Communiqué from Fr. Loïc Duverger, 1st Assistant District Superior of France
Suresnes, 24 April 2009
To all faithful pilgrims,
By now you've probably heard that the City Council of Paris, at the instigation of Green Party and Socialist members, voted under false pretenses a motion asking the mayor of Paris to deny us access to the Square-Louise Michel (formerly Square Villette) at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica at Montmartre where we customarily celebrate the closing Mass of the pilgrimage.
At this time the mayor has not officially banned entrance to the Square.
We pray to Our Lady of Chartres and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that he does not, and we invite you to join in our prayer so that we can offer, as we do every year, the Holy Mass on the Mount of Martyrs for the intentions of the Church and of France.
Since this announcement, the pilgrimage organizers have been trying with admirable enthusiasm to find a location where we could celebrate Mass in the event the Square becomes prohibited. It is difficult to find a place for large crowds of pilgrims with a nearby area to leave bags and a parking lot large enough for the busses.
In any event, everything will be ready to end the pilgrimage with beauty and, like every year, with a triumph for Christ the King. This threat hanging over our heads should not intimidate us. On the contrary, this trial has created a renewed enthusiasm and a fierce desire to gather in great numbers on the Monday of Pentecost to demonstrate that the attacks against the Church, which have been multiplying for months, will not stop us from proclaiming publicly, loudly, and clearly, the rights of God over all men and the entire city.
Dear fellow pilgrims pray, offer sacrifices, let us mobilize. Let those that have been undecided about coming; those who have decided not to come – let all of these now join us. It is important that this year we have an enormous crowd to sing: "Forever Catholics – Forever French"
Fr. L. Duverger
