The town of Ars is a very beautiful place about a 45 minute drive from the city of Lyon. In this picture in the background on the left can be seen the Basilica and Shrine to St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars. In the foreground are part of the tents which serve as the dining hall for the 1200 priests attending this Retreat from around the world.
I am staying in this retreat house for priests, le Foyer Sacerdotale. It is just on the outskirts of the town and very pleasant.
It did not take Fr. Danilo and Fr. Eusebio to find some friends from the Philippines, seen here along with Msgr. Miller.
Because of a Wedding I was performing in Saskatoon on Saturday, I arrived in Ars late afternoon on Monday after 15 hours of travel to Calgary, Frankfurt and Lyon. That evening, the citizens of Ars put on a dramatic representation of the work of the Curé of Ars which was interesting and moving.
St. John Vianney spent his entire priestly life in this small town. However his reputation as a pastor, counsellor and confessor spread throughout Europe and people came from across the continent to talk to him about their lives and go to Confession to him.
People still come to Ars today by the thousands each year to be near the place where the Saint lived and worked and touched the lives of people with the mercy and compassion of God.
St. John Vianney spent his entire priestly life in this small town. However his reputation as a pastor, counsellor and confessor spread throughout Europe and people came from across the continent to talk to him about their lives and go to Confession to him.
People still come to Ars today by the thousands each year to be near the place where the Saint lived and worked and touched the lives of people with the mercy and compassion of God.