By Katie Vasquez
In the concrete jungle of Brooklyn, Deacon Benoît Chavanne likes to enjoy green space when he can find it.
Hiking, jogging and sports are just some of his hobbies.
“I like being outdoors. Yeah, I just enjoy physical activity. I mean, I grew up, I think doing, three, four hours a sport or more every day,” said Deacon Chavanne.
When he returns to the rectory at St Paul’s Church in Cobble Hill, he enjoys cooking, making dishes like sourdough bread or french apple tart, staples that remind him of his childhood in France.
“We like having food around the table, to be able to sit around the table and just spend some time together,” said Deacon Chavanne.
Another connection to France is Father Alex Morard who volunteered with deacon Benoit as part of the organization Con-Solatio.
The Brooklyn based non profit reaches out to people in some of the world’s most troubled areas. He connected with Father Morard while searching for a diocese to serve.
“I think it’s a great, great place to be. And I don’t know, as a French person I’m very attracted by New York City, of course, and America,” said Deacon Chavanne.
Volunteering with Con-Solatio in Chile in 2014 was a defining moment in his vocation. There he befriended a prison inmate named Pedro.
“To join people’s life, to put together people’s lives, and then only by putting them in the same spot, in the same room. I find myself ready to create this bond that last. And yeah, for me, it was really the miracle of the mission to to be able to, to have our life so intertwined,” said Deacon Chavanne.
When he’s ordained, Deacon Benoît wants to continue that ministry of presence.
“I think we need to be able to bring this presence of Christ in, in lives, visiting the people or saying with having banquets with the people. So to be able to to reach out to the people where they are today,” said Deacon Chavanne.