WHAT A GOOD INFLUENCE WILL BE PRODUCED BY THE FINE CONDUCT OF A MISSIONARY CORPS DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THEIR NEIGHBOURS

Posted on October 12, 2022 by franksantucci

“People listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they do listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” Pope St Paul VI

Living in community is the first observable difference between the vocation of a diocesan priest and an Oblate. Eugene underlines this as he writes to Father Guigues, the Superior of the Oblates in Canada. He had been sent to Canada to help the Oblates to assess their missionary response to never-ending pastoral demands and to help them to focus on their vocation to respond and live as part of apostolic community and not as “lone rangers”.

The same applies to lay members of the Mazenodian Family: our call is to be family, to be part of a community brought about and sustained by the charism of St Eugene.

I strongly approve of your having established regularity in the little community you have formed of the three Fathers and two Brothers, as well as the Fathers working in the lumber camps. That is quite a worthwhile beginning and I do not doubt they will earn respect if they are faithful to your directions and those of the Rule.

In a city where priests have always lived alone, what a good influence will be produced by the fine conduct of a missionary corps devoted to the service of their neighbours and yet living under an exact and regular discipline! Keep this up as essential.

Letter to Eugene Guigues in Canada, 19 November, EO I n 59

Today, the same holds true: prospective Oblate vocations want to see what is distinctive about the Oblates being witnessed to in daily life and ministry. In the same way, Associates and others who serve the Mazenodian charism want to be part of a living and visible charism family.

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One Response to WHAT A GOOD INFLUENCE WILL BE PRODUCED BY THE FINE CONDUCT OF A MISSIONARY CORPS DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THEIR NEIGHBOURS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    October 12, 2022 at 12:38

    I am thinking of last weekend’s “Come and See” which was held in the US for young men who might be discerning a call to the priesthood and community life. What a marvelous opportunity, because in seeing they might recognize something their hearts have been secretly yearning to discover.

    Many years ago I was a part of a group of parishioners who started a ‘singles’ group because there was a marked focus on families in the parish but not much for single adults. It was not a dating club, but was based on activities. We organized drives to see the autumn colours, scavenger hunts around the city, car rallies, shopping trips to Montreal, retreats and gatherings after weekend Masses for brunch which we held and prepared in the parish centre. We organized food drives and put on Potluck Suppers. A few returned to Church, others met their future spouses and there was a marked increase in parishioners wanting to join various ministries and many friendships grew which still exist today. A community within a community.

    On the 23rd our parish is holding a gathering which will include information and signup tables for many of the ministries within the parish. I myself will share a table with some of the Oblate Associates who have a Bake Sale to raise money for the parish and I will have information about becoming a member of the Oblate/Mazenodian Family – we are not ourselves a ministry but we take part in as we serve those who are not always touched by the structures of the Church. It is loving service to God, the Church with a deep faithfulness to the Mazenodian charism.

    Our only distinctive sign is our love and our small Oblate crosses which we wear. “…a part of a living and visible charism family.”

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