The Church in France

The Haguenau deanery will hold its first assembly on Tuesday, November 10, at the Maison des Œuvres in Brumath. The meeting begins at 18h30 and will focus on the theme of healthy food and fair trade for all.

Episcopal vicar Christian Kamenisch and deanery animator Jean Thomas organized the event. The venue is located next to the Catholic church in Brumath.

The Marist Brothers concluded their 150-year presence in Chazelles-sur-Lyon with a mass of thanksgiving held on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The departure of Brother Albert and Brother Jean Louis marks the end of the religious order's historical involvement in the local community.

The brothers maintained an educational mission in the area since the late 19th century. Despite political tensions and secularization laws in 1903 and 1905, the order continued its work with young people. In the late 1920s, the brothers opened a new school on the road to Saint-Galmier to accommodate 150 students.

The order previously directed the Raoul Follereau college, with Brother Adrien Dalbègue, Brother Robert Paput, and Brother Auguste Gras serving as directors. In 2007, the school transitioned to lay leadership under Michèle Ragni.

The Archdiocese of Rennes published the parish newsletter for Saint Eloi du Garun for Sunday, November 1, 2026, the Solemnity of All Saints.

The Diocese of Saint-Brieuc will hold the rite of election for catechumens on February 14, 2027, at the Sanctuary of Querrien in La Prénessaye. The celebration is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of Lent.

The afternoon will be open to anyone wishing to join the candidates for a period of prayer for the diocese.

During the rite, a bishop or his representative publicly admits the candidates, who then manifest their will. This step is part of the process of Christian initiation for adults.

The Diocese of Saint-Flour will release a video titled Facing Mourning, What Hope? on its YouTube channel starting November 1.

Bishop Denis Moutel, bishop of Saint-Brieuc and Tréguier, is scheduled to bless a new statue of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux at the Vallée des Saints on October 31, 2026. The blessing will follow a Mass held in honor of the saint at the Saint-Gildas chapel. Father Emmanuel Schwab, rector of the sanctuary in Lisieux, will attend the celebration.

The statue of Saint Thérèse was created by sculptor Bilal Hassan. The event is part of the annual Fête des Saints, which includes the inauguration of twelve other statues sculpted in 2026.

Bishop Scherrer will administer confirmations in Perpignan on November 14 and 15.

On November 14, the bishop will perform confirmations for the doyennés of the vallée de la Têt and of Perpignan at the église Saint Martin de Perpignan at 15h. On November 15, he will confirm members of the doyennés of the Agly-Salanque and of the vallée du Tech at the chapelle saint Jean-Paul II at 10h30.

The Diocese of Nevers has released an updated diocesan calendar for the 2026-2027 pastoral year.

The calendar serves as a reference for the faithful and diocesan workers to track upcoming events. It includes diocesan celebrations, pastoral milestones, training sessions, meetings for various services and movements, and pilgrimages.

The diocese noted that the document is subject to regular updates throughout the year. The calendar is available for download through the official diocesan website.

Parishioners of Saint-André du Sablon in Metz joined priest Sébastien Douvier for a parish outing to conclude the month of October.

Six parishes and deaneries in the Diocese of La Rochelle hosted Famissio from October 24 to 30, an initiative where families participate in parish missions and the proclamation of the Gospel.

Archbishop Philippe Ballot of the Archdiocese of Metz will lead a novena of prayer for peace from November 3 to 11, 2026. The Archbishop is organizing the nine days of prayer in connection with the Saint-Benoît Institute.

The Diocese of Metz published a retrospective on Pope Leo XIV's visit to the city on September 28, 2026, during his trip to France.

The Diocese of Pontoise and the Maronite Patriarchal Vicariate of Sarba in Lebanon signed a partnership agreement to establish a spiritual and pastoral twinning. Bishop Benoit Bertrand and Bishop Paul Rouhana signed the convention on September 13, 2026, during a pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Pontoise and the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Pontoise.

The agreement follows five years of preparation and establishes a framework for the two communities to share pastoral experiences, missionary efforts, and charitable works. The partnership intends to increase communion between the faithful through mutual prayer and joint initiatives.

Archbishop Dominique Lebrun celebrated the Mass of Saint Romain at Notre-Dame Cathedral on Sunday, 25 October. The celebration included a presentation of diocesan merit awards to honor servants of the Church.

