November 2011 516/1 Information No. 516 (English) November 2011 Celebrating St. Eugene in Poland By Fr. Louis Lougen, OMI, Superior General The 150th anniversary of the death of St. Eugene After a brief break, we entered directly into a continues to be celebrated throughout the world. biographical narrative of St. Eugene’s life by On October 28 and 29, I was privileged to Fr. Pawel LATUSEK, of the Scholasticate in participate in two days of celebration in Poland Obra. This was followed by a delightful and very with many other Oblates, lay people, priests, personal perspective of Eugene de Mazenod, Brothers and Sisters from Poland, from all over his family and personal contrasts, given by Europe, from Canada and from the Delegations his sister’s descendant, Mr. Bertrand Morand and Missions of Poland. of Aix-en-Provence. Fr. Fabio CIARDI, from the General Administration, gave us a deeper On Friday, October 28th, there was an International understanding of Eugene’s missionary method, Conference in Obra, entitled “From the French away from Jansenism and closer to the Savior. Revolution to the New Evangelization”. This conference was sponsored by the Department After lunch, Eugene de Mazenod and the of Church History, Faculty of Theology, of the infl uence of the French school of spirituality Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan and the was presented by Fr. Kazimierz LUBOWICKI, Oblate Scholasticate in Obra. This conference of the Pontifi cal Faculty of Wroclaw. A look considered the charism and mission of St. into Eugene’s relations with the Jesuits gave Eugene de Mazenod on the occasion of the 150th us a deeper appreciation for the ties we have anniversary of his death. with the Society of Jesus and this was the work of Fr. Robert Danieluk, S.J., of the Society’s Three hundred participants fi lled the auditorium Roman Archives. Fr. Frank SANTUCCI, from for a full day of twelve lectures. The conference the Aix-en –Provence community, then gave us was opened by Fr. Ryszard SZMYDKI, Provincial an understanding of the pastoral work of Eugene of Poland, and he warmly welcomed all those as Bishop of Marseille. present. Fr. Pawel ZAJAC, responsible for organizing this stimulating day, then gave an Fr. Marek ROSTKOWSKI, from the Rome’s introduction to the French Revolution and Pontifical University Urbaniana, helped us the personal remembrances of Eugene de understand the signifi cant Oblate contribution Mazenod. Professor Roberto Regoli of the to missiology. From Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski Gregorian University in Rome gave incisive University, Warsaw, Fr. Jaroslaw ROZANSKI, input on Napoleon Bonaparte’s relationship to gave a presentation on eminent Oblate the Catholic Church. Dr. Rafal Dobek, of Adam missionaries. Fr. Franck Santucci brought the Mickiewicz University, expounded on the union day to a very fi tting conclusion by relating the of the altar and throne in France since 1825, a charism of St. Eugene to the new evangelization. very relevant theme for Eugene de Mazenod’s Fortunately, these talks, which were replete mission. This was complimented by an in-depth with information, insights and questions to be presentation on anti-clericalism in 19th century deepened, will be published so that the entire France given by Prof. Andrzej Chwalba from Congregation may reap the benefits of this Cracow’s Jagiellonian University. International Conference. 516/2 November 2011 On Saturday, October 29, the celebration of the his message and to communicate it in such a 150th anniversary of St. Eugene’s death continued, powerful and inspiring manner. moving from the academic sphere to liturgical, spiritual and artistic expressions. More Oblates, When the play was over, we went almost many lay people and religious from Oblate immediately to church for the musical concert. parishes and ministries arrived and we began The church of Obra was packed and the the day with the solemn celebration of Morning renowned Polish musical group, “Gang Marsela”, Prayer of Pastors, commemorating St. Eugene. performed a variety of popular and religious Fr. Kazimierz LUBOWICKI preached a homily music. The band presented several songs inspired centered on St. Eugene’s relationship with Jesus in the life of St. Eugene and his experience of Christ. Later that morning, a festive celebration the cross, his love for the poor and his ministry of the Eucharist presided by Bishop Eugeniusz of compassion. At fi rst the strains of modern JURETZKO, of the Diocese of Yokadouma, pop music seemed to be in stark contrast to the Cameroun, followed in the old baroque church ancient ornate church. Yet, the music conveyed of Obra. Everything in the liturgy was just as St. the eternal message of God’s love revealed in the Eugene would have