News 

Every three years the Centre changes its leased car. In May 2020, we were expecting our new car, however, the coronavirus delayed our order until August. This new car, a Renault Captur, is similar to our old car only it is more technological.

We launched our new website on August 18. Cindy Russell from e-Catholic was our consultant and all our work was accomplished through Zoom.

One of our “past-times” during this season without guests or visitors has been the testing of interesting new recipes. We have experimented with many international dishes including Chinese, Thai, Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Italian, Mexican, French, and American. Click to see examples of our best attempts.

We had a little excitement one sunny Friday afternoon in June when the sheep escaped their pasture due to a weakness of the fence that encloses them. We had to chase the sheep back into pasture.

See the video

Last fall we almost lost the magazine table that sits in the foyer of the Centre.

Tom and Linda Clougherty of Ithaca, New York, had lived in Le Puy for a few years before they decided to sell their home and move back to the USA. As they were selling or giving away home items, they generously donated three bicycles to the Centre. The bicycles all have new tires and replacement tubes, and they came with helmets and an air pump. We thank the Cloughertys for thinking of us!

Four sheep have taken residence in the Centre’s orchard—just in time for Good Shepherd Sunday.

The values and discipline of religious life have allowed us to adjust our lives to the quarantine as we tried to remain healthy and safe. We developed a daily routine and rhythm with plenty of time and space for praying, reading, studying language, listening to music, watching online movies and news, and maintaining the Centre. We share meals together and each of us cooks the main meal every other day. We attend TV Mass and watch the news. The land around the Centre provides us with space to walk and enjoy nature. Our biggest event is grocery shopping at the Super U Drive-Through, which occurs every 15 days or so. Although France will re- open on May 11, we’ve decided to remain mostly at home. Photo: A Super U employee puts groceries into the car’s trunk at the Drive-Through service.

At its April meeting, the International Centre Board decided to close the Centre for the 2020 season. Pilgrims traveling from many parts of the world and uncertainty about the spread of the pandemic made this decision necessary. The Board, however, is already looking to the future and plans are in place to move the 2020 programs to 2021. Meanwhile, we are trying to stay in touch with Sisters of St. Joseph, associates and friends around the world with short newsletters like this one—and soon with our new and improved website.