Tag Archives: parish missions

SEARCHING FOR THE WILL OF GOD WITH A PRACTICAL EYE

Examining the possibility of joining Fr. Favre’s missionary group with the Oblates, Eugene, the experienced missionary preacher, was critical of the approach to some practical methods of this group. The Oblates concentrated on preaching the love and invitation of the … Continue reading

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH NEEDS TIME AND MISSIONARY PATIENCE

Eugene’s return to France had been lengthened by negotiations for a possible amalgamation with two groups of religious who were doing the same missionary work as the Oblates. The first group was that of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, … Continue reading

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ROLLING BALLS OF FIRE IN DANGER OF BURNOUT

Receiving news of the zealous preaching and ministry of the Oblates during the jubilee celebrations in Aix, Eugene responded: The news that you give me about the Jubilee of Aix is murderous. It is not possible for our Brothers to … Continue reading

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PARISH MISSIONS: MAKING THE COMPLICATED SIMPLE

While we have been focusing on what Eugene was doing in Rome, today’s text reminds us that he still kept involved with the missions of the Oblates in France. The hymn book was published by the Oblates regularly as an … Continue reading

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I LOOKED AT THE POPE WITH EYES OF A LIVELY FAITH

Eugene went to St Peter’s basilica to attend the beatification ceremony of a Capuchin – expressing his admiration for a fellow mission preacher. At the end of the ceremony he saw Pope Leo XII for the first time. I must … Continue reading

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AN APPEAL FOR REST BETWEEN PARISH MISSIONS

I insist that each one takes a rest of fifteen days between one mission and another. Letter to Pierre Mie, 3 December 1824, quoted by Rey I page 340 The zeal of the young Missionaries had to be nurtured. On … Continue reading

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THE MISSION IS GOING MARVELOUSLY

Eugene rejoices at how well his Oblate team was doing in the parish mission in Allauch. As we read his comments, we catch something of the enthusiasm of this group of young Missionaries. The mission of Allauch is going marvelously … Continue reading

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THE NEED FOR ADVANCE THINKING AND PASTORAL PLANNING

The young Missionaries had zealously committed themselves to preaching a parish mission at very short notice in Allauch, a market town in the vicinity of Marseille Can one allow oneself to be so thoughtless as to commit oneself to a … Continue reading

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WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERATE OF THE DAILY WELFARE OF THESE POOR PEOPLE

Scholastic brother Marius Bernard, who was preparing for his diaconate ordination, was part of the mission team. They had him teaching catechism three times per day, but Eugene saw this as an exaggeration that was putting undue demands on the … Continue reading

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IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO ASSEMBLE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH

Eugene had participated in the first ten days of the mission in Ventabren. He then had to return to Marseille and left it in the hands of the two young priests and the scholastic brother Marius Bernard. A week later, … Continue reading

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