Guy Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Father Guy Gilbert is a French
Roman Catholic priest
and educator.
Born in Rochefort
, Gilbert was educated at a seminary
in Algeria
and ministered in Algiers
until 1970. He returned to France, to Paris
, where he specialised in working with juvenile delinquents in the working-class XIXe arrondissement
where there was a sizable pied noir community. He purchased a farm in southern France, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
, and established the Bergerie du Faucon centre where troubled youngsters might be reeducated and reintegrated into society through work, contact with animals and nature, and self-respect.
Guy Gilbert is thought to be a mentor of and a father figure for Prince Laurent of Belgium. In 2003, he married Laurent and Claire Coombs
at the St. Michael en St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels
. In 2011, he took part in the First Communion of their daughter Princess Louise
.
A regular radio correspondent with Radio Notre-Dame, a frequent interviewee on television, a journalist with La Croix
, and a prolific author, Guy Gilbert's appearance—his greying hair is long and flowing and he is usually seen in a battered leather jacket— and language are unorthodox. Former President Jacques Chirac
made him a chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
. He received the award from Abbé Pierre
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Roman Catholic priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
and educator.
Born in Rochefort
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...
, Gilbert was educated at a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and ministered in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
until 1970. He returned to France, to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he specialised in working with juvenile delinquents in the working-class XIXe arrondissement
XIXe arrondissement
The 19th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France.Situated on the Right Bank of the River Seine, it is crossed by two canals, the Canal Saint-Denis and the Canal de l'Ourcq, which meet near the Parc de la Villette.The 19th arrondissement includes two...
where there was a sizable pied noir community. He purchased a farm in southern France, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is a French department in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence.- History :Nord-de-Provence was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, and established the Bergerie du Faucon centre where troubled youngsters might be reeducated and reintegrated into society through work, contact with animals and nature, and self-respect.
Guy Gilbert is thought to be a mentor of and a father figure for Prince Laurent of Belgium. In 2003, he married Laurent and Claire Coombs
Princess Claire of Belgium
Princess Claire of Belgium, is the wife of Prince Laurent of Belgium and is a land surveyor.- Biography :...
at the St. Michael en St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. In 2011, he took part in the First Communion of their daughter Princess Louise
Princess Louise of Belgium
Princess Louise of Belgium born Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 6 February 2004, is the first child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. She is currently 13th in the line of succession to the Belgian throne.-Family:...
.
A regular radio correspondent with Radio Notre-Dame, a frequent interviewee on television, a journalist with La Croix
La Croix
La Croix is a daily French general-interest Roman Catholic newspaper. It is published in Paris and distributed throughout the country, with a circulation of just under 110,000 as of 2009...
, and a prolific author, Guy Gilbert's appearance—his greying hair is long and flowing and he is usually seen in a battered leather jacket— and language are unorthodox. Former President Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
made him a chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He received the award from Abbé Pierre
Abbé Pierre
LAbbé Pierre, was a French Catholic priest, member of the Resistance during World War II, and deputy of the Popular Republican Movement . He founded in 1949 the Emmaus movement, which has the goal of helping poor and homeless people and refugees...
.