Marseille of St Eugene

View of Marseille from Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica

After Aix-en-Provence the second most significant place in for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is Marseille. It is a Mediterranean costal city in the Southern France. Today it is the second largest city in France. The history of the city is rich as it covers 2600 years. The history of the local Church is ancient too. The people of Marseille believe that their first bishop was Lazarus who was raised by Jesus.  According to this belief Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha came to Marseille and with them the Christian faith was brought here. This city has seen many famous and holy people passing by or spending some time here. What makes this ancient city special for the Oblates is that Saint Eugene de Mazenod lived and worked here from 1823 until his death in 1861. From 1837 he was Bishop of the city. This place has also seen many Oblates who worked here or left from Marseille for foreign countries to preach the Good News. At the early days if the Oblate Congregation which was called Missionaries of Provence then the Missionaries found it providential that Eugene’s uncle Fortune de Mazenod was appointed Bishop of Marseille. They realized that in the elderly bishop, who was appointed at the age of 72, they had a protector, supporter and friend.  That’s why most of them moved from Aix to Marseille. When his uncle became a bishop Eugene was asked to assist his in the day to day running of the diocese. This place became his home. He committed himself to the people of the place, especially after becoming their Bishops. He came to love this city so much that he refused to accept appointments to more prestige cities. At his time there were 200 thousand people a quarter of the present population. He saw the development of the city and he fought for well-being of his people.
Welcome to Marseille of Saint Eugene de Mazenod

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