Today, May 21, is the memorial of Saint Eugene de Mazenod.
Founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).
Eugene was born in France in 1782 to a well-to-do family. However, when the French Revolution broke out, his family was forced to leave their wealth behind as they had to escape to Italy.
Years later, Eugene joined the seminary and was eventually ordained priest. He focused his ministry in serving the poor and the marginalized members of society. His ministry attracted like-minded individuals who would form the community Missionaries of Provence.
He became Bishop of Marseille. His projects included building churches, founding parishes, charity works for priests and lay people, and developing catechetics for the youth.
From his missionaries, Eugene founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). Sounds familiar? The OMI runs the Notre Dame schools, and in 1841 the Oblates sailed for missions in five continents.
He died of natural causes in 1861. Pope St. Paul VI beatified Fr. Eugene in 1975. Pope St. John Paul II canonized him in 1995.