Eugene de Mazenod International Centre

Became Bishop of Marseilles in 1837, Saint Eugene de Mazenod worked hard for the development of the Church in his diocese. Not only to his own diocese, at the same time, he responded to the bishops’ requests from far distant lands by sending his Oblate missionaries to Canada, Sri Lanka and South Africa. Feast of this passionate pastor of Jesus Christ and unconditional servant of the Church is celebrated on May 21st.

On February 15 (because the date of February 17 falling on Sunday), the Oblate Community of the Mother House, all united and surrounded by Fr. Jerome Velichor, the archivist at the General House, as well as many members of the Mazenodian family, celebrated in the Church of the Mission the 193rd anniversary of the recognition of the Congregation by Pope Leo XII.

The Mazenodian Family, according to Father Frank SANTUCCI, an expert in the Oblatology, is made up of lay people, religious or priests called, each in their own way, by Jesus Christ Savior and united in apostolic community so as to live the charism of Eugene de Mazenod to evangelize those who are the most abandoned.

Saint-Laurent du Verdon is a small village located in the department of Alpes de Haute Provence. The people of St. Laurent have the joy of welcoming many visitors, including Oblates from all continents.

This year, since May 21 fell on Whit Monday, it was on Friday, May 25th that the Mazenodian family was invited to celebrate Saint Eugene de Mazenod with the Community of the Oblates of Aix. At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration, the faithful listened attentively and emotionally to the account of the last moments of the life of the Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

On Saturday, February 17, 2018, the Missionary Oblates of Aix-en-Provence invited the members of the Mazenodian Family to celebrate with them the 192nd anniversary of the approval by Pope Leo XII of the Constitutions and Rules of the Congregation.

On Saturday, December 9th, 2017, the Oblates of Aix invited the faithful to celebrate together the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the inauguration of the Year devoted to Oblate vocations.

Members of the Mazenodian family, together with the Oblate community, gathered to commemorate their attachment to the Founder and his charism. This charism is what ignites to this day the mission the Oblates consecrate their daily lives to fulfilling.

On Sunday, February 28, 2016, the community of the Oblates of Aix invited friends of the Mazenodian Family to go on a pilgrimage to Saint-Cannat. It is in this village near Aix where Fr. Tempier, friend and confidant of Eugene de Mazenod, was born.

As usual, the encounter of Mazenodian Family began with a prayer. Then we shared around two key points: Summer School organized by the Oblates of France and the Bicentenary of the Oblate Foundation.

Wednesday, May 27, a few days after the Feast of St. Eugene, the Mazenodian Family came together to respond to the invitation given them by the Oblate International Community in Aix. During the prayer time which introduced the meeting, the participants listened to a reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (2, 1-12), as well as to extracts from the Oblate Constitutions and Rules on the value of poverty and personal responsibility for the Oblates to reform themselves throughout their missionary life.

To mark the 189th anniversary of the approval of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and its Constitutions and Rules, the Mazenodian Family of Aix held an encounter with the Oblate community on Sunday, February 15th, 2015. During this encounter, we welcomed Father Gilberto PIÑÓN, Assistant General, who presented the history of the Oblate lay associates.

On Sunday the 21st December 2014 the Oblate Community of Aix invited the Mazenodian Family to meet together to share the joy of Christmas. A moment of prayer started the get together: “lift up your eyes and look in the distance that your heart jumps for joy”.

In October, Father Joseph BOIS gave a preached retreat for the Oblates and Mazenodian family. The highlight was held in the house of 60 cours Mirabeau and the theme of “the apostolic community”.

The reunion began with a time of prayer lead by Bro. Benoît Dosquet. By this prayer, the Family members united with the Oblates who are making their spiritual journey towards the bicentennial Jublilee. Then there was a presentation of the Oblate missions in Latin America given by Fr. Miguel Fritz, General Councillor for that region.