Category Archives: WRITINGS

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 →

The first group of missionaries, temporarily under the leadership of Fr Courtès, arrived in Limoges in early November. To prepare the bishop for this, Eugene wrote to him to make the mission of the Oblates very clear. Your Lordship will … Continue reading →

1847 was a year of unexpected expansion for the Oblates in France. Firstly, establishing themselves in Nancy, in north east of the country. Then came the unexpected and providential invitation to open a house for mission preachers in Limoges in … Continue reading →

I begin by congratulating you for being the first of our Congregation to announce the Word of God to those frozen people of the north. The Oblate establishment  in the city of Nancy was the first foundation in the north-east … Continue reading →

Concerning prayers, I must tell you that several of our Fathers want me to establish a daily invocation to St. Joseph, foster-father of the Holy Family, to obtain that from Heaven above he may provide for the temporal needs of … Continue reading →