France: Provincial Superior of Montfort Missionaries murdered

Fr Olivier Maire SMM

Source: Vatican News/Archbishops House

Catholics across France are mourning the death of Fr Olivier Maire, SMM, who was allegedly murdered by a Rwandan immigrant whom he had been assisting. The Catholic Bishops and religious of France have expressed their "immense sadness and horror" at the murder of Father Olivier Maire, Provincial Superior of the Montfort Missionaries.

The body of the French priest was found at his home in Saint-Laurent-Sur-Sevre, in the western Vendée region.

A 40-year-old Rwandan immigrant handed himself in to police, confessing to Fr Maire's murder. He is being treated as the prime suspect in the investigation.

The man, who had been refused asylum, was already under investigation for setting fire to the Cathedral of Nantes last June. Fr Maire had been offering the man assistance and housing him in the Montfortian community since the end of May.

The French Catholic Bishops' Conference and Conference of Religious released a statement on Monday in response to the killing.

They assure Fr Maire's "parents, family, Montfort Missionaries, community of the Basilica of St Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort in Saint-Laurent-Sur-Sevre, and the entire Montfortian religious family of their prayers."

French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter to pay tribute to the slain priest. He wrote that Fr Maire's "generosity and love for others were reflected in his facial features."

Sister Véronique Margron president of the Conference of Religious in France said the religious community of France feels great pain "to think that a man of peace was murdered in the name of hospitality..In addition to the fear, there is also a feeling of incomprehension and powerlessness,"

She said the Montfortians had offered the Rwandan man shelter out of evangelical concern.

"Now is not the time to add fuel to the ire with calls for his expulsion, since he was not deported because he was in the midst of a judicial process," said Sr Margron. "This situation was truly not the problem of the brothers who welcomed him."

"We must remember that the virtue of hospitality is the greatest and first of the biblical virtues," she said. "There is no higher virtue in the whole of the Old Testament."

Sr Margron added that the Montfortians were not naïve in taking the man in. "They did this with full knowledge of the facts, welcoming advice; yet no one told them that this man could be so dangerous."

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has written to the superior general of the Montfort Missionaries offering prayers and condolences. In his message he writes: "I have learned this morning of the cruel killing of Fr Olivier Maire. I write to express my condolences to you and to all your colleagues.

"Five years ago, on a visit to St Laurent, I was warmly welcomed by Fr Olivier and I still recall his kindness and the lovely lunch that was offered.

"He will be so sadly missed and the manner of his death is so tragic. The hospitality he offered was given in the name of Jesus. So his untimely death is also a witness to that Name and to the selfless service to which He calls us.

"May Fr Olivier be welcomed into the arms of our Heavenly Father and may you, and all your fellow Montfortians, sisters, brothers and fathers, be consoled in your sadness.

"I celebrated Mass for Fr Olivier this morning. With my prayers and condolences."