advice from Muriel Lacroix-Pringarbe
Letter of the week
“For professional reasons, I have just moved to a new city where I am discovering a very active parish life. With an enterprising temperament, I would like to create bridges with secular associations in my neighborhood and imagine joint events to liven up local life. The first people I was able to contact were a little evasive. How do I go about not being received like a dog in a game of bowling? » Gilles, 47 years old
The point of view of Muriel Lavroix-Pringarbe, committed entrepreneur
In your letter Gilles, both the enthusiasm for your new life and the delicacy with which you wish to approach it shine through. Finding your place in a city means discovering new places, being surprised by new faces. The passage is lived day by day. Wanting to bring together parish life and secular associative life is a noble intention that respects everyone’s convictions. And you understand that bridges are not built by force.
Perhaps you should already look at what has been done so far to bring existing initiatives closer together. Could past failures or misunderstandings explain the reactions you are experiencing?
Trust yourself: spaces for dialogue often open up on their own based on each person’s authenticity. A solidarity soup with the neighborhood restaurateurs, a garage sale with catechism, this is how over the year or events you will be able to give birth to projects where your approach of faith will join the commitment of non-believers. Create simple opportunities to meet and let everyone move at their own pace.
