Eugene’s travels ended with his returning to Marseilles for the General Chapter of the Missionary Oblates, an important decision-making gathering that takes place every six years.
This reunion is rather touching for a father, surrounded by his sons.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 3 August 1837, EO XVIII
This representative gathering was amost exclusively focused on renewal of the internal life of the Congregation and it echoed the exhortation of the Preface: “They must renew themselves constantly in the spirit of their vocation”
The Chapter Acts will bear witness to what has taken place in this memorable assembly through the good spirit which animated all its members. Everyone was very happy to be gathered together in such circumstances.
Actually, the Chapter gave the image of a family, united around its head, in which all the members are making great efforts to become worthy of their mission. The most fraternal cordiality reigned throughout. The greatest zeal to attain the perfection of their vocation and attachment to my person and to the Congregation were manifested effusively. We left with the firm intention of profiting greatly from the lights that God had showered on the assembly and to work efficaciously for our own perfection and the advancement of the holy work confided to us.
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, undated August 1837, EO XVIII
Today Saint Eugene continues to rejoice as his missionary family, made up of many vocations, grows in unity of spirituality and mission as the different vocations of its members express and live his missionary charism.
I like to imagine the joy that fills Eugene even today as he watches and is a presence, seeing how his missionary charism is shared by so many; men and women, religious and lay – each with a specific job and way of being. I dare say he continues to be delighted as he sees how we all work on “our own perfection and the advancement of the holy work confided to [each] of us”. It is never one or the other but rather our own selves and those we are sent to serve and minister to and with. One is a part of the other and brings wholeness.
A light seems to have been turned on and I see in a new way that this is how the apostles themselves lived; and isn’t it the apostles and disciples who are our models? Not just holy and pious words meant to inspire us, but real; invitations to continue our lives in their way of living and being.
And don’t we all need renewal in the spirit of our vocations? It is never a one-time event. We all need to be able to continue to grow, to breathe more deeply and then to share our experiences with others. It is in the expressing of the ever growing spirit within us that that we too live as missionaries.
We are inspired by and with each other in our coming together, in how we listen to the whispers of the Spirit who draws us together.
And we rejoice in and with each other. Whether it be in attendance at a General Chapter or in spirit as we come together in in our Oraison, meeting each other in the heart of our Saviour; we share and we draw from one another. It is perhaps the most personal and communal way of our being family.