqueau@wanadoo.fr

P. Paul Walsh

(rector)

020 7440 2651

paul.walsh@ndfchurch.org

P. Martin McAnaney

020 7440 2647
mcananey@dna.ie
martin.mcananey@ndfchurch.org

P. Edmund Duffy

020 7440 2648

duffyedmund@yahoo.co.uk

P. Rafael Ramila

020 7440 2649

Since 2008 there exists a marist European province, incorporating the previous national provinces.

In fact, the new marist Province of Europe was erected by the superior general, Father Jan Hulshof on the 1st June 2008. The seven former provinces and delegations became regions of the new province.

On the 10th September 2009, the chapter general elected Fr John Hannan, former provincial of Europe as the thirteenth superior general of the Marist Fathers.

On the 11th February 2010, Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard was elected as the new provincial superior of the province of Europe. The members of his council are the following: Joaquin Fernandez (Spain), vicar provincial, Ad Blommerde (Netherlands), Jean-Marie Bloqueau (France), Martin McAnaney (Ireland)

The following websites will tell you more about 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.maristsm.org

Fathers Jean-Marie Bloqueau,
Paul Walsh and Edmund Duffy
during the celebration of the opening Mass
of the school year.

THE PASTORAL TEAM
The pastoral team meets every two weeks. This team makes sure that the various projects in the different mission units function well. It prays and reflects together. Together with the pastoral council it tries to respect the directions given in the mission plan. The members this year:

Philippine de Beauregard, Désiré Koua, Martin McAnaney SM, Odile de Villenaut, Raphaël Ramila SM et Paul Walsh SM.

THE PASTORAL COUNCIL
The pastoral council, working together with the pastoral team, has responsibility for the mission of Notre Dame de France, whose main lines are traced out in a mission plan, which you will find in the following section.

Meetings take place twice per term at Notre Dame de France and bring together people representing the different activities of the parish: chaplaincies, prayer-groups, charitable activities, etc … whether these activities take place in Leicester Place or in other areas of London … or even people who have the qualities or gifts for serving the community as a whole.

Members

Alain DUVAL Jean-Marie BLOQUEAU

Alexandre GARCIN Martin McANANEY

Armel YORO Nathalie CHASSAIGNE-ROMBAUT

Arnaud de MONTILLE Odile de VILLENAUT

Daniel HADAS Patrick ESSOME

Delphine LEES Patrick TEVI

Désiré KOUA Paul WALSH

Edmund DUFFY Philippine de BEAUREGARD

Emmanuel CLEMENT-WILZ Rafael RAMILA

Jean-Baptiste ASSEMIAN Salomon BAKOA

The meetings are chaired by the rector or by a member of the pastoral team or of the council, delegated by the rector who is chairman by right: at the present time this is Father Paul Walsh.

In January 2007 the mission council was relaunched on a new basis, and was called pastoral council. Here you will find its new regulations Conseil Pastoral.pdf

A presentation of pastoral activities is now available on line, and it will also be displayed at the entrance to the church: Cadre d'activites.pdf

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MISSION PLAN
Begun by the Marist Fathers in 1865 among the French of London, the mission of Notre Dame de France continues and now extends to the entire francophone community of London, without neglecting the pastoral needs of the area.

Those presently holding responsibility: the rector of Notre Dame de France, Father Paul Walsh, and the superior of the marist community, Father Jean-Marie Bloqueau were appointed and recognized by the different authorities on whom the mission depends: the Archbishop of Westminster, the General Chaplaincy of Catholic Francophone Communities, and the Superior General of the Marist Fathers.

In the month of June 2007, the trustees of Notre Dame de France and the community of the marist fathers redefined the terms of the mission of Notre Dame de France along the following lines::

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 chaplancy, 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.