Consecration of the renovated Chapel of Apparitions.

On Saturday, 31 January 2026, symbolically representing the many pilgrims who have come here over the past 150 years, a fervent assembly, albeit limited due to lack of space, formed a procession from the Accueil Estelle Faguette to the threshold of the Chapel of Apparitions.

Each person remembered their place in the social fabric and in the communion of saints.

The Prefect and his wife gave a nice nod to history with their presence, having also fostered a fraternal synergy between local authorities to welcome visitors, tourists and pilgrims to the small Marian town of Pellevoisin, encouraged by the inspiring letter signed by Pope Francis on 22 August 2024.

The municipality was represented by our dear mayor, Gérard, and his wife, councillor Daniel, fire lieutenant Xavier, young volunteer Déborah and pharmacist Emilie.

M Dominique de La Rochefoucauld was accompanied by his sister Marie-Caroline, whose ancestors played a decisive role in the history of the sanctuary and who remain very faithful to the life of the sanctuary.

Mrs Anne De Clerck, who, together with her husband, takes such good care of the Poirier-Montbel estate, expressed their interest in village life.

Representatives of the Motte family, who built the grand hotel, now Moisson Nouvelle, remain very committed to promoting the sanctuary.

Monsignor Jérôme Beau, who providentially came to the shrine in the morning to visit a group from his diocese, was delighted with the chapel.

We were honoured by the presence of Sister Marie-François, Prioress General of the Sisters of Saint John, who succeeded the Dominican nuns, to whom we owe so much.

The limited space did not allow us to invite many people from the diocese, but we are grateful to Father Eric Vinçon for his wise and kind concern, to Deacon Patrice, the helpful bursar of the diocese, and to Fathers Emmanuel Souly and Charles de Vaugelas.

Dom Bertrand-Marie Perrin (a devoted theologian from the commission on apparitions) and the three monks assured us of the prayers and faithful friendship of the Abbey of Fontgombault.

Father Daniel, Provincial of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and Father Henri-Dominique, Provincial of the Brothers of Saint John, represented consecrated life.

The service of archives and the transmission of history was represented by Deacon Yves-Marie and Sylvie Bernay, who has just published a book on the Pilgrimage to Pellevoisin.

The regular or occasional cantors, Camille and Florence, Clémence and Eline, helped us enter into prayer, along with violinist Vincent.

The artisans and contractors, who were able to do their work thanks to generous donors and benefactors, were represented by master builder Jean-Jacques Etienne.

May the Lord in his mercy remember the commitment of each person present or not, discreet or more visible, who makes it possible to publish the glory of Mary.

It is the ground floor of a simple dwelling that has been consecrated and dedicated to worship by a solemn dedication. This house, built by the countess to accompany the old priest in his old age (a burning issue today), sheltered the dying Estelle, and it was there that she received a complete healing. In this place, the Virgin Mary had affirmed: “It is here that I will be honoured”.

The attention of the faithful on the threshold of the door was drawn to two details of the façade:

– The central carriage entrance was reopened in the form of a bay window and even doubled during the renovation for aesthetic reasons. We can see in it the symbol of the pilgrim dimension of Jesus’ disciples. We build houses and plant vineyards, but we must not forget the nomadic, travelling aspect of our human condition and of our baptism. We were in communion with Sr. Thérèse Marie, who had gone to visit her family in China. (It was in China that a French bishop spread the scapular of Pellevoisin at the end of the 19th century).

– Above the door, the star of the Magi remained until 2 February. The Magi from the East probably came from Persia, present-day Iran. Our local celebration is associated with the distress of peoples afflicted by war or persecution.

When Pope Leo XIII received Estelle, he opened his arms wide to her: “my little Stella”. Mary made Estelle a star on her journey.

The dedication of this chapel in a private home dedicated to vulnerable people reminds us that the home of the baptised, inhabited by Mary, is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, called to spread the light and fragrance of the Saviour for the peace and salvation of our fragile humanity. It is in this sense that our archbishop, Mgr Sylvain Bataille, concluded his homily with these words: “May Our Lady of Pellevoisin allow all visitors to become pilgrims (people on a journey), all pilgrims to become worshippers in the presence of the Lord, and all worshippers to become missionaries, filled with this love that they radiate in our world.”

Brother Laurent, rector of the shrine