This Friday afternoon, 28 November 2025, upon arriving in the parish hall of La Mure for the annual meeting of their General Assembly, the Friends of Father Eymard found the sun sinking toward the horizon, pink clouds drifting across the bright sky, the ground covered by a blanket of snow, and it was chilly. This weather well suited imagining the four year old Saint Peter Julian Eymard walking in midwinter to the parish church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament - a practice that he would also follow until death. On this day, twenty-five Friends of Father Eymard from two parishes - Saint Pierre-Julien Eymard and Notre-Dame d’Esparron—came for the annual meeting under the watchful eye of their patron.
A shared organization and facilitation
The words of welcome and thanks that open this gathering end with a moment of silence and prayer for those friends of Father Eymard who passed away this year: Françoise Desmoulins (who was present at the Mass for Father Eymard’s canonization), Louis Bardin, Monique Bontoux, and Michèle Lecarme.
The following events marked the current year in a particular way: hosting the members of the General Council of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for a week-long retreat at the Eymard House from 3 to 10 November 2024; the meeting of the Commission on the Founder’s Writings (CEFO) from 6 to 13 July 2025; the procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of La Mure (escorted by the police) on Friday, 1 August 2025, in preparation for Father Eymard’s liturgical feast.
What was new was both the welcome of numerous pilgrims during this jubilee year and the centenary of Father Eymard’s beatification, and the teamwork of the six-member Administrative Council in order to provide, at least to some extent, the service required.
Activities related to the theme: ‘Eucharist and fraternity’
“We will address five points: the activities organized during the year, the welcome at the Eymard House, achievements, the work of the team, and the summary report”– all these were described by Father Louis Bunga, deputy director of the Eymard Spirituality Centre and moderator of the meeting. Overall, activities were carried out in continuity with previous years and in keeping with the annual theme ‘Eucharist and fraternity’: sessions to welcome visitors at the Eymard Exhibition; formation days and times of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; opportunities to deepen knowledge of the mystery of the Eucharist and the Eucharistic spirituality of Saint Peter Julian Eymard for the Adorers from the Cathedral of Grenoble, at the shrines of Notre-Dame de La Salette and Notre-Dame du Laus, at the Eymard Spirituality Centre in La Mure; radio broadcasts on the Eucharistic charism of Saint Peter Julian Eymard; and pilgrimages this year to all the Eymardian sites in France (La Mure and its surroundings, Lyon, and Paris). Teachings on the same theme were also given in the parish of Notre-Dame d’Esparron.
La Mure, a jubilee site
In addition, during this jubilee year the Eymard House welcomed 217 pilgrims and retreatants from all horizons (Vietnamese, Indians, seminarians from the Diocese of Grenoble, Canadians, French). We also received 90 visitors at the Eymard House, 315 at the Eymard Museum, and 65 people passing through for a meeting, a meal, and lodging. We can say that La Mure became a jubilee site this year.
As for publications, articles were published in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament’s magazine ‘SSS International’ and in the bulletin ‘Lien’ of the Saint Peter-Julian Eymard parish. The Eymard Spirituality Centre needs also to update its Facebook, YouTube, and website.
Regarding teamwork, providing a warm welcome to pilgrims is the commitment of the members of the Council and volunteers, for whose availability and kindness the pilgrims expressed gratitude. “The summer was very busy in terms of providing lodging, welcome, and meals (579), prepared mainly by volunteers”, as stated by Mrs. Sylvie Lafond and Mrs. Claudine Ferro, coordinators for welcoming guests at the Eymard House. Mrs. Sylvie Terrier, head of the kitchen, added: “For my first year with the Friends of Father Eymard, I had the joy of serving in the home of a saint well-known on our Matheysine plateau and whose influence deserves to extend far beyond, and across different continents.” Mrs. Ghislaine Moutin expressed her appreciation for the work carried out: “After several years away, I returned to the secretariat of the Administrative Council and rediscovered this fraternal bond, a close-knit team supporting one another, guided by the spirit of Father Eymard.” We invite people of goodwill to join in helping us.
Commitment of members and parochial volunteers
Finally, to summarise this report, the difficulties consist in finding volunteers to staff the museum, even occasionally, for the upkeep of the Eymard Chapel, monitoring repair work, and updating our Centre’s websites.
The joys consist in welcoming the new members of the Administrative Council as of January 2025; welcoming numerous pilgrims from around the world who came to visit Father Eymard’s sites, deepen their knowledge of him, and walk in his footsteps during this jubilee year and the centenary of Father Eymard’s Beatification; the commitment of members and parishioners who volunteered to help the association welcome pilgrims (preparing meals, cleaning, laundry, flower arrangements for the chapel, maintaining the grounds, doing small repairs, etc.). Special thanks to Father Nino Donda, parish priest, for making the parish hall available, and to Mr. Guillaume Seguin, director of Saint Joseph Middle School in La Mure, who hosted a large number of pilgrims in the school’s boarding facilities.
Moreover, Mrs. Marie-Colette Bourdon, treasurer of the Eymard Spirituality Centre, presented a positive financial report and the projected budget. Her service is well appreciated and endorsed by the participants. Finally, Father Louis Bunga, who is responsible for the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament, presented this branch and invited the faithful to join it for a greater knowledge of Father Eymard. Several participants offered their availability to serve in ways they chose.
Father Eymard has an astonishing power of influence
“A very serene meeting, very clear documents, and a good administrative team. In any case, Father Eymard has an astonishing power of influence”, in the words of one participant. Another concludes, speaking of Father Eymard’s charism expressed through the service of the Eymard Spirituality Centre: “What satisfaction to see that Father Eymard accomplished a gigantic work and gave his life so that the Eucharist would always be a source of joy and strengthening, as it was from his earliest childhood. Thank you, Father Eymard; we do not know enough of your great benevolence for our region”.
Father Thaddée Mupapa, sss
Superior
