THE PENZANCE MISSION IS EXPANDING TO ALL THE SURROUNDING TOWNS

Posted on November 13, 2024 by franksantucci

Fr. William Daly was the first Oblate from Ireland. Having studied in Marseilles he was ordained in 1841 and sent to England and Ireland to investigate the possibility of an Oblate establishment there.

The priest in Penzance wished that a religious congregation would take over the parish. Eugene agreed and Fr. Daly went to Penzance in January, 1843 where he supervised the completion of the church building and the pastoral care of the people of the area. He was later joined by a secular priest, and together they established the faith firmly in Penzance and evangelized the surrounding area where they set up several Mass stations. Eugene reported:

“I have received most satisfactory news from the Penzance mission in England. That mission is expanding to all the surrounding towns which are receiving the missionaries with a sort of eagerness. Fr. Daly writes that conversions are multiplying.”

Letter to the President of the Council of the Missionary Society of Propagation of the Faith in Lyon, 6 February 1845, EO V n 91

REFLECTION

“No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” (Oswald J. Smith)

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One Response to THE PENZANCE MISSION IS EXPANDING TO ALL THE SURROUNDING TOWNS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate Associate says:
    November 13, 2024 at 13:58

    True story of my experience that took place during a retreat some years ago. I was in the habit of rising before dawn and walking around the grounds of the place of our retreat. I would pray from the top of a hill that God watch over and care for those around me. It was sort of a “feel good” thing. One particular morning I felt like I was being called to love everyone – every person no matter where they were in this world, and no matter if they had known God or not. And I was angry enough with God that I spoke to the one giving the retreat. It is only in my reflection this morning that I am finally able to admit that I really wanted to be more special that any other.

    Our experiences of God and God’s love is what we are sent out to share. Perhaps our greatest treasure that we are asked to share is just a particular moment of ongoing conversion. I think of the recent experience of Synodality within the Church and I am reminded of how we are called to “enlarge the space of our tents” (ref. Isaiah 54:2) Not just for the bishops and hierarchy of the Church, but for all just as Eugene wrote about the Penzance mission that spread out to surrounding towns.

    Ongoing and ever deepening conversions within our lives…

    Reply

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