Not far from the entrance to the Saint-Sulpice church, it is in the small Saint-Paul chapel that a few people come every day to pray for a close victim of the Covid.
“It is undoubtedly the first place that allows families to meet.
We had to create this space where everyone can hang a photo of a loved one on the wall, simply stop and think of their deceased - for non-Catholics - and pray, for Catholics.
It's open to everyone, ”underlines Father Henri de la Hougue, pastor of this parish in the 6th arrondissement since last September.
The initiative came from the meeting with Laurent Frémont and Stéphanie Bataille at the end of a mass.
Both lost their father to the pandemic.
And both must now endure the same pain of not having been by his side at the last moment.
“We only received two calls from the doctor.
The first to tell us that everything was fine.
The second to tell us that he was dead ”
In an attempt to cope, they created the collective “Tenir ta main”. “We have already collected over 8,000 testimonials from people who, like us, have not been able to give a proper final farewell to a member of their family. In this pain, we just wanted a little humanity. However, without a national protocol in health establishments, clinics, hospitals or nursing homes, visiting rights are left to the discretion of the directors. And there are abuses. "
Laurent's father was 70 years old. He was in great shape before suffering from Covid last November. “He was transferred to a private clinic in Aix-en-Provence. From the outset, we were informed that we would not be able to visit it. After his remission, after three negative tests, while he was awake and absolutely more contagious, we still weren't allowed to see him. We only received two calls from the doctor. The first to tell us that everything was fine. The second to tell us that he was dead. Then everything went very quickly: the body was placed in a plastic bag and sent to the morgue. "We weren't able to go with her and we weren't even able to say goodbye to her face" ...
Stéphanie Bataile and Laurent Frémont lost a loved one during the pandemic.
they created the association "Tenir ta main".
They are welcomed by Father Henri de la Hougue in Saint Sulpice.
Eric Le Mitouard
Stéphanie Bataille, actress and deputy director of the Théâtre-Antoine could give the same testimony.
Her father, the comedian and actor Étienne Draber, died on January 11, 2021. And she too could not be by his side.
“By creating this collective, we want to transform our anger into a social struggle.
Make the public authorities aware of the ethical abuses of certain health establishments.
And include the right to visit patients in the law, ”says Laurent Frémont, after being received at the Elysee Palace and by ministers.
He was auditioned this week in the Senate.
Gérard Larcher has decided to create a commission to advance this cause.
Create a place of devotion
But Stéphanie and Laurent also need to rebuild.
“It was essential that there be a place to meditate.
To make it all more worthy.
Realize that behind the statistics, there are faces, ”said Laurent Frémont, 29 years old.
For him, it was obvious: "As the Madeleine was for Johnny Hallyday, Saint-Sulpice must become a place of devotion for tens of thousands of people who left anonymously."
Stéphanie Bataille and Laurent Frémont lost a loved one during the pandemic.
they created the association "Tenir ta main".
They are welcomed by Father Henri de la Hougue in Saint Sulpice.
Eric Le Mitouard
With Father de la Hougue, the choice of the Saint-Paul chapel was quick.
“It's a somewhat dark chapel with nothing on the wall.
Little by little, we put up panels on which everyone can place a photo, ”describes the priest.
On a table, a small basket, dozens of prayer intentions have been placed.
A sheet was also written by the parish priest to help visitors and families.
And an invitation was issued: “Every last Friday of the month, we will have a time of prayer and meditation at 3 pm”.
The first meeting is already set for Friday May 28.
Saint-Sulpice Church, 2, rue Palatine (6th arrondissement), open from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
