Meet Some Oblate Associates
Gail Hillier

Most of my life I lived day to day believing this was meant to be.  My Catholic faith or any faith was not part of my living.  In the early 2000 the desire to find God brought me back to my roots and my church.  I had heard about St. Joseph’s Church and felt on my first visit something”special”, very welcoming.  Became part of the Parish but still felt an emptiness “something”was missing.  At a church function in 2013 I met 2 very special people, Erin Ryan and Eleanor Rabnett. They recognized someone searching, reached out and invited me to an Associate gathering.  My life was forever changed, I had found my pathway to God!  I was introduced to St. Eugene and his life changing Charism, the connection was felt immediately.  Eleanor walked with me sharing her gifts and her love for St. Eugene and his charism.  I met people who loved me before they knew me.  Always encouraging, supportive and believing in me.  This gave me hope and the ability to grow.  I learned to love myself as God loves me.  Giving me strength to see me and my gifts I had never recognized.  Sharing of themselves and their gifts allowed me to see God in a new light, become friends with my Savior Jesus Christ and learned that the Holy Spirit lives in me.  So grateful for the Mazenodian Family that God has placed in my pathway.  Feel so blessed for all God has given me and excited about all that is yet to be discovered!