Professor André PAUL, a former Sulpician and well known author and researcher, was inducted as an Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters, awarded by the French Ministry of Culture in recognition of his literary and cultural achievements. The Order was established in 1957 to recognize French citizens who have made outstanding contributions in these fields.
The ceremony was held on the evening of Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at the headquarters of Éditions du Cerf, the publisher of several of Dr Paul’s works, most recently on the Dead Sea Scrolls. It was at Dr Paul’s initiation that the Press undertook the major project of publishing La Bibliothèque de Qumrân (Cerf, 2008), the project he started with a group of colleagues in 2003. Dr Paul was also instrumental in helping to organize a highly successful exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls at La Bibliothèque Nationale François Mitterrand in the spring of 2010.
The President of the Press, Rev Father Éric de Clermont-Tonnèrre, O.P., welcomed the thirty invited guests who came for the occasion. Sulpician Archbishop Joseph DORÉ, p.s.s., former Archbishop of Strasbourg, who himself has received several honors for his scholarly achievement as a theologian and is a member of the Order, delivered a summary of the long and distinguished academic career of Dr Paul. He then pinned the colorful medal on the honoree and invited him to the podium for some words of reflection.
In his thanksgiving remarks, Dr Paul first thanked La Compagnie des Prêtres de Saint-Sulpice for having given him the opportunity to do formal academic study in philosophy and theology, and for having given him the thirst for critical knowledge. He was most gracious in thanking the Society for its role in starting his academic career.
Among the attendees at the ceremony were Sulpician Fathers Ronald D. WITHERUP, p.s.s., Superior General, Charles BONNET, p.s.s., a former Provincial of the French Province and now Superior of Le Foyer de la Solitude, and Joseph AUNEAU, p.s.s., adjunct professor of Old Testament at Le Grand Séminaire at Issy-les-Moulineaux.
At the conclusion of the evening, all shared in a festive “cocktail” that had been prepared by Dr Paul’s wife, Isabelle. The Society of Saint Sulpice congratulates Dr Paul on this distinguished award, and wishes him well as he continues to pursue several research and publishing projects.