In the village of Avrechy, in the heart of the Oise department, the peace of Advent has been disturbed this year by purely earthly considerations. While the faithful were expecting to celebrate the birth of the Divine Child in the renewed fervor of the Saint-Lucien church, an unexpected pastoral decision has deprived the parish of its customary solemnities. The parish priest, Father Jean-Frédéric Plateaux, has indeed decided to cancel the Nativity scene and the Advent Mass, citing the local electoral situation to justify this withdrawal from public sacramental life.
A Fervor, However, Reborn Within the Church
Just a year ago, the sacred edifice resonated with the piety of the inhabitants. During previous celebrations, parishioners had rediscovered the beauty of Catholic liturgy. One resident testified then to her surprise at the turnout: "It was the first time I went to Mass. I was surprised, there were a lot of people." This spiritual rebirth had been marked by the installation of a Nativity scene and a Christmas tree, followed by a moment of fellowship. As witnesses emphasized: "They had done things in a big way."
This initiative, launched four years ago, had the noble aim of "bringing life back to our church and to the festivities of the Nativity and Advent," according to the words of Jean-Charles Lefèvre, the organizer of these celebrations. Yet this year, the doors of the sanctuary risk remaining closed to these holy joys, leaving volunteers stunned.
The Confusion Between the Temporal and the Spiritual
The cause of this spiritual deprivation lies in a parish quarrel, both literally and figuratively. The organizer of the religious festivities, Jean-Charles Lefèvre, is also a candidate in the municipal elections, opposing the current mayor, Astrid Lequen. Concerned with maintaining strict neutrality, Father Jean-Frédéric Plateaux judged that "the proximity of the elections and the particularity of the known public situation poses a problem."
According to the priest, the organizer's dual role risked "causing confusion" and being "misinterpreted." He thus declared: "I pointed out to him that one cannot play on two boards," adding firmly that "communal life is one thing, parish life is another."
However, this human prudence, which leads the pastor to say that "he wants to avoid conflicts," objectively deprives the flock of its traditions. The priest also argued that he did not wish to institutionalize these weekday celebrations: "It's something that had given satisfaction but I did not want to turn it into a tradition, the Advent Mass doesn't exist elsewhere. I told him we could consider a Mass on the evening of the 24th." Alas, the 8:30 PM time slot "was not suitable" for gathering an adequate liturgical team.
The Faithful's Incomprehension in the Face of the Decision
Faced with this decision, the organizer does not hide his disappointment, recalling that faith should not be held hostage by the ballot box: "If one can no longer be elected and a Christian, it's a shame." He defends the purity of his intentions, assuring that "these festivities around the church have never been and will never be stamped 'Jean-Charles Lefèvre.' One must not confuse everything. Faith is also part of my life and that concerns me, but it has nothing to do with my commitment within the municipality. They are two different things."
Although Mr. Lefèvre said he was ready to step back from the organization, the priest's decision remains unchanged. For the local clergy, "the church is in the middle of the village for everyone, whether one is for Astrid Lequen or Jean-Charles Lefèvre, and I am at the service of the inhabitants of the commune."
Reactions in the village illustrate the distress of souls. While some believe that "we are talking about a Nativity scene in a small village, there is no need to make a big story out of it," others lament the consequences for the community: "It's a shame that it impacts the village, it deprives us in a way, but it's hard for the priest, he manages the parish and he wants to avoid conflicts." Other voices, more attached to secularism, support the priest's rigor: "As a candidate, he has nothing to say about what happens at the church. He must remain neutral. He should have let the church manage its own ceremonies."
The matter is now in the hands of the episcopal authority. Bishop Jacques Benoit-Gonnin, bishop of the diocese, has been contacted by Mr. Lefèvre. The diocese has confirmed that a response "will be given to him shortly." In the meantime, the faithful of Avrechy hope that the light of Christmas will still be able to shine, beyond human divisions.