Letter from Cardinal Ricard,
president of the French Bishops Conference

THE PRESIDENT

Bordeaux, August 28, 2006

Father Jean-Pierre-Marie
Prior General
Notre Dame de Rimont
71390 FLEY

Most dear Father,

On returning home on Sunday evening after a few days absence, I learned of the death of Father Marie-Dominique Philippe. I share your sorrow at losing such a dear Father. On behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of France, I offer you, and the whole family of St John, my most fraternal condolences.

I would like to assure you of our profound union in prayer. We entrust to God this good and faithful servant, but most of all we offer thanksgiving to the Lord – thanksgiving for Father Marie-Dominique’s charisma, for his fruitful apostolate that has given rise to the various branches of the family of St John, and for all that he brought to the Church. There is no doubt that after his death he will continue to keep fatherly watch over you and your congregation; his heavenly intercession for the brothers and sisters of St John will be all the stronger.

It is in this hope and trust that I assure you, most dear Father, of my profound fraternal communion in Christ.

Jean-Pierre cardinal RICARD
Archbishop of Bordeaux