February 11, 2009-February 11, 2017- R.I.P. Després Jean-Baptiste, Raymond Guérin and Mickaël Sabak

[Dawn Marie]

 

 

On February 11, 2009 three SSPX seminarians lost their lives in an avalanche while walking the mountains of Econe Switzerland.

 

May their souls rest in peace.

• Suresnes, 12 February 2009
  
  Dear Faithful,
  Dear Friends,
  
  We have a deep sorrow to inform you of the accidental death, which occurred during a walk in the mountains yesterday 11 February, three members of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X, Messieurs the abbots Després Jean-Baptiste, Raymond Guérin and Mickaël Sabak All three third-year students in the seminar of Econ.
  
  We recommend that your prayers the repose of their souls and their families so severely affected by this tragedy. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in their intentions in each house district.
  
  Ask Our Lady of Lourdes, the feast at which the accident occurred, soon to welcome in the glory of heaven our three young Levites to extend the heavenly family members of the fraternity. Ask him to console their families so deeply affected by such a test.
  
  We also recommend to your prayers our fraternity itself sorely tested well in this circumstance.
  
  As soon as we can, we'll give you information about the funeral of our three seminarians.
  
  I request you to accept, dear faithful, dear friends, the expression of my priestly dedication in the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
  
  Rev. Régis de CACQUERAY

Ecône, 12 February 2009, 10am.

Dear family and friends, Some of you might already have heard about this, but if only to correct partial accounts, I want to tell you about a difficult trial that hit the seminary of Econe yesterday. Three third year seminarians died in the mountains because of an avalanche (for those who know them, Jean-Baptiste Després (22), Raymond Guérin (22) et Michaël Sabak (20 ans)). After the end-of-semester exams, we had a break of four days when we could make whatever outings we wanted. This Wednesday 11 February, seven of us seminarians (all 3rd years and French) decided to go out for a day in the mountains. We planned to treck on snow shoes towards a mountain refuge, cook our picnic and return in the evening so as to be back at the seminary for 6.30pm. We left the seminary by car about 9am, and parked up about 10.30am. From there we went off onto the fresh snow in snowshoes, along a path that leads to a hydroelectric dam way up in the mountains. When we reached the summit about 12.45pm, a sign indicated that from that point it would ordinarily take one hour twenty minutes to reach the mountain refuge. But the path was covered with a metre and a half of snow on which nobody had walked, so much so that we had to cut the path again with our snow shoes. This path passed 50 metres above the lake (Cleuson). Two of us, being tired and hungry, didn't want to go on. So we were walking behind the others at a distance of 50 metres. Then, as the path went around an outcrop of rock above the lake, they disappeared from view. One of them, however, wanted to see what had become of us, and came again into view around the outcrop. We exchanged a few words and then caught up with him. But then, looking for the group up ahead, we could see only their footprints, which petered out about 40 metres ahead of us, and the trail of an avalanche. The ice on the lake was broken where the avalanche had come to a halt, but we could make nothing else out because of the brightness of the snow and the visibility (100 metres). We understood straightaway what had just happened. Seeing that in any case we could not help them, we went back to the dam. It was 1pm. After a few minutes of difficult walking, we reached the 'dam keepers' lodge'. The door was open, the lodge was empty, and near to the door was a phone. I then called 112 and the mountain rescue centre answered straightaway. Four people were in the avalanche and perhaps in the lake itself. In record time (15 mins), 2 'allouettes III' (helicopters) arrived at the spot and after half an hour, they brought back one of my best friends Eric Peron. He had not lost consciousness, and, though completely submerged in the snow, had managed to keep a pocket of air in front of his mouth with his arms, which saved him. Soon, he realised that the snow was whiter above him. Guessing that he was near the surface (his feet were in the lake and he was stuck from the waist up), he opened up a gap with his free arm, and actually reached the surface of the snow and he had the presence of mind to pull off his scarf and shove it through the opening. The rescuers saw it and with their dogs they got him out. He pointed out to them his fellow seminarian Raymond whose feet he could see, but Raymond was already dead. Eric was able to walk and seemed okay but Raymond was on the ground and we were not told until later that he was dead. About 3pm they took us by helicopter (my first time in one ...) to the rescuers' base at Sion where the police took charge of us. Eric was already at hospital and he was well and had no broken bones. They held us a long time at the police station to make their inquiries into what had happened. As the eldest of the witnesses they made me make a long statement which the two others confirmed. Meanwhile we learnt that Raymond had died and that Jean-Baptiste and Michaël had not been found. There was no hope of getting them out alive. That evening at 7pm, they took us to the funeral home where we found Eric who was with Raymond's body. At 8.30pm, we were all taken back to the seminary. The searches stopped for the night and began again this morning. That is the story of what happened. Everyone here is in shock. Three young, beautiful souls have gone to meet the Eternal Father. Four miracles - for if we had not lagged behind, we would have all been caught in the avalanche and, with nobody to raise the alarm, the searches would not have started until 7pm, which would have been too late for the seven of us, the ways of God are impenetrable - give thanks to the Lord for the life which he has given them, and mourn the death of their friends. I ask you now to pray for the dead, and for their families who are enduring a terrible trial, and to join us in thanking the mercy of heaven for sparing our lives. With my love, Benoît. Requiescant in Pace

• Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
• Després Jean-Baptiste, Raymond Guérin and Mickaël Sabak
  

[Cathleen]

Eternal rest grant unto them, dear Lord, and let Thy Perpetual LIght shine upon them.

May their souls rest in peace

Eternal Memory+

[Michael]

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Amen

[Ana De Valle]

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Amen

[Flavia Talladen Schott]

Eternal rest grant  unto them O Lord,

and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them. 

May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Amen. 

[Dawn Marie]

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

[Alley]

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of

God rest in peace. Amen