On this morning of October 17, pilgrims for a day arrive in Querrien*; they come from all the diocese of Saint-Brieuc and Tréguier -in Brittany, FRANCE- to celebrate the 100th World Mission Day.
We are greeted by the sound of the tam-tam that rhythms the steps of a group of dancers dressed in shimmering colors… *In the ‘Jeanne Courtel’ room where we are engaged, voices sing a song of praise and draw into this movement those who take their place…
Warmly welcoming the assembly, Sister Veronica, episcopal delegate to the Universal Mission, made known the different groups present: baptized with various vocations from all areas of the diocese, priests “Fidei Donum”, religious congregations whose internationality is made clearly visible by the presence of many African sisters.
Our bishop, Mgr Denis Moutel welcomes us and invites us to “open the eyes of our heart to the light of the Lord and to stand in hope”. That’s how we welcome the various witnesses who are coming before us.
— First of all, Father Jean Le Rétif reminds us of the history of the call of Pius XII in 1957, urging particular churches to exchange among themselves and dioceses to help each other. Thus the churches of Africa developed after colonization… The diocese of St Brieuc sends many priests on mission abroad, in Africa or Brazil. In the same spirit and inspired by the Second Vatican Council, missionary cooperation among the laity is awakened and religious congregations send members to Africa with a mission of evangelization. – Today, it is the priests and nuns of Africa who, in the name of “Fidei Donum” come to evangelize us… –
— Then, Pascaline, DHS, from Burkina Faso, expresses with simplicity and enthusiasm her joy at having been sent to Cameroon and Peru to work on the education of children and young people. Living in an international community has been an enrichment for the mission. Today in France, she still vibrates to have transmitted and shared the Word of God in Peruvian parishes!…
— In their turn, high school students from the École du Sacré Cœur de Saint-Brieuc, supervised by their teacher Thierry, have committed themselves to a “lassalien” project of missionary educational service. They lived three weeks a day in a home with young Togolese: they went to class with them, danced and prayed with them, organized football tournaments… What they saw and lived transformed them, gave them a lesson of courage and fraternity, convinced them that the mission begins with meeting the other and listening to his story, that we must understand the culture of the other before judging it… They claim to have received more than they gave!
This is how all day long, through the testimonies heard and the actions taken, we were immersed in a spirit of Mission: a shared meal where rich and different creations are spread out for the benefit of all, learning Breton dances and deploying African dances under the amazed eyes of spectators almost swept away by the rhythm, the processional contribution of various musical instruments, all necessary for the harmony of an orchestra, transmission of the Book of the Word from the hand of a Westerner to an African hand and vice versa… not to mention the many encounters that the breaks allowed: everything reminded us that welcoming the different other is a condition of the mission.
But the Word of God received in prayer, and commented by our bishop led us to the essential: union with Christ, through whom we have a filial relationship to the Father is source of mission in the Church. It is she who makes us share the love we have received. Also, “united in Christ,” we were called and sent to be “united in the Mission.”
By Armandine BAGOT, DHS. Published on 19 October 2026
Querrien: commune in the Brittany region, France.
In the room ‘Jeanne Courtel ’ —name of a young shepherdess to whom the Virgin appeared in this place, on August 15, 1652… –
