OPENING OF POSTULANCY IN NORTH AMERICA

Ever since 1858, February 2 has had a special significance in the life of the La Salette Congregation, Provinces and Regions. For it was on that date that the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette took the vows of religious life for the first time, thus becoming a Religious Congregation.

That is why, 158 years later, February 2 was chosen as the date for the beginning of Postulancy for three candidates of the North American Province.

One of them, Dimitri Demesmin, from Haiti, is already a diocesan priest who feels drawn to the La Salette way of life. He will spend most of his postulancy ministering in the parish of Mary Queen in Friendswood, Texas, while maintaining frequent contact with the Directors of Postulancy, Fr. Brian Schloth and Fr. Ronald Beauchemin, and with the other postulants.

The other two, Joseph Everton and Eric Burtchell, both came to know La Salette through the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Massachusetts. They will remain in Washington, DC, taking courses for four or five months to ensure their readiness to begin theology studies in the fall of 2017.

The Novitiate will begin this summer.

The Postulancy began with a simple ceremony during a celebration of the Liturgy. On hand for the occasion were members of the Province Formation Committee: Fr. Raymond Cadran (also a member of the Provincial Council), Bro. David Eubank, and Fr. Ted Brown, as well as the Provincial Superior, Fr. René Butler.

Photo above:

From left: Fr. Ted Brown; Bro. David Eubank; Fr. Brian Schloth; Fr. Raymon Cadran; postulants Joseph Everton, Eric Burtchell & Fr. Dimitri Demesmin; Fr. Ronald Beauchemin.

Below: Fr. René Butler, Provincial, with the three postulants: Joseph Everton, Eric Burtchell, and Fr. Dimitri Demesmin

Fr. René Butler MS