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Newsletter of the U.S. Province of the

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

NOVEMBER 2017 Vol. 20, No. 6

OMI USA

Sexton House began the scholasticyear on August 20 at a retreatwith the Mike Whitehurst family,

in Junction, TX. We arrived Sundaymorning to have Mass outdoors, over-looking one of the many rivers that crossthe Texas Hill Country. The year began

30 in formation in 2017-18 scholastic year

Back row: Victor Manuel Patricio Silva (4th

year), Steven Montez (2nd year), JeanEmmanuel Melancourt (2nd year), DanielBourg (3rd year), Herat Mondol (2nd year),Fr. Ron Lafromboise; Second row: Fr.Raymond Mwangala, Fr. Raul Salas, RobbyBanda (3rd year), Eugene Mulenga (3rd

year), Vincent Adaikalasamy (3rd year),Antonio Zapata (3rd year), Mike’s daugh-ter, Felix Nyambe (4th year); Front row:Alejandro Alvarado (1st year), GigiWhitehurst, Cosmas Kubai Kithinji (3rd

year), John Whitehurst, Mike Whitehurst.

with 12 scholastics, 3 fomators andone scholastic on internship.

There are two fourth year stu-dents, six third year, three second yearand one first year, all attending theol-ogy courses in the Oblate School ofTheology, San Antonio, TX. They are

a diverse group ranging from ages 24-42, coming from India (1), Kenya (1),Nicaragua (1), Haiti (1), Zambia (3),Mexico (2), USA (3). Of these, thereare seven studying for the US Province.

On Sept.1, seven renewedtheir vows and two made perpetualvows the following day. The US can-didate is scheduled to be ordainedpriest in May 2017.

(L-R) Novice master, Bro. Pat McGee, Fr. Frank Kuczera (formator), WilbroadKapembwa (Zambia), Sarath Kumar Thangaprakasam (India), Michael Kabazo(Zambia), Joey Methé (French Canada) , Stephen Cheon (Australia), Lázaro ÁngelLeal (San Antonio, TX), and Fr. Jack Lau (formator).

-by Schol. Bro. Alejandro Alvarado

Six young men were formally wel-comed in a Rite of Reception atthe Immaculate Heart of Mary Novi-

tiate in Godfrey, IL, on Aug. 17. They camefrom five countries on four continents to spenda year in prayer, study and contemplation ofreligious life.

Coming from Melbourne, Australia, StephenCheon, 19, met the Oblates while studyingat Mazenod College, Victoria. He made hisPre-Novitiate in Moe, Victoria.

Michael Kabazo, 25, is from Zambia. Hegrew up in an Oblate parish and entered the

Six enter novitiate

Continued on page 4

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I always enjoyedBishop Wilton Gregory’snewspaper columns whenhe was Bishop of the dio-cese of Belleville, IL. Titled,“What I Have Seen AndHeard,” it was an update onhis travels throughout thediocese, people he met,events he attended, happen-ings that had occurred.

Some Oblates, OblateAssociates and employeeshave requested more infor-mation about the ministry

activities, important events, communityhappenings at our ministry sites in theprovince. Besides OMI/USA magazine,Oblate World magazine, the variousOblate websites, the Council Chronicle,and other publications, I will try to meetthis request with a report of some of myvisits, events attended, news I hear.

One of my goals as Provincialis to further unite the Mazenodian Fam-ily: Oblates, Honorary Oblates, OblateAssociates, Oblate Partners, Oblate Af-filiates, Oblate Employees, Families andFriends of Oblates. One way I hope todo this is by sharing with those inter-ested this quarterly report of happen-ings throughout the U.S. Province andeven, at times, the Oblate world. Any-one wishing to receive this quarterly com-

mentary may contact Laura Glasgow, Pro-vincial Executive Assistant atprovsec@omiusa.org.

Jubilee in TewksburyAnniversaries of vows and or-

dinations are a blessed time for renew-ing our own commitment. Joe Ferraioli’shomily at the celebration in Tewksburyhelped us in that renewal. His vocationstory inspired us in re-dedicating our-selves to a commitment made, for some,as many as70 years ago!

