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Our message summed up in three words:

Thank you !

we want to thank you for your great generosity during our first campaign which enabled us to do all this.
We were also touched by your words of encouragements

1/3 of the façade still needs to be renovated! The construction manager told us only a few days ago just how damaged the wall really is (even more than he originally thought) and that the work must get under way as soon as possible.

Would you be willing to help us finish these famous facades? This once idle seminary has seen great development since 1992, when the sisters moved in, thanks to the generosity of our benefactors and the work of the sisters and friends. In 2017 we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of our presence in Semur-en-Brionnais!
Please help us renovate our facades! We commit to being true living stones of the Church!!!

Who are we?

In 1992, the Apostolic Sisters of Saint John arrived in Semur-en-Brionnais, Burgundy, and moved into Saint-Hugues, a former minor seminary, provided to us by the diocese.
At that time, the building was vacant and in deplorable condition for over twenty-five years. Since then, great efforts have been made to address its most urgent needs according to our financial means in order to renovate Saint-Hugues Priory, a precious heritage in Brionnais. Our bishop, Benoit Riviere, encourages us in our fundraising efforts.

At present, there are 45 sisters living in Semur-en-Brionnais. The Lord graced us this year with new vocations: we have just welcomed 5 postulants (3 French, 1 Lithuanian and 1 Hong-Konger.)

While hardly coming to the end of a very important phase of work, and hoping to be able to take a break, the state of the northern facades obliges us to continue renovation as quickly as possible, so as to avoid more water infiltration which would put the building in danger. In October 2015, we began our first Credofunding Campaign to help begin the renovation.

This building is a treasure of Brionnais marked by the rich Clunisien heritage.
More and more tourists, and people passing through, come to admire the beauty of our buildings, which accentuate the charm of this peaceful and charming village of Burgundy.
These facades are exterior to the sisters’ living quarters (rooms, laundry room, refectory, library, workshops) and are the facades most visible from the road.

Our mission

The Priory Saint-Hugues houses:

• The Mother House which serves as the center for the organization of the whole Congregation throughout the world (Government, General Accounting, Missions’ Office)
• The Novitiate which assures the formation of the young sisters, preparing them for the apostolic life in the various missions entrusted to us, in France or abroad (schools, nursing homes, street children, women seeking to free themselves from drug addictions, parishes, prisons, human and Christian formation.)

We are beginning a second fundraising campaign to finish the renovation of the northern facades: according to estimates, the work amounts again to 49,000 Euros.

This includes :

• Labor and material for the restoration : 34, 000 €uros
• Zinc merchant : 15, 000 €uros

Thank you for your help, from the bottom of our hearts!