Bishop François Durand of Valence, France (population 300,000; 68 priests), has ordered the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) to leave Valence.
From 1 September 2025, the Holy Masses in the Saint Emilien parish in Valence which until now were celebrated by the FSSP, will be moved to the Church of Notre Dame and celebrated by other priests, he wrote in a May 15 statement.
Durand cites the arrival of new priests as a pretext, stating that the move is intended "to promote parish unity". The Holy Mass at the new location will not be celebrated by the FSSP, but by diocesan priests and priests belonging to the Coopérateurs Paroissiaux du Christ Roi. Catechesis will be provided by a Novus Ordo priest from the parish.
For several years, Father Bruno Stemler FSSP had been responsible for this.
The same applies to the catechism classes held by the FSSP in Montélimar, 40 km south of Valence. These will now be organised by the Novus-Ordo parish of Notre Dame du Rhône, under the authority of the parish priest and in collaboration with those who currently provide this service [= FSSP].
Monsignor Durand has kindly asked the FSSP to provide a priest to celebrate Mass on Sundays and feast days at the Notre Dame de la Rose chapel in Montélimar in the morning.
In other words: The FSSP will only be able to say Mass once a week in Montélimar, which will not allow them to establish an apostolate.
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