On the weekend of November 7th and 8th, 2025, the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy was transformed into a gigantic living churchMore than 10,000 Catholics from across France converged on this iconic location to experience the tenth Mission Congress together. This event, far more than a simple gathering, embodied a profound desire for unity, renewal, and shared mission. Through praise, testimonies, workshops, and moments of prayer, the Catholic Church displayed a confident faith, open to all its diverse perspectives, and determined to have a profound impact on society.
One place, one heart: Bercy as a symbol of unity
The Accor Arena, a temple of faith
The Accor Arena, usually dedicated to concerts and shows, was transformed for the occasion. The stands, the corridors, the stage—everything was redesigned to welcome a community in prayer, song, and fellowship. Participants were able to experience Masses, vigils, concerts, workshops, and times of reflection in a space that was both grand and intimate. This choice of venue was not insignificant: it demonstrates that the Catholic Church is not afraid to engage in public life, to address everyone without hesitation, and to adapt to everyday spaces to proclaim the Gospel.
A diverse audience, a shared hope
The faces were varied: young and old, families, singles, religious, laypeople, scouts, members of movements, parishioners, residents of working-class neighborhoods, professionals, students… All were there, united by the same hope. As one participant pointed out, «It’s the Church in all its diversity.» This diversity, far from being an obstacle, became the strength of the gathering. Everyone was able to find their place, their group, their space for sharing, and above all, the feeling of belonging to a large family.
Unity in action: living the mission together
A weekend punctuated by prayer and brotherhood
The Mission Congress offered a rich and varied program: Masses, vigils, concerts, workshops, roundtables, association booths, times for testimonies, and even a youth village. Participants experienced powerful moments of prayer, such as the grand opening vigil on the theme "One God, One Heart," which brought together thousands of people for praise and inspiring testimonies. The group Glorious enlivened the evening, sharing the faith through music and joy, while personalities such as Father Michel Gueguen, Mehdi Djaadi or the Dominican brother Philippe Lefebvre shared their experience and their call to mission.
Collaboration, the key to the mission
One of the highlights of the Congress was the day dedicated to collaboration between priests and laity. The organizers wanted to demonstrate that mission is not accomplished alone, but as a team, by listening to one another, and by sharing skills and charisms. As the Congress document reminds us, "Synodality is a path of spiritual renewal to make the Church more participatory and missionary." Participants were able to experience firsthand what it means to work hand in hand for evangelization, in a spirit of fraternity and mutual respect.
The mission, at the heart of daily life
Workshops to live out faith in the world
The Mission Congress was not only a time of gathering, but also a time of formation and renewal. Numerous workshops allowed participants to reflect on how to live their faith in their daily lives: at work, at home, in their neighborhoods, online, and in schools. The themes addressed were varied: how to proclaim the Gospel in a secularized world, how to accompany young people, how to live out synodality, and how to respond to the challenges of today's society.
Inspiring testimonials
Testimonies played a central role in the program. People of all ages and backgrounds shared their journeys, their joys, their difficulties, and their hopes. Some spoke of their involvement in movements, others of their vocation, and still others of their desire to renew their faith. These stories touched the hearts of the participants, encouraging and inspiring them to live out their mission in their own contexts.
Unity, beyond differences
A space to listen and grow
The Mission Congress also aimed to provide a space for listening and growing together. A "Testimonials Space" was set up to address sensitive topics, such as abuses within the Church, relational dysfunctions, abuses of conscience or authority. Reflection rooms allowed participants to engage in introspection, listen to victims' testimonies, consider what fosters freedom and healthy relationships, and share in small groups. This time was praised for its kindness, depth, and openness.
Diversity, a strength
The Mission Congress demonstrated that the Catholic Church is enriched by its diversity. Participants discovered a variety of movements, communities, services, and perspectives, and above all, a shared desire to live together despite differences. As one participant noted, "It's like the August 15th procession in Paris: it's the entire Church, mixed together." This unity, far from being uniformity, is a richness that allows each person to grow and shine.
A boost for the mission
A time for rejuvenation and renewal
The Mission Congress was experienced as a time of spiritual renewal and rejuvenation. Participants left with renewed energy, a desire to live their faith more deeply, to share it, and to radiate it to those around them. As one young participant said, «I want to rekindle the candle. It’s been a while since I went to Mass and I’d skipped evening prayers, just a quick sign of the cross before bed. I need to hear that God loves us. My goal is to keep the candle of my faith burning.».
A mission for today and tomorrow
The Mission Congress reiterated that mission is not reserved for a select few, but for everyone. Each participant was invited to become a missionary in their own context, to proclaim the Gospel in their daily life, to be a witness of faith, hope, and charity. As the theme of the Congress states, "Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life »Each participant was encouraged to live this truth, to share it, to radiate it around them.
Bercy, a place of passage and transformation
The Mission 2025 Congress was much more than a Catholic gathering. It was a place of transition, transformation, encounter, prayer, fraternity, and mission. It demonstrated that the Catholic Church is vibrant, open, uninhibited, and determined to live its unity in diversity. It offered impetus, inspiration, and a desire for renewal and mission. And it left a powerful message: faith is, above all, an encounter, a sharing, a mission, a unity that transcends differences and radiates throughout the world.
