On Saturday, 13 December 2025, the community at 2 rue des Martelots in Besançon welcomed a group of 21 scouts: 3 leaders and 19 young people, bearers of the Light of Bethlehem, artisans of peace. For the Sisters, it was a moment of intergenerational communion.
This flame, passed from hand to hand, is not only a physical light, it is a symbol of the peace that comes from God and of the hope that is shared between generations.
Light as a call to sharing and peace
Receiving the light of Bethlehem is to welcome a call, that of not keeping the light of Christmas to oneself, but of spreading it around oneself. The Sisters experienced this moment as an invitation to continue their mission of charity, bringing light to places of suffering, loneliness and poverty.The presence of the Scouts helped to create a bridge between youth and consecrated life. In the simplicity of this gesture, the Sisters felt the joy of seeing young people committed to the values of fraternity and service.
The dialogue between two vocations: that of the Scouts and that of the Sisters gave Christmas a new depth.
On the way to the bicentenary of Jeanne Antide – witness to the light
During this meeting, the Sisters took the time to introduce the Scouts to Jeanne Antide. How she was animated by an ardent faith and a deep love for the poorest of the poor; she devoted her life to the humble and daily service of the sick, children and families in distress.
Her example reminds us that true light is not limited to a symbol, but is manifested in concrete acts of charity and solidarity.
The Sisters also explained the current mission of the Sisters in 31 countries, bringing the light of the Gospel to places of suffering, loneliness and poverty.
Thus, the gesture of the Scouts, bearers of the light of Bethlehem, found a deep echo in the spirit of Jeanne Antide. A light that is passed on, that does not go out, and that continues to illuminate the paths of each person.
This moment of encounter is not a simple sharing, but a true spiritual experience. The Sisters felt deeply that Christmas is above all an encounter: an encounter with God who draws near, an encounter with others who carry the light, an encounter with oneself in inner peace.
Becoming artisans of peace
Each and every one of us is invited to redistribute this light around us: in our families, communities, scout groups, parishes, schools, mutual aid societies, nursing homes, children’s homes, etc. This light, which multiplies as it passes from hand to hand, is a vehicle for encouraging encounters to build peace.
This moment of peace and light will remain engraved in the hearts of the Sisters of the community this Christmas 2025.Sr Son Tran for the community