Alaska visitAlaska is a beautiful state to visit

any time of the year but especially de-lightful in June. The Oblates at KenaiPeninsula (Tom Rush, Roger Bergkamp

and Ron Meyer) minister at four par-ishes and organize teams of parishio-ners, along with them, to minister atthe local prison and bring the prison-ers supplies. In Juneau, I assured Fr.Pat Travers, Administrator of the dio-cese, of our continued presence thereand visited Pat Casey, Rector of theCathedral. This is truly missionarywork. I was not able to visit AndySensenig in Sitka, Tom Killeen inCordova or Roger Schwietz in An-chorage. Next trip I will!

“Boni” diesBoni Wittenbrink was 102

years young when he died! He wasthe second oldest Oblate in the Con-gregation. Allen Maes referred to Bonias a “pioneer” in his homily. Indeed hewas, founding Radio Information Ser-vice at the Shrine of Our Lady of theSnows. He was also the first preacherat Christ the King Retreat Center inBuffalo, MN, and first Principal ofAllemany High School in California.

Visit with DonorsWe are fortunate to know sev-

eral generous donors in the Chicagoarea. I visited some of them with Jamie

Superiors’ meeting: Frs. Tom Rush, Antonio Ponce, Terry O’Connell, Juan Ayala

Superiors’ meeting: l-r: Frs. Tom Coughlin, Frank Santucci, Dick Sudlik,Charles Banks, Jim Brobst

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Kuczera, from Lacombe Province,Canada. Jack Lau continues on staff.

Novena rosary processionThe beautiful rosary procession

after the Novena Mass at the Shrine ofOur Lady of the Snows brought backmany fond memories of planning andexecuting this grand celebration. Grati-tude to Tom Ovalle, Shrine Director andOblates David Uribe, Juan Gaspar,Andy Knop, Andy Lawlor and the laystaff for their energy and creativity.David has moved on to our parishes inHouston.

CMSM meetsThe Conference of Major Su-

periors’ meeting took the theme “theCommon Brotherhood We Share AsReligious.” The keynote address, by Br.

John MarkFalkenhain, OSB, ofSt. Meinrad, IN, fo-cused on the brother-hood we share as Re-ligious, based primarilyon our life together incommunity, united bythe charism we sharetogether. He would bea possible presenter atour next Oblate Con-vocation, probablyduring Easter week,

2020. I hope our Superior General,Louis Lougen, and Canada-U.S. Coun-cilor, Warren Brown, can be with usthen.

Under 10 come togetherThe “Under 10” Gathering in

Tijuana was a good reminder to me ofthe energy and enthusiasm of ouryounger Oblates. Both qualities are evi-dent in our mission in Tijuana whereOblates serve at 15 chapels with a totalpopulation in the area of 200,000! Ourpre-novitiate there has been a richsource of Oblate vocations. The clinicestablished by the Oblates serves thesick and provides eye and dental careas well to the poor for a minimal charge.

Dick Sudlik led our meetingand shared honestly and openly abouthis struggles and joys in Religious life.“We are grateful, therefore happy, notvice versa,” he reminded us. His rec-ommended reading in preparation forthe meeting was the book, “Availabil-ity” by Robert J. Wicks.

The Oblates ministering inTijuana at the parishes, the administra-tive team and I met with ArchbishopFrancis Moreno to begin some planningfor the future of where the Oblates willminister in Tijuana. (See OMI/USA Sep-tember 2017 p. 10)

Continued on page 4

Superiors’ meeting: l-r: Bro. Pat McGee, Frs. Bill Mason Lon Konold, RaulSalas, Rich Hall.

Continued from page 2

From the Provincial

Green, Charitable Gifts Advisor. BillyMorell, Jim Chambers, Nino Lajo,John Madigan, Art Flores and othersmaintain regular contact with these gen-erous folks who help make our minis-try possible. Many of our Oblate com-munities remember these good folks intheir prayers daily.

Provinicial team gathersJim Brobst, Jim Chambers and

Art Flores arrived in Washington withtheir suitcases in tow in early July. JimBrobst is Vicar Provincial for Missionand Ministry; Art Flores is Vicar Pro-vincial for Personnel and Jim Chambersis Treasurer. We meet as an adminis-trative team about every three weeksto take care of day to day provincebusiness, sending reports of these meet-ings to the entire Provincial Council.

Novitiate year beginsOur first commitment to the

vowed life might be the one that staysmost strongly in memory. Five novicestook this important step August 1st inGodfrey. Only one is from the U.S.Province, Alejandro Alvarado. Six morenovices begin the novitiate August 17th.Two Oblates are new to the staff: PatMcGee, Novice Director, and Frank

Frs. Billy Morell and Tom Singer congratulate newnovices Stephen Cheon and Wilbroad Kapembwa.

