Just for today I am giving Saint Eugene a break. Life has been so busy in Aix en Provence during these past days that I have not managed to prepare a proper entry on the writings of Eugene for today. Instead I will tell you what has been happening in Eugene’s house here on the Cours Mirabeau in recent days, that has prevented me from writing the blog.
First of all, we have a group of 19 Oblates from twelve countries doing the de Mazenod Experience. This is a three-month renewal session for our missionaries – most of whom work in demanding and sometimes dangerous situations (one of them has a bullet wound in his hand to prove what I am saying). I am leading them in a four-week workshop exploring and deepening their knowledge of St Eugene and his spirituality and charism. They are a super group, and I am having great fun working with them.
For the past four days we have had seven lay mission partners and one Oblate from the USA here doing a retreat workshop on St Eugene in the places where God acted through him in Aix and Marseille. It is so refreshing to have lay people responding to the inspiration of St Eugene with such enthusiasm and creativity.
Then tonight in our cloister we had the closing of an art exhibition by a Cuban painter, singer and musician. Her paintings have attracted hundreds of people to the cloister over the past three weeks. It was a joyful celebration of the Mazenodian family and so many other people who have had their lives enriched though their contact with the various Oblate ministries here in Aix.
So, today Eugene may not spoken to us through a selection of his writings, but he is certainly speaking through his spirit that is alive and well and active in the house and cloister of Aix en Provence. Almost 200 years after our foundation, his dream continues to inspire so many to join him in his missionary vision. What a joy!