The Borderouge district, north of Toulouse, is booming. For fifteen years, the market garden lands, fallow, have given way to many constructions. There is a metro station, a market, schools – public and private – but a church is missing. Or rather it was missing. The building permit for a Catholic place of worship in this district has just been accepted by the town hall. A project signed with hope.

A new church for the diocese of Toulouse! This had not happened since 2005 with the construction of the Church of the Trinity to the south and that of Quint to the east of the pink city. “It’s a sign of hope, proof that the Church is alive and well,” exclaims Father Norbert, parish priest of the Minimes parish – of which the parish of Borderouge is a part. Initially, the parishioners ensured permanence to offer a Christian presence in the district. Then, every Sunday evening of Lent 2015, mass is announced in a hall of the Saint Germaine Catholic school.

A church open to the world, welcoming with a large forecourt, a specific place for noisy children, a steeple and its cross clearly visible.

Faced with the constant presence of the faithful, the mass is perpetuated. Already, Mgr Robert Le Gall – archbishop of Toulouse at the beginning of the adventure who has since been replaced by Mgr Guy de Kérimel – was keen to build a church in this new district. As for the priest, he had a dream, that of building the parishioners their future church. A common project is therefore designed with and for the disappointing. What church do they want? “A church open to the world, welcoming with a large forecourt, a specific place for noisy children, a bell tower and its cross clearly visible”, specifies Daniel Berest, a parishioner who is very involved in the project. “We wanted a church capable of accommodating 150 people, not a cathedral. We would like it to be well integrated into the style of the district and capable of welcoming – in addition to Sunday mass – those who come during the week”, adds Hervé Gaignard, vicar general of the diocese of Toulouse.

The district town hall strongly supports the team of pioneers. François Beglin, parishioner in charge of buying the land, remembers. “Our interlocutors were surprised by our attitude, as they were accustomed to negotiating with people who were looking to make the smallest square meter of land profitable”. After the purchase of the latter, an architect’s competition was launched. Three projects are being studied by a small parish team and its parish priest, the bursar’s office, the legal department and the sacred art commission of the diocese. The choice is unanimous: the church will be bright and accessible to all. The diocese launched the collection campaign. Depending on its success, the diocese plans to start work in the spring of 2023 and deliver this new church “by 2024”. OfficeChanson et Tryptique was built for this building, the overall cost of which is between 2.4 and 2.6 million euros.

“Its curved shape suggests the gathering, as the Eucharist is communion”, specifies the vicar general. A garden, parish halls and caretaker’s accommodation will complete the religious building. This new church will be dedicated to Saint Sauveur, the name chosen by Monsignor Le Gall, among various suggestions from parishioners. Coming out of the pandemic and in the midst of the crisis that the Church is going through, what a strong sign to manifest Christ the Savior!