Eugene reflected in a letter to Father Vincens about the providential call to the Missionary Oblate Congregation:<\/p>\n
Here is a vast field that is opening up to her zeal. Canada is calling for her ministry, how do we respond to this appeal when there are no members.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Nevertheless I have consulted the whole Congregation to find out as to what I should reply to his Lordship the Bishop of Montreal who is asking me for four missionaries to evangelize his vast diocese and work for the conversion of the indigenous who have established contact with him.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Letter to Joseph Vincens, 17 July 1841, EO IX n 734<\/em><\/p>\n
Eugene asked each Oblate two questions: 1\/ should we accept this mission in Canada, and 2\/ would you be willing to go there as a missionary?<\/p>\n
Yvon Beaudoin writes about this in a footnote to this letter:<\/p>\n
We still possess an enthusiastic reply of Father Dassy who was ready to leave with Father Vincens: \u201cI don\u2019t see… that we have to make great sacrifices for this mission: the trip, the climate, change of country, separation from the family, all these things are not great things in my view. Say one word and for me France will be Canada, my parents, brothers and friends will be in Canada; my heart will fly to Canada and this country which makes our hearts throb at this moment, this country, if necessary, will even be my only country until death\u2026”<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene reflected in a letter to Father Vincens about the providential call to the Missionary Oblate Congregation: Here is a vast field that is opening up to her zeal. Canada is calling for her ministry, how do we respond to … Continue reading