Category Archives: LETTERS

MISSIONARY ENTHUSIASM THAT MEETS ALL CHALLENGES

Charles-Dominique Albini had joined Eugene’s Missionaries to be a preacher. After his period of initial formation at the novitiate, he was rearing to get into this ministry. Eugene, however, asked him to set aside preaching for a while and concentrate … Continue reading

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COMING OF AGE

The texts about translating the Oblate Rule into Latin may not appear very inspiring today. Yet, behind these letters is a very important stage in the development of the Missionary Oblates. After 8 years of existence, the time had come … Continue reading

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THE IDENTIFYING QUALITY OF AN OBLATE WORK IS THAT IT IS A CENTER OF ONGOING MISSION

Eugene reminds the young missionaries that one of the main aims of Oblate ministry was to instruct people who had generally been left ignorant about their faith and confused in their values as a result of the French Revolution. It … Continue reading

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DEACONS NEED THE STRENGTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Another young Oblate in formation in Aix, Hippolyte Guibert, was preparing to receive ordination to the diaconate. Eugene wrote to congratulate and encourage him. Even though there was not an open persecution, like those of the early Christians by the … Continue reading

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I SEE LITTLE DISADVANTAGE IN POSTPONEMENT BUT MUCH IN HURRYING

Eugene had been asked to give a dimissorial letter for Adrien Telmon [ed. the go-ahead given by a major superior for one of the members of his community to be admitted to the “ecclesiastical state” and be formally acknowledged as … Continue reading

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I TOOK HIM UNDER MY WING AND ALWAYS CONSIDERED HIM AS MY OWN SON

Do you really mean, my dear friend, to ask from me the dimissorial letters of Telmon for his tonsure? For a youngster who has given us grief up until a day or so ago… Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 24 November … Continue reading

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AN APPEAL FOR REST BETWEEN PARISH MISSIONS

I insist that each one takes a rest of fifteen days between one mission and another. Letter to Pierre Mie, 3 December 1824, quoted by Rey I page 340 The zeal of the young Missionaries had to be nurtured. On … Continue reading

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THE MISSION IS GOING MARVELOUSLY

Eugene rejoices at how well his Oblate team was doing in the parish mission in Allauch. As we read his comments, we catch something of the enthusiasm of this group of young Missionaries. The mission of Allauch is going marvelously … Continue reading

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EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT PHYSICALLY A PART OF IT, ALL MINISTRY BELONGS TO THE COMMUNITY

Once Eugene had chosen which Oblates would participate in the parish mission in Allauch, one member of the community remained disappointed at not having been chosen for the team. Eugene wrote to him: Don’t be anxious, what is postponed will … Continue reading

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THE NEED FOR ADVANCE THINKING AND PASTORAL PLANNING

The young Missionaries had zealously committed themselves to preaching a parish mission at very short notice in Allauch, a market town in the vicinity of Marseille Can one allow oneself to be so thoughtless as to commit oneself to a … Continue reading

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