Young couple steps in for priest in Malicorne-sur-Sarthe for 3 years

A young couple, Violette, 25, and Grégoire, 29, have moved into the presbytery of Malicorne-sur-Sarthe to replace the departed priest, serving the parish for a three-year mission starting September 1, 2026. The couple, from Fougères, will maintain the presbytery and offer a constant, welcoming presence to parishioners. They are part of the E’M (Église en Mission) initiative, which sends believers to serve local churches, and their arrival marks a first for the Sarthe region. Violette, an artist painter, and Grégoire, an engineering teacher, met through the Community of Emmanuel and married in July 2024. Father Christian du Halgouët notes a parishioner expectation and a revitalized faith in the area, while the couple awaits their first child.