Author Archives: franksantucci

Vatican approval was necessary for this new mission, which Cardinal Fransoni granted. In responding to him, Eugene described the qualities of Fr. Semeria. In keeping with the views of the Sacred Congregation, it has been my concern to select three … Continue reading →

Leflon writes, ‘‘There can be no doubt that once again, and with very sure insight, Bishop de Mazenod had looked far beyond the feasibility of the present to envision the realizations of the future. It does not seem so certain, … Continue reading →

Sending Oblates to the foreign missions and maintaining them, especially in the poorest rural regions, required funds. Each year Bishop Eugene had to write to Rome and to the French Propagation of the Faith asking for grants. Dear Sirs, Since … Continue reading →

Father David Muñoz OMI has prepared this beautiful series of daily meditations to help us on our Advent journey. As we make use of them, let us consciously unite ourselves with all the members of the Mazenodian Family throughout the … Continue reading →

Father Vincens was the Novice Master, preparing future Oblate missionaries. In the previous entry we saw Eugene’s letter to him announcing the acceptance of our first mission in Asia, which concludes with: Bishop Bettachini left with his heart full of … Continue reading →

Tomorrow begins the Novena in preparation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Click the link to see the Mazenodian Family novena in its entirety or check back daily. https://sites.google.com/view/mazenodianfamily/news/december-2023-updates/immaculate-conception-novena?fbclid=IwAR3GtY42upLJwc-3yye1fn09z8LW3X-at1UmWHHpW-f3QJpqKo2PPSoN0Mg

Eugene wrote enthusiastically to Fr Vincens about his conversation with Bishop Bettachini from Ceylon (today Sri Lanka). Here is a magnificent mission opening up to us. The Coadjutor to the Vicar Apostolic of the isle of Ceylon has just spent … Continue reading →

Bishop Horace Bettachini, Coadjutor of the Vicar Apostolic of Colombo, came to Europe in 1845 to seek missionary help. He obtained no more than one member of the Congregation of the Oratory, and one Sylvestrine Benedictine. In vain he travelled … Continue reading →

From their first sermons in Limoges, the style of the Oblates was not understood and appreciated by the clergy and others. Fr Courtès did not allow himself to be disheartened and responded well to the critical comments. Eugene commended him: … Continue reading →

Continuing his letter to the Bishop of Limoges, Eugene underlines that the preaching of the Oblates is to be to the poor and most abandoned and not to grandiose sermon series in parishes. I must even say about this matter … Continue reading →