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- 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)
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Tag Archives: parish missions
EUGENE AS MISSION PREACHER: UNABLE TO USE A FULLY PREPARED TEXT
Eugene was a gifted orator who could not stay with a prepared text, but because he knew exactly which reaction he wanted to achieve from his listeners, he was able to move and improvise – but always coming from his … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING SERMON TEXTS
The importance of preaching led Eugene to be demanding of his Oblates regarding their preaching methods. In the Rule he insisted that the superior would not allow the missionaries to preach until they had written and studied the sermons that … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: NEVER FORGET THE DIGNITY OF YOUR GREAT MINISTRY
Writing to his missionaries who had become disheartened as a result of criticism in Brignoles, Eugene rebuilds their courage by reminding them of the heart of mission: I suggest that you readopt attitudes befitting the dignity of your great ministry. … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE NEGATIVE REACTIONS OF INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
In March 1844, Father Joseph Martin panicked at the negative reaction of the upper class of Brignoles to the preaching of the young missionaries. He wrote to Eugene We who are only used to evangelize the poor people of the … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: LET US COUNT OURSELVES FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BE THE INSTRUMENTS OF GOD’S MERCY
Eugene continually insisted on his conviction that the missionaries had to be the instruments through which the Saviour spoke. I don’t need to tell you with what pleasure I read your report and re-read it to others. One can say … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: PREACHING TO BE PREPARED IN PRAYER
It was the Saviour who had to speak through his co-operator, as Eugene wrote in his Rule: The missionary – lest his preaching be in vain – will pray and get others to pray to the Divine Master of hearts, … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: NEVER LOSE ANY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE
No opportunities were neglected to instruct. At some of the Sunday Masses one of the missionaries in the pulpit prayed aloud in the style of a meditation following the priest’s actions. Every occasion was used to catechise – in this … Continue reading
PARISH MISSIONS: AIMING AT CONVERSION BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION RECEIVED
It is not enough to assemble a lot of people in the church, one must instruct them, one must move them in a manner that they will be converted. Letter to Jean-Baptiste Honorat, 27 January 1824 in O.W. VI n. … Continue reading
MISSION PREACHING: CONVINCE THE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR WARM BEDS TO COME TO CHURCH
We must seek only to instruct the faithful, to be attentive to the needs of the greater part of the audience, and we must not be content to break the bread of the Word of God for them, but also … Continue reading
MISSION PREACHING: AN INTENSE COURSE OF ADULT CATECHESIS
The instructions were generally held twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. In the morning they began with a prayer and were followed by Mass, and they were usually referred to as “conferences.” The morning topics were … Continue reading