On Sunday morning, invite the faithful and people from the street to have breakfast together... This is the simple idea proposed by the Saint-Ferréol church, animated by the Jesuits and located on the old port in Marseille. Thierry Lamboley SJ, superior of the Jesuit community, testifies to the joy of meeting and serving the people of the street through this initiative.

Would you like to have breakfast with me?

Their names are Ferhat, Emmanuel, Maria or the "king of the tramps" or the "queen of the street". They are young or already advanced in age, alone or with friends, sometimes with a pet, as they say. Our names are Thérèse, Nina, Anna, Steves, Cristina, François-Xavier, Martine, Thierry... We are from the group of apprentices of Father Fouque or members of the Christian community of Saint-Ferréol.

What brings us together on this Sunday morning? The street, the quays, the pavements... These places where some people live day and night, and where others meet for a coffee and a croissant shared for breakfast.

The initiative was born out of the tremendous work undertaken by Charles-Henri Garié, the Archbishop's recent delegate for solidarity. After having listed all the aids that already existed and having networked the already numerous impulses of generosity, several gaps appeared to him. With the help of Aymeric O'Neill of La Source, he spotted one that they called "Sunday morning espresso": on the square in front of a church, inviting the faithful and people from the street to have breakfast together. The Saint-Ferréol church immediately took up this simple and brilliant idea. Espresso was born.

In the sacristy of Saint-Ferréol, already transformed into a sewing workshop to make masks, two coffee machines and a kettle are on as early as 8am, fresh croissants bought next door, madeleines, brioches, blueberry jam, but also a small anti-covid bag with masks, Marseille soap and disposable tissues are ready. At 8:30 am, the table is set in front of the church and we set off to meet those who are waking up.

There, four young people sheltered from the wind with a breathtaking view of the Old Port: the discussion begins very quickly, exchanging good addresses where to shower as well. The smell of Marseille soap makes them happy. Further on, a gruff loner: a coffee and a croissant.  "Thank you. ...only words with a big smile. Everyone has their own morning dynamic!

In front of the Hema store, a small gathering. Orders placed quickly, delivery "at home", then long conservation where the question "Do you know where I can get my teeth treated? »

In front of the church, regulars from the help and accommodation centres arrive; they are already known by some of us. We sit down, we discuss, we exchange on the way the confinement happened, and the understanding of the police: "They were nice".

Coffee and hot water are in short supply. Express return to the sacristy. In the meantime, others arrive in front of the church. Laughter and happiness expressed in front of the bun spread with jam... All in German between Maria and Anna... The mother tongue, it feels good! Sometimes breakfast looks like an unlikely reunion, probably the one with the fraternity, a forgotten time. The astonishment is there: "Here, I thought Jesuits were doing long studies... That also leads to the street? "Shared laughter.

At the end of breakfast, the Secours Populaire teams pass in front of Saint-Férréol. New exchanges, new bonds of solidarity woven.

The time came to put everything away, to return to the sacristy to clean and give thanks to the Lord. What a joy to see that respect for the gestures that are barriers does not prevent closeness and human warmth. I look forward to next Sunday to meet our future friends and ask them: "Would you like to have breakfast with me?"