An engineer creates an ecospirious center in Lourdes

A change of software

For the nuns of the Assumption, it is time to lead the site “on the paths of integral ecology”, around the four relations put forward by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato if ‘ (2015): With yourself, others, God and creation. In September 2024, Damien joined the adventure as a pilot of the house transformation project into “ecospirious center”.

More than a change of mission or identity, it is above all a “change of software” for the center, which receives all types of groups – notably Diocesan and Schools – as well as individual pilgrims and retreaters.

The kitchen of the place, capable of producing several hundred meals a day, was one of the first levers of change. The supplies were thus revised to give pride of place to short circuits. The outdoor spaces have also seen their role re -required to be set up in different gardens, so that “everyone can live a spiritual experience there”.

“It’s a somewhat crazy, sometimes a little confusing adventure, recognizes Damien, because we don’t know exactly what we are going to achieve.” But for the old Scout of France, one certainty: working alongside nuns to rethink a place of reception is “source of great joys.”