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Attending Belleville MinistriesIn August I spent some days in

Belleville at our various communitiesthere. I am always edified by the spirit,even enthusiasm, of our elder Oblates.Not only in Belleville but in San Anto-nio and Tewksbury as well, many ofthem continue to minister at parishes onweekends. They are an excellent ex-ample to us all. Thank you for your vi-tality and commitment to our way of life.

Meetings at the Missionary As-sociation, videotaping for Will Shaw,our Communications Director, andmeeting with Geri Furmanek, Directorof Oblate Associates, occupied sometime in a very enjoyable way.

Barbara Prosser invited thenew Oblate Administrative team to areception at the Apartment Communityin Belleville. It was great to see someold friends there and visit with the se-nior Oblates living there. Several Ob-lates told me about the great care theyreceive there.

Oblate Partners at 391Artie Pingolt, Director of the

Oblate Partnership, organized a meet-

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ing for the local Oblate Partners at 391on August 15th. Seamus Finn spoke tous about the evolving missionary pres-ence of the Oblates in the world sinceVatican II. The Partners are very gen-erous to the Oblates; they believe in ourcharism and in our ministry. They oftenask how they can continue to assist usin serving the poor.

JPIC SymposiumThe Justice, Peace and Integ-

rity of Creation (JPIC) offices ofLacombe Oblate Province, Canada,the JPIC Office of U.S. Province, andOblates’ St. Paul’s University spon-sored a symposium at St. Paul’s in Ot-tawa, Canada, on August 30th, 2017,on the theme, “the Cry of the Earth isthe Cry of the Poor.” (Cf. OMI/USA thisissue, p.13) A joyful celebration of theEucharist concluded our time together.

Jubilee in BellevilleSpeaking of joyful Eucharistic

celebrations, the celebration of anniver-saries of vows and ordinations at theShrine of Our Lady of the Snows inBelleville was, in the words of homilist,Lon Konold, “an opportunity to renewourselves in the vocation the Lord hasgiven to us.” George Knab presided at

Eucharist. George has been designateda Missionary of Mercy by the Holy Fa-ther. Congratulations, George!

Superiors conveneThe responsibilities of our

Oblate Superiors is being greatlyenhanced in the new administrativestructures of the province. All 22Superiors of the province gatheredfor a four-day meeting, September18-21. Our Oblate Superiors havean important role in the care of ouraging members.

Greg Cholewa, along withDottie and Mike McDermott, gave pre-sentations about dealing with memoryloss and helping to ensure proper carefor our senior Oblates. There was livelydiscussion about suggestions of howbest to animate our men, foster betterand more regular communication in ourlocal communities and in the provinceas a whole, and how to make thecharism of St. Eugene a deeper, moresignificant part of our lives as Religious.

Sr. Rose Schulte, OP, spoke tous about identifying some of our hopesand dreams for the province, taught ussome good listening skills and helpedus with conflict resolution and confron-tation.

Provincial Council gathersThe Provincial Council mem-

bers gathered in Washington Sundayevening, from Sept.25-28. David Uribeled the council in a process on Mon-day to help us get to know one anotherbetter, work more effectively together,as we learn more about one another’sgifts and talents.

The agenda of Council meet-ings will be sent to our Superiors a fewdays before each Council meeting sothey can update Oblates on topics tobe discussed. Any Oblate wishing to re-ceive the agenda contact Laura Glasgow(provsec@omiusa.org).

From the Provincial

Fr. Konold, Jubilee homilist; in pew: Frs. Studer, Jim Allen and Greg Cholewa

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Prior to entering the pre-novitiate, the pre-novice candidatesengaged in a retreat experience.Returning to Tijuana, they stopped forrefreshments at an ice cream parlor.Left-right: Emmanuel, Floriberto, Gabrieland Brandon.

Above, left: l-r: Pre-novices Bran-don Ontiveros, FloribertoGonzález, Frs. Webert Merilan,Jesse Esqueda, Julio Narváez,Marek Stroba, Bill Antone, andpre-novices: Emmanuel Garciaand Gabriel Silvestre.

pre-novitiate in 2013, graduating fromSt. Bonaventure U with a BA degree.Wilbroad Kapembwa is also fromZambia. After studies in a minor semi-nary in Kasama (Northern Zambia)he entered the pre-novitiate in 2013.Lázaro Ángel Lealm, 25, a Texanwith a BA from San Antonio’s OurLady of the Lake U entered the pre-novitiate Program in Buffalo, NY. He isdiscerning a call to Oblate life as aBrother.

