Coutouvre: A Place of Welcome and Prayer

Srs Seini Fatai (Aotearoa New Zealand) and Kalala Kiutau Taufa (Fiji) are currently in France on pilgrimage, visiting places of deep historical and spiritual significance for Marists.

Seini shares with us her reflection on their visit to Coutouvre, the birthplace of Jeanne Marie Chavoin.

Spending time in Coutouvre, the birthplace of our foundress, Jeanne Marie Chavoin, was a deeply moving experience. Praying in the church where she once worshipped helped us appreciate how her deep faith and trust in God’s will were nurtured in this sacred place.

The warmth and generosity of the people of Coutouvre were truly inspiring. Their heartfelt welcome, the sharing of meals, and the stories they lovingly told reflected a spirit of hospitality that touched us deeply.

Staying overnight in the village also gave us precious time for quiet reflection, allowing us to imagine the simplicity of life that shaped Jeanne Marie’s early years and to deepen our own sense of gratitude and faith.