EUROPE/ITALY - “On the paths of Mission”: Convention on the founder of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate Saint Eugene de Mazenod ten years after his canonisation

Catanzaro (Fides Service) - To mark the tenth anniversary of the canonisation of Eugene De Mazenod, Bishop of Marseilles who founded the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, OMI, the OMI community in Catanzaro, the Associazione Missionaria Maria Immacolata, and the Giovanile Costruire Movement have organised a Convention “On the paths of Mission” on Saint Eugene de Mazenod from 29 November to 4 December in Catanzaro. The programme will include a visit to high schools during the hour of religious instruction: mission stands, meetings for young people, conferences, prayers. Important appointments include a conference on 30 November on “S. Eugene De Mazenod, a saint for our day” (Frank Santucci OMI); 2 December panel discussion on “The children of S. Eugene: religious, families, young people in the footsteps of the father ”; Saturday 3 December Eucharistic Prayer Vigil. Sunday 4 December Mass presided by Archbishop Antonio Ciliberti, of Catanzaro-Squillace, will close the convention.
The Oblates Missionaries of Mary Immaculate were founded by Bishop Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861) proclaimed a Saint on 3 December 1995 by John Paul II. Seeing the poverty of people in the Provence region of France young Fr Eugene formed group of missionaries to go to proclaim the Gospel from village to village. Not many years later he sent missionaries to northern Canada, Africa and Asia. Eugene de Mazenod motto, “he sent me to evangelise the poor” has always been an inspiration to OMI missionaries. Today where are 4, 400 OMI missionaries in 70 different countries all over the world. In Calabria OMI have undertaken popular missions since the mid 1900s. They have a community in Catanzaro involved in apostolate all over Calabria including Christian formation for young people (Movimento giovanile Costruire) and families (Associazione Missionaria Maria Immacolata) both inspired by the missionary charisma of Saint Eugene. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2005; righe 23; parole 329)