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Recent Posts
- YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
- THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
- I RECOMMEND KINDNESS IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
- YOU WILL NO DOUBT THANK ME FOR MY PATERNAL ADVICE; IT WILL PROVE TO YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
Recent Comments
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on YOU MUST BE A FATHER TO YOUR NOVICES, YOU MUST BE CLOSE TO THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE DREAM BEGINS WITH A TEACHER WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on I RECOMMEND KINDNESS IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate on YOU WILL NO DOUBT THANK ME FOR MY PATERNAL ADVICE; IT WILL PROVE TO YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
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Tag Archives: formation
FORMATION: FASHION THE CANDIDATE WITH A MASTER’S HAND
At the time of Eugene, the novitiate was the first step in becoming an Oblate missionary. It was an intense year in which the candidate concentrated fully on allowing God to “fashion him with a master’s hand.” The guiding instrument … Continue reading
FORMATION: YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE NOVITIATE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT
Henri Tempier’s letter not only referred to Vachon’s misbehavior, but also to the fact of 5 novices having left the novitiate without making the commitment of vows. This caused Eugene to make some serious reflections on the novitiate formation of … Continue reading
MISSIONARY ENTHUSIASM HAS TWO HANDS
The young community was growing – and so were their expenses! In particular, all the candidates who came to join the Missionaries brought no income into the community during their years of formation. This was to be an ongoing source … Continue reading
DEACONS NEED THE STRENGTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Another young Oblate in formation in Aix, Hippolyte Guibert, was preparing to receive ordination to the diaconate. Eugene wrote to congratulate and encourage him. Even though there was not an open persecution, like those of the early Christians by the … Continue reading
I SEE LITTLE DISADVANTAGE IN POSTPONEMENT BUT MUCH IN HURRYING
Eugene had been asked to give a dimissorial letter for Adrien Telmon [ed. the go-ahead given by a major superior for one of the members of his community to be admitted to the “ecclesiastical state” and be formally acknowledged as … Continue reading
I TOOK HIM UNDER MY WING AND ALWAYS CONSIDERED HIM AS MY OWN SON
Do you really mean, my dear friend, to ask from me the dimissorial letters of Telmon for his tonsure? For a youngster who has given us grief up until a day or so ago… Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 24 November … Continue reading
A CANDIDATE WHO HAS NO IDEA OF HOW WE DO THINGS
Now that he was in Marseille, Eugene kept in regular contact with the superiors of the Oblate communities to ensure a unity of spirit. His letters are full of practical details referring to situations and people. In a particular way … Continue reading
YOUR CONSTANT DESIRE TO LOVE GOD SHOULD REASSURE YOU
The young Marius Bernard was obviously struggling with temptations – the text does not specify their nature, but they were causing obvious distress in his life.. Eugene counsels and encourages him: There is nothing simpler, more common, my dear friend, … Continue reading
CHANNELING MISGUIDED ENTHUSIASM
In this letter to Marius Bernard, a 22 year-old seminarian in Aix, we see Eugene treating this young Oblate deacon with much fatherly patience as he corrects him: I make this remark, my dear friend, because I have just been … Continue reading
THE AIM OF FORMATION: TO LEARN HOW TO BE FULLY IN GOD
Eugene used to spend the days around the First Friday of each month with the community in Aix. After this particular visit he wrote with joy about his experience with the novices – those men who were involved in the … Continue reading