Founded in 1919, the Laennec Centre in Marseille, which supports nearly 1000 medical students according to Jesuit pedagogy, celebrated its 100th anniversary last October.

The Laennec Centre in Marseille, which today hosts 980 students in medicine, dentistry, maieutics and pharmacy, celebrated its centenary on 18 October. It was the feast day of the evangelist Saint Luke, patron saint of doctors. On this occasion, many festivities took place in the Marseilles establishment.

After an address by the President of the Laennec Centre Association, Professor Jean-François Mattei, former Minister and President of the Academy of Medicine, chaired a conference on the greatness and servitudes of medicine and care.

The participants then shared in three forums for a moment of exchange and debate: tomorrow's medicine, health policy and access to care, health and the environment.

At the end of the afternoon, Archbishop Aveline of Marseille presided at the Mass, surrounded by several Jesuits and in the presence of a large assembly.

In his speech, the Provincial, François Boëdec, reiterated the challenges of the Jesuits' presence among medical students.

"On this path between the doctor's consciousness and the patient's trust, everyone is encouraged to progress and give the best of themselves. The Centre aims to help overcome the careerist and individualistic aspect that too often prevails in medical studies and to support as much as possible the inner growth of tomorrow's health professionals.

All this makes up the alchemy, the DNA, the treasure and the "soul supplement" to which the Laennec Centres, rooted in the strength of renewal that the Gospel brings to our lives and to the life of this world, are attached and on which they strive to watch."

Guests - including many former students - were then able to (re)discover today's Laennec Centre, whose buildings have been significantly expanded.

Turning a page after a period of 100 years means opening a new one where ordinary time takes back all its rights. After the celebration... will come, again and again: seriousness in work, kindness in relationships, mutual support in effort and correctness in behaviour.

Pierre Clermidy S.J., Director of the Laennec Marseille Centre

https://laennec-marseille.fr