Father Jean Laborde-Turon

25th october 1910 - 15th january 2007

Father Laborde - Turon was vice-dean of our Congregation.  He was born on the 25th October 1910 at Lescar; five days later he was christened.  He made his First Vows in the Congregation on the 11th September 1928 at Balarin (Gers) where the Novitiate was situated.  It was at Bethlehem that on the 9th November 1932 he made his Final Vows.  It was in Bethlehem also that on the 7th July 1935 he was ordained priest. From then onwards he fulfilled many missions – Betharram from July 1935 to September 1938; Sarrance from September 1938 to July 1948; Limoges from August 1948 to July 1952; chaplain at Igon from July 1952 to August 1953.  Parish Priest at Lestelle between August 1953 and September 1965; in for different places (Limoges, Floirac, Betharram, and Pierrefitte) between October 1965 and January 1968; at the parish Notre Dame in Bordeaux from January 1968 to November 1979;  at the Bon-Pasteur in Cauderan from November 1979 to 1994.  In 1994 he entered our Nursing Home in Betharram.  During the last few years, because of illness and disability he was very dependant.  He remained faithful to the community Mass as long as he could.  (Fr Benat Oyhenart - French provincial)

At the outset of my priesthood I had a great project:

                                               To live for Love and to make it known.

Three months ago Father Laborde-Turon entered his 97th year!  Together with his brother Joseph he was our favourite uncle!! He was all the more senior because there had been far too many deaths these last few years.  We offer our deepest sympathy to his family for the passage of this “isle into God’s ocean”.

Our sympathy is fraternal for it was in 1928 at the end of his novitiate that he chose his second family.  He has spent nearly 80 years in our midst!  Having answered the different calls from his Superiors, he got to know many communities even if they were not always big communities.

Apart from the 14 years spent in the Nursing Home here, the communities of Sarrance (10 years at the Monastery), of Limoges (5 years at Ozanam college), the parish of Lestelle (12 years service), witnessed the maturity and self sacrifice of Father Laborde.

In each of these missions the communities witnessed the generosity and faith brought by their brother. As for Lestelle, you especially the youngsters of the day, you know how much he loved you, how he launched you in his newly founded youth club at Izards, in sports, leisure and sharing.

As a priest he carried his mission with him.  For the Golden Jubilee of his ordination he wrote: “Admitting, quite simply, that there is in every life a love which precedes, follows and surrounds everything.  This is a fact in the life of every Christian, but without a doubt is to be found in the life of anyone called to the priesthood. I understand my life as a priest only as a call and an invitation to which, all my life long, I have tried to the best of my ability to answer, certain in the knowledge that I was being led by someone who desires my happiness – not any cheap happiness, but a happiness equal to God!”…..”Whatever the future holds for  me, I want to live it as I have always tried to live  faithful to my ideal, with all the convictions which have helped me and this to the end of my days!

Finally there is this message of hope added to the announce of his death, ending his witness: “May the world be a better place for my passage here below!”

Thank you, Father Laborde, for this final invitation to a better life.

Gabriel Verley,SCJ

Final tribute paid for the funeral at Betharram on January 17th