Père François Odinet leads Diocese of Saint-Claude's pastoral renewal day

Father François Odinet, the national chaplain for Secours Catholique, led a pastoral renewal day for the Diocese of Saint-Claude on September 3. The event brought together priests, deacons, diocesan services, and the episcopal council to discuss how to build a more synodal and diaconal Church by centering the mission on the poor.

During the session, Father Odinet used Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical Deus Caritas Est to outline three core Church missions: proclaiming the Word, celebrating the sacraments, and practicing diaconia, or charity toward the poor. He stated that diaconia is an essential dimension of the Church rather than an optional activity.

The diocese identified four specific areas for action: recognizing the spiritual gifts of all people including those in precarious situations, forming alliances with other churches and movements, listening to the poor to guide the Church's mission, and adapting liturgy to better include the poor in celebrations. Father Odinet also held a public evening lecture regarding the role of people in precarious situations and the contributions of Secours Catholique.