Tag Archives: community

YOU ACT AS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BODY

Eugene was always concerned about the health of the Oblates, but never concerned about his own. Here, the community of Aix tries to convince him that he must not pretend that he does not have a body with needs. Rey … Continue reading

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THE OBLATE IS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE A TEAM PLAYER

Henri Tempier had been away from the “slavery” of the administrative work of the Diocese of Marseille for a few weeks, spending time with the Oblate community of Notre Dame du Laus. On his return to Marseille, Eugene wrote to … Continue reading

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WE NEED TO STOP THIS IMPROVISED SORT OF LIFE

From the beginning, the Oblates have always been good at improvising so as to make the mission possible. However, sacrificing structures and regularity eventually catches up to the detriment of the mission. In this letter, Eugene writes to Courtès, the … Continue reading

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WE WILL FIND OUR SUPPORT IN FRIENDSHIP AND IN FRATERNAL LIFE

Whatever Eugene’s occupation was, he was always first and foremost an Oblate. It was in his bonds with the Oblate community that he found the strength to persevere in difficult situations. In Marseille it was the presence of Henri Tempier … Continue reading

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WE FULFIL OUR MISSION IN AND THROUGH THE COMMUNITY TO WHICH WE BELONG

During his retreat Eugene recalls that community was one of the non-negotiable constitutive elements of the Oblate vocation and way of life. He was living in community with Henri Tempier in Marseille, but the point of reference was always the … Continue reading

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I BELONG ABOVE ALL AND PRINCIPALLY TO THIS OBLATE FAMILY

Wherever he was, and whatever he was doing, Eugene was always first and foremost an Oblate. It was as Oblate that he was a priest, and later he was first Oblate and then the bishop of a diocese. His Oblate … Continue reading

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INTERDEPENDENT IN OUR LIVES

From Marseille Eugene kept in contact with all the Oblates in Aix and in Laus, and showed interest in the life and spirit of each community and its members. The only way to communicate regularly was by writing letters. Because … Continue reading

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GOD DEMANDS THIS ENORMOUS SACRIFICE OF ME IN VIEW OF A GREATER GOOD

Eugene had been born in Aix en Provence, it had been the scene of his first ministry as a priest (especially the youth ministry) , it was the place of foundation of the Oblates and the city where his mother … Continue reading

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AFTER A MISSION YOU MUST FEEL THE NEED TO BE RECOLLECTED AND TO THINK A LITTLE OF YOURSELF

As proud as Eugene was of his young Missionaries and their zealous achievements, he also worried that they would burn themselves out because of their generosity. After a mission, it is good to spend several days in a regular community. … Continue reading

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GUIDING A GROUP OF YOUNG ENTHUSIASTS

Even though the major part of Eugene’s time and energy were now spent on serving the Church in Marseille, his foremost preoccupation was always the Missionary Oblates. As Founder and Superior General he took an active interest in everything connected … Continue reading

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