The Diocese of Saint-Claude held a theatrical performance on October 4, 2026, to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The production consisted of nine scenes depicting the life of Francesco Bernardone.

The initial performance was attended primarily by residents of the Maison François d’Assise in Lons-le-Saunier, their families, and staff members. Twenty actors presented the play accompanied by a duo of musicians.

Organizers have scheduled a second performance for the general public on Wednesday, November 25, at 15h at the Petites Soeurs des Pauvres. An evening performance date will be announced in the future.

The Diocese of Verdun published a report discussing the Christian population in Rwanda, noting that 90 percent of the population was Christian in 1994, with the majority being Catholic.

The parish of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Noisy-le-Sec celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sunday, 25 October, with a closing jubilee Mass.

Bishop Philippe Guiougou of the Diocese of Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, presided over the celebration. During the Mass, 28 young people and adults received the sacrament of confirmation.

The anniversary concluded with a communal meal in the parish halls.

Pope Leo XIV signed the decree of beatification for Father Gabriel Maria on February 21. The Order of the Virgin Mary celebrated the news with a thanksgiving Mass on October 25 at the chapel in Grentheville, following a ceremony held eight days earlier at the Cathedral of Créteil.

During the Grentheville Mass, Father Pitel read the decree from Rome regarding the virtues and cult of Gilbert Nicolas, the name of the new blessed. Bishop Jacques Habert presided over the liturgy and delivered a homily. The celebration included several priests and 6 clerics.

The Saint-Simon/Saint-Jude parish in Metz celebrated the centenary of its monthly pilgrimage to Saint Jude Thaddeus on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the 10th World Day of the Poor on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The Catholic Church established this day in 2016 under Pope Francis to encourage communities to practice solidarity with those facing poverty or exclusion.

For this year's observance, the pope selected the theme, The Lord is the refuge of the poor, based on Psalm 14. In a message published on June 13, 2026, the pope asked the Church to examine how much space it truly provides for poor persons within its communities and whether it offers them a dignified and attentive welcome.

The pope stated that Christian charity requires more than material aid. He noted that charity involves meeting people, listening to them, and recognizing their dignity. He also described poor persons not merely as recipients of solidarity, but as individuals who can offer human and spiritual richness to others and act as essential participants in evangelical renewal.

The Diocese of Avignon will celebrate a Mass for Saint Siffrein on Friday, November 27, at 18h30 at the Carpentras Cathedral.

Pope Leo XIV met with leaders of school and university pastoral ministry on October 22 to discuss the challenges facing young people.

The pope identified several factors contributing to youth anxiety, including digital isolation, broken families, and a culture of performance. He noted that many young people give up on their potential due to a fear of making mistakes. Rather than proposing a specific method, the pope suggested that educators and mentors provide a presence based on a pact of trust. He stated that courage grows when someone believes in a young person before that person believes in themselves.

The Diocese of Saint-Etienne held a spiritual retreat for health care pastoral workers on October 6, 2026. The day of recollection addressed how spirituality is expressed during the final stages of life in hospitals and nursing homes.

Pascale Vassal, head of palliative care at the Saint-Etienne University Hospital and president of the Terre d’éthique territorial health ethics committee, spoke about the ethical challenges of end-of-life care. Jean-Pascal Chourry, the diocesan delegate for health and disability pastoral care from the Diocese of Nice, spoke on the importance of addressing spiritual needs within the care process.

Chourry noted that the mission of a chaplain involves supporting broad spiritual needs rather than only providing religious services like prayer or sacraments. The retreat included testimony from a chaplain at the Hôpital Nord of the University Hospital regarding the role of listening and accompaniment for patients and their families.

The Diocese of Metz pilgrimage office organized a trip to the Holy Land for twenty-six people from the Moselle department from October 18 to 26, 2026.

Pope Leo XIV visited Paris for an event involving the Church in France.

Volunteers from the Diocese of Pontoise assisted with the visit by providing logistics, orientation, and assistance to participants. The diocese reported that volunteers traveled to Paris to manage various tasks and support the organization of the event.

Bishop Denis Moutel and the Episcopal Council of the Diocese of Saint-Brieuc held a three-day session for approximately 50 priests from October 19 to 21, 2026. The gathering took place at the La Roche du Theil welcome house near Redon to encourage fraternity and mutual understanding among colleagues.

