Traditionalists and their parochial supporters occupy Church in France. "The Bishop tore our parish apart like a toy, fired the FSSP, and once the toy was broken, he lost interest in our fate"
Paix Liturgique provided news a few days ago from the faithful of Notre-Dame de Valence, previously served by the FSSP (Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter) – expelled by Bishop Durand. At the start of the school year, sacraments, catechism, and weekday Masses are to be suspended by the prince for the 300 faithful in Valence. They are occupying their Church and are appealing to their bishop, who has made it clear that he refuses to receive them:
The situation of the traditional Mass served by the FSSP in Valence appears complicated in mid-August. Dialogue has broken down between the bishop and the faithful in Valence – who have been occupying their Notre-Dame church since the beginning of the summer.
In front of Notre-Dame Church, a tent in the parking lot and banners reading "We are not puppets, but Christians," "United against disunity," and "Withdrawing the traditional Mass is an exceptional mistake."
The Church has been occupied every day—and night—since the beginning of summer, but continues to host Masses in both rites and diocesan events, including, most recently, a prayer vigil initiated by the Church of Saint John in the city centre.
"We organize Rosaries every evening. After Sunday Mass, we all stay and have dinner together. In recent months, the persecutions have considerably strengthened the cohesion and bonds within our parish community; they have motivated the faithful to defend their identity, their parish, and their faith."
In Valence, as in Quimper and Paris, Catholics no longer understand their bishops.
The faithful from other parishes who come here tell us they don't understand Bishop Durand's decision, notes a member of Notre Dame who helps maintain a daily presence at the church. "They find it regrettable that Bishop Durand is chasing his own faithful, and that there is room for everyone—Notre Dame de Valence poses no problem for anyone in the diocese."
The parish—which has seen its numbers increase significantly since COVID—has many young converts.
"Some here have only known Father Stemler. For them, his departure is a personal tragedy. The diocese seems somewhat dismissive of this aspect of the issue, and many accuse it of being absent when it comes to communication." It's not even a failure to listen—we're up against a brick wall, like an investment fund located across the Atlantic implementing a layoff plan in a factory deep in the Drôme region and completely ignoring the reactions on the ground, the factory being shut down, and the broken families."
"For our part, we're in the dark. The Bishop hasn't tried to contact us, even to introduce us to the priests he wants to install. We once had a Diocesan priest one evening who ordered us to leave the premises, but for us, that's not an option. The Bishop tore our parish apart like a toy, fired the FSSP, and once the toy was broken, he lost interest in our fate."
While the bishop has been absent several times this summer, going to Lourdes, Rome, and then back again—as if Our Lady of Valence and her faithful no longer existed—the 300 faithful attending the traditional Mass in Valence are expecting a little more charity.
"We are being blatantly ignored, denied our desire to be full-fledged Catholics of the diocese, because of our Mass, because we defend the sacraments and the catechism. This contempt for our community is completely abnormal and testifies to a freewheeling and outdated clericalism. Bishop Durand, who came here a few months ago, is persecuting Catholics who welcomed him and respect him, but who are not calves!" ", notes a father for whom "the bishop, like the father, must be an example and a model for his family, and we can hope to see him love us as we are and not as he would like us to be - unfortunately, we are very far from that, and we feel hurt."
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