Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - On 21 and 22 May, at the Shrine of Divine Love in Rome, the Italian celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the death of Msgr. Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop of Marseilles and founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) will be held. Mgr.de Mazenod was born in Aix en Provence on August 1, 1782 and died on May 21, 1861 in Marseille. He was Bishop of Marseilles and founded the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a religious family that now has 4,100 members in 67 countries around the world. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on December 3, 1995.
The two day program of Italian celebrations will see the participation of Fr Nicola Parr, OMI provincial superior of Italy and Fr. Fabio Ciardi, theologian and expert on the life of De Mazenod and the Oblate charism who will give their own account on the figure of St. Eugenio. There will also be a representation of a musical concert about Eugene de Mazenod which takes its title from the wind of Provence, "Mistral", which clearly emphasizes the era of the Revolution in which the founder of the IMO lived and also his passionate character, and the exhibition of a series of paintings dedicated to St. Eugenio. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 05/19/2011)