Joey Methé,30, from Canada’sNotre-Dame-du-Cap province. Hecomes to the novitiate after ten years

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as a freelance graphic designer andworking with the pastoral team at theSanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap.Sarath Kumar Thangaprakasam,23, is from the state of Tamil Nadu inIndia. Entering seminary for the Ob-lates in 2012, completed my B.A. inphilosophy at De Mazenod Institute ofPhilosophy (affiliated with IndiraGandhi National Open University atPerambakkam in Chennai).

Former novice master Fr. TomHoran and Fr. Rudy Nowakowskimoved into new ministries at the end ofthe last novitiate year. Their places weretaken by Bro. Pat McGee and Fr.Frank Kuzcera. Fr. Jack Laucontinues with the formation team.

Six enter novitiate

Tijuana pre-novitiate welcomes four

Fifty family members, friends andbenefactors attended theoutdoor Mass on Sept. 9 at

which four pre-novices read theircommitment to follow the principles andnorms of the formation program andreceived a small cross.

Fr. Julio Narváez, OMI,presided and Fr. Jesse Esqueda,OMI, preached.

This year’s prenovices are:

Brandon Ontiveros Garcia, 22, hailsfrom Tijuana. He is in his third year as apre-novice.

Floriberto “Beto” GonzálezCastañeda, 31, is in his second yearof pre-novitiate. From the southernstate of Guerrero, he was introducedto the Oblates while in New York Cityby Frs. Daniel Lablanc and DanielNassaney.

Gabriel Silvestre Jiménez, 23,

begins his first year as a pre-novice.Originally from Guatemala, he is now aMexican citizen.

Emmanuel Garcia Bretado, 23, alsoin his first year as a pre-novice, is fromTijuana.

Brandon, Gabriel andEmmanuel met the Oblates through theministry of Fr. Esqueda.

As Frs Francisco Gomez,OMI, and Stephen Conserva, OMI,have moved to other assignments, Fr.William Antone, OMI, is now theDirector of the Tijuana pre-novitiate,with Fr. Marek Stroba, OMI, asassistant.

The Buffalo prenovitiateThe Buffalo prenovitiateThe Buffalo prenovitiateThe Buffalo prenovitiateThe Buffalo prenovitiatewelcomed seven prenovices:welcomed seven prenovices:welcomed seven prenovices:welcomed seven prenovices:welcomed seven prenovices:six for the US province andsix for the US province andsix for the US province andsix for the US province andsix for the US province and1 for Canada. 1 for Canada. 1 for Canada. 1 for Canada. 1 for Canada. Group photoGroup photoGroup photoGroup photoGroup photounavailable.unavailable.unavailable.unavailable.unavailable.

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Please remember in prayer

our recently departed

Fr. Matthias “Matt” Menger, OMI, 92, diedon Aug. 19, 2017 in San Antonio, TX.Cecilia Louis, 96, sister of the late Fr. JohnLouis, OMI, died on Aug. 29 in Milwaukee, WI.Fr. Michael Bradley, OMI, 91, died on Sept.15 in Herlev, Denmark.Evangelina Esqueda, 79, mother of Fr. JesseEsqueda, OMI, died on Sept. 24 in California.Fr. Anthony Dummer, OMI, 76, died on Oct. 3in Buffalo, MN.Raymond Lacasse, 83, died on Oct. 8 at IHMResidence, Tewksbury, MA.Fr. James N. Lantsberger, OMI, 89, died onOct. 9 in Belleville, IL.Fr. James MacGee, OMI, 86, died on October10 in Tewksbury, MA.

I’ve had the privilege of livingwith some really fine Oblates and somevery life-giving communities in my 32years of vowed life, and a couple morebefore that.

It began with Norm Volk and MarkDean in International Falls, MN. I spent

a year there one winter (!) for my pre-novitiate. During thatyear it looked to me like being an associate pastor in anOblate parish was a pretty good life, with the time and op-portunity to serve people well. I was in no rush to become a“pastor,” which ironically meant “more administration!” I’vebeen out of parish life for 20 years now, and have discov-ered another bit of irony – how important good administra-tion is to the good pastoral ministry. It’s important within thelocal ministry itself, but also as a support for those mission-aries served by the province and general administration.

