Fifth period in IMF history
The IMF in France during the 20th century.
1940: Troyes (Aube)
Some Fathers had been sent to the diocese individually for various missions, to the chaplaincy of the Ursuline clinic or as itinerant missionaries...
In 1947, Father Benjamin Honoré, Superior General, engaged with Mgr. Le Couédic the presence of the FMI for 25 years, in the Pastoral charge of the Parish and the Basilica of St Urbain.
In 1972, Mgr Fauchet asked the FMI to take charge of the parish sector of Romilly sur Seine, then in Troyes, St Bruno, St André les Vergers, St Nizier…
In 1992, with Bishop Daucourt, the FMI took charge of the parish sector of Bar-sur-Aube.
1955: Villiers-en-Plaine
The novitiate of the Sons of Mary Immaculate took place for several years in Mouilleron-en-Pareds in the house of Saint Sauveur near the scholasticate. Following a donation, a possibility arose of an independent house in Deux-Sèvres, about fifteen km from Niort. Villiers en Plaine was the home of the novitiate for around ten years.
1968: Bordeaux
The training of young FMI in philosophy and theology was provided at the St Sauveur scholasticate in Mouilleron-en-Pareds. But the General Council was looking for a university town with a view to dividing the training cycles into two in accordance with the conciliar decree on the training of priests. In conjunction with the Congregations of the Notre Dame Federation, the General Council focused for the second cycle towards Bordeaux where the Fathers of Bétharram offered a house, Bel Sito in Floirac, which could accommodate the students. This was the origin of the presence of the Fmi in the diocese of Bordeaux. The FMI subsequently established a community on rue Pierre-Duhem in 1977, then on rue Calvé in 1992, providing various ministries in chaplaincies and parishes.
1972 – 1992: Naintré, Poitiers
Since the origins of the Congregation, the FMI have had numerous links with the diocese of Poitiers with a first foundation in Niort in 1845 then with the founding by Father Pécot of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate.
Other FMI communities were established more recently in the diocese of Poitiers:
- in Naintré from 1972 to 1985
- in Poitiers, rue des Gaillards from 1985 to 1992.
1980: Paris
Around the 1980s, several FMIs lived in Paris for various reasons: studies, chaplaincy, profession, parish ministry, etc. While each having their own place of residence, they met regularly and had the mission of welcoming the FMIs who came to Paris for periods of recycling or study.
1970: in Corrèze – Dordogne: Cublac – Terrasson – Le Bugue – Nontron
From the 1970s, several FMI Fathers have been in pastoral and professional ministry (parish service, education, construction) in Corrèze and Dordogne.
1987: Cublac.
A community of three Fathers was established there near Terrasson, in connection with the other Fathers who were in Ussel, Sornac and La Peyrouse.
2000: The Bug.
The parish sector is entrusted by the diocese of Périgueux to two FMIs: the PPs. Julien Charrier and Bernard Lambert.
2006: Nontron.
In agreement with the bishopric of Périgueux, a team of three FMI Fathers and three UdJ Sisters is sent together on a mission to the pastoral sector of Nontron. The Fathers live in Nontron and the Sisters are in Javerlhac a few kilometers away.
2007: Bordeaux
In 2007 a sector made up of four parishes on the right bank of the Garonne was entrusted to Father Pierre Genais. After a long pastoral experience in the diocese of Troyes and a few years spent in the service of the Congregation in Chavagnes, he took charge of the parishes of Bordeaux-Bastide and Floirac. He was assisted initially by Father Joseph Sambiéni from Togo, then by Father Henri Brenon who had spent more than 40 years in the Antilles.
