The FMM Fraternity of “Tiberiade” in Clichy-Sous-Bois, on the outskirts of Paris, is a faithful presence in a complex context that is multicultural and multinational, which is often a sensitive subject in France.
By Sister Kyong-Ha Yim, FMM The Sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary of the Tiberias Fraternity started their activity in Clichy-Sous-Bois on the 13th floor of an HLM (Habitation à Loyer Modéré ) building among mostly Muslim neighbours. Sister Jola Nowosielska recalls when the community had to move out of the building in 2007. “Our Muslim neighbours were sad to see us leave. They said, ‘Who will protect us now?’. We were women of prayer for them,” she said. The fraternity in Seine Saint-Denis, present in this suburb of Paris since 1994, is a faithful presence in a complex context that is multicultural and multinational, which is often a delicate subject in France. The Sisters bear witness to this wave of social challenges through their solidarity with neighbours of different cultures and nationalities and through their prayers offered for the world—near and far. Thus, they are known as women of prayer by their neighbours. Muslims make up the majority of the local population and are the most visible group in Clichy-Sous-Bois, as in many Paris suburbs. The Fraternity of Tiberiade was founded to help Christians, who are a minority in this social context, and everyone, whoever they may be, providing them a place of welcome and encounter in the neighbourhood. “Even though I did not see the Sisters every day, I knew they were there. I was comforted by their kindness, their closeness to people. They didn’t talk like the others,” said Bernard Péyrebesse, a Christian from Clichy-Sous-Bois, who has been close to the Franciscan Sisters since 1996. Over the years, the Sisters have been involved in chaplaincies and catechesis with young people, as well as in associations and social work. Sister Alexandrine Lefèvre, one of the foundresses, started the first school support programme in Clichy-Sous-Bois in collaboration with Secours Catholique. This support still exists today to help students of low-income families and to offer them different and enriching experiences such as visits to the heart of Paris. From the outset, the Sisters have been known by their neighbours as women of prayer who live a simple life. But minor incidents—signs of the tensions and misunderstandings—marked their daily lives. “When we arrived, the young people in the neighbourhood looked at us with suspicion. Sometimes they provoked us to see our reaction. But it was nothing serious,” said Sister Jola, one of the foundresses of the Fraternity, who has been in charge of the Clichy-Sous-Bois community since 2022. The Sisters’ presence has made them constant witnesses of this wave of social problems, but their cordial and respectful relationship with their neighbours has been an integral part of their reality in the suburbs. They also bear witness to unexpected solidarity that is shown during important events and tensions. “When Father Hamel was murdered by terrorists in 2016, some young Muslims came to the church on a Sunday to express their condolences and told us that Islam is a religion of peace. They showed us their solidarity in the face of this shocking event. Young people are trying to improve ‘living together’ in a city where different religions meet every day,” said Sister Léa Bakoarivelo, who was in charge of the Fraternity until 2022. Today, the mission of the Fraternity of Tiberiade focuses on welcoming visitors, listening to them, praying and enlivening the pilgrimage site dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels, a Marian shrine in Clichy-Sous-Bois. “I was very happy when this church of Saint John XXIII was built and I learned that the Sisters would be coming here. I don’t know what they do, but I know who they are. It is impossible to find a solution to all problems. But meeting people and listening to them is important, and they are there precisely to meet people. When we see the Sisters, we are reminded of Jesus”, Mr Péyrebesse confided with conviction. In the heart of the city, through unexpected encounters, “the women of prayer” bond with their neighbours and pray for them, whoever they may be.