Do you have a favourite saint?
I do, our founder, Saint Eugene de Mazenod, would be my favourite saint. He is someone I came to later on in life, I didn't know about him at first, until I begun to learn about the Oblates, and then I just knew him as "Blessed Eugene." It was only when I went to primary school, which was named after him, at Eugene de Mazenod, and it was only when I was in my thinking about joining the Oblates, that I decided to reflect on his life. I like him I think because he has similarities to me, not that I am a saint like him. At the age of nine, he went into exile, leaving his home. And at the age of nine, I left home, leaving Sri Lanka, for London. I lived in a different environment. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, lived in Italy, in a different environment. He was fortunate to meet a couple of priests as a teenager, who influenced him in a good way, and lived his life well. To put it mildly. He lived well. He lived in luxury, fell into good company, of people with wealth and all that. Yet he was faithful, the church was important to him, he went to mass and everything else. And I would say that for myself, I am fortunate to have good company of people. At the same time, like any teenager, I had the opportunity to be involved in all kinds of stuff and yet being faithful, that God, that the Church is important. It is part of my life. When he returned to France, he wanted to marry but he couldn't find a girl with a rich enough dowry. Which is a very human thing, I think. He wanted to gain his wealth and everything, but he lost everything. Eventually he begun to wonder what the meaning of his life is. That is when he began to think, "Well, what does God want [for me]?"I think, anyone who is allowing that question to emerge, is a person that we can imitate, and reflect on. But with all the crisis that were going on for him, he is willing to say, "What does God want in this life?" All that he discovers in that answer is the Good Friday. Jesus loved him so much, that He gave His life for him. Whatever he is going through is not insignificant. And that is what I bring with my own struggle with English and everything else. I was beginning to feel as though I was not going to cut it in this country, I was beginning to feel as though I would lose my way in this country. But with people who came my way, what I discovered was that I have something to offer. That I can be significant, that I am not alone in this world. That I am still significant to God. That made the difference to me. That was the real changing of "What can I do for others?" I was wanting to help others to be well. That was the story of Eugene that resonates with me. Eugene's story is about calling others to be part of this story of love. God's love for us. Every human person matters.
