Late on Monday, 24 November, we learned of the passing of our brother René, who died suddenly of a heart attack while at the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris, where he was preparing to take the train to Rimont.

Brother René Cinq-Mars was Canadian, from a family of nine children. He entered the community at Saint-Jodard at the age of 37 in 1998 after working in the field of education.

He did a one-year internship in Murat and two years in Poponguine. During his years of theology in Rimont, he made his perpetual profession on 4 June 2006. He was then sent to Attichy (2006-2008), Rome (2008-2011), Rimont (2011-2012), Saint-Fargeau (2012-2015), Richemont (2015-2017), Rimont (2017-2018), Brussels (2018-2021), and had been in Rimont since 2021.

Brother René was bursar for Africa for about ten years until 2020, continuing to assist Brother Philippe-François afterwards. At Rimont, he was bursar of the priory. Strong-willed, he was also remarkable for his humour and culinary talents, and happy to serve in all kinds of camps, at Richemont, Lorient and other priories. In 2018, he spent several months at the Magdalena House with women who are rebuilding their lives after leaving prostitution, inspired by the words of Saint Bernadette: ‘She looked at me as a person.’

His sister-in-law in Quebec told us this: “He had just spent a wonderful time with us, including a memorable Mass with Father Réjean Trépanier in Terrebonne on the Feast of Christ the King, and a sacrament of forgiveness at Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. In his pocket, Brother René carried small souvenirs of Saint Brother André for you, his brothers. Fittingly, his last ‘Sunday message’ (by email) was based on the Gospel verse: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” We entrust Brother René to the mercy of the Lord and the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

The funeral celebration for our brother will take place in Rimont: a vigil will be held on Tuesday 9 December at 8.30 pm. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday 10 December at 10.30 am, followed by burial in Rimont cemetery, alongside his brothers.