Oblate News

Digital Pilgrimage Day 3 – Join the Lourdes Pilgrimage in Prayer

Monday 16th September

Bishop Ray Field holds an image of Saint Eugene, presented at the mass of Saint Eugene today

‘Blessed are the Poor; the Kingdom of God is theirs’

Through these Prayers and Reflections, we join our prayers and intentions with those of our Pilgrims in Lourdes. As we accompany them and pray for them, we are assured that they are praying for us.

Monday 16th September

Today in Lourdes our Pilgrims will be celebrating and taking part in Mass of St. Eugene DeMazenod, the Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

The gospel for the mass today is written by St. Luke. In it we read these powerful words from Jesus; ‘The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me; for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.’ Jesus came to share the love, compassion and mercy of God with those who were sick, poor and marginalised.

These were the very words that St. Eugene chose for his Oblate priests and brothers when he began our Order in 1826. Although Eugene was born into a very wealthy family, he gave all this up, became a priest and dedicated his whole life to caring for the poor with their many faces of his time.

Today, there are Oblates working in some of the poorest places around the world. We are still trying to share God’s love, mercy and commission with all people, regardless of who they are or whatever their situation.

Today in communion with those in Lourdes, we remember and pray for the poor of our world with their many faces and voices; refugees and exiles, those of who are suffering because of war and terrorism and the countless millions who suffer hunger every day. We also remember the poor in our own countries, neighbourhoods, and parishes. May we do what we can, no matter how small to reach out to help them.

A Prayer Suggestion: In your own personal prayer today, pray for all Oblates Missionaries who are still living and proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel around the world today. Pray also that other men will join the Missionary Oblates Mary Immaculate and follow the radical example of St. Eugene who dedicated his life to Jesus, the Church and the poor.

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