By the end of 1825 the Oblates consisted of 22 fully professed members (15 priests and 7 scholastics) and had communities in Aix en Provence, Notre Dame du Laus, Marseille and Nimes. An expanding mission needed sufficient personnel to support it, and it is here that we begin to see the difficulties that Eugene had. It was not a matter of merely filling positions with Oblates, but of balancing the needs of each community and mission with manpower that was capable of ensuring this. The men were young and needed guidance and training – hence the importance of the role of the local superior.
Hippolyte Guibert, just ordained to the priesthood at the age of 23, was part of the Nimes community. In this regard Eugene wrote to Pierre Mie, its superior:
It is somewhat with regret that at the moment we rejoice in the promotion of our dear Father Guibert to the sublime priesthood of Jesus Christ, and when you may be looking forward to putting his zeal and goodwill to good account, I see myself obliged to announce to you that, as matters seem to stand, I will be obliged to take him away from you. You will be very upset and he will no doubt be even more sorry; for if I take him away from Nimes, it will be in order to name him superior at Notre Dame du Laus.
As he gives the reason for this unexpected change of plan, we gain an insight into the very human situation in Laus described with a touch of humor and Provencal exaggeration, but not perfect nonetheless:
Since your departure from this shrine, there has no longer been any order there and, in consequence, any regularity. Father M[arcou] has allowed himself to become persuaded that he is very ill; he has been to Veynes to have his health cared for; they have succeeded for he has sent word to one of our Fathers that he is perfectly restored but, too preoccupied with the prescriptions that the good women gave him on his departure, he spends his time and that of others in making remedies. Father T[ouche] being no longer held back by anyone, spends his time on the high road, giving forth in all directions sermons which interest no one. He continually goes to Gap and returns, having forgotten only the matter which he had to deal with there. No management, no interest in the welfare of the house. He has allowed to go sour in barrels the produce of two years and has not even obtained a penny of what is owing to us for services as auxiliary priests, money urgently needed for twenty hearty appetites which devour at Aix everything in sight [ed. he is referring to the young people in formation to become Oblates].
In short, it is indispensable and very pressing to put order in the whole affair…
There remains Father Guibert who, in spite of his youth, is well balanced and imposing thanks to his firm countenance. He loves order, he knows good management, he will without fail be pleasing to the Bishop of Gap. I realize the void he will leave at Nimes…
I await your reply and your observations but I abjure you to consider only the good of all independently of any personal consideration.
Letter to Pierre Mie, 22 August 1825, EO VI n. 196
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” John C. Maxwell
“…to consider only the good of all independently of any personal consideration.” This seems to be a ‘key’ to leadership be it in community life, family life, or work life.
I look at Eugene describing with humor and love, the styles of the Oblates and their (for lack of a better word) human traits. Leadership though seems to demand more than that. Leadership requires that we remove the personal lens from our eyes – the ones that allow us to see first and foremost our own needs and wants. It requires that we let go of our own needs and wants in order to serve the others – the model that Jesus gave us. Jesus who gave his all – his very life. He knew what he was about with the Father, he lived it right up to his death and beyond and showed us how we could do the same. I think for a minute of the many little things I am asked to let go of – not for the sake of letting go but so that I can have more. I look at Eugene and I see very much the father in him. I see it in how he handled the situation that is described above, teaching others how to look and see what was needed. He continued to love those who had different strengths and weaknesses and did not attempt to control them or discount and negate them for their differences. Rather he looked for the needed strength and tried to work with that. I see in Eugene a man who knew the way God was leading him, lived it at no little cost to himself and who showed us how we could do it with him (not alone).
My thoughts this morning have flitted from myself, to the Oblates, to the Church and back again – back and forth. Small circles growing larger, each fitting into the other and a part of each other. How do I listen? Is it to God or is it to myself and my own wants? How do I live the love and the gifts that I have been given? Do I keep it all to myself or do I share it? How do I take up the the role of leadership? Is it closed and deadly or open and loving? All a bit of both.