TODAY WE SHARE THE EXPERIENCE FROM LIMOGES IN FRANCE 
The November 21st celebration is rooted in the tradition of Beaupeyrat School in Limoges from its founding date in 1634. For this reason, this year as in all past years, all the students from the Pre-school to the Primary grades participated in the festivities gathering in the Chapel to celebrate the Presentation of the Child Mary in the Temple. During the celebration, the Directress presented these little ones to Mary and entrusted them to Mary’s care.
The celebration was prepared by the students. The Pastor of the local parish always participates with great joy in this event so special to the Company of Mary.
Organized according to age levels it gave each group the opportunity to experience its meaning 
according to their capacity of understanding it in terms of their faith life. We will give you a broad overview:
1. The 1st and 2nd grades on the elementary level sang “Con María” to start off the celebration; this was following by singing the history of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. The Directress of the School retold the history and explained why Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac wished to celebrate this feast and the importance of continuing the tradition. The Pastor shared further insights.
The children expressed themselves following 
the example of Our Lady by presenting flowers and candles. They then read the three “universal prayers” that had been previously prepared by their respective teachers. It concluded with the Hail Mary and a song.
2.- The children from the Kindergarten and Pre-first grade began the celebration with the Hail Mary and they played the trumpet. They recounted the story of Mary followed by a prayer recited to Mary by each class. Together they sang: The Lord has done wonders, Holy is His Name. The Directress once again recounted the history of this Feast and explained the reason for the tradition in Company of Mary schools.
The Pastor then presented each class with a candle and an image of Mary. A final song concluded the celebration.
3.- The 2 and 3 year olds from the Pre-school 
arrived to the church singing. After the words of welcome, the Directress once again retells the origins of the celebration, and so once again we gather to speak of Mary. The children placed their photos on a panel board that symbolized the “house that belongs to all” which is the school, relating it to Mary’s entrance into the Temple. The Pastor then shared a few thoughts and the children said the following prayer:
Holy Virgin Mary, our Heavenly Mother,
we have come to tell you
that we place our trust in you.
We know that you love us.
That is why we know we can count on you.
You will know how to guide us and help us grow.
Thank you Mary for your love.
They processed from the Church singing.
All the students behaved extraordinarily well and were very attentive. The oldest ones in the school knew the significance of this feast and the little ones seemed to capture the importance of this day.
DEEPENING OUR UNDERSTANDING:
The School at Limoges was founded in 1634. Here, as in the other Company of Mary schools in France, the teachers are all lay people. Although the sisters do not directly work in these educational centers, they remain in constant contact.
The celebration at the Limoges School highlights the importance of giving unity and meaning to traditions: the origin, yesterday and today: beginning the Gospel account on Mary as the fundamental origin, remembering Jeanne de Lestonnac, and the reason for commemorating this Feast from the beginnings of the Company– remembering the past in order to give meaning to the commitments of today…
- What is the meaning of continuing this tradition for us?
- Do we take care to make these three aspects, that are key to all traditions, present in our celebrations?
Reflect on these points.