These “bookend” experiences are insights into thewisdom of the 1992 Chapter Document “Witnessing as Ap-ostolic Community.” The fact of our common life is its ownwitness and ministry, in addition to being a support for thevarious ministerial tasks many of us do. When we live as anOblate community within a ministerial setting, and we getit right, people notice. Unfortunately, when we don’t getit right, they notice that too. Without healthy communitymissionaries suffer, and so do those whom we serve.

The most essential task for mission and ministry inthe U.S. Province today flows from the work of our prioradministration, from where I also had the privilege of servingthe Oblates in our Province. We put important and neces-sary work into the project called “Renewing our ProvinceMission” (RPM). That work is ongoing; it was not a one-time task. We continue to refine our ministerial commitmentsas a province. But there’s another element we need to payattention to as well. It was included in the RPM, but shouldcome to the conscious foreground as we continue adjustingministry commitments andplacements.

RPM also can stand for“Renewing our Province Mis-sionaries.” That means indi-viduals and communities. The work before us keeps grow-ing, and our numbers are not what we would like to have.Fortunately, the “who” of our Oblate resources are worthyof healthy pride and more than a little bragging.

I have witnessed such incredible generosity in themembers of our province and among those who support usin our work in so many ways. One of the great challenges we

face is learning how to be attentive and sensitive to each otherwhile strengthening our common unity as men who have in-herited the legacy of a fraternity worthy of our imitation.

Lifting up our mission can only be done well if wealso lift up our men. That means acknowledging eachother’s talents and abilities, and exercising leadership whichcalls us to a balance of work, community and leisure. Thatmeans learning to do this with each other within local com-munities and across distances by our communication. IfSt. Eugene could do this with his massive letter-writing minis-try over 100 years ago, we can certainly do this with and for

each other in the age of immediatecyber communication.

If you notice nothing else in thisletter, notice this – you and yourwork are appreciated. Our pres-

ence and our ministry are necessary in this world. Thankyou for being an Oblate whether you are novice, in firstformation, in early years of ministry, in your prime, a “RAM”or praying for us while bed-ridden. St Eugene has goodreason to be proud of us, and we have good reason to beproud of each other. -by Fr. Jim Brobst,OMI

...the ‘who’ of our Oblate resources areworthy of healthy pride and more than a

little bragging.

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King’s House, Belleville, IL heldits first Hispanic CouplesRetreat on the Sept. 1-3

weekend. Fr. Salvador (Chava)Gonzalez, OMI, led the presentingteam which had met weekly for severalmonths to prepare for the event.

48 couples from 3 differentlocal parishes joined others from as faraway as Tennessee and Kansas City forthe spiritual exercises.

“For three Floridian coupleswho were members of the presentingteam, this was a really welcome home-coming, as they had been members offormer Oblate parishes in the Miamiarea: St. Stephen’s and Santa Monica.They were so happy to know thatKing’s House was a ministry of theOblates,” said Fr. Chava.

“Couples come from far awaybecause couples’ retreats in Spanish arehard to find,” said Fr. Chava. “For manyHispanics, Spanish is their liturgicallanguage. Even those who have been

Kings House holds its1st Hispanic retreat

By Fr. Salvador Gonzalez, OMI

Fr. Jacques Nguyen returns to Vietnamby Fr. Gene Tremblay, OMI

Vietnamese Oblate Fr. Jacques Nguyen has been living with us at theAndre Garin Residence in Lowell, MA for the past year, improvinghis English language skills. Returning to Vietnam shortly, he will be

charged with translating all OMI documentation into Vietnamese and runningthe communications office there. Fr. Jacques has considerable computer skills and is adept at handlingPhotoshop programs. He generously helped us design banners commemorat-ing our Oblate martyrs - these will be displayed in the Shrine of St. Josephthe Worker on their respective feast days. One banner commemorates ourSpanish Oblate Martyrs (1936) and the other our Laotian Oblate Martyrs(1960-69).

Fr. Jacques attended the North American celebration of the Beatifi-cation of the Laotian Oblates that took place in Belleville, IL earlier this sum-mer and was happy to represent his fellow Vietnamese Oblates at that impor-tant event for the Church and all Oblates of Southeast Asia.

here for years and speak perfectEnglish, often prefer Spanish liturgiesbecause for them