St. Eugene de Mazenod was born in France in 1782. He and his family fled to Italy during the French Revolution. Eugene returned 11 years later and decided to become a priest when he saw the state of the French church.
After ordination, he ministered to needy people in Aix-en-Provence. In 1816, he founded and was superior general of an order that eventually became known as the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate.
In 1837, he became bishop of Marseilles, where he was a reformer and built new churches for those immigrating to France.
Eugene died in 1861, and we honor him May 21.