In a letter to Father Charles Bellon, dated March 19, 1856 Eugene wrote:

We are poor, so it does not suit us to pretend we are rich.  We have to know how to be satisfied with the little we can do, with the small number of members we have, and to spare ourselves useless lamentations and unjust recriminations.  What good is there in wanting to go faster than time allows?  Let us be patient; all our hope is that at the end of the year we shall have some new priests.  Yet, when we have to apportion them among so many needs, we will have to concede that we are still not sufficiently provided for.  Should we be upset by that?  Is it our role to revolt against Providence?  God knows our needs; he is master of hearts.  If he does not move a greater number and direct them to us, what can we say?  We must do the best with the means we have, we must not become upset nor weary our superiors with untimely impositions.  That is what both common sense and religion tell us.”

This paragraph stands on it’s own – no explanation needed or wanted.  For me this could be a prayer of our times.  Indeed it speaks directly to what was shared and discussed during the Congress on the Charism in Context.

Every word can apply in all areas of my life be it with and part of the Oblate community, with my parish, my loved ones and friends.

We continue with the mission, we continue with the poor as we meet them in all the corners of our world, and with all the community members around us.  Just as we bloom where we are planted and God is the master gardener, then our seeds will fall and more blooms will grow up. (I do not know where this touch of nature has come from but I find it growing steadily within me.)  This is trust.  We are not rolling over, nor are we giving up on anything or anyone.  I can only repeat the words of Eugene:  God knows our needs; he is master of hearts.