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Thanksgiving for a beautiful page of history
 "I, the Undersigned, René François de Gouyon de Thaumatz, ex-naval officer and knight of St Louis, living at the manor-house of Thaumatz, district of Plélan-le-Petit, department of the Côtes du Nord, having nothing more at heart but to bring relief to the poor, assistance to the needy, and provide a sound Christian education to the youth... bequeath to the town of Plélan-Le-Petit and that of La Lande, the sum of twenty-five thousand francs... the said sums will be used to establish a house of charity in each of these towns. ... to welcome and lodge in each of them two, three or four Sisters of the Holy Spirit, called White Sisters, whose main house is situated in the town of Plérin, near Saint Brieuc… the said Daughters will be in charge of providing a sound Christian education to the young women and to care, free of charge, for the sick poor of these two council towns…”. This is a will dated 6 May 1836 which enabled the simultaneous foundation of two DHS communities, one at la Lande, the other at Plélan-Le-Petit which dates back to 1839. Since then, about a hundred sisters have succeeded to one another in this house.
On Sunday 29 June, feast-day of St Peter and Paul, patron saints of the parish, we gave thanks for the 166 years of intense presence and dedication of the sisters to the life of their parish. They have awakened the children, the youth, the adults to the tender love of God. Their strong faith and apostolic zeal have empowered the Christians to commit themselves to the service of the Church. Sr Augustine, Marie Annick, Marguerite and Marie were surrounded by parishioners from Plélan-Le-Petit among whom former pupils, and by some thirty DSH who had come from the neighbouring areas or who had been part of the community. 
The whole area will undoubtedly miss the joyful and lively community but their memory will stay with us. The celebration presided by Father Corbel, assisted by two priests, native of Plélan, was very prayerful and moving. The children, whom the sisters had particularly looked after, offered each of the community a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as this Sunday marked the end of the catechism year. The choir added a festive note to the celebration in a church beautifully decorated.
It was a sunny day : the ideal weather for sharing refreshments offered and served by the members of the pastoral animation team, an opportunity to meet again and bring back happy memories.
Godspeed to the four sisters in their new missionary fields !
Next page : Words of encouragement
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