Monthly Archives: November 2010

PARISH MISSIONS: THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE MISSIONARIES

Since the missions are one of the principal ends of the Institute, all will strive principally to fulfil this task well. 1818 Rule, Chapter Two, §1, Article 1. During Eugene’s lifetime the Oblates in France had animated some 3000 parish … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: UNDER THE LIBERATING AND LIFE-GIVING SIGN OF THE CROSS

 Our missionary vocation was born when Eugene encountered the personal love of God for him when he looked at the Cross. He spent the rest of his life leading others to this same liberating experience. Henri Tempier was invited to … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: IT IS GOD WHO MUST ACT THROUGH THE MISSIONARIES

Insofar as possible, the missionaries will arrive in the place of the mission on Sunday at the time for vespers. The pastor will see to it that all the bells were rung the previous evening to solemnly announce the mission. … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: NOT AIMED AT THE ALREADY SAVED

The Oblate choice can be seen in an incident at the beginning of a mission in a village in the Diocese of Digne. On arriving at the rectory they were presented with their letter of faculties from the Bishop, in … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: EMPLOY YOUR ZEAL IN FAVOUR OF THE POOR ABANDONED MOUNTAIN PEOPLE RATHER THAN WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THE PROUD CITIZENS OF DISDAINFUL CITIES

They “will devote themselves to providing spiritual assistance for the poor people scattered over the country districts, and for the inhabitants of the small rural villages deprived of spiritual help.” 1818 Rule, Chapter 1, §1 article 1 Between 1816 and … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: FIT IN WITH THE LIFESTYLE OF THE PEOPLE

At the beginning of summer each year, Eugene would draw up the program of parish missions for the forthcoming “season” – responding to as many of the numerous invitations as possible. Every year, at the beginning of the summer, the … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: BETWEEN THREE AND SIX WEEKS LONG

These were crisis times for the Church. The initial years of the Revolution saw everything possible done to destroy the “superstition of religion.” Churches had been destroyed, religious and priests put to death or expelled. Napoleon had stopped the destructive … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES

One of the foundational principles of the Missionaries was to try as much as possible to seek “to imitate the virtues and example of our Savior Jesus Christ, principally by devoting themselves to the preaching of the word of God … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: RESPONSE TO THE CALL OF JESUS CHRIST HEARD WITHIN THE CHURCH THROUGH PEOPLE’S NEED FOR SALVATION

 The missionaries did not go out as freelance agents to do their own thing. Their missionary activity was as part of the thrust of the local church and it was done in communion with the Church. In a tangible way, … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: FULFILLED IN COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A SIGN THAT GOD IS EVERYTHING FOR THE MISSIONARIES

The missionaries were going on their missionary expedition as members of a community, and so before each mission departure there was a moment of community prayer and send-off:  Before leaving the house, they will go to the church in their … Continue reading

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