Eugene was living at the Calvaire Oblate community in Marseille, and was its superior during the months that Fr. Marius Suzanne was away. Despite his diocesan responsibilities, he continued to be involved in the pastoral activities of the Oblate community in this center of mission. Writing to Hippolyte Court\u00e8s in Aix, he explained:<\/p>\n
\nMy confiding this to you is by way of explaining why our correspondence has somewhat diminished. Time is materially lacking to me. The overseeing of the house, independently of confessing people in it, keeps me busy also and episcopal affairs finish me off, now you will understand.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Always a missionary with every cell of his body, Eugene saw every opportunity of ministry as an invitation to Oblate mission. Good news for Oblates and associates who are prevented from direct mission activity because of health and other circumstances. A person with a missionary heart finds means of being a missionary in every event, even from an administrative desk-job, a sick bed or a wheelchair.<\/p>\n
\nI have made it a rule, my dear friend, to refuse no one who wishes to go to confession; the result is an extraordinary increase of work for me but I do not run away because of that for I am persuaded that I exercise by this means my ministry as a missionary without going on missions. I thus draw benefit from my situation. Thus I make use of my position, and the results being the same, even though the means are somewhat different I console myself for being unable to do all that our Fathers are doing.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Hippolyte Court\u00e8s, 8 March 1827, EO VII n 265<\/em><\/p>\n
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\u201cIn the past, missionaries have traveled to far countries with the message of the gospel – with great hardship and often with the loss of life. In contrast, we can reach millions instantly from the comfort of our homes by merely hitting the ‘send’ button on our computers, or with iPads, or phones.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Ray Comfort<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene was living at the Calvaire Oblate community in Marseille, and was its superior during the months that Fr. Marius Suzanne was away. Despite his diocesan responsibilities, he continued to be involved in the pastoral activities of the Oblate community … Continue reading