This priest handed an image of Mary to Muslims on a beach

"Hey, I'm 50 years old, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen this!” Marie Joëlle has a hard time hiding her surprise when a priest comes to interrupt her sunbathing session on one of the beaches in Toulon, southern France. Last August, the priests of St Francois de Paule parish of Toulon, accompanied by young Catholics from the community of the Missionaries of Divine Mercy, walked the sandy beaches around the bay.

For the past 15 years, the city’s Missionaries of Divine Mercy have gone out to reach locals and vacationers where they are. They are responding to Pope Francis’ call, who, at the World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016, asked young people to "get up from their couches" and put on their shoes to "go meet others."

Once the surprise has passed, Catholics and beach goers usually engage in conversation. Marie Joëlle, for her part, is a non-practicing believer. She shares that her son has had a hard time finding a work-study program. Father Vincent prays right there on the beach so that "Anthony will do well in his studies and find a job."

Another encounter takes places on a grassy spot this time, in the shade of a palm tree. Father Vincent, with Quitterie and Pierre, two young Catholics who are with him, approach Mohamed and Fatima, two Moroccans on vacation in Toulon, reclining in lawn chairs, who say that they are Muslim. A conversation begins, especially around the role of priests in Catholicism.

Mohamed is excited: "I love getting an opportunity to debate about religion. It's always so interesting! And we all showed each other mutual respect.” At the end of their exchange, Father Vincent gives the Moroccans an image of the Virgin Mary. The words of the "Hail Mary" were printed on the back. And before leaving the Catholics and Muslims recited it together.

Francebleu