Eugene, as father of the Oblate family, rejoices when he can express this paternity in the special moment of ordaining Etienne Semeria to the priesthood.
The ordination of Father Semeria was a real family feastday which gave a special character to that solemnity where grace flowed from the father over his children, sole witnesses of the wonders worked for the glory of one of their brothers and for the good of all and of God’s Church. The next day the first Mass was celebrated in the miraculous sanctuary at 5 o’clock in the morning according to our normal usages.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 22 September 1835, EO VIII n 544
We find this same sentiment of fatherhood expressed in response to Brother Ferrand.
I find it delightful to discern in your heart the affection and attachment you have for your father in Jesus Christ, and it gives me pleasure to assure you that you are paid in return
Letter to Jean Ferrand, 1 October 1835, EO VIII n 545
Two firsts here: Brother Jean Bernard Ferrand was the first Oblate Brother to be make his oblation in the Congregation and Father Semeria was to be the superior of the first group of Oblates to go to Ceylon.
I can only imagine the joy Eugene’ joy as he ordained Etienne Semeria (and others) to the priesthood and received Brother Ferrand’s oblation to the Congregation. I think of how we journey within our hearts the journey of those who prepare to become ordained, or who offer and make their oblation as they have been called to be a part of the Mazenodian Family.
I am reminded of how each of us is invited to take part in discerning and joining with others who are invited to stand at the foot of their crucifix; and who join in celebration with them as they find their place within the Mazenodian Family. It is this shared love that then invites and compels us to go out to others, especially those who are most abandoned in this world.
Yesterday I experienced the joy of meeting another who is an Oblate Associate of another Province. The gift of love which we experience when we meet another who shares and lives in the same charism as ourselves; how we realise that love with which are blessed – our hearts touching and connecting with invisible threads which will not be broken. Again I am reminded of that image of Jesus at the centre with his heart aflame and then around him are the apostles and lines of flame running from Jesus to their hearts and further lines of flames from their hearts to one another and further outward.
There could be a temptation to get caught up and lost in the distraction of who is missing from that picture. Truly it is much easier and healthier simply to look at how Eugene began this odyssey first with priests, then with lay brothers; and how he continues today sharing-with, discerning-with and sending out his many sons and daughters who he has invited to join in this Mazenodian Family. We need only look and see how we share the invitation and live out the same way of being.