Tag Archives: parish missions

LOOKING BACK WITH SATISFACTION

The mission in Barjols ended on 20 December but the fervor of the people continued after the departure of the Missionaries, as Eugene wrote with satisfaction: The parish priest at Barjols tells me that during the past 18 years he … Continue reading

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DISTURBING THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH THE WORD OF GOD

The mayor, assistants, judges, notaries, lawyers, businessmen, manufacturers, middle class people, everyone is moving, each trying to outdo the others. Letter to Fortuné de Mazenod, 22 November 1818, O.W. XIII n.20 Despite what Eugene wrote about the positive reaction of these … Continue reading

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IF YOU KNEW ALL THAT THE GOOD GOD IS DOING HERE THROUGH OUR MINISTRY

Already a few days into the mission in Barjols, we find the Missionaries in full swing. They were successfully reaching out to persons who had been away from religious practices for decades: Here we are in the confessional, without stirring, … Continue reading

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WEAVING IT ALL TOGETHER TO ENSURE A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

Unable to preach, Eugene continued to do the “announcements” .To understand what this means we need to look at the role of a “master of ceremonies” or of a television “anchor person” – it is the person who kept the … Continue reading

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LIMITATIONS: CONVERTING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE

Illness and loss of voice made Eugene unable to participate fully in the Barjols mission and he had no choice but to accept and make the best of the situation: One must be patient, since the good God wishes this … Continue reading

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THE FRUSTRATION OF FACING LIMITATIONS

By temperament Eugene was a talented leader who was used to being involved in everything – today we could use the expression of tending towards “micromanagement” to describe this. Having arrived in Barjols, full of enthusiasm, ready to preach and … Continue reading

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COMMITMENT BRINGS COURAGE

Two months earlier, Eugene had accepted to do the parish mission in the town of Barjols because he recognized its urgency: More than fifty pastors are asking insistently for a mission… However, I am inclined to give you preference. It … Continue reading

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AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY: A CELEBRATION OF GROWTH

In our chronological journey through the writings of Saint Eugene, we had reached the 1st of November 1818, the day that the Missionaries of Provence made vows in accordance with their new Rule of Life. Then for several weeks, we … Continue reading

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THE BE-ATTITUDES: WITH BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND

Continuing to guide the Missionaries on the quality of their “being” Eugene’s 1818 Rule highlights the importance of the virtue of humility. This is how they will succeed in getting familiar with the holy virtue of humility, that they will … Continue reading

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FROM WORD TO ACTION

The next section of the Rule of 1818 moves to the logical conclusion of preaching: helping the listener to come to a personal encounter with God as Savior. Preaching should make people aware of their need for conversion, best expressed … Continue reading

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