START IN THE HUB, LIVE IN THE HUB

The demanding nine week-long mission to the city of Marseille ended on 27 February 1820 and two weeks later we find the Missionaries fully immersed in the mission to their own city of Aix en Provence that lasted five weeks from March 12 to April 24. These men certainly had endurance!

Seven Missionaries of France and Eugene and four of his Missionaries of Provence participated in this mission. As usual Eugene’s group preached in Provençal and in the poorer areas of the city: the Cathedral and St Jean Baptiste. The Missionaries of France preached in French in the other four city parishes. Our Church of the Mission, not being a parish, was initially shared by the superiors of both groups, but eventually it fell on us to continue the activities there. It was the hub from which the spiritual energy of Eugene’s Missionaries radiated.

Eugene’s Youth Congregation formed part of this hub and we find them participating fully with the Missionaries in all the activities aimed at the spiritual renewal of this city. In the Diary Eugene recorded:

Procession to open the mission in which the Congregation took part as a body and also in that for the Planting of the Cross. The congregants shared along with the law students in carrying the cross from the place des Carmélites to the middle of the Cours. The Congregation took part again as a body in the Blessed Sacrament procession that brought to an end the special exercises of the Provençal mission which went on some days longer after the planting of the cross and the end of the French mission.

Diary of the Youth Congregation, April 1820, O.W. XVI

“Sometimes I think of life as a big wagon wheel with many spokes. In the middle is the hub. Often in ministry, it looks like we are running around the rim trying to reach everybody. But God says, “Start in the hub; live in the hub. Then you will be connected with all the spokes, and you won’t have to run so fast.”     Henri J. M. Nouwen

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5 Responses to START IN THE HUB, LIVE IN THE HUB

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    I have to admit that I am amazed at the lack of ‘down time’ between their missions. These men did not work simply from 9 to 5 and then relax with drinks and a good meal, or an occasional round of golf, perhaps taking in an evening ‘show’. Confessions alone would/could be draining in a way. It seems to me in order for them to continue they would need to ensure that they remained true to their prayer life in order to continue as they did. They did what they had to, reminding me a little of parents with a child or perhaps a sick child.

    Their hub would be both interior and exterior. At first reading the title I took ‘hub’ to mean the centre of the city – the financial area, trade and commerce, shopping and services, where the Cathedrals sit. And the missionaries apparently did preach there, in the poorer areas. But the meaning and sense seem to shift a little with the mention and writing of the Youth Congregation. There seems to be at the very core of course, Jesus, God, and extending out from that the missionaries themselves and almost as part of that group of missionaries the Youth Congregation and then some of the people in ministry – fanning out into an ever widening circle and on to the very people they were trying to evangelize.

    I am reminded of an image I saw with Jesus in the centre and His heart (which was burning) going out to the apostles around him and as the burning heart of love touched each of them, then in turn it allowed the apostles to touch each other and continue outward – always going back and forth, but truly with the life emanating from Jesus, God, at the centre, the core, the hub.

    I need to ask myself what that looks like in my own life. What, who, where is my hub? Whose heart(s) do I connect with? How do I connect? And what is it like when I get run down and do not allow for the love and life to flow both ways?

  2. Jack Lau, OMI says:

    What jumps out is that the early Oblate-Missionaries of Provence worked with the Missionaries of France. That sense of collaboration with other religious communities and the wider church. To do that is not always easy then or today and speaks of need to loose the ego for the sake of the mission.
    Then the importance of having the youth participate in the mission. Not only is there energy and life but it is about all the baptized sharing in the mission. Once again it calls for collaboration and letting go knowing that others have gifts to share.
    And then the image of the hub. As one on the novitiate team now in Godfrey; I think I may use this quote and image. The wheel/the hub is awesome symbol to enter into.

  3. franksantucci says:

    Thanks, Eleanor and Jack, for your daily reactions to what appears on the site. I look forward to reading you and to seeing what the reflection evoked in you – AND it helps me to re-read the original and live it in a new light for the rest of the day.

    It would be wonderful if others joined in, or started different threads – otherwise I get tempted to think that I am a lone voice “crying in the wilderness”.

    Frank OMI

    • Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

      Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to be able to share where we are with all of this Frank and where it takes us on our journey. It has become very much a part of my day, and helps me to recognize and give voice to a part of me that has been mostly hidden and silent. There is a joy in being able to recognize truth, own it and share it.

    • Sue Fleegel says:

      Frank, I do want you to know that I do read the blog and it does speak to me many times. I appreciate your efforts, even though I do not comment. I am not an Oblate Associate, but a friend of Jack’s. I do enjoy his comments, and the others. I also enjoy reading and learning about St. Eugene and the amazing things he and the others who founded religious orders were doing at the time. I am especilally drawn to St. Eugene as one with a special connection to families with difficulties and problems, and turn to him in prayer for myself, as well as for others I know. I am also drawn to his connection with the youth and his engaging them in his mission. Someone who sees and recognizes their wonderful gifts. It is the same with the youth today, and we all need to recognize what youth has to offer. I suspect the two connections go together.

      As a Spiritual Director, I do love the image of the wheel, the hub/spokes and Nouwen’s great quote “Start in the hub; live in the hub. Then you will be connected with all the spokes, and you won’t have to run so fast.” I will also use this!

      So please know that others are reading and appreciating this and your efforts in continuing it.
      Sue Fleegel
      Bird Island, MN

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