Sixth period of IMF History (continued): period of transition and… transmission

New training centers are opening

The IMF, in their missions in France or outside France, had already met young people asking to join our religious family. These, after their classical training in the juniorates, middle schools and high schools, were all oriented for common religious training towards France for the novitiate and the scholasticate in Chavagnes then in St Sauveur. The religious evolution of France and the demands of young people in missions abroad then led the general council of the Congregation to consider the creation of several novitiates, in France but also several outside France.

In France a novitiate in Bordeaux in September 1978

There had been no more novices for around ten years. In September 1978, three young people presented themselves and a novitiate was opened in Bordeaux under the responsibility of Father Camille Dudit. This was the last novitiate opened in France.

In Africa a novitiate in Dapaong (Togo) in September 1986

The FMI, in Togo since 1968, was responsible for a seminary for seniors in Dapaong. This seminar brought together young people aged 20 to 30 from several dioceses in West Africa. In 1981, the IMF had also agreed to take responsibility for another seminary for seniors in the diocese of Nouna in Burkina.

From the years 1880-82, the congregation wanted the “Africanization” of the Dapaong seminary and the construction of a community house in Dapaong with a view to hosting a novitiate. The first novitiate in Africa for the FMI was therefore the Nazareth House, in September 1986, under the responsibility of Father Joseph Bourcereau with two novices.

Several novitiates followed under the responsibility of Father Jean-Luc Lambert.

The professed were then sent to continue their studies in the major seminaries of Burkina. It was first that of Koumi near Bobo-Dioulasso then those of Ouagadougou. FMI communities were formed to accommodate them, first in Bobo then in Ouagdougou with solid buildings on a large plot of land, then in the suburbs of Ouagadougou. “Bissighin” is now the location of the FMI scholasticate. Next to him, on the same land, the parish of St Augustin was founded and developed greatly. African IMFs are now a significant part of the congregation's membership.

In Burkina, an IMF community in Bobo-Dioulasso (July 1992)

After handing over the management of the Seminary of Nouna to the African abbots, the Sons of Mary Immaculate, to accompany the young FMI continuing their theological studies at the seminary of Koumi, near Bobo, looked for a place to set up. Mgr. Anselm T. SANON wanted to see an FMI community set up in the Diocese Training Center for the work of spiritual formation of Christians and support for the chaplaincies of the city's high schools and colleges. It was in July 1992 that this implementation began with Michel BUFFET, Jacques RABILLER then Basile PARE.

An FMI scholasticate in Ouagadougou (1998)

The Episcopal Conference of Burkina having decided to do a complete cycle of studies (Philosophy and Theology) in Ouagadougou, the FMI looked for a place of reception in Ouagadougou for the young people in training. It was first a house, then the purchase of three villas in a city and finally solid buildings on a large plot of land then in the suburbs of Ouagadougou. “Bissighin” is now the location of the FMI scholasticate. Next to him, on the same land, the parish of St Augustin was founded and developed greatly. African IMFs now form a significant portion of the congregation's membership.

In Venezuela a novitiate in Caracas in 1991

The IMF had been present in Venezuela since 1903. Some young Venezuelans had asked to join the congregation. But for their religious training, they had to leave their country and come to France. Four young people arrived in France around 1935, a few years before the Second World War, and two others around the 1950s.

These young people completed their school education in French and thus continued their religious and theological training far from home. This was the journey of Oswaldo Santana, who arrived in France in 1954, today archbishop of Maracaibo in Venezuela.

In 1991, a novitiate house was inaugurated on the premises of the Palo Grande presbytery, in Caracas, with two novices, under the direction of Father René Bossard. Other novitiates followed under the direction of Father Camille Dudit then Father Rafael Serrano. The professed then continue their studies in philosophy and theology at the Institute of Theology for Religious (I.T.E.R.).

In the West Indies a novitiate in 1993

The FMI had arrived in the Antilles, in Dominica first in 1872 then in St Lucia in 1878. When two young Creoles from St Lucia, brothers Jules and Henri Claustre asked to enter the congregation in 1884 and 1891, they were sent to France for the novitiate and theological training. It was only after their priestly ordination that they were able to return to St. Lucia for their ministry. Later, after the two world wars, other young people came again to France for a novitiate and theological training. The first, Julian John, arrived in 1952 and several others around the 1960s.

In 1993, a first novitiate was established in Dominica in Rosalie under the responsibility of Father Pierre Chauvet. Others followed under the responsibility of Father Michel Favalier. After their religious profession, the young people had to go to Trinidad for their theological training. And it was largely to support them that the bishop of Port-of-Spain granted a parish close to the university to the FMI Fathers.

Avenir

This period had profound repercussions in the evolution of the Congregation and raises important questions about its future. In the numerical evolution of its members, the congregation now has approximately 50% of members from France and 50% from Africa and America. This led us to review our way of expressing our charisma, of living in community and our structural organization of governance. We must rethink the future of our congregation so that religious find the environment that will allow them to flourish, to live their vocation and so that, all together, they can respond to the calls of the world and the needs of the mission. “The present sits on the shoulders of the past to better see the future. » This African proverb invites us to take into account our history, our origins, our “adventures”. (The 2016 chapter, Future, notebook 7).