Tag Archives: close to the people

AN INVITATION TO TRANSFORMATION UNDER THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

Marius Suzanne described the ceremony thru which the Missionaries began what was to be an Oblate ministry that lasted for 161 years. The Calvaire became a place of permanent mission to the people of Marseille, continuing the evangelization that had … Continue reading

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EVANGELIZED BY THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACE

While the Missionaries were fully occupied in the first part of 1820 with the missions to the cities of Marseille and Aix en Provence, Henri Tempier and his community were ministering at the Sanctuary of Notre Dame du Laus. The … Continue reading

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AN EXPLOSION OF PROVENCAL EMOTION

Emotions ran high in this city of the south of France and it did not take much to incite the passions of a crowd – particularly if the cause of their anger touched on someone whom they loved and respected. … Continue reading

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TEACHING THOSE DEPRIVED OF SPIRITUAL THINGS HOW TO SEE DIFFERENTLY

In the 1820 mission, we find Eugene and his Missionaries keeping strictly to the ideals of their Rule of life: Article 2. That is why the members of this Congregation will work under the authority of the Ordinaries on whom … Continue reading

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THE TALENT FOR BEING CLOSE TO THE POOREST OF THE CITY

Marseille was a large city with a varied population, for whom different missionary methods were needed. Leflon describes the differences between the Missionaries of France and the Missionaries of Provence in approach to the 1820 city mission: Now, in order … Continue reading

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LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHILE SURROUNDED BY DIFFICULTIES

The early biographer, Rey, had this to say of the mission in Rognac: “it was plagued by bad weather, the rain continued for almost the entire time of the religious exercises. No one was waiting for the missionaries, the mission … Continue reading

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IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

Henri Tempier wrote from the difficult mission of Rognac: We got here on Saturday night… and after two or three calls, we returned to our lodging, where we found nothing. We had to run all around to find three bad … Continue reading

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WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?

One of the reasons for the success of the ministry of the Missionaries was their quality of being close to people. They were missionaries because they cared for the welfare of others. Their main concern was for the salvation of … Continue reading

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ALWAYS CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM – ESPECIALLY IN SICKNESS AND DEATH

The church of the Oblate Mission house in Aix was never a parish. The community was young, dynamic and obviously attracted many people to their services –either in the church or in the various ministries of the Missionaries in the … Continue reading

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YOUTH – THE WORK OF WORKS

Committed to preaching the Gospel to the most abandoned and to be ministers of God’s compassion in the sacrament of reconciliation, Eugene continued to explain the ministry of the Missionaries in his Rule of Life: Article 3 The direction of … Continue reading

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