Author Archives: franksantucci

The foreign missions were a challenge for Eugene. The Oblates who went to Canada and Ceylon were very young and had not received sufficient years of human and missionary formation and needed guidance. Letters from Marseilles took months to reach … Continue reading →

Writing to Fr Augustin Gaudet in Canada, who was 26 and had been ordained a couple of days before setting out for his mission, Eugene exclaimed: I am so glad to see that you are happy. I conclude from this … Continue reading →

Bishop de Mazenod was a busy man who took care of the Oblate Congregation at the same time as the Diocese of Marseilles. In between his many activities he attempted to write letters to the Oblates. My dear Fr. Semeria, … Continue reading →

The Bishop of Montreal’s diocese was enormous, leading him to the decision to ask for a part of it to be cut off to form a new diocese: the Diocese of Bytown (today Ottawa). To lead this new diocese he … Continue reading →

In earlier entries https://www.eugenedemazenod.net/?p=5368 and following) we had met the Canadian Father Pierre Fisette, who had been sent to work in France. He was a very likeable person, but his vanity, lack of piety and prayerfulness had worried Eugene, who … Continue reading →

Throughout the missionary history of the Oblates we invariably find religious Sisters somewhere in the picture, rendering selfless missionary service according to their charism: catechists, school teachers, nurses and generous cooperators in whatever was necessary for the success of the … Continue reading →

It was often said that Eugene’s heart was as big as the world. His vision extended beyond the borders of France and even beyond his missionaries in several continents so as to be in unity with the universal Church. As … Continue reading →

Fr.  Jean-Pierre Bernard (24 years old) had been ordained a priest by Bishop de Mazenod in September 1847, and within days had left for Canada. On the same day Fr. Augustin Gaudet had been ordained and the two had travelled … Continue reading →

Continuing his heartfelt reflections on the young Oblate, Jean-Pierre Bernard who had just arrived in Canada and was dying of typhus, Eugene confided in his diary: Since his ordination to the sub-diaconate, this dear son had done no other than … Continue reading →

Fr.  Jean-Pierre Bernard (24 years old) had been ordained a priest by Bishop de Mazenod in September 1847 and within days had left for Canada. Within day s of his arrival in Canada, Eugene received the news that our very … Continue reading →