Author Archives: franksantucci

The father of the Oblate family’s concern for his children: Daylight is fading and so is time to prolong this good conversation with you. I hasten to embrace you and bless you, as well as the whole family confided to … Continue reading →

From the beginning of our existence, the aim of Oblate preaching was to catechize: to teach people who the Savior is and to educate them in the contents of our faith. Fr Hippolyte Courtès had started a course of teaching … Continue reading →

Newly-ordained Fr Francois-Xavier Michelier had been sent to Nancy to have been trained as a preacher and to be community treasurer. The superior, Louis Dassy, had complained to Eugene: ” does not seem the least bit decided to write out … Continue reading →

We now leave the foreign missions to focus on what was happening in France in 1849. In France it is customary for people to send each other good wishes for the new year. Eugene responds to Fr Dassy: I thank … Continue reading →

The Oblate mission in Oregon was difficult and challenging. To complicate matters, the local Bishop was not very encouraging nor understanding of the Oblate way of mission. For this reason, Eugene wrote to the Vatican with this request: Please bear … Continue reading →

I have spent eleven consecutive hours at my desk writing to all our Fathers in Oregon and drawing up instructions both for them and for Fr. d’Herbomez who, together with two Brothers, is going to join them by way of … Continue reading →

If you could read the letters I receive from Oregon, you would have shed tears with me over the sufferings and the privations that our dear Fathers are enduring in that mission. Their hands are calloused by the work they … Continue reading →

Oblate missions were opening up in several parts of Canada, and it is hard to keep up from Eugene’s correspondence. So I am grouping together the various letters referring to one area. Our recent reflections have concerned Eastern and Central … Continue reading →

Eugene wrote in his Diary: Among the numerous letters which arrive from everywhere, I have received one today from Fr. Laverlochere, dated from Moose Factory. It contains some interesting details from those difficult missions on the shores of the icy … Continue reading →

As Bishop of Marseilles, Eugene used his authority to arrange help for the cholera victims where the secular leaders were not always being successful. Responding to the concern expressed by the Vatican, Eugene wrote to Bishop Barnabo: Your latest and … Continue reading →