It was our dream as General Council to have the 2002 EGC in Béziers, to coincide with the bicentenary of the birth of our founder, Venerable Jean Gailhac. The dream became a reality when we assembled in Mont Rouge, Puimisson in the first week of November.
Puimisson, the village where Rosalie Gibbal (later Mère St. Stanislaus Kostka) was born in 1825, lies a few kilometres to the north of Béziers. Looking westwards from Mont Rouge we could see the village of Murviel, where Appollonie Pelissier was born, and to the north Autignac, birthplace of Eugene Cure. On a clear day the Pyrenees were visible in the distance. Surrounded by places of such peace and beauty, places steeped in our history, we sensed that we were indeed standing on 'holy ground'.
Participating
in the bicentenary celebrations in Béziers was a great privilege. The
table-ronde in the Motherhouse, the mass of thanksgiving, the inauguration
of the project on the origins of the Maison Jean Gailhac and our visits
and meetings, gave a deep sense of the many blessings given to Jean
Gailhac and our Institute and a deeper realisation of how Gailhac's
life and charism, our charism, is present in many people today, in Béziers
and throughout the world.
It was a special joy to be with our sisters from the Béziers communities during the days of celebration. It was also a great joy to sense the presence of the whole Institute through the many messages of unity, support and prayer received during the EGC. Pictures and photographs of bicentenary events in the provinces and regions also united us with communities near and far. Our Institute quilt, on display in the Motherhouse, was a striking symbol of our unity.
We thank God for the many blessings of the bicentenary
celebrations and we pray that they continue to evoke in us the fire of
enthusiasm and love that burned in the heart of Father Gailhac.
