Home Page Worship Schedule St. Eugene Sisters of the Incarnate Word Staff Directory Parish Mission Sacraments Parish Sights Church of the Most Precious Blood Chula Vista, CA Diocese of San Diego

St Eugene De Mazenod Founder of the Order of The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Born of a noble family, Eugene de Mazenod looked upon the world of his day and saw people whose lives had scarcely been touched by the message of Jesus Christ. Impelled by his own faith, shortly after his ordination to the Priesthood, he decided to found a new religious congregation that is known as the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The original purpose of this new religious community which began in 1816 was to preach parish missions to those who were most abandoned in his native France. Ministry to youth as well as those in prison were among the original works of the first Oblates of Mary Immaculate. As early as 1841, members of this fledgling religious community were sent to Canada. In the 1840's other missionaries were sent to the United States, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. Today, some 5,000 members live and teach the Gospel throughout the world. Besides leading the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Eugene de Mazenod served as Bishop of Marseilles, France, from 1837 until his death in 1861. His priestly life exemplified the motto he chose as bishop which became the motto of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate: "He sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor." Eugene de Mazenod was beatified in 1975. In 1995 he was canonized as a saint of our Catholic Church. Two of his religious sons have served as Co-Pastors of Most Precious Blood church since September 1, 1993.