Author Archives: franksantucci

Fr. Guigues, receiving the instruction from Eugene to send two Oblates to the new mission, responded: “I consider this foundation imprudent and consequently contrary to God’s will. We are two thousand miles from Red River; . . . communication is … Continue reading →

Bishop Provencher had been entrusted with the Vicariate of Red River (later known as St Boniface) which extended from the Rocky Mountains to the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and from the United States to the Arctic Ocean; and … Continue reading →

In the previous entries I have gone into a fair amount of detail on the question of the nomination of Bruno Guigues as the first bishop of Bytown, later known as Ottawa. I did this, firstly, because it opens an … Continue reading →

One of the beautiful spiritual practices of Eugene was the way in which he united himself with the members of his missionary family in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus. In this way he experienced a unity with each of them, … Continue reading →

Eugene concluded the correspondence on the contentious issue of the appointment of Fr. Guigues to establish a diocese in Bytown with fatherly words of encouragement. He begins by recalling how he had known him since his childhood: [The Church and … Continue reading →

The proposed appointment of Fr Bruno Guigues to the episcopacy caused agitation among some of the Canadian Oblates who appreciated his gifts and administrative abilities and did not want to lose his active presence in his role as the Oblate … Continue reading →

After chiding Fr Allard for exaggerating in his critical expressions, Eugene gives him fatherly advice. What then must be done? Let us believe we were mistaken and put all our efforts into deriving all possible benefit from the position in … Continue reading →

Father Allard, in Canada, had been very critical of the possible appointment of Fr Guigues to Bytown and had expressed his opposition very strongly. Eugene could not let this pass without comment and advice. It is quite a long time, … Continue reading →

It was Eugene’s confidence in Divine Providence that made him survive the disapproval of the Canadian Oblates at the nomination of Fr Guigues to the new episcopal see of Bytown. He described each letter that he received from them as … Continue reading →

Eugene’s closeness to God was such that he placed his major administrative decisions into God’s guiding hands. This is clearly shown when he writes to Fr Guigues about his episcopal appointment to Bytown: I have placed the matter in God’s … Continue reading →