Mgr Jean-Paul James - Diocèse de Bordeaux

Watch La Vie des Diocèses with La Mutuelle Saint-Martin Hello everyone and welcome to La Vie des Diocèses on KTO Television and KTO Radio A show, as you can see, recorded here from the studios of the communication of the Lourdes Sanctuary on the occasion of the Assembly of the Bishops of France and as every week we go to discover a territory, a diocese and its bishop And today we go to Gironde to discover the department and therefore the diocese, the largest in France, the diocese of Bordeaux which extends over 10,000 square kilometers In this edition we will discover an innovative campus, the Campus François d'Assise and we will see that the restructuring of the territories of the parishes which will be announced at the end of November goes much further than a matter of organization To start, a few words about Gironde, the largest French department as I told you A territory obviously marked by the large regional metropolis of New Aquitaine which is Bordeaux but also by this long coastline of 125 km open on the Atlantic coast Let's think for example of the Arcachon Basin and its fishing and oyster activity or the Pain Maritime Forest which extends over nearly 40% of the territory It is a department that benefits from a strong demographic growth and a real economic dynamism And we all have in mind of course the famous wines of Bordeaux Gironde is indeed the first basin of production of red wines To talk about the diocese of Bordeaux, I receive today its archbishop, Mr. Jean-Paul Jammes Hello sir, hello madam Thank you for joining us at the heart of the plenary assembly here in Lourdes I just gave a few elements, how could you describe your diocese to us today in a few words? The diocese of Bordeaux It is a diocese that is marked of course by the Bordeaux agglomeration Virtually half of the population is present on the agglomeration A diocese that benefits from demography and which is dynamic That's what I remember from him So a few figures precisely concerning the diocese The 2020 figures note 1,620,000 inhabitants There are 57 parishes divided into 10 dioceses In any case in a few days, a few weeks, that's what you're going to announce 113 establishments in Catholic education including 2 agricultural 162 priests make up the Presbyterium 162 priests under 75 years old 41 permanent deacons and 7 seminarians 36 religious communities, 8 consecrated virgins And 373 laity in ecclesial mission These are some figures that do not say everything about the life of the diocese But we will be able to see it together But first some information Concerning you, Monsignor Jean-Paul Jammes You have been an archbishop of Bordeaux since 2019 Born in 1952 in Rennes, in Ile-et-Vilaine You were ordained a priest in 1985 for this same diocese Your ministry of priesthood has been marked by several missions In the service of the training of seminarians in Rennes It was in 2003 that Pope Francis named you bishop of Beauvais In 2009 you became bishop of Nantes And now you are in Bordeaux You are a member of the Episcopal Council for the Movement and Association of Faithful since 2022 I also remind you of your motto Which comes from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians We are your servants because of Jesus Am I right? Absolutely To start, perhaps a word, Monsignor, on the state of mind in your diocese Because you succeeded Monsignor Ricœur a year ago He publicly admitted, through a letter to the bishops gathered in Lourdes That he had behaved in a reprehensible way with a 14-year-old girl While he was, more than 35 years ago, parish priest in Marseille These facts had serious and lasting consequences for this person He admitted The preliminary investigation for aggravated sexual assault Was then classified by the Marseille Parquet Because of the prescription of the facts But the canonical trial resulted in the suspension of all public ministries For a duration of five years My question is simple How did the Christians in Gironde experience these revelations? With a lot of trial, with a lot of suffering First, because they thought of the person who was affected by these facts And then because they also thought of Monsignor Ricœur For whom they had a lot of esteem During the 18 years where he was a bishop of Bordeaux And so they had kept a very good memory Which was a little altered by the event And of course, this event provoked a reflection For those who were ordained by him For those who worked with him And in a certain way, it also accelerated on our part The desire to do everything to help the victims There had been, from the time of Monsignor Ricœur A cell of listening and welcoming in the diocese of Bordeaux And more than that, a concern for prevention With regard to potential victims And so a training that had been proposed To people, both priests and laypeople In contact with children or young people When you arrived in Bordeaux, Monsignor Jean-Paul Jammes A diocesan synod had just taken place from 2017 to 2019 During this program, we will talk about the issue of the implementation Of these great orientations that we will be able to develop Can you tell us a little about these three great themes? Of course, because you know that a synod is a major event in the life of a diocesan We often relate the formula of the Book of Acts of the Apostles The Holy Spirit and we have decided that I believe