A Visit of French Scout Leaders to Lincoln, England.

Some months ago Sr Eileen, in the Sisters of Providence Community in Lincoln, was contacted by Cécile Duval (from le Mans), a Scout Leader of the ‘Scouts et Guides de France’ attached to the Parish of Notre Dame de France in London.  With some other leaders, Cecile wanted to bring a group of them to Lincoln over the week-end of the 17 th/18th February.  During the year they look after around 100 boys and girls aged between 8 and 14 years old and “we want this 2-day trip to strengthen the team spirit and to let us re-commit ourselves within the Scout movement (human, religious etc…) . Cécile had visited Lincoln through her work and so . she asked me if I could help with contacts as to where they might stay and create possibilities with their programme. Cecile knows me through her mother, head of St Joseph’s Primary School in Le Mans…..the Primary School and College is a flourishing Establishment started by the Sisters of Providence.

Stanley, a Scout Leader in one of our 3 Catholic Parishes in Lincoln was very happy to find accommodation and help in creating the programme.

We met the group at Lincoln Railway Station (9 young women and 2 young men aged between 22 and 26 years of age)) and they set off walking up to the Cathedral which is in the north of the city…..Stanley had loaded their luggage into his car and  they would pick it up later. I also made my way to the Cathedral which is quite near our Convent and there we met Alison, an official Cathedral Guide, a former French teacher.  She was happy to give a guided tour in French to the group (although they all speak very good English.) Following this we enjoyed a cup of tea in the Cathedral coffee shop and the group then made their way on foot to the camp site where the ladies would sleep in the Scout hut and the 2 men under canvas.

W then met at St Peter and St Paul Catholic Church in the south of the city for the 6.00p.m. Mass…the Parish Priest: Canon Edward Jarosz, welcomed them warmly…in French!

After Mass, Stanley had asked Parishioners for contributions to a meal which the group enjoyed in the Parish Centre, before setting over to the Camp site which was not too far away.

On Sunday they had arranged to go on a hike along the Viking Way to the south of Lincoln. They covered about 20 kms. and returned in time to catch the 5.00 p.m. train back to London…very happy with their weekend together.

Sister Eileen Keane