From 1-15 July, 22 young Holy Cross religious from 13 jurisdictions gathered in France for the Congregation of Holy Cross’s first-ever international Final Vows Program, Coming into the Land of Our Blessing. Because of differences in formation calendars around the world, the program included both those preparing for their Final Vows and those who had recently professed them.

The program, which was recommended by the 2022 General Chapter, is overseen by the Congregation’s Commission for Vocations and Formation, which is led by Co-chairs Br. Bertrand Nee Wayoe, C.S.C., Fourth Assistant, and Br. Jonathan Beebe, C.S.C., Sixth Assistant.

From the beginning, a great spirit of fraternity, openness, and joy marked the group. The program began at the Solitude of Issy in Paris, where a young Blessed Basile Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, spent a formative year with the Sulpicians. While in the French capital, the participants were able to take in some of the key cultural and ecclesial sites, including the Eiffel Tower, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, and the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral.

Visit the Shrine of Blessed Basile Moreau

Then, on their way to Le Mans and La Solitude du Sauveuron on 3 July, the group stopped by the Cathedral of Charters, where Fr. Moreau, a year after his ordination, placed his ministry under the protection of the Virgin Mary.

On 4 and 5 July, following a group reflection on our religious call led by Br. Beebe, the program entered more deeply into the Congregation’s history and spirituality, touring Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Church, the Cathedral of St. Julien, and La Solitude. They also visited Laigné-en-Belin, where Fr. Moreau was born and grew up, and Ruillé-sur-Loir, where Fr. Jacques Dujarié founded the Sisters of Providence and the Brothers of St. Joseph.

The program had two more pilgrimage days on 8 and 11 July. The first of those days was spent visiting the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Angers, for whom Fr. Moreau served as a spiritual director, and the Benedictines at Saint Peter’s Abbey in Solesmes, where the renewal of the liturgy influenced our Founder’s spirituality. The second day, the group went to La Grande Trappe, a favorite pilgrimage site of Fr. Moreau. The participants were blessed to join the monks for their Mass for the Feast of St. Benedict.

The rest of the program took place at La Solitude. On 6 July, Br. Bertrand gave an impactful talk on self-awareness and growth. As it was Sunday, the participants also joined the Mass at the Shrine of Blessed Basile Moreau.

On 7 July, the program looked more directly at the religious vows, with Fr. John DeRiso, C.S.C., giving a talk on Fr. Moreau’s understanding of the vows and Br. Nirmal Gomes, C.S.C., joining via Zoom, speaking on the prophetic nature of religious consecration today. Br. Beebe then led the religious in reflecting on living their vows in their own cultural and ecclesial contexts.

Read about the men making Final Vows around the world

The topic for 9 and 10 July was the mission and internationality of the Congregation, with Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, joining the program and reflecting with the participants on Fr. Moreau’s sense of mission and the Congregation’s mission today. The participants also shared about the mission in their respective countries.

A highlight for the participants was an encounter via Zoom with the Congregation’s pioneering missionaries in Papua New Guinea, who exuded real apostolic zeal as they shared their early experiences in Bougainville.

For 12-14 July, the participants had a retreat, praying the Spiritual Exercises of Fr. Moreau. The retreat ended with all present making a devotional renewal of their vows. The following day, the participants shared graces that they hope to carry with them and did an evaluation of the program. The day ended with Mass at La Solitude, which included a special blessing and sending of the religious.