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THE SUCCESSORS OF FATHER BUGUET
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THE SUCCESSORS OF FATHER BUGUET
When Fr. Buguet died, on 14 June 1918, it was Canon ROSEAU, the vice-director of the Work, who replaced him on 18 July 1918. Unfortunately, he died suddenly, at the age of 54, on 24 January 1919. He, in turn, was replaced by Fr. Alfred LEMÉ, who had been Procurator of the Work in Rome since 1912.
The progress of the work had been halted by the four years of war. Many of the associates and directors had disappeared; links with the countries of Central Europe had been completely strained. It was an urgent task to renew contact with them. It was also necessary to fill the gaps in the Work’s personnel and in the work force at the printing presses. Work on the basilica and for the pilgrimages had to be restarted. Everything had to be resumed and re-launched. Mgr. LEMÉ applied himself to the task intelligently and willingly.
On 28 August
1928, 15,000 people gathered around Cardinal Dubois, the Archbishop of Paris,
and 10 Bishops for the consecration of the basilica.. The next day, Pope Pius
XI conferred the title and dignity of minor Basilica on the church of Our
Lady the Deliverer.
On 19 September 1935, the Crowning of Our Lady of Montligeon took place. Cardinal
Verdier, in the name of Pius XI, crowned the Virgin and the Child Jesus. The
two crowns were made from jewels donated by families with a special devotion
to Our Lady of Montligeon. Among the notable visitors that year, history notes
especially Cardinal Pacelli, the future Pius XII.
But, the work was interrupted once more by the Second World War. Mgr. LEMÉE
who wanted to undertake trips abroad could not do so because of his advanced
age. Mgr. LEMÉE died on 1st March 1956, aged 80.
It would fall to his successor, Fr. Pierre LEFEVRE, appointed director of the Work in May 1956, to renew links with the countries of Europe, Africa and America. And this he did. Then, from 1958, he established a Summer Pilgrimage on 15th August, in addition to the spring pilgrimage. He also started a third pilgrimage, on the first Sunday of November. Mgr. LEFEVRE asked for an assistant in 1969, and it was Fr. André LECOQ who was appointed.
In December 1970, when Mgr. LEFEVRE left Montligeon to work in a parish, Fr. LECOQ succeeded him as Rector of the Work. He immediately opened new sites : renovation of the printing works, the creation of a guest-house….He re-launched the pilgrimage in France and the Spiritual Fraternity throughout the world, especially in Africa, where he founded several secretariats. He devoted himself completely to this multi-faceted Work, to such an extent that he became a sort of “second founder”. He died in an accident, on 24 July 1999.
Since September 1999, Fr. Gilbert DELANGE, Vicar-General of the diocese of Séez, has been Rector of the Shrine. Fr. Paul PRÉAUX, of the "association publique cléricale de droit Pontifical", is its assistant rector.
Since September 2001, Fr. Paul PRÉAUX is its rector.
THE PRIESTS
Three priests form the pastoral team at the Sanctuary. They are members of
the "association publique cléricale de droit Pontifical".
They are secular priests living in community which allows them, according
to the texts of Vatican II, to live a daily fraternal life “rooted in
the sung celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and in the Eucharist, a spiritual
support and missionary force necessary for serving souls”.
| Father
Paul Préaux rector |
Father
Anne-Gullaume Vernaeckt chaplain |
Father
Dominique Roussel
chaplain |
Father
Daniel
Beauval
chaplain |
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SISTERS OF
THE NEW COVENANT (LES SOEURS DE LA NOUVELLE ALLIANCE)
Six Sisters of the Nouvelle Alliance Community have settled in the village
of La Chapelle-Montligeon, near the Shrine. This Catholic contemplative Community
was founded in 1994 by Mgr. Yves-Marie Dubigeon, Bishop of Sées. Their
mission is “ to serve divine mercy in simplicity and joy”.
At the Shrine, they organise the liturgical services several times a day,
spiritual direction and intercession, notably through individual support of
persons following a course of interior healing. They direct prayer sessions
for both children and adults and make various religious objects : sculptures,
restoration of pictures, icons… The Sisters lead a monastic life according
to the Rule of St. Benedict. Each day, they spend some time in eucharistic
adoration.
Community
of la Nouvelle Alliance
Prieuré de la Miséricorde (Priory of Mercy)
61400 La Chapelle-Montligeon
Fax : 00 33 2 33 83 57 26
CCP : Association de la Nouvelle Alliance : 3 502 80 T Rouen