In Paris, a priest, ex banker, installed an incubator to make a Christian vision of the company shine
A few green plants, soundproofed cabins to call, three meeting rooms, a sitting area, a kitchen, a terrace with red parasols … Welcome to the Saint-Joseph incubator whose motto “undertake in the fraternity” appears on the partition separating theopen space (collective workspace) of the chapel. Stéphane Mayor, parish priest of Notre-Dame-des-Otages in Paris (20th arrondissement), celebrates mass there every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.
If the idea of the incubator germinated in the mind of this 52 -year -old priest, it is not by chance. Before receiving the call of Christ “during the Christmas mass 1999”, he exercised five years as a business banker. By Philippe Henry, former banker at HSBC and president of the Saint-Joseph incubator, to Serge Chanchole, co-founder of the polytechnic incubator; Forty professionals carried by the values of Christianity have worked on this unifying project. His goal? “Allow the evangelization of the business world,” according to the parish priest.
Opened in July 2024 in a parish space of 300 m2, “the only incubator identified in a church in France”, according to Stéphane Mayor, today supports twelve project leaders animated by a Christian vision of the company.
Sharing
For six months, each of them benefits from personalized support provided by one or the other of the sixty mentors, young retirees or supper executives still in activity. If the candidates are not asked to detail their lives of faith, “the selection committee ensures that the project is oriented towards the common good”, specifies Philippe Nikolov, director of the incubator.
Appoaining a monthly participation of 250 euros – a price made possible by donations and the diocese subsidy -, the incubated “share their experiences here. Cuisine is the nerve center of discussions! Has fun Philippe Nikolov. A former singer at the Paris Opera, Thomas Ricart is creating the company Writing, which will bring editorial aid to college students via artificial intelligence.
“The training received is excellent. And there is a very good atmosphere between us, ”says the 30 -year -old. A former professor of philosophy, Jean-Baptiste Krebs develops a project of seminars focused on philosophy and hiking to companies. If he comes to the incubator every day, he knows why: “It is a workplace where relations with others are fraternal. »»
