BENTON — Heard a French biker on the streets of Benton lately? Or a swimmer at Fitness Unlimited with a French accent? It’s Father Elisée Noel of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist in France who is visiting the city this summer to improve his English language skills.
Father Noel, 47, usually works with the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist. This summer, however, he is working alongside Father Joseph Ejimofor and in the life of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in any capacity needed.
The Missionaries are a small clerical association in the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon in southern France. In 2007, Bishop Dominique Rey organized the association. Its chief goal is to promote worldwide perpetual Eucharistic adoration.
Father Noel arrived in Arkansas July 3. He learned about Benton through another Missionaries priest, Father Sean Davidson, who visited the parish in 2011.
“It was through this contact (Father Davidson) that Father Noel asked us personally if I can allow him to stay in my rectory,” said Father Ejimofor, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church of Benton.
Father Ejimofor wrote Bishop Anthony B. Taylor to receive approval. Father Noel will stay here through Sept. 30.
On the day of the interview, Father Ejimofor was busy making arrangements for Father Noel to celebrate three Masses in Russellville. Father Noel had been practicing his homilies with Mary Mullane of Benton. Now a retired English teacher, Mullane has been tutoring Father Noel daily on the idiosyncrasies of American English.
Mullane said Father Noel has had a lot of improvement in a few weeks’ time because he has been practicing what he learns.
“He’s an excellent student,” Mullane said, who used to teach English in Chicago and later for many years in Greece. “Yesterday, we worked on his homily. If it had been in church I would have been applauding. He improves because he studies.”
Father Noel, who was born in Cameroon, left 23 years ago to enter a congregation in France called the Brothers of St. John. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2008 in France.
Later, he joined the clerical association of the Missionaries, now organized as a diocesan community. It has a special mission to promote perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament worldwide. It is a work that brings out a passion in Father Noel’s voice.
“My dream is to see the perpetual adoration spread over the United States and the whole world,” Father Noel said. “My dream is for people to see Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament. I think it is that way that the world will see peace.”
Father Noel shared some of his observations about Americans.
“I think that when I compare America to France, America has a great faith. People are taking part in the life of their parish and for them, it is normal for them to have responsibilities in the church,” he said. “In America, you don’t have to hide to speak about God.”
Benton, at about 30,000 people, is a lot smaller than the approximately 170,000 population of Toulon where Father Noel lives. However, he noticed a difference of approach to religion when contrasting the two countries. French people tend to be very private about their faith. They’re less likely to greet you on the street, for example, he said.
“That’s one of the things I like the most in here,” Father Noel said. “In the television stations, missionaries are talking about that all the time, you have to know Jesus, you have to give your heart to Jesus. In America it is normal to talk in that sense.”
Father Noel learned to play guitar some years ago. He played for some students. Later, the students bought him a guitar. After an interview, he played a few religious songs for Mullane.
“When are you going to play for us?” Father Ejimofor said, thinking of a parish event. “Some evening show?”
“Yes,” Father Noel replied. “I would like to.”
So, with that, one more aspect of church life was born: planning a parish event. It will be one more way for Father Noel to practice his English — and make many new friends in the process.
For more information on the Missionaries, visit www.mostholyeucharist.org.
