Ananie service

Ananie service, also known as the Maison d'Ananie, is a Catholic association founded in Paris in September 1939 by Abbé Jean-Pierre Altermann and several lay Catholics, including Jacques Maritain and his circle. The name refers to Ananias of Damascus, who restored Paul's sight at his conversion according to the Acts of the Apostles. The association was established in a townhouse dating from the July Monarchy, renovated and redesigned by Auguste Perret, and was intended from the outset to welcome catechumens at a time when the catechumenate was not systematically organized. The Maison d'Ananie traces its origins to an interwar circle of Catholic intellectuals and artists, often converts, who gathered at the Benedictine convent on rue Monsieur in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. When the nuns had to leave that convent in 1938, part of the lay group, led by Abbé Altermann, founded the association nearby. The Second World War forced many members, including Altermann, who was of Jewish origin, and others opposed to Nazism, to flee to the free zone or abroad, notably Switzerland. As a result, the activities of the Maison d'Ananie truly began only from 1945. Vowed to the welcome and formation of persons already desiring to convert to Catholicism, through a voluntary and personal approach, the association has not practiced and does not practice proselytism. It depends directly on the Archbishop of Paris and still exists today, having diversified its field of action since the reorganization of the catechumenate after the Second Vatican Council. Its rectors have included Régis Israël and, from 2010 to 2019, Philippe Brizard. In its current form, the association also operates as a Catholic prayer group for healing, deliverance and consolation under the name "Paul et Ananie". According to its official website, it welcomes people on Monday evenings to pray for personal intentions, described as a heart-to-heart with the Lord who consoles in difficulties. The group is located at 20 rue Barbet de Jouy, 75007 Paris, and meets from 20:55 (doors close at 21:00) to 22:30. It observes a summer closure, for example closing from 7 July and resuming activities on Monday 14 September 2026.

The Maison d'Ananie was founded in Paris in September 1939 by Abbé Jean-Pierre Altermann and several lay Catholics, including Jacques Maritain and his entourage. It was established in a townhouse dating from the July Monarchy, renovated and redesigned by Auguste Perret, with a chapel and animated by catechists. Its mission from the outset was the welcome of catechumens, at a time when the catechumenate was not organized in a systematic manner. During the interwar period, an important circle of Catholic intellectuals and artists, often converts, gathered at the Benedictines of rue Monsieur in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. When the nuns had to leave this convent in 1938, part of the lay group, led by Abbé Altermann, founded shortly afterwards, in the neighborhood, an association named "Maison d'Ananie". The name refers to Ananias of Damascus, through whom Paul regained his sight at his conversion, according to the Acts of the Apostles. The Second World War forced the members of the Maison d'Ananie, many of whom were of Jewish origin (like Abbé Jean-Pierre Altermann) or opponents of Nazism, to flee to the free zone or abroad, notably to Switzerland. On this occasion, François Mauriac, who had been very close to Altermann and then fallen out with him, decided to forget their former quarrels and placed himself entirely at his disposal to offer his help. A few years earlier, indeed, the two had founded with Charles Du Bos a literary review entitled Vigile, a competitor of the Nouvelle Revue française. After promising beginnings, Vigile had only a few issues and eventually disappeared due to internal dissensions. The activities of the Maison d'Ananie therefore truly began only from 1945. Vowed to the welcome and formation of persons already desiring to convert to Catholicism, according to a voluntary and personal approach, the association did not practice, and does not practice, proselytism. Depending directly on the Archbishop of Paris, the Maison d'Ananie still exists and has diversified its field of action since the reorganization of the catechumenate following the Second Vatican Council. The rectors have been Régis Israël, then, from 2010 to 2019, Philippe Brizard. In its contemporary form, the association also operates as a Catholic prayer group for healing, deliverance and consolation under the name "Paul et Ananie". According to its official website, it welcomes people on Monday evenings to pray for personal intentions: "Que voulez-vous que le Christ fasse pour vous?" (What do you want Christ to do for you?). It describes this as a heart-to-heart with the Lord who consoles in difficulties. The group is located at 20 rue Barbet de Jouy, 75007 Paris, and meets from 20:55 (doors close at 21:00) to 22:30. It observes a summer closure, for example closing from 7 July and resuming activities on Monday 14 September 2026.

• 2010

  Philippe Brizard becomes rector (until 2019).

• 1945

  Activities of the Maison d'Ananie truly begin after the Second World War.

• 1939

  Maison d'Ananie founded in Paris by Abbé Jean-Pierre Altermann and lay Catholics including Jacques Maritain.

Catholic association for the welcome and formation of converts, and a prayer group for healing, deliverance and consolation.

1. 1Actualité - Paul et Ananiepauletananie.fr
2. 2Maison d'Ananiefr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Ananie servicewikidata.org