Port Louis, 09 September, 2019 / 2:35 am (ACI Africa).
One of the florists who decorated the Public Papal Mass in Mauritius when Pope Saint John Paul II visited in 1989, Odile Desjardins, has played a leading role in adorning the sanctuary where Pope Francis is scheduled to preside over Mass on Monday, September 9.
Ms. Desjardins was old enough to be part of her mother’s team, which beautified the venue for the Papal Mass in the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius 30 years ago using artificial flowers, she told ACI Africa Sunday.
“I was involved in decorating the venue for the Mass when the Pope visited this country in 1989,” Ms. Desjardins said and recalled, “I worked with my mum at that time as I was already an adult.”
“This time, the work has been huge and complex because we are using natural flowers,” she told ACI Africa at the Chapel and Shrine of Marie Reine de la Paix, the venue of the Monday Papal Mass in Port Louis.
She explained that the decision to go for natural flowers was inspired by Pope Francis who, she noted, has shown “great love for nature and indeed, the environment.”
“We would not have gone for artificial flowers, even though this decision meant that we had to do much more than we did 30 years ago,” Ms. Desjardins said.
Coordinating a team of 21 volunteers, among them 10 accomplished florists, Ms. Desjardins shared about the complexity of getting enough natural flowers to adorn the sanctuary.
“We could not collect enough natural flowers locally, so we had to get some from Malaysia,” she said and clarified that the organizers of the Papal trip in Mauritius were not involved in importing the flowers.
“We purchased from someone who had imported them,” she said and declined disclosing the cost estimates of the sanctuary adornment.
“We have become a great team of collaborators, working together quite well,” she said about her colleagues who, she emphasized, are serving as volunteers in decorating with natural flowers the venue for the Public Papal Mass.
“I am always telling them that they are brilliant and that I am very happy with the outcome of what we are accomplishing together and to have them with me,” she said.
When asked about the personal implication of the imminent Papal visit, Ms. Desjardins said, “This visit has a personal impact on me.”
“Apart from being continually inspired by the messages and style of life of Pope Francis, I follow the Ignatian spirituality,” she explained referring to a life that is based on the spiritual insights of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
“He is such a humble man and for me, humility is the most important thing in life,” Ms. Desjardins said about Pope Francis in conclusion.
Among those expected to concelebrate at the Public Papal Mass on Monday in Port Louis are Bishops who are part of the Indian Ocean Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CECOI).
The various ecclesial territories that constitute CEDOI include the diocese of Port Louis, the diocese of Saint Denis, the diocese of Port Victoria, the Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues, and the Apostolic Vicariate of Comoros, which includes Comoros and Mayotte Islands.
Sr. Elizabeth Chasteau who is assisting at the Sacristy for the event of the visit of Pope Francis told ACI Africa that the vestments the Bishops will use were designed in Mauritius and that the Carmelite Sisters prepared them.
“It is something that gives a local touch to it, because there are flowers of sugar cane, and that is very typical of the country,” Sr. Chasteau who is also the Regional Superior of Mary Reparatrix in Mauritius said.
“There is the cross, which is a symbol of our faith in Jesus Christ,” she added, pointing to the chasuble.”
“A lot of people have been involved in preparing for this visit and it is beautiful to see how people have been doing so many things with their gifts and very willingly,” Sr. Chasteus said and added, “It is like a big family, and it is an occasion when we really feel Mauritian, we are all one, a great experience of unity.”
“This is the beauty of it. I am really feeling Mauritian, and this makes us all feel we are Mauritian and that is the great symbolism of our unity,” she emphasized and concluded, “We would like everybody to think and live like that in daily life.”
Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla is ACI Africa’s founding Editor-in-Chief. He was formed in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans), and later incardinated in Rumbek Diocese, South Sudan. He has a PhD in Media Studies from Daystar University in Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Marist College, New York, USA.