The session used the apostolic letter "A fidelity that generates the future" from Pope Leo XIV as a central theme. This letter, released on December 8, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II decrees Optatam Totius and Presbyterorum Ordinis. The text emphasizes the necessity for clergy to care for one another and maintain their fraternal bonds.

During the meeting, priests discussed personal joys, discouragements, and frustrations within the presbyterium. The final day focused on formalizing collective suggestions and priority challenges for the coming months and years. Tiffany de Bonviller and Albane d’Harcourt facilitated the sessions using various group animation techniques.

The Diocese of Troyes has released the winning numbers for the tombola held during its diocesan kermesse.

The major prizes were awarded to the following numbers: 4372 for a robot vacuum, 0178 for a case of champagne, 2792 for two entries to Nigloland, 0494 for a dinner for two at a restaurant, and 1399 for an Economus pass. Consolation prizes were awarded to one winner per booklet for tickets ending in 17, 38, 52, 71, and 96.

Winners may collect their prizes at the reception of the Maison Notre Dame en Isle. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9h to 12h. The diocese requests that winners arrive in the morning and call 03 25 71 68 00 the day before they plan to visit.

Bishop Pierre-Yves Michel issued a message following the crash of a Mirage 2000D aircraft in Meurthe-et-Moselle, according to the Diocese of Nancy.

The former bishop of Belfort-Montbéliard met with a group of young pilgrims during their second day in Taizé on Tuesday, October 20.

The former bishop was accompanied by Rachel Leroy, Lysiane Burner, and Father Maxwel. During the meeting, he asked the young people to keep the Diocese of Belfort-Montbéliard in their hearts.

The Archdiocese of Avignon will hold Vespers for Saint Siffrein on November 22 at 17:00.

Marie-Noëlle Thabut has published commentary on the biblical readings for the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, 2026, through Artège editions.

The Saint-Luc parish in Nice has installed ceiling fans in the Sainte-Thérèse and Sainte-Hélène churches to improve comfort during high temperatures. The parish office stated that the equipment is now operational to help air circulate and assist elderly or fragile parishioners during summer celebrations.

The fans consume a maximum of 35 watts per unit. While the project was initially estimated to cost 8,000 euros, the parish reduced expenses through the work of volunteer parishioners. These volunteers provided professional skills, electrical work, and scaffolding to complete the installation. The parish is now requesting donations from the community to help fund the remaining costs of the project.

Students from the democratic school of Belfort visited several religious sites over two days to study different faiths as part of their history curriculum. The group visited Saint Christophe Cathedral, a mosque, Saint Jean Temple, and a synagogue.

History and geography teacher Virginie Larcher said the project was designed to make the study of religion more concrete by allowing students to meet the people who maintain these sites. The school organized the visits through the association AGIRE and in collaboration with the leaders of each religious site.

Primary and middle school students observed traditions, practices, and heritage through listening and asking questions. The school reported that the students shared their reactions to the visits on the school's Instagram page.

Bishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen confirmed 23 youths during a celebration at Saint-Pierre Church in Yvetot. The liturgy also marked the 70th anniversary of the church's dedication.

Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of friendship and dialogue during a meeting with representatives of various religious traditions in Metz on September 28, 2026. According to Bishop Denis Moutel of Saint-Brieuc and Tréguier, the Pope stated that dialogue does not diminish religious identity but expresses it through truth and simplicity by opening people to others.

The Pope also noted the necessity for individuals to participate in the service of peace and the defense of human life and dignity. During a peace march in Saint-Brieuc, Imam Taïcha Ben Taled spoke on behalf of the Muslim community, stating that despite differing beliefs, people share a single humanity.

The Diocese of Angoulême is conducting a five-day itinerant pilgrimage across the five deaneries of Charente from October 20 to 24, 2026. Organized by the Diocesan Pilgrimage Service, the event includes walking, prayer, the Eucharist, and communal exchanges.

The first day of the pilgrimage took place on Tuesday, October 20, in the Grand-Angoulême deanery. Participants walked from the Saint-Cybard church to the Saint-Cybard grotto to celebrate the Eucharist. During a stop at Saint-Jacques de l’Houmeau, the bishop spoke to the group about the Christian duty to walk toward holiness.

Marie-Noëlle Thabut published biblical commentaries for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time on October 25, 2026. The work, titled L'intelligence des écritures, was released by Artège editions.