Author Archives: franksantucci

WHAT IS TO GIVE LIGHT MUST ENDURE BURNING.

Bob Wright continues the story of the foundation of the Texas mission: Since Brownsville was a new town on the north bank of the Rio Grande, the river that had just become the international boundary between the United States and … Continue reading

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GALVESTON, TEXAS

As we have no writings of Eugene on this period in Texas, I think it important to tell the story of this mission. Fr. Bob Wright takes up the narrative: The Oblates selected by Father Telmon parted paths in New … Continue reading

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THESE GOOD FATHERS ARE MY CHILDREN, ALL THE MORE CHERISHED BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE OF GOD AND NEIGHBOR

On November 20 the five Oblates, destined for Texas, reached New Orleans, where they remained for a few days. All the correspondence between the Oblates in Texas and Eugene have been lost, so we are lacking in details. A priest, … Continue reading

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THE UNOFFICIAL BEGINNING OF THE TEXAS MISSION

Eugene’s diary was a personal document in which he noted some of the happenings of the day and often expressed his sentiments in a way that he could not in public. On this day he had received two letters, each … Continue reading

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THE HUMAN SPECIES MANAGED WITHOUT THIS FILTHY NARCOTIC BEFORE ITS DISCOVERY WAS MADE

I couldn’t resist sharing this snippet from Eugene’s letter to the novice master in England. Keep firm control lest the abuse of tobacco be introduced into your novitiate. Be quite sure that it is only a mania. The human species … Continue reading

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WHAT A SIGHT MY DESK IS!

An insight into the daily life of Bishop de Mazenod, Bishop of the second-largest diocese in France, Superior General of a missionary Congregation in four continents. He writes to Fr Casimir Aubert, who had been his secretary for Oblate affairs … Continue reading

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THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A MISSIONARY IN OREGON

We are busy preparing for the departure of Fr. d’Herbomez, Bro. Surel and Bro. Gaspard for Oregon. What a mission that is! You would not believe what our dear Fathers suffer there, as cheerfully as anybody in the world. The … Continue reading

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HE ENTERED THE CONGREGATION IN ORDER TO GO TO THE FOREIGN MISSIONS

Fr. Jolivet was ordained priest on the Sunday preceding Ascension and said his first mass on Ascension Day, the delay no doubt being on account of not knowing how to say it well. He will set out shortly for England … Continue reading

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LET ME TELL YOU I FEEL AN EXTREME REPUGNANCE FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Not everyone who came to join the Oblates had a missionary zeal to go to the foreign missions. Eugene quotes one: Here is a masterpiece from Palle, quite a model of holy indifference! “Oh, my Father, let me tell you … Continue reading

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THE ESSENTIAL THING IS TO SEND YOU VIRTUOUS AND RELIABLE MEN

Eugene was careful in the choice of Oblates that he judged capable of being good missionaries in the trying conditions of evangelization in North America, Africa and Asia. Some of the men struggled initially but eventually settled down as good … Continue reading

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