The Church of the Holy Family is located at 35 boulevard Victor-Hugo. The Marius-Chalve square, wide and spacious, allows meetings after the services. This is particularly the case after masses, weddings, baptisms, but also religious funerals. This Saturday, a big party is being organized to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this original building. On this occasion, we met the main players in the celebration: Father Arnaud A ba’a Omva, priest of the Holy Family, and Gérard Vial, work supervisor.
Father Arnaud A ba’a Omva, how long have you been officiating in this parish?
I was appointed to the Holy Family Church on September 1, 2022. I have been there for two years but the church has existed for twenty years. So, on Saturday, we will celebrate Family Day: family is us, family is you! This will be the occasion for a meeting around this beautiful building, with those who built it: the Companions of Duty. There will also be a fair for children, a little history for older children. Because this project for an entire city was realized thanks to the visionary spirit of a priest: Father Abdon Donaint.
Gérard Vial, can you enlighten us on the origin of this church with such modern architecture?
You should know that this building, made up of 1942 cut stones, weighing one ton on average, is the first church of the 21st century built in the archdiocese of Aix-en-Provence. The first stone was laid on January 6, 2001 by Monsignor Claude Feidt and François Bernardini, mayor of the city, in the presence of the dynamic team of priests, the warm, invested and supportive parish community, and elected officials attentive to the concerns of their administered. Construction was entrusted to the Compagnons du Devoir, led by an Orthodox architect: François Gautier.
