Monthly Archives: May 2018

On Friday June 1 at 2pm, South African time, (7 am  US Central Daylight Time)  Father Ron Rolheiser will deliver the first Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies lecture at St. Joseph’s Theological Institute, Cedara, South Africa: “The Oblate Charism Today: … Continue reading →

Finally, the episcopal appointment was made by the Pope. The day before yesterday in the evening the Pope made the nomination; yesterday the minute was placed before him and he signed it; this morning the two briefs were transcribed on … Continue reading →

Eugene had been summoned to Rome to be ordained bishop and had arrived on 15 August. Now six weeks later, he was still waiting for the official appointment to be finalized by the Pope. He was frustrated by his inactivity … Continue reading →

Blessed Joseph Gérard was born near Nancy, France, in the village of Bouxières-aux-Chénes on March l2, 1831. He spent his childhood on the family farm but, with the help of the parish priest, was able to commence studies for the … Continue reading →

As we have seen, Bishop Fortuné’s tactic to save the pastoral life of the Marseille diocese – when the government’s threat to suppress the diocese would go into effect – was to have his nephew Eugene made a bishop so … Continue reading →

It was customary in Marseilles to have a public procession in honor of the Sacred Heart. This year the local government had prohibited all public religious processions I stood in need of your consolation in my distress over the arbitrary … Continue reading →

A letter to Henri Tempier, who was in Rome, in which Eugene gives an idea of the political turmoil in Marseilles – and the delicate position he found himself in as Vicar general of the diocese . … Now everything … Continue reading →

Perhaps you are surprised to see how short the text of St Eugene is today. Yet, behind these words is a reality that was to make a life-changing difference for Eugene until his death 29 years later. The request was … Continue reading →

Following the lead of the King and his government, the municipality of Marseilles was also hostile to the Church.  In 1832 they removed the stipend and the premises of the Christian Brothers who ran a school for the poor. Eugene, … Continue reading →

The day before his death Eugene entrusted this message to his Oblate family: Be sure to tell them that I die happy… that I die happy that God was so good as to choose me to found the Congregation of … Continue reading →