that at the end of a synod, those who participated can say that This is the sign that the synod is successful Yes, absolutely, and that it is, of course, under the motion of the Holy Spirit Which enlightens the Church at some point And so my concern is not to make an event of the past On the contrary, to welcome this synod, its reflection, its prayer To lead and guide the life of the diocese in the coming years And so this is the object, three main points Since the theme was a fairly general theme Three main points We will take up with you these three great themes But first I suggest you go and discover an innovative campus The François d'Assise campus Which came out of the ground in a neighborhood of Bordeaux in full expansion Euro-Atlantic And which was inaugurated, of course, with you in March 2023 In this 9,000 square meters campus The Junior Engineering School of the Catholic University of Lille is located L'ISFEC or the École de la Deuxième Chance in Fepté As well as the offices of the Catholic Education of Gironde With, among other particularities, the presence of three young priests who live there Our journalist Ophélie Marien went to discover this new place Where the Church wants to bear witness to its proximity to the students This October 4, St. François d'Assise A mass is celebrated on the campus which bears its name in Bordeaux St. François was able to spread this love of Christ It was flooded in his heart He let himself be bathed by this love to transmit it Stéphane Chassard-Guillard is the diocesan director of the Catholic Education of Gironde Who brought this innovative campus project Beyond being an office building Where there are private working spaces There are extremely vast shared spaces This building promotes exchanges, collaboration, cooperation Wanting to be a place of life, a place of professional sharing Spaces of meetings and spaces that, by sharing them Make it possible for us to mix our activities And grow together in our central activity Which is instruction, education and elevation through evangelization On this 9,000 sq. m. campus There is the Junior Engineering School of the Catholic University of Lille The ISFEC or the Second Chance School in Feptes Students from these different schools can meet Especially in the atrium The choice was made to set up a priesthood Of three young priests on the campus It is also really an intention to be able to offer Christ To all those who live here or go here for their studies For now, everything is still under construction Like the neighborhood, so we go slowly We also listen to each other's expectations Often it allows for young people who are a little far from the church It is easier to approach someone you meet every day Than someone you imagine in the smoke of incense and at the top of the hotels With Fr. Eloy and Fr. Jean-Michel They share a duplex They pray the Lourdes together every morning in the chapel of the campus Before breakfast Fraternal life is also being able to support yourself in a mission where everything is to be built I think it really shows the request of the church for those who are there There are not many priests It is still an important choice to put three priests here Living here, it creates links, it opens doors It opens doors in the way of being with young people Who will not necessarily go to a monastic activity Or go to mass or go to ask a priest for a sacrament On the other hand, if they see him going up the mountains Repairing his bike Everyone then goes to their occupations All having several other missions, including parish In the weeks and months to come The main challenge will be to create links with the students who pass on the campus We just saw this report that you also discovered The church went out, is that it too? Absolutely Because you forgot another point that is present on the Campus François d'Assise It is a home of 80 students While he was not yet present when we went to film But we knew that things were going to happen And so a home of 80 rooms Distributed around 7-8 apartments That is to say that there are 5-6 rooms per apartment Possibility to live a community life embryo And then to exchange together And the priests who will be present Will also go to the meeting of these students Of these young professionals sometimes Who will live there, who will live on the site We also need in everyday life To have this presence of the church Because we see that many students May not meet priests for years That's it, it's a matter of proximity Being close to the life of students Young professionals And also of course teachers Since there are in the campus A certain number of teachers present Either as engineers Either as teachers And make sure that they have the possibility If they want to To simply exchange with the priests And to pray with them And to celebrate with them We also see in this report several priests Who reside in the same place Is that in the diocese These priestly fraternities It is one of the answers to fight Against the isolation of priests? In any case, it is encouraged I do not say that it is systematic You know, you said it at the very beginning Of your intervention The territory is very vast And sometimes it becomes very difficult To regroup on an extremely vast territory Because it's going to be miles to do Simply Every time a priest manifests the desire To live in a community Or in a small team