“An unholy row,” he chuckled, “right here on Allée de l’Abbé Alfonsi!” We found ourselves standing on a quiet street, lined with houses. It was hard to imagine the scene he described. The year was 1910. A young Abbé Alfonsi, fueled by faith, dared to build a church in the heart of this socialist, working-class community. Allée de l’Abbé Alfonsi, named in his honor, was still finding its feet. The separation of church and state in 1905 had left its mark. The residents, with no place of worship, attended services in neighboring towns. But Abbé Alfonsi had a vision. He started small, first an oratory in a house, then a chapel. Then, he dared to dream bigger. He laid the first stone of his church right here on this very spot. The ceremony, however, was met with fierce resistance. Imagine the scene: devout followers singing hymns, drowned out by a cacophony of angry shouts and the rousing chorus of “The Internationale”. Yet, unfazed, the Abbé pressed on. Allée de l’Abbé Alfonsi would bear witness to his unwavering spirit. The church, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, was completed. It stood as a testament to the Abbé’s determination, a beacon of faith amidst a skeptical community. The very street we stand on now, Allée de l’Abbé Alfonsi, echoes with this legacy, a testament to the enduring power of belief.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.