1. Part 3: God shows the Way It took many years for Jeanne-Marie Chavoin to discover just what it was God was calling her to do. No doubt as she went about her daily tasks, perhaps even drawing water from this well at the back of her home, she pondered the future – where was God leading? She and her companion, Marie, searched for the answer, praying earnestly for enlightenment, making their annual retreat at the Abbey of Pradines.

2. But first, what God did not want… At Pradines, it was not always peace which Jeanne-Marie found. It was there she encountered Cardinal Fesch who had his own ideas about God’s will for her. They conversed on a number of occasions… But each time Jeanne-Marie was more and more convinced - much to the Cardinal’s dismay - that his ideas were not what God wanted for her.

3. Jeanne-Marie chose to wait… The Benedictines? The Visitandines? The Carmelites? A diocesan order? No, my Lord! What will you do then? I will stay at home with my parents until God makes his will known!

4. The waiting was difficult… Other invitations came from nearby parishes - but nothing seemed right to Jeanne-Marie. Marie wanted them to join a group in Belleville, - Jeanne-Marie felt no calling to it and would not go. However, Marie could wait no longer… So they parted, both heart-broken. Afterwards Jeanne-Marie consulted Fr Lefranc who told her: “You are not meant for a congregation already founded, but one yet to be established.”

5. Then a letter arrived… It was from a priest who had spent four years in Coutouvre some time before – Pierre Colin was his name. His younger brother, recently ordained, had an idea for a project and Pierre wondered if it might be of interest to Jeanne-Marie and Marie. Again, many thanks to Moira Ryan sm, our illustrator By this time, Marie had returned from Belleville, ill from the experience. Having sought advice from Lefranc, she recognised that she too must wait for God to make known his will. Jeanne-Marie was struck deeply by Pierre’s letter, but decided to say nothing to Marie yet. She set out alone to meet Jean-Claude Colin. Part 4 of the Jeanne-Marie Chavoin Story will be published in September