As we already announced, a Colloquium on Father Henri Caffarel will take place next December 8th and 9th in the Collège des Bernardins in Paris. In order to learn a little bit more, we decided to interview To and Zé, our International Responsible Couple.
To & Zé, Why did you ask the Association of the Friends of Father Caffarel to organise another Colloquium with you and the International Leading Team (ERI)?
It was Father Paleri, postulator for the Cause for Canonisation of Father Caffarel in Rome, who convinced us that a second Colloquium would help promote of the Cause. He considered it to be very important to show the influence of Father Caffarel’s thinking and intuitions on the theology and spirituality of marriage and on prayer..
En quoi, ce colloque aura une portée plus internationale que le précédent ?
Une des grandes différences, c’est que pour ce colloque, une traduction simultanée en quatre langues (Anglais, Espagnol, Français, Portugais est prévue, avec une diffusion en temps réel sous la forme d’une web-conférence (streaming) accessible sur la plateforme Youtube via le site « Les Amis du Père Caffarel » par pour permettre au plus grand nombre, équipiers Notre-Dame ou non, partout dans le monde de participer à cette manifestation.
How will this Colloquium have a more international reach than the previous one?
One of the big differences is that for this Colloquium, there will be simultaneous translation in four languages (English, French, Portuguese & Spanish) together with a real-time broadcast streaming on Youtube via the site “Les Amis du Père Caffarel” to enable the greatest number of Team members as well as others, throughout the world, to participate in this event.
Will the speakers too be international?
Indeed! Almost 35 speakers of different nationalities are expected to explore aspects of Father Caffarel’s personality or his thinking and the merits of his works. These speeches will be illustrated by testimonials from numerous countries and through video clips from all over the world. They will show the universal character of his proposals that remain relevant to men and women today.
Why did you choose the Collège des Bernardins?
Firstly, the choice of Paris was obvious because Father Caffarel used to be a priest in that diocese. As for the Collège de Bernardins, well, it is a prestigious place for meetings, research and culture as well as being a centre of theological and biblical formation for the diocese of Paris. Since 2009, it houses the Catholic Academy of France.
December 8th, 2017 will also mark the 70th anniversary of the Charter. Will you be celebrating this event?
Yes, the France-Luxembourg-Switzerland Super-Region is responsible for organising this celebration. A mass will be said in the Church of St Augustin, Father Caffarel’s parish, and will be presided over by Monsignor de Moulins-Beaufort, auxiliary bishop of Paris. A festive time will follow to which all Team members are invited.
The Association of “The Friends of Father Caffarel” is not always so well known in the world. Can you tell us what its role is?
The Association of “The Friends of Father Caffarel” was created on July 7th, 2005 to promote the Cause for Canonisation of Father Caffarel, that was opened on April 25th, 2006. It is an international association that aims to establish and put in place actions throughout the world to make Father Caffarel (his personality, his thinking on marriage and private prayer, his spirituality) better known. The Association also financially supports the work on the Cause.
How can we support the Cause for Canonisation of Father Caffarel?
The best way is for the greatest number to adhere to and become members of “The Friends of Father Caffarel.” This is essential and it is the responsibility of every Team member to enable this Association to continue to do its work. We hope that the Colloquium will stimulate everyone’s interest for this wonderful cause in the service of marriage and prayer.
Thank you, To & Zé, for all these clarifications about the Colloquium.
See you next December 8th & 9th in Paris!
