We celebrated Saint Odile, patron saint of Alsace and the visually impaired, in the parish of the same name, alongside the mayor of the 17th arrondissement, Ms. Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, and various dignitaries. This celebration was an opportunity to honor Alsatian traditions, with their rich culinary culture and traditional costumes that brightened up this festive day.

We were particularly touched by the dedication of the volunteers from the Vicariate for People with Disabilities, who accompanied all the faithful during Mass with remarkable attention. The exemplary service of the scouts during the convivial meal that followed also deserves to be highlighted. These many commitments remind us all of the need to work together, despite our differences, to build a better and more fraternal world.

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to the director of Céleste Production for her invitation to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris for a performance of Handel's Messiah. Our colleagues were moved to discover this major work from the oratorio repertoire, in which the Passion of Christ is sublimated by the grace of the voice. This gives us an opportunity to quote a passage and ask ourselves: “ Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing?” (Psalm 2:1-2).

At the invitation of the mayor of Paris's 17th arrondissement, we met with the various couples responsible for the scout groups in the arrondissement's parishes. This particularly informative exchange gave us a better understanding of the reality of these movements, which today bring together more than 200,000 young people and volunteers in France.

We are particularly impressed by their commitment to educating young people: practical life skills training, by young people and for young people, based on responsibility, mutual support, and a sense of service. We look forward to working with them in the future to support and promote these educational initiatives in our neighborhoods, and we warmly thank the mayor for this fruitful and constructive exchange.