Fraternité Notre-Dame
The Fraternité Notre-Dame is a Traditional Catholic order of bishops, priests, friars and nuns. There is also a third order attached to them.
Contents
Origins
The origins of Fraternité Notre-Dame lay in the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that were reported in Frechou, France.[1] They are led by Bishop Jean Marie Kozik, a Frenchman of Polish origin who was consecrated by Vietnamese Archbishop Ngo Dinh Thuc.[1]
Rite
The general religious practices of followers of Fraternité Notre-Dame are in line with other Traditionalist Catholics. "Traditionalist Catholics" as identified are not in line with post Vatican II's decrees on inclusions of the Tridentine Mass or Pope Francis. Such Identification is not to be confused with those who submit under obedience under Canon Law and are validly ordained with Permission of The Supreme Pontiff, the Bishop of Rome. In addition, Apparitions of the Blesed Virgian Mary are subject to the decree of Pope Urban VIII.
The church today
Fraternité Notre-Dame operates religious and humanitarian missions on four continents. The church operates soup kitchens and weekly food pantries in Paris, New York, Ulan Bator and Chicago. Additionally a hospital for the poor has been opened in Mongolia and they have also operated humanitarian convoys to benefit those victimized by war in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Rwanda.[1]
Chicago
In 2000, The movement opened its Mother House for North America in Chicago's Austin neighborhood in the former Gammon United Methodist Church, a structure built by noted Cleveland architect Sidney Badgley and featured in a number of books on Chicago architecture, notably "The AIA Guide to Chicago" by Alice Sinkevitch (Harvest Books 2004). Fraternité Notre-Dame uses the complex as a Novitiate/Seminary for religious friars and future priests, as well as a Novitiate for religious nuns out of the complex.
Since then Fraternité Notre-Dame nuns have become a fixture at numerous Chicago area farmer's markets selling traditional French pastries to raise funds for the group.[2]
Controversies
The church has faced controversies since entering the Chicago area with the opening of its mother house in a former Methodist church in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago in 2000.
A religious retreat operated by Fraternité Notre-Dame in suburban Marengo was vandalized in 2006.[3] Many neighbors were reportedly opposed by the presence of a religious complex in their area.[4] Racial epithets and slurs had been spray-painted on the statues including the words "KKK", "Leave" and "go away", while the face of the Virgin Mary was blackened.[5]
The order found itself in the news again as one of its members, Sister Marie Marot was charged in a car accident at the intersection of Randall Road and Illinois Route 72 on October 7, 2007.[6] The prosecution had contended that the Fraternite Notre Dame nun had run a red light which resulted in the death of 16-year-old Keith Forbes.[6] Sister Marot was found not guilty in May 2009.[6]
Fraternité Notre-Dame testified to the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals, asking for a conditional use permit to add a school with dormitory, a nursing home and hospice, another commercial kitchen and a place to brew beer, make wine and hold tastings, plus a gift shop, on its 95 acres at 10002 Harmony Hill Road in McHenry County Illinois. [7]
References
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