Ordinations of priests and deacons
On June 25th 2016, eight new priests and deacons were ordained for the Community of Saint Martin by Mgr Patron Wong, secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy.
On June 25th, Mgr Patron Wong, secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, have given us the honour of conferring the ordination of five priests and three deacons who were presented to him by don Paul Préaux, General Moderator.
Almost 1 600 persons had come to Évron in order to accompany Bertrand de Castelbajac, Antonin Dichamp, Antoine Storez, Léonard de Corbiac and Adrien Alric on the day of their priestly ordination, as well as Pierre Gazeau, Xandro Pachta-Reyhofen and Phil Schulze Dieckhoff ordained deacons on the way to priesthood.
For this solemn celebration in the basilica of Notre-Dame de l’Épine, we have been honoured by the presence of Mgr Thierry Scherrer, Bishop of Laval, Mgr Marc Aillet, Bishop of Bayonne, Mgr François Touvet, Bishop of Châlons, the Most Reverend Fathers Jean Pateau, Abbot of Fontgombault and Philippe Piron, Abbot of Saint Anne de Kergonan Abbey, and of Mgr Didier Boulay, Vicar General of the diocese of Blois, representing Mgr Batut.
On this occasion, the Martinian Jubily was also opened, in order to commemorate the 1700 years since the birth of Saint Martin and the 40 years since the birth of the Community of Saint Martin.
The families of the ordinands, as well as numerous parishioners and friends of the Community, gathered afterwards in the garden of the abbey of Évron for the traditional reception.
The day after, each new priest celebrated, not without emotion, a first Mass in the presence of their close ones. Afterwards, they began their tours of first Masses, in order to give thanks for the formation years and entrust their priestly ministry to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood and continue to keep these young priests and deacons in our prayer!
