Stopover in Sète 2024: all communities embrace each other for Easter mass

Archbishop Turini concluded this Stopover Mass in Sète with a strong ecumenical moment with representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities. Hélène Amirals

The choir of the University of Montpellier under the direction of Valérie Blanvillain. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

Eppo and A Brigata San Martinu have united their polyphonic singing. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

Tenor Mathieu Sempéré and Jean-Michel Balester sing stunning operatic arias. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

Mimosa, the Japanese women's choir perform sea folk songs. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

Monsignor Turini, alongside Fathers Sbika and Frioux de Sète. Free Midi – DORIAN CAYUELA

Michel Zambrano and President Fabrice Armand of the SNSM recalled the essential role of volunteer rescuers at sea. DORIAN CAYUELA

The Décanale was overflowing with audiences this Sunday, March 31, for the Easter Mass of Stopover in Sète. An ecumenical gathering around seafarers and under the sign of music beyond borders.

Even if the elements were teasing, the Easter mass of Escale in Sète was able to be held in a magnificent setting. Not that of the Théâtre de la Mer as planned, but in the heart of the Décanale Saint-Louis (and also at the Saint-Pierre church). The sharing was all the more intense during a ceremony of which only the Sète priests and their parishioners have the secret.

An overflowing nave

The nave was not large enough to accommodate the crowd of believers and non-believers who came to commune together in the faith for some or in the tradition of fishermen for others. fishermen Sète Mole honored the mass with the presence of the boat of Saint-Pierre carried by the jousters while running into the church.

Resident Father Gérard Frioux and his successor Robert Sbika were in charge of leading this ceremony under the sign of ecumenism and music with the groups invited for Escale 2024.

"The emergence of life"

For the first time the first Easter Mass of Escale, Monseigneur Turini, Archbishop of Montpellier presided over the homily. With, for this celebration marking the Resurrection of Jesus, a message of hope. "Easter is a surprise, it’s the emergence of life",recalled Archbishop Turini, calling on the capacity of each person to "wonder" : "If we know how to let ourselves be amazed as in front of these magnificent 3, 4 mast sailboats, we have come to discover the beauty of human genius, of the professions of the sea, so there is a chance that the good news of Easter can trace its path of life in us". Thus urging us to overcome fears and difficulties.

Father Frioux, for his part, recalled the history of Sète, a 'welcome land', fused with its port and fishing since the 19th century. Paying homage to the contributions of people over time to this unique Island. Italian anchovy fishermen, with black feet repatriated from Algeria through the installation of Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities.

A musical enchantment

It was in music that the enchantment arrived, crescendoing during the ceremony orchestrated by the choir directors Jean-Michel Balester of the Allegre’Thau and Valérie ensemble Blanvillain choir of the University of Montpellier. The Japanese Mimosa Choir, made up of women, opened the ball with a fisherman's folk song. Then the Bagad Lann Bihoué bell ringers took their place in front of the altar with an Irish Alleluia, before an operatic aria by tenor Mathieu Sempéré and Corsican polyphonic songs from the groups Eppo and A Brigata San Martinu. Generosity was also required, particularly for the SNSM, volunteer sea rescuers. The mass ended with a strong ecumenical moment, when Monsignor Turini took the representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities in his arms.

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