Father Casimir Aubert, was an Oblate respected by Eugene and a person with whom he shared many of his more private thoughts. Eugene confided to him:
I am sorely tried by our Fathers in Canada. Fr. Baudrand, utterly outraged with the lack of agreement to be found in the ideas of Fr. Honorat and Fr. Telmon, has filled our houses with his exaggerated complaints… and it is 2000 leagues away that these things are happening! It is impossible for people around not to notice this disorder and our fine future in those regions is terribly compromised.
In the midst of these woes, Eugene exclaimed:
However, God works miracles for us. In spite of the difficulties caused by this treason…
He gives thanks for the generosity of lay benefactors who generously gave material support to the missionaries, and he continues to give thanks for God’s blessings:
As for the spiritual, the most abundant blessings have accompanied the ten missions which our Fathers have already given.
The fine ministry of the Oblates began to attract vocations and also requests from other dioceses :
Two excellent priests have joined them, others are announced. The Bishops of Toronto and Quebec are asking for us.
But I am fearful lest all will come to nothing through the fault of those unworthy sons who have no idea how to endure anything, sacrifice anything or excuse anything except their own faults. I am outraged as much as afflicted by such conduct.
Letter to Casimir Aubert, 26 September 1842, EO III n 2
I am reminded for a moment of the thoughts and experiences behind the idea of the Oblate motto: we are sent to share the Good News with the poor and the poor are evangelized. It is not just the other who is evangelized and comes to know salvation and redemption; and how we find new life within ourselves.
It would be so very easy to sit back and judge those early priests who came to the ‘new’ world, or even Eugene who was so angry (in his words outraged) with them. He feared it would reflect poorly on the congregation and wanted to ensure that it did not. I think of the times I have treated my own brothers and sisters unjustly out of my own fears that I was not a good leader, or even a good sister to all. The challenges that arose with life and changes, and fear of my own vulnerability caused or allowed me to strike out and blame the other(s).
I think of the challenges that arose with the young fathers who had come from France to a world that was often harsh and unforgiving, where survival alone seemed to be a never-ending job and where they were unable to sit back and let life happen. I am reminded of my own self and how I would allow for nothing less than perfection within myself and so managed to miss of the small gifts and blessing that God lavished on me.
Frank wrote: “The fine ministry of the Oblates began to attract vocations and also requests from other dioceses.” God must have continued working through those early missionaries, just as God worked through the rest of his sons and daughters throughout the world and even through my own imperfect self.
We live in a world filled with distresses and blessings and for this we must give thanks.