Summer Intern Team Debut

Bonjour!

The peace of Christ be with you, dear friends and families! We are excited to have you join our pilgrimage through beautiful France and Italy: (back to front) Joy, Amanda, Daniel, Brent, Easton, Jack, Hannah, Giana, and Jessie.

May 26 - Our First Non-Zoom Meeting

After countless hours of plane rides, broken sleep, and baggage claim issues, our group of interns met in joy and excitement for the pilgrimage ahead. We knelt in front of Notre Dame to offer our pilgrimage to God and to pray for our families and friends.

We share our first conversation over delicious gyros, introducing ourselves. We come from across the country, but felt like we’d known one another for years! We all had a subtle sense that God had called each one of us on this mission for a specific reason.

After our shawarma, we had a beautiful little mass in the ancient St. Severin church where we welcomed the spirit of pilgrimage. We shared this moment of praising the Lord as one body. It was surreal to arrive in Paris and be given the opportunity to worship the Lord already.

We then hopped onto a train headed toward Nouan-le-Fuzelier, where we would begin our lives as pilgrims.

May 27 - June 8 Time in Nouan

The Community of the Beatitudes' retreat center for young people and families is two hours south of Paris in the flat, forested countryside near Orleans, near the town of Nouan-le-Fuzelier. The Nouan community is set in a peaceful, village-like manner. The front drive opens up to stunning red-bricked buildings that welcomed us to our new home.

During these first two weeks, our group grew closer as we rose to the sound of Jack's morning bugle for Lauds in the chapel or at the tiny chapel in the woods, launching us into the day’s chores. Some days we accompanied Jack as he scurried around with logs in his arms. Other days we cleaned the charming chapel that Amanda filled with singing. Of course, we won’t forget our outing down the road to the largest equestrian center in France to see horseball—a sport that mixes basketball and waterpolo but on horses—and another time to pick up a van-load of donated potato sacks that covered us in dust.

We received spiritual formation and French lessons from the one and only: Fr. Anthony of the Transfiguration. We snickered at his jokes and caught the glee in one another’s eyes as he told his fatherly lore.

Many friends were met and difficult “au revoirs” were made as we prepared for our next journey. A group of us would be heading to Lisieux and the others to Saint-Broladre. Please keep us in your prayers and know of our prayers for you!

Our time in France has already been blessed with so much love and joy. There is a deep peace found within the community that is truly beautiful. I have appreciated getting to know all of the people we have met and getting to encounter God through their witness. Everyday feels like a continual prayer of praise and thanksgiving. God is so good!

~Hannah Looman