with others We try to satisfy him It's an answer to their request In a way, right? Yes, it's an answer to their request And it's also more than that It's a wish that lives in me Because I really believe That the fraternal life Encourages evangelization It is testimony And that, I think, is something very important People are sensitive When a team of priests Lives well and is happy to live together Well, it rejoices On the totality of the community We are now going to discover the parishes Saint Jean de Bélcier, Sacré-Cœur, Sainte-Croix And Saint Michel in Bordeaux Who will become a new parish The parish Saint Jean l'Apotre We met the priest And members of the EAP Engaged in the writing Of their new pastoral project Because beyond a simple Territorial restructuring Which will be promulgated During the Holy Andrée At the end of November It is about discerning The pastoral priorities That each parish wants to put in place So that the Gospel continues To be announced there We proposed To the members of the pastoral team Called To dream Of the Sacré-Cœur parish In 2030 Trying to go all out On what would be for us A beautiful missionary parish And these ideas Which were sometimes Very concrete Being able to live A recurring parish pilgrimage Being able to be invited To the Mass Very simple ideas Of the daily life To say And now Where are we today And what can we put As a gallon Us, EAP To help the parish And the parishioners To go from where we are To where we would like to go In the parish There is always this repetition This invitation To change The heart To become more missionary More open To go and meet others To This church is only To come to the parish For services To receive No, each member Had to be also Engaged In a way of possibility I think that really This aim is very present And now to be able To apply it To a sector So a new parish Larger With four bells It is a challenge But we are thinking And we are putting in place In the pastoral project A set of measures Aiming to identify The needs of the parishioners To create courses of training And help So that everyone Can fully Recognize and respond Finally to his vocation To baptize And to be a missionary Mgr Jean-Paul Jamm We just heard The members of this new parish It is really in the continuity Of the synodal process That you wanted to engage The diocese In this pastoral project Entitled Missionary parish Is that the goal? Absolutely The goal is To revive The missionary momentum Of the diocese You know that The synod Is over And the people Were quite enthusiastic About the conclusions Of the synod And they started Quite quickly In the projects Of fraternities Of Christian fraternities Of neighborhoods Of diakonies Of parish diakonies And then everything Was interrupted By the unfortunate COVID And so It is for us To revive This missionary momentum To promote The diocesan synod And on this occasion To support us On something That is already Living a lot That is to say That there has been For almost 30 years A regrouping of parishes That work That are called Pastoral sectors That will become Parishes In full To give A new missionary momentum And so for this A missionary project Written by each parish Depending on Its mission I see for example Here The parish That has been mentioned It is a parish That is very close To the Saint-Jean station Very close To a new neighborhood In a cosmopolitan neighborhood There are a lot Of people That pass And so A beautiful parish That will Certainly Finally make Discover And share Its joy Of knowing Christ The one who met Christ Can't keep it For himself And then every time You have to find A new name Saint-Jean-l'Apotre Which is not nothing Exactly Nice momentum How is this New organization As I said In the introduction It is not only A way to organize The territory differently But how is it At the service Of these three axes That we talked about To be disciples of Christ To be disciples in community To be disciples out How does this organization Make the link With these great axes? I believe that The parish In a certain way Has to live All the dimensions Essential Of the Christian faith That is The relationship To the person of Jesus We may have forgotten No? For a while Unfortunately We went to church And we forgot That there was everything else Exactly And we had to remember It's like a kind of tripod And if we don't sit His faith What is this tripod? This tripod Well it's just The testimony And the teaching The liturgy The prayer The sacraments The frequentation of the sacraments And then finally The testimony That is To put into practice Concretely The Christian faith That we discovered And that we celebrated Three A tripod On which the parish sits And the parish Will be invited For each Of these Feet of the tripod Will be invited To make proposals For the whole Of the parish For the next few years You used a word That is Maybe less known The word diachony Yes What does it mean Deeply Live the diachony In the church Live the diachony As a Christian Well The Christian faith It takes place In charity Towards the brothers In the love of the brothers If my faith Doesn't live in action It is vain That's it If my faith is not acting It is vain As Saint Paul says A faith that does not act Is a faith that is already dead And that's it And there is work to be done In the field of education In the field of solidarity In the field of I was