Monthly Archives: September 2010

VOCATION: YOU ARE NECESSARY FOR THE WORK WHICH THE LORD HAS INSPIRED US TO UNDERTAKE

God inspired Eugene to begin a missionary congregation, and God invites others to play a role necessary for the success of its mission. The invitation to Tempier continues across the years to all who feel called to participate in Eugene’s … Continue reading

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VOCATION: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

Henri Tempier is invited to look at the religious situation of the poorer people in Provence through the eyes of the Crucified Saviour. It is an invitation to feel from the depth of his heart their experience of not having … Continue reading

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VOCATION: AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS LISTEN TO WHAT GOD IS ASKING OF YOU

Eugene’s letter to the 27 year-old diocesan priest, Henri Tempier, is an essential foundation document for us. It contains the seeds of what is essential in our vocation. For this reason I am breaking it up into smaller sections to … Continue reading

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VOCATION: WE MUST FORM A LIFE-GIVING NUCLEUS THAT WILL BE A SOURCE OF LIFE TO OTHERS

Continuing to reflect on Eugene’s letter of invitation to Hilaire Aubert, we come across a central concept of Eugene’s thought and action: that of forming a group that would be a life-giving cell in the world. He uses the word … Continue reading

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VOCATION: THE GOOD WE INTEND TO DO MUST REMEDY THE GREATEST EVILS THAT FACE US

The time had come for Eugene to begin to invite others to join him in his missionary project. As members of the Mazenodian family, lay and religious, we are invited to see in these vocational texts something about our own … Continue reading

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I FLATTER MYSELF THAT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE SOME POPE WILL BEATIFY MY SON…

In his letter to his father Eugene had told him about his venture of bringing together a group of missionaries: … It is a foundation of Missionaries whose duty it will be to cover the countryside and bring people back … Continue reading

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FINANCE: WE MUST TRUST FULLY IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE

Eugene’s father was still in Palermo, and his son writes to inform him of his missionary project. He also asks his father to look for benefactors among the wealthy of Sicily. Eugene firmly believed in divine providence to make his … Continue reading

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FINANCE – AT THE SERVICE OF MISSION

Continuing our reading of Eugene’s chatty letter to his friend Forbin Janson, we come across the practical point that every dream has to have a down-to-earth foundation of the means with which to put it into practice. How to pay … Continue reading

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EUGENE’S CHARISMATIC “DREAM” FINDS A HOME

Eugene continues to describe his “founding efforts” to his friend Forbin Janson. He needed a large house and property to accommodate the nearly 300 energetic youth who met every Thursday and Sunday for prayer, instruction and games. At the same … Continue reading

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UNWAVERING IN HIS MISSIONARY GOALS: SERVE THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED AND IN A LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND

These chronological reflections now begin deal with the beginnings of our family, the Missionaries of Provence, later to be known as the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Forbin Janson had invited Eugene to join his group of mission preachers, the … Continue reading

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