Archbishop of Rouen presides over traditional Armada mass for sailors on board boat Atlantis

This Sunday, June 11, the Archbishop of Rouen Monsignor Lebrun celebrated the traditional mass for the sailors of the Armada. For the first time, this mass took place on board a boat, the Atlantis, in front of 2000 people gathered on the quays of the Rollet peninsula.

“Bienvenue, Welcome, Benvenidos, Benvenuti, Wilkommen, Vitam ! Welcome to the sailors and landsmen of our Rouen Armada, let us carry in our prayer the intentions of the crews and officers of the merchant or leisure navy as well as the military navy.“.

From l’Atlantis, a Dutch barque moored for the occasion on the left bank of Rouen, the Archbishop of Rouen Monsignor Lebrun presided over the mass, supported by a choir of 200 children from Rouen Catholic schools, and by the master of Saint- Evode. It is the first time that an Armada mass has been celebrated on a boat, the difficulty being in the height of the deck which must correspond to the liturgy. The altar of the celebration was therefore embarked on the sailboat.

Report by M. Queinnec and D. Meunier. Images “The Day of the Lord” / France 2 / Armada of Freedom

In front of the boat, 2000 people attended the mass, gathered on the quays of the Rollet peninsula: people from Rouen, but also tourists from all over the world and sailors, not so many however, for a mass dedicated to them. . Among the officials, stood alongside the elected officials, Roselyne Hamel, the sister of Father Jacques Hamel assassinated in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on July 26, 2016.

Gabriel, a young man of 22, came to this Sunday Mass of the Armada, to be at the heart of an international event which does not only bring together Christians.It’s strong enough to know that at the heart of a popular event like this, Christians are present, we are there at the heart of the event, it warms the heart to see that our church is very much alive.“.
For Reynald Tocqueville, volunteer at the Armada in charge of finding activities for sailors, participating in this mass was very important. “A mass at the Armada is still something exceptional, this outdoor mass in the middle of these beautiful boats, these sailboats, as a believer it’s a pleasure to be here!“.

This event was recorded and broadcast live this Sunday, June 11 at noon, during the weekly program “Le jour du seigneur” on France 2.

Archbishop Lebrun also evoked in his prayers the tragic destinies of certain migrants, which make the seas become cemeteries.

For me it is important to speak to sailors, because sailors represent the whole world. The seas and the oceans are what connect us. Unfortunately there are seas and oceans that become cemeteries, and that is not possible. Sailors are in the middle of this tension.

Monsignor Lebrun, Archbishop of Rouen

Several prayer intentions were also pronounced in this context of the Armada, some in English and Portuguese. “SO As war rages in different parts of the world, the Armada is a beautiful moment of brotherhood between peoples. Let us pray for all peacemakers, and that the disciples of Jesus find in the Eucharist the nourishment that will help them to work without becoming discouraged”.

After the celebration, Archbishop Lebrun joined another boat to proceed with an ecumenical greeting from the boats, in the company of representatives of the Muslim, Jewish, Protestant and Catholic religious communities. Greetings answered in return by the sirens of the boats!