liked it. Fr. Fabio CIARDI, cross of our Savior and touching our lives today. leaned over to me at one point and whispered in my ear, “These Oblates are proud to be Oblates!” The joy, peace and courage to go forth with the Gospel lighted everyone’s hearts as we went In the afternoon, we were participants of two into the dark of the late afternoon. That moment special programs: a theatrical production and symbolically captured the two days of celebration a concert. A play, “Eugene de Mazenod’s honoring the life and mission of St. Eugene: Leaflet” written and produced by “Nineveh”, Gospel light going into the darkness. St. Eugene’s the Oblates’ youth movement from Katowice, experience of God’s compassion shown forth in was the first event. It was a representation of the Cross of Jesus; his decision to dedicate his life Eugene today, ministering to the broken and to the evangelization of the poor and abandoned; poor and leading others to find passion in Jesus and the mercy that he preached and lived toward and to become announcers of the Gospel of the others; these realities continue to draw men to Savior’s mercy and love. This was extremely follow Jesus as Missionary Oblates of Mary well portrayed, very creative and current; Immaculate. These experiences also inspire many the message resonated in the hearts of the lay people to embr ace St. Eugene’s charism and audience. I am impressed at the capacity of the give their lives to the service of God’s mission. young people to identify with St. Eugene and St. Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us! General Administration INTERNATIONAL SCHOLASTICATE summer: to see a sprout struggling to reach the My summer with Las Oblatas heavens. Let me explain. Scholastic Brother Devin WATKINS is a member After having fi nished my fi rst year of theology of the US province and is currently studying in studies in Rome, I was sent to Spain in order Rome in his second year of theology. to learn Spanish and help out with the Oblate Malaga Experience and WYD Madrid. The Have you ever watched a seed sprout? Seen studies went well, but what I didn’t expect was to its fi rst green leaf unfurl and reach toward the get a fi rst-hand glimpse of our Oblate beginnings sun? You know instinctively that it contains an – when things were tough but so fresh for Eugene enormous potential for growth and an abundant and his tiny band in their fi rst years together – by harvest at some distant point in the future, but at simply meeting the Misioneras Oblatas de Maria the same time, you see how fragile and vulnerable Inmaculada (Las Oblatas). it is, realizing that a rough touch or a strong gust of wind could wound it mortally. This, in Maybe you have heard about them, but they are a a nutshell, was my blessed experience this past recently born Institute – ten years since diocesan November 2011 516/3 approbation – that share our Oblate spirit, charism, in a Discalced Carmelite Convent (a ten minute and even Constitutions and Rules almost to the letter. walk from the beach) with ten Oblatas, with My involvement with them began in Malaga when voices like angels and hearts aglow with joy. Fr. Tony ORTIZ and I were assigned to welcome the Oblate pilgrims from the US along with two of From the fi rst moment with them, I felt like a their number: Raquel TORO, the Vicar General and brother among beloved sisters and was amazed director of formation, and Katherina RAMRATH, that even some of the little things we Oblates do a German juniorada studying medicine. The rest were somehow manifested in their mannerisms of them – 21 in all – were also helping out with the – such as a strong devotion to the practice of different national groups. oraison and a curious diffi culty staying silent for extended periods of time (punctuated by random These women dedicated their vacation time to bursts of laughter during silent meals). But what helping out and it is due in large part to their was even more touching was hearing their story efforts that the Malaga experience as a whole and realizing that they are living what St. Eugene came together. Even in the midst of the excitement had sought to live in the fi rst house in Aix – the of Malaga, most of us Oblates saw immediately lack of material resources or secure housing, the that these Oblatas are fi lled with St. Eugene’s constant problem of how to pay the bills – but charism, completely available for our common through it all, a pure peace and joy that is almost mission, and incredibly close to the people. They palpable. Somehow during that week, my heart were the fi rst ones up in the morning and the last was opened to a feminine expression of our ones to go to bed, always talking to the kids and beloved Congregation, one whose sole aim is to making sure things went well.