Monthly Archives: February 2011

PARISH MISSIONS: THE IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

The confessional was the privileged place of encounter and reconciliation between the penitent and Jesus the Saviour. It is thus not surprising that the missionaries dedicated every available moment to this ministry during their village missions. The pattern was set … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: WE ARE IN THE CONFESSIONALS ALL THE TIME WE ARE NOT IN THE PULPIT OR AT THE ALTAR

Once the confessions began, the missionaries spent most of their time in the confessional. But the fact remains that we are in the confessionals all the time we are not in the pulpit or at the altar, we scarcely give … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

References to the numerous confessions are to be found in all the plentiful accounts of the missions. Eugene’s conviction as a mission preacher was that: The ministry of the Word cannot be substituted for the sacrament of penance instituted by … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: PREACHING MUST LEAD TO A SACRAMENTAL ENCOUNTER IN CONFESSION

Everything in the mission aimed at bringing the villagers to living in relationship with Christ the Saviour. Preaching, processions, house visits and all other activities aimed at leading the people to this encounter, in a particular way through the sacraments … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: INVITING PRISONERS TO CONVERSION

With a predilection for those whom the structures of the Church were not touching, the missionaries reached out to various groups who needed a special focus or a particular message. A group of persons who fitted the category of “most … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: APPLYING THE GOSPEL TO SPECIFIC LIFE SITUATIONS

An example of how the missions aimed to bring to all groups to live the Gospel within the context of their particular life situations is found in the mission preached in 1849 in Manchester. The Oblates in England responded to … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: THE STRUGGLE TO COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF CHASTITY TO THE GIRLS OF THE VILLAGES

The missionaries wanted to make a difference to the lives of those attending the mission by helping them to live every aspect of their lives in the light of the Gospel. Today’s text looks at their concern for the girls … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: THE REWARDS OF PERSEVERANCE IN THE OUTREACH TO THE MEN

The culmination of the outreach to the men was the Mass especially for them where they were invited to receive Communion – many for the first or second time in their lives:  The Mass at which the men were to … Continue reading

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17 FEBRUARY 1826: THE CHURCH RECOGNISES THAT EUGENE’S FOUNDATION IS A GOD-GIVEN CHARISM

On 18 February 1826, Eugene wrote this good news from Rome to his Oblate brothers in France: My dear friend, my dear brothers, on February 17, 1826, yesterday evening, the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XII confirmed the decision of the congregation of … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: REACHING OUT TO THOSE GROUPS WHOM THE CHURCH TOUCHES LEAST

Where the Church is already established, our commitment is to those groups it touches least. (Constitution 5)  While the women “would spend their lives in the church” it was not quite the same thing for the men, and so a … Continue reading

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