going to say Fraternal exchanges Simply Because people Are very eager They already live it But we want to deepen This This dimension By offering To all the parishes Of the diocese Next June A feast Of the diachony I now offer you Monsignor We are already entering In the last part of the show And we are going to listen To some questions From the field So there will be A first question To which you will be able To answer directly A first question from Claire Who was at the JMJ In Lisbon Hello So I was wondering What was the most beautiful memory That you keep Of the JMJ And also What are the fruits That you hope to see In the diocese After these JMJ The most beautiful memory That I have, Claire Is the welcome Of the Portuguese Really A warm welcome And a fervent welcome I participated with them In prayer In one of the parishes Close to Porto It was really An unforgettable moment A life of prayer together A life of prayer Together A fraternal life Together And what I expect What I expect From the young people Who went to the JMJ I had the chance To tell them Remember The five essentials And look The five essentials Of the faith And try to see Which little steps In the progress Of the JMJ Which little steps Are you called to do in Bordeaux after the CGMG. I was told about the student almsgiving. That's it, that new young people are introduced to student almsgiving. And young people, not only who are linked to the Christian faith, but young people who ask for baptism. And that's my joy. We will now listen to another question which comes from Emma, who is a student in the Environmental Sciences in Bordeaux. Hello, my question was about the divorced people who did not receive the cancellation of their marriage and who end up not being able to communicate. I just wanted to know if there were any thoughts that were thrown at them, because it caused a lot of suffering for these people. And if there were any thoughts, what kind of thoughts and how do we think about it? Yes, Emma, there are thoughts. Since, in particular, the new text of Pope Francis, the Joy of Love. Amoris Laetitia. This text introduces, in particular in chapter 8, propositions of reflection, propositions of action with our brothers and sisters divorced and remarried. Since it is a bit this question that was mentioned. And so I encourage people who are divorced and remarried to go to the meeting of a priest, to go to the meeting, and I would like to launch this with the diocesan service of the family pastoral, to go to the meeting of couples to help them enter into a process, into a path, a path of faith. And to take an example, we opened last year a house called the Familia House in Bordeaux. And this Familia House has been proposing since this year a path to people divorced and remarried. And we share together on their path, the particularity of their path and what the Church can envisage with it. Maybe as a pastor too, you have a word to give to all those who feel excluded from the Church. The Pope does not stop saying that the Church is open to everyone, that it is for everyone. What would you like to say as a pastor, as a bishop of Bordeaux? Of course, our brothers and sisters divorced and remarried are members of the Church, members of the Christian communities, who do not hesitate to participate in the life of the parish. We will now listen to a third question from Bernadette, who is a volunteer at the Notre-Dame-des-Anges parish in Bordeaux. Good evening. I would first like to say that I really appreciate the presence of Fr. James in Bordeaux and that I really appreciate his ceremonies at the cathedral. The questions I could ask him are why are our churches empty when there are so many good pastors and, on the other hand, what does he think of the marriage of the priests? Great question. Yes, so it would certainly take me more than a minute to answer why the churches are empty. First of all, I discover that churches always attract and Christian communities always attract. I was struck last year by the number of adult catechumens in the diocese of Bordeaux. And so, if in fact the assemblies are much less numerous than they could be, and I think the lady refers to it, if they are much less numerous, yet they are not left out far from there. And, on the contrary, I believe that young people, especially young people in their thirties, people who already have a professional life, who sometimes have a family commitment, wonder about the meaning of their life and want to give meaning to their life, meet the person of Christ, sometimes in a very surprising way, almost mystical, sometimes also thanks to relatives, thanks to friends. And that's extraordinary. So, Madam, what I can tell you is that, in fact, yes, churches are certainly less frequent than they could be, but I assure you that there are beautiful testimonies that say the interest of young people, in particular, for the Christian faith. We are already at the end of this show, Mgr Jean-Paul James. I would like to remind those who are listening to us, who are watching us, you mentioned the feast of Diakonie, it will be on June 1 and 2, 2024. Thank you very much for coming here, to Lourdes, on the set of La Vie des Dioceses. To learn more about the diocese of Bordeaux, you can consult the website bordeaux.catholique.fr And of course, you can find us on kto.tv.com Thank you again for your loyalty and see you next week.