SOS Calvaires will be in charge of the liturgical furniture

“It’s a great recognition of our work.” No one expected it, not even Alexandre Caillé, the general director of SOS Calvaires, yet the diocese of Ajaccio (South Corsica) commissioned this Angevin association to create the various pieces of liturgical furniture used during the next apostolic trip of Pope Francis to Corsica.

A great surge of “brotherhood”

Initially, SOS Calvaire was asked at the end of September by the diocese to create the cross used during the conference on popular piety. “The more we progressed,” rejoices the young man, “the more we understood the scale of the project.” And therefore the probability of a visit from Pope Francis. The organization was only made aware of it a month and a half ago. In the meantime, the order has grown: altar, candlesticks, cardinals’ seats, stools, crosses and credenzas, as well as the wrought iron ornamental cross.

The association makes the different wooden pieces in record time. To do this, the association’s artisans – all volunteers – are working hard. “Without the solidarity and brotherhood on our sites, nothing would have been possible,” explains Alexandre Caillé. The association’s usual volunteer networks have a lot to do with it. Very quickly, many of them, like the ironworkers, joiners and carpenters from Angers, Tours and Lyon, offered themselves up for this project, while not abandoning their usual projects, Alexandre proudly explains. A little extra: the six workers in charge of the work are all converted people, recently baptized or in catechumenate!

Alexandre Caillé appears confident. For him, although SOS Calvaires is not intended to make liturgical furniture, the local episcopal authorities have chosen their “signature”. The fact that the association is a “hinge in religious piety, in the impulse of the heart, in the faith of the coal burner” could have convinced, according to him, the diocese to select them. The general director adds with conviction that they “are not afraid to go to the crossroads, without preconceptions”. It is this “soul supplement”, this preparation here below for the Above which, according to him, appealed. “The volunteers are very proud to work for the Pope, in the service of popular and religious piety,” he concludes.