“Openness to those who do not profess the Christian faith is essential for me. » Father Dominique Fontaine, who died on Wednesday December 4 at the age of 73, expressed in these words the heart of his thoughts and his action as a priest of the Mission of France. “He was looking for new ways to find God, and he said that for that, we had to return to the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels”testifies Mgr Hervé Giraud, prelate of the Mission of France and bishop of Viviers (Ardèche).
Born on August 2, 1951 in Dombasle, in Meurthe-et-Moselle, Dominique Fontaine is the eldest of five children. He studied at the minor seminary, then entered the seminary of Saint-Dié, in the Vosges, where he followed the first cycle. He undertook studies in economics and was interested, with other Christians, in the question of Marxism.
In 1974, he discovered the French Mission, where he joined the seminary, before being ordained a priest on June 21, 1980. “The Mission of France will have been his whole life”assures Mgr Giraud. While pursuing theology studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris, Dominique Fontaine worked in Hauts-de-Seine as a turner, delivery driver and handler. He also carries out a mission with the Young Christian Workers, as well as catechism.
In 1991, he was appointed to Ivry-sur-Seine, in Val-de-Marne, first for youth ministry, then for the entire pastoral sector. He works there in close collaboration with the municipality. He coordinates the show Agape on “The Lord's Day” until 2004, then will be parish priest of the Saint-Fons-Feyzin sector, south of Lyon. At this time, he collaborated with several newspapers, notably Panoramaa monthly spirituality magazine published by Bayard (publisher of The Cross). He answers readers' questions about the Christian faith with great simplicity and depth.
A devoted priest
In 2006, he became vicar general of the Mission of France, for a six-year mandate. After which he took on the role of pastor of the Missionary Center of Bussy-Saint-Georges, in Seine-et-Marne. For six years, he was also the chaplain general of Secours catholique.
In Bussy, he founded with others the Esplanade of religions and cultures, which brings together, a few hundred meters from the Notre-Dame-du-Val church, six other religious buildings: a Chinese Buddhist pagoda, the most largest in Europe, a Lao pagoda, a mosque, a synagogue, a Hindu mandir and an Orthodox church. “Discovering the religion of others, in friendship, forces us to deepen our own religion. It makes us feel like we are each other's brothers and sisters.”testified Dominique Fontaine on January 28, 2020 for “Le jour du Seigneur”.
“Dominique was a great spiritual figure for me, says Mgr Giraud. A man who knew how to receive the Gospel from and with unbelievers. »
The death of Father Fontaine caused the “stupor” in his surroundings. The Monday before his death, he was in the car with Mgr Giraud, discussing the prayer of Charles de Foucauld,“I am ready for anything, I accept everything”. On Tuesday evening, just before his death, he prayed compline with the other priests of his parish. “They sang the Nunc dimittis,“Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace according to your word.” reports the Bishop of Viviers with emotion. A song which will be repeated during his funeral, Wednesday December 11 at 2:30 p.m., at Notre-Dame-du-Val in Bussy-Saint-Georges.
