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Celebrating 208 Years of Community! January 26th, 2024
By Jorge ALBERGATI, OMI, General Councilor for Latin America
Originally Published on OMIWORLD.ORG
Click here to see the article en Español
Greetings from the Central Government as we commemorate the 208 years of the First Community of the Congregation.
On January 25, 1816, the day the Church celebrates the conversion of Saint Paul, marks the beginning of our missionary family in Aix. As our history narrates, Eugene de Mazenod and his small group of missionaries officially move into the old Carmel Convent of Aix and experience community life. From day one, they strove to practice religious and communal life virtues within their small group, engaging in mission preaching and working with the youth.
For our missionary family, it has been 208 years of faithfulness to this received gift, walking with the people, serving the poor and most abandoned, especially the youth. The approach chosen by Eugene de Mazenod and his first companions in the mission was to work together as a community.
Recently, the central government and members of the Aix Community gathered at the General House in Rome. It was a profound encounter to share our lives, vocation stories, community life, and current mission. It was a moment to live the essentials, to unite in our following of Jesus, and to view our personal history through the eyes of the Crucified Savior, reviving the spirit of the first Oblate community. As Pope Francis stated, “Being a neighbor is an everyday task because selfishness pulls you down, being a neighbor is going out.’” (PEC Discourse by Pope Francis)
READ FULL ARTICLE ON OMIWORLD’S WEBSITE: https://www.omiusa.org/index.php/2024/01/24/celebrating-208-years-of-community/
