To evoke the Province of France is to return to the very source of the project of the Venerable Louis Querbes. 195 years ago, the parish priest of Vourles conceived here the prophetic dream of a fraternity dedicated to education and the service of the altar. The spiritual family, born in this land, continues to serve the Church with passion, beyond eras and borders.
The influence of the original foundation extends far beyond France. For 75 years, the Province of France has planted the roots of the charism in African lands with the Foundation of Ivory Coast.
Although the Region of Ivory Coast stands out today for its greater vitality and the youth of its members, it remains organically linked to the Province of France, on which it depends. This historical union has been manifested through a constant adaptation to the structural evolutions of the parent entity:
From 2012 to 2019: When France adopted the status of Delegation, Ivory Coast automatically became a vice-delegation.
Since May 31, 2024: Marking a stage of maturity, Ivory Coast has attained the status of Region, remaining united to the destiny of the Province of France.
Today, the French component of the Province has about forty members, including religious and associates. Although faces change and physical strength diminishes, the founder's spirit remains extraordinarily relevant.
Despite the fragilities linked to age or health, the Viators of France are not "retirees of the charism" but, as the Superior General emphasized, authentic sentinels of the Spirit. They embody the Querbesian charism in daily life through:
The mission of the Province of France remains that of educators, driven by the urgency of announcing the Good News and building communities where faith is "lived, deepened, and celebrated."
Viatorian associates, by virtue of their baptism, are heirs and full actors of the mission, and not simple substitutes. Their lay commitment draws its sap from their belonging to the Viatorian family.
However, a legitimate concern is expressed regarding the aging of religious members in Europe. The feeling that local resources are becoming scarce gives rise to the fear of seeing the source run dry, a challenge that the Province assumes with lucidity, while finding hope in the dynamic succession observed in Ivory Coast.
In the Lyon region, the Viatorian charism is translated into concrete actions for human rights:
Far from being a political stance, these actions are a direct translation of the Gospel and Jesus' compassion for the multitude. It is in this response to the distresses of our time that the mission finds its full relevance.
The Province of France does not belong only to the past; it constitutes a pillar of our present and our future. Religious and associates, whether in Europe or Africa, form a single body where the Spirit acts through open hearts.
Each member knows they are a vital link in this chain of fraternity forged two centuries ago. With their generosity, they testify that the dream of the parish priest of Vourles was not an illusion, but a divine work capable of enduring through time.
