Seventy consecrated persons from France, Belgium, Italy, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Congo, all on mission in the Diocese of Besançon, gathered in Sancey on 2 February 2026: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and Consecrated Life

In total, there were religious men and women from 13 different congregations, a secular Benedictine oblate, consecrated virgins, consecrated women in secular institutes, and consecrated women from the Society of Apostolic Life.

This day on the Feast of Light was an opportunity to get to know each other better, to reaffirm together our joy and our hope, even if reality is sometimes difficult to accept and the future a little dark… A celebration, because we confirmed our fraternity and our dedication to God and to others!

How did the day unfold?

In the morning, after being welcomed by our new leader, Franciscan Father Dominique Joly, everyone was invited to introduce themselves together with their congregation or institute and to share any news.

The Eucharistic celebration presided over by our Archbishop of Besançon, Mgr Jean-Luc BOUILLERET, and the religious priests present at our day, placed our lives and our missions in the light of the Spirit and renewed our conviction to serve the Gospel.

In the afternoon, we listened to Sister Nicole-Marie Roland evoke the mission of Saint Jeanne Antide:

during the post-revolutionary period, she founded her institute and developed communities in Franche-Comté and beyond, until her departure for Naples, Italy, at the request of Napoleon’s mother.

In the footsteps of Jeanne-Antide, a missionary woman for our times, we explored in depth a part of the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Leo: Dilexi Te, with the central place that the poor occupy in Christian life.

After the news provided by our bishop, concerning above all the transformations of the parishes of the diocese, the evening celebration of Vespers concluded this day of fraternity, before everyone returned to their own community or place of life and mission.

Sr Louisette Duriaux, sdc
Besançon