OUR OBLATES ARE CALLED TO A DIFFERENT MINISTRY

Posted on February 11, 2025 by franksantucci

Eugene had great dreams for the missionary outreach of the Oblates in Ceylon, and was impatient for results

I shall try to send you two missionaries, although I am less favourably disposed towards your Ceylon mission. I cannot see that you are doing much there, that you are still only beginning. I search in vain in your letters to see what work you are doing, and up till now you have not told me of a single conversion, and frankly I only agreed to send missionaries to Ceylon in the hope of seeing them used for the conversion of souls.

For the Italian and Spanish missionaries who are looking for their daily bread, it is good to win it by serving parishes, but our Oblates are called to a different ministry. I beg you to send me a detailed account of everything concerning you on both the spiritual and temporal levels.

Letter to Fr. Étienne Semeria in Jaffna. 17 January 1850, EO IV n 14

Eugene was impatient for results but was told that it was necessary to be patient because the Oblates had to learn the languages and, more important, the culture and way of thinking of the people which was so different from Europe and North America.

REFLECTION

“Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.” (Billy Graham)

This entry was posted in WRITINGS. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to OUR OBLATES ARE CALLED TO A DIFFERENT MINISTRY

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    February 11, 2025 at 12:49

    For some reason I find myself thinking of the vow of obedience: “Called to follow Jesus, we too listen attentively for [God’s] voice so that we may spend ourselves without reserve to accomplish [God’s] plan of salvation.” (C 24) Whether that is recognized or even asked of a lay person is not the question. The question is how do we who feel called to live as members of the Oblate Charismatic Family around the world as sons and daughters of Eugene, how do we respond?

    Having allowed my heart to close it’s doors and windows to the Church I walked in darkness for a long time. When I heard Jesus speak my name everything changed and I can remember telling Jesus that the only way I could love the world was to give all of myself to God and so love through God. I am not sure if I truly believed it but I wanted to, and I wanted to share all that I’d been given. I went and spent time with a group of people who taught me how to love and more importantly how to all God and others to love me. That was a time of learning and growing, of letting my heart be filled with light, enough light that I was able to start and recognise my heart in the hearts of others.

    Returning to “normal” life I made mistakes and yet somehow my heart began to change and small shoots of love appear. In spite of my continuing mistakes I begin to see within myself how those tender shoots have and continue to flower, becoming fruits.

    There is a freedom that comes with living a vow of obedience. It might never become visible to others, but through it I become a part of God’s plan of salvation – for and with all those I meet…

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *