On February 17 it was a day of excitement and great pride as French Prime Minister Jean Castex visited his alma mater, Collège Notre-Dame de Garaison in Monléon-Magnoac, a school under the tutelage of the Vicariate of France. Originally from Vic-Fezensac (Gers), the Prime Minister graduated from the school in 1982 before studying political science and becoming a senior civil servant.

Welcoming the Prime Minister were Fr. Paul Valentin, C.S.C., Vicariate Superior, Fr. Pascal Garçon, C.S.C., Rector, and Deacon Claude Lacroix, a long-time educator at the school and friend of Prime Minister Castex.

During his visit, Mr. Castex visited with former classmates and later addressed an assembly of high school faculty members and students. Evoking some of his memories of his boarding days at the school, the Prime Minister also entertained some of the students’ questions. 

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After requesting a visit to the chapel, Mr. Castex then paid his respects to the deceased priests whom he knew as teachers and directors in the adjacent cemetery. Before the Vicariate accepted the tutelage of the school in 2019, the College was staffed by the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception for over 150 years.

Although the visit of the Prime Minister was only for a few hours, it will leave a lasting memory for the students and faculty.