553 - March 2015
February 2nd, 2015 - March 6th, 2015

EUROPE

On 16-22 January, most of the local superiors from the Polish Province took part at their yearly retreat in Aix. The theme of this retreat was “Aix – our Holy Land”. The retreat master was the present superior of the international community at our place of foundation, Fr. Krzysztof ZIELENDA.

Previously, the Provincial Council of the Polish Province had made a retreat in Aix, and some years ago, there was a month-long “De Mazenod Experience” in Polish. But the January retreat was a first of its kind, thanks to the support of the Fr. Krzysztof who is himself Polish. For many of the Oblates, it was their first visit to Aix-en-Provence.

The refurbished buildings at Cours Mirabeau are very welcoming and provide a very nice space for lodging and meetings. The new international community has been in place for a couple of years; they provide an atmosphere of Oblate peace and brotherhood for their visitors.

During the days of retreat, there were morning presentations by the retreat master. In the afternoons, as is the custom in Aix, there were visits to places associated with St. Eugene’s life. In the evenings, there was time for sharing: the sound of the Polish language filled the corridors of our first Oblate house. Would St. Eugene have ever imagined that this would someday happen there?
                

The retreatants concelebrated at the principal Sunday Mass in the Church of the Mission. The culminating and concluding moment of the retreat was the Holy Eucharist celebrated at the Founder’s tomb in Marseille. On the previous day, the group had visited the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde and had celebrated Mass at “Le Calvaire,” the first Oblate establishment in Marseille. (Andrzej JASTRZEBSKI)

On 25 January, feast of the Conversion of St. Paul and the 199^th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation, the community of Nice celebrated 120 years of Oblate presence at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Nice.

Several tableaux presented the early history of the place and the arrival of the Oblates, following the Society of African Missions of Lyon, at the time of the Oblate Bishop of Nice, Matthieu BALAIN (†1905). There has been an uninterrupted Oblate presence for parishioners, English and Italian speaking tourists and the poor of the city.

At the same time, the community celebrated the 5^th anniversary of the association Toit pour toi (a Roof for you) which has hosted more than 100 young adults of 34 nationalities who have found here a haven of peace for a few months, helping them to return to independent living, with a job and housing.

The Sunday celebration was presided by Father Jean-Louis Balsa, Vicar General, and the provincial of France, Fr. Vincent GRUBER, gave the homily. On Monday morning, 26 January, the community welcomed Bishop André Marceau, Bishop of Nice, who took the time to meet the community, celebrate and share a meal in a warm and friendly atmosphere. (France Info Omi No. 7 - January 2015)