On September 14, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fr. John De Riso, CSC, was installed as pastor of the parish of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix (Le Mans, France) by Msgr. Jean-Pierre Vuillemin, bishop of Le Mans. Fr. John previously served as pastor of the parish of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix from 2014-2019, before being called back to the United States to direct the Office of Vocations of the United States Province of Holy Cross. In addition to his appointment as pastor, Fr. John has been appointed rector of the Shrine of Blessed Basil Moreau by Br. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
During the installation Mass, Fr. John was entrusted with the key to the church and was guided by the bishop to four places that will be particularly significant for his ministry as pastor: the baptismal font, the confessional, the tabernacle, and the presider’s chair. The Mass was also the occasion to bless the schoolbags of the children of the parish as they begin the academic year.
On Monday, September 15, feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, priests of Holy Cross and of the Diocese of Le Mans joined with lay faithful at the Shrine of Blessed Basil Moreau to celebrate the patroness of the religious family of Holy Cross. Fr. Paul Valentin, CSC, provincial superior of Holy Cross’ Mother Province (France) led the chanting of vespers and Msgr. Jean-Pierre Vuillemin presided at Mass. Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau entrusted his priests, brothers, and sisters to Our Lady of Sorrows as intercessor and as preeminent model of hope in the Cross of Christ.
To see pictures of the celebrations, check our Facebook page.