1. Letter from Marcellin ps 009 page 44 To: Three priests of the town of Annecy, Haute Savoie. Date: May, 1827 – Dec, 1828 Date: May, 1827 – Dec, 1828

2. Written to: Father Jacques François Bouvet (1751 – 1829). Appointed Parish Priest of St Maurice d’Annecy, 1803. Father Claude Marie Gavard (? – 1876). Appointed Parish Priest of Notre Dame de Liesse, 1827 ( nb. Sester “References” p 95 has “Gavan” ) Father Marie-François Piccolet (1765 – 1851). Appointed Spiritual Director (?chaplain) of a school in Evian, 1815. Father Marie-François Piccolet (1765 – 1851). Appointed Spiritual Director (?chaplain) of a school in Evian, 1815.

3. Fr Marie-François Piccolet His brother, Fr Marie-Jacques Piccolet, was Principal of the school. On 12 th May, 1839 Marcellin writes to Fr M-F to suggest that the Brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross might take up the school in the town of Cluses (Letter 252) and again on 8 th June 1839, in reply to a letter M-F sent to Fr Colin appealing against Marcellin’s decision not to send Brothers (Letter 255)

4. The Letter The undated letter is a reply from Marcellin to (a lost) one written to him by the “canon” or by the three (?) priests requesting a community of Marist Brothers for the town. What we have in our Archives is a copy, pasted into a notebook. No trace of the original letter has been found.

5. One of only a few letters Marcellin wrote to a group of people (excluding those written to Marist communities). One of only a few letters Marcellin wrote to a group of people (excluding those written to Marist communities). Letter 76 to the Parish Priest and the Mayor of Sorbier Letter 76 to the Parish Priest and the Mayor of Sorbier Letter 148 to Fathers Dumas and Artru Letter 148 to Fathers Dumas and Artru Letter 190 to the Administrators of the Charity Hospices of St Etienne. Letter 190 to the Administrators of the Charity Hospices of St Etienne.

6. Problems There is no way of telling whether the copy we have is a record of what was sent to the priests, or if it was merely a first draft. There is no date on the copy and only an approximate date can be reckoned from external evidence.

7. Summary of Letter 1. Marcellin reminds the priests that he has already told “the canon” that he would be happy to open “a house or two” in the “area” and that he would try to send four Brothers “next All Saints”. He has told the canon that the travelling expenses of the Brothers would need to be covered and that “the Motherhouse” would need to retain the right to transfer any Brother as and when required. 2. Marcellin describes the house that the Brothers would require and asks for 1600 francs per year for the four Brothers.

8. “ In spite of the appearance of strict impartiality and waiting lists, teaching congregations chose communities that lists, teaching congregations chose communities that served their needs, including geographical location, served their needs, including geographical location, material conditions, financial support, potential success, and material conditions, financial support, potential success, and future recruits. Only two years before Champagnat informed the future recruits. Only two years before Champagnat informed the parish priest of St-Lattier (Isère) that his request was put on the parish priest of St-Lattier (Isère) that his request was put on the waiting list with an unspecified wait, he had suggested to the waiting list with an unspecified wait, he had suggested to the cure of Usson-en-Forez (Loire) that he find a schoolhouse cure of Usson-en-Forez (Loire) that he find a schoolhouse because the Frères Maristes wanted to establish a community in because the Frères Maristes wanted to establish a community in that area.” that area.” “ Besides geography, one of the most important considerations in establishing new schools was the potential of new recruits to the establishing new schools was the potential of new recruits to the congregation itself.” congregation itself.” Curtis, Sarah A (2000): Educating the Faithful. Religion, Schooling and Society in Nineteenth Century France. DeKalb, Ill. Northern Illinois University Press. Page 27

9. Perhaps the most important point in the Letter: Perhaps the most important point in the Letter: 3. Marcellin says that he requires “a free hand” in being able to assign anyone who joins the Brothers from the Annecy area to anywhere in Savoie or in France. Why is this last point of such importance? Why is this last point of such importance?

10. Because, at that time, Haute Savoie was not part of France. It did not become a Department of France until 1854. Because, at that time, Haute Savoie was not part of France. It did not become a Department of France until 1854.

11. Issues Raised by the Letter Nothing ever came of the project. Why not? Marcellin is determined to found “a society of Brothers to educate country children” (Farrell p 47), “to impart christian instruction and christian education to the children of small country parishes” (Life p 89). Although open to foundations in towns (Life ibid), it was not until 1837 that Marcellin says, “Our plans include all the dioceses of the world” (ps093). Annecy was an industrial town with a sizeable population, c. 11, 500 at the time of the Letter.

12. Document AFM 143.11.02 (?drawn up by Bro François) lists Annecy as one of the foundations planned for 1835. Fr Picollet’s name is mentioned, but he is the only one of the three. Document AFM 143.11.02 (?drawn up by Bro François) lists Annecy as one of the foundations planned for 1835. Fr Picollet’s name is mentioned, but he is the only one of the three. Fr Bouvet died in 1829, but what of Fr Gavard? Another name crops up in this document: Brother Maxime OFMCap. Not listed in Borne & Sester. [Sester, Pages 288 – 291] [Sester, Pages 288 – 291]

13. What does the Letter tell us about Marcellin? This is, at first glance, a very straightforward business letter. Marcellin could be very business-minded. Fr Mazelier quotes Marcellin: “They reproach me for not always keeping my word. I promise and then I am unable to fulfil.” (McMahon, Travellers In Hope p 238) “Colin was of the opinion than Champagnat was inclined to be impulsive” (McMahon, ibid). Is the Letter an example of Marcellin’s impulsivity? Is the Letter an example of Marcellin’s impulsivity?

14. Or did he simply trust in God?