-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on FAITH-FOCUSED INVESTMENT GROUPS: A PRESENCE WHERE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POOR ARE BEING MADE (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on VIVAT: A PRESENCE WHERE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POOR ARE BEING MADE (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WE SHOW A VERY HUMAN FACE OF JESUS TO THE WORLD, ONE FULL OF COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on JUSTICE, PEACE AND THE INTEGRITY OF CREATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVANGELIZATION (Rule 9a)
- Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate on WALKING THE LINE BETWEEN PROPHETIC VISION AND SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE (CONSTITUTION 9)
Archives
Meta
-
“A father’s communication with his many children… that is one of the most agreeable occupations of my life” 1857
I think that Father Leonard would have sparked life within me had I met and heard him speak… My own journey with and to the Oblates was quiet and seemed to lack passion, but I persevered, drawn to them for some reason. I looked for any open door that I could find…
I kept hearing about this “St. Eugene” who I did not know but who I wanted to meet. I asked a friend who worked for the Oblates if he knew anyone I could talk with to learn more. And so it came to pass that I sat with a particular Oblate, Fr. Jim Fiori who introduced me to Eugene de Mazenod, Founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and as he spoke he shared his passion with me. At one point he handed me a paper and told me to silently read along as he read Eugene’s letter to Henri Tempier, inviting Tempier to join him and a few others: “My dear friend, read this letter at the foot of your crucifix…” I felt as if Eugene himself was speaking to me: years earlier I had fallen in love with Jesus on the cross and felt called to stand at the foot of the cross with Him who was my crucified Saviour. So deeply did Eugene’s words touch me that I was unable to stop crying and to this day I cannot recall the rest of what Fr. Jim shared with me except to say that another door was opened and I entered in, never wanting to leave.
Fr. Jim Fiori, OMI who God planted before me on my life’s journey and who shared his passion and love with me, who introduced the Founder, my Founder just as Fr. Bernard introduced the Oblates to other men. I was hooked and so the path that I was journeying on held many sons and daughters of Eugene who I began to walk with. This was/is how I want to spend the rest of my life, sharing my love and passion of Eugene and the spirit (charism) that was shared with me.
Yes we have so much to be enthusiastic about, so much gratitude and joy to share as we walk along side of others. This is, we are, the heart of our Mazenodian Oblate Family.