Launch of the “American Friends of L’Abbaye de Lagrasse” in New York;
On March 5, the Consulate General of France in New York hosted the launch of the “American Friends of L’Abbaye de Lagrasse” in partnership with the New York Chapter of French Heritage Society *. Despite a difficult context (the week was packed with major events in New York, and the Coronavirus was already keeping many Americans away from cultural events), eighty people gathered in the prestigious Salon Rose;
The Consule Générale de France, Madame Anne-Claire Legendre and Elizabeth Stribling, French Heritage Society Chairman, had honored us by taking this event under their High Patronage.
It was up to Didier Repellin, Architecte en Chef, Inspecteur Général des Monuments Historiques and Honorary Director of FHS. A remarkable speaker, our friend won over the audience with an exceptional presentation of the 1,000 years of human architectural know-how expressed in Lagrasse; What’s more, he brilliantly demonstrated, drawing on his international experience, how the know-how of new and old continents, focused on restoration in the case of the former and new construction in the case of the latter, can be mutually enriching;
The members of the FHS New-York Chapter, enthusiastically encouraged Mr. Repellin at the end of the conference to present his lecture to FHS Chapters across the USA.
Meeting with Mgr Timothy Dolan
Another milestone in the few days spent in New York was when the Abbot of Lagrasse, Rémi Delafon, President of our Support Committee, and Father Louis-Marie were granted an audience with the Cardinal Archbishop of New York, Most Reverend Timothy Dolan; After listening attentively and with interest to the general presentation of our community and our Abbey restoration project, he paternally blessed our community and encouraged our fundraising efforts across the Atlantic;
* The French Heritage Society is an American non-profit organization; It is dedicated to the preservation of French architectural and cultural heritage, in France and in the United States, by awarding prizes for restoration; to perpetuating know-how, knowledge and love of heritage through exchanges of students and heritage architects between the two countries; to nurturing Franco-American friendship and fostering a better understanding of the two cultures.
FHS has instituted a fiscal sponsorship program designed to assist French non-profit organizations in their fundraising efforts in the United States; It was in this context that the “American Friends of L’Abbaye de Lagrasse” were created;
-
Top photo, left to right: Astrid Stanfield -Pinel, Elisabeth Stribling (Chairman of the Board of French Heritage Society), TRvd Père Emmanuel, Abbé de Lagrasse, Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt Co-Chairmen of FHS New York Chapter
-
Photo center from left to right: Elisabeth Stribling (Chairman of the Board of FHS), Didier Repellin , Former Chief Architect, Former General Inspector of Historic Monuments and lecturer of the day, Elizabeth Browne;
-
Bottom photo: Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York;