Valence: Faithful Occupy Notre-Dame Church After FSSP Expulsion
The community was previously served by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), but was abruptly deprived of its priests by Bishop François Durand. He announced that sacraments, catechism, and weekday Masses would cease this autumn.
Outside the church, banners read: "We are not puppets, but Christians," and "Removing the traditional Mass is a grave mistake."
The faithful keep watch day and night, pray the rosary each evening, and share meals after Sunday Mass.
They denounce the bishop’s silence and indifference. Many note that the community, strengthened by young converts since Covid, is now left in uncertainty.
"The bishop has broken our parish like a toy, expelled the FSSP, and then walked away," says one parishioner.
While Monsignor Durand has been traveling to Lourdes and Rome, the faithful of Valence have remained inside their church.
Earlier in August, parishioners sent an open letter to the bishop asking him to request the same exemption granted to the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, which permits Holy Mass and sacraments for two more years.
The letter states that dialogue with the bishop has broken down. "You told us we would no longer be received and that you were leaving on vacation. It is out of necessity, not choice, that we speak to you publicly.”
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