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To young people
Dear friends of Tro-Breiz, dear pilgrims and volunteers,
At the request of our president and his board of directors, I have agreed to serve as chaplain for Tro-Breiz. For those who do not yet know me, I was born in Trégor, in Lannion to be precise, and because my parents worked in theatre and opera production, I ended up living in Normandy. I was ordained a priest 18 years ago for the Diocese of Évreux. During my ministry in Normandy, I was fortunate enough to work for several years with Father Job An Irien of the Diocese of Quimper and Léon, who has done so much for Breton culture and faith.
Since September, I have been able to return to my home diocese, the Diocese of Saint-Brieuc and Tréguier, and I have been appointed by my bishop as parish priest of Saint Tugdual’s parish in Tréguier. Is there a better place than Saint Tugdual and Saint Yves to set out with you on the paths of the Tro-Breiz?
In this first message, I would like to make an appeal: to young people.
Reaching out to young people. Everywhere today, there are signs of a profound renewal within the Church that is centred on young people: a surge in the number of catechumens, a surge in the number of young catechumens, a sharp rise in participation in pilgrimages, and so on… There is no doubt that the Lord is renewing his Church through a new generation of young people. Dear fellow pilgrims of Trobreiz, let us not miss out on those whom the Lord sends us. Let us not only welcome them but also make them want to come. Why shouldn’t those of you who are involved in your parish, or who attend parish services, go and speak to your parish priest or youth ministry leader about the Tro-Breiz, give them information about the pilgrimage, and invite young people to come along in groups of friends to walk and help out? Why not invite children or teachers from Diwan schools to join us on the paths of the Tro-Breiz? Language teaching, without the faith that lies at the heart of Brittany, will be an empty shell… We are ready to set up special groups to welcome and support the young people. For my part, I will be getting in touch with the youth ministry leaders of the five Breton dioceses, but you can already start this process on the ground . Dear fellow pilgrims, I wish you a fruitful pastoral year in 2026. Start talking about the next pilgrimage now, and above all, be missionaries! Think of the young people. May Our Lady of Tro-Breiz and Saint Corentin, to whom we are making our pilgrimage, bless us!
Father Julien Palcoux,
Text inscribed beside the tomb of St Yves and the relics of St Tugdual
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