The White Father community in Marseilles' 15th District, in the extreme north of the city, has been operating since September 1994. We established ourselves in a parish sector where there are least 30,000 people of various beliefs coming from European, Africa and Asian origins.
The commitments of the confreres are varied, in function of their past experience, the local circumstances, and out of a sense of solidarity to live with the diocese. These commitments cover 5 hubs:
1 - Pastoral activity towards migrants and people coming from emigration.
One confrere shares in accompanying the African Christian community and is a member of the Diocesan Commission Office for Pastoral Activity towards Migrants. Two confreres provide literacy classes in housing estates and attend a permanently manned office as public writers (essentially with the general public).
2 - Pastoral activity for relations with Islam. This activity aims to:
a) Raise awareness among Christians of the facts about Islam for greater 'living together'. One confrere conducts groups on request, or gives one or other seminar at the ISTR, as well as radio programmes. This confrere is the Diocesan Delegate for Relations with Islam. He provides a series of courses at the Monastery of Ganagobie
b) Meet with Muslim believers through local associations, through various invitations or by presence in a housing estate.
c) Conduct a Parish Priests-Imams meeting.
d) Take part in a workshop on Islam at the Catholic Institute of Lyons, while giving courses there.
3 - Parish pastoral activity primarily among regular churchgoers from diverse origins:
There are around 200 parishioners who meet in the two churches of the sector. One confrere is the parish priest. He looks after the coordination of catechesis, pastoral activity towards occasional churchgoers for Baptism, Matrimony and funerals. He visits the families, particularly the sick and lonely.
Each of the other confreres takes his turn for Sunday Mass and conducts a Bible group, which operates really successfully. In all of this, each one helps this little community to open up to others. Mass is celebrated every fortnight in one of the housing estates. A diocesan seminarian has been assigned to our parish for his initiation into parish activities and will work with us for two years.
4 - Pastoral activity in ecumenism.
One confrere prepares Radio programmes used by Radio-Dialogue (ecumenical radio) and some programmes from this radio enter the network, which re-broadcasts them for francophone Africa.
One confrere is involved in an ecumenical Bible group, which brings together Protestants from the Reformed Church of France and Catholics.5- Taking part in Diocesan Life.
We are very involved in diocesan structures: one of us is a member of the Senate of Priests. We take an active part in the life of Diocesan Commissions (Islam and Migrants) and the diocese has entrusted us with a major seminarian for his parish work initiation.
At the moment, our community is made up of
 Fr Jacques Lacour Migrants |
 Fr. Etienne Renaud Islam |
 Martin Diocesan seminarian |
 Fr. Jean François Galtier Parish Priest |
Translated into English by Donald MacLeod M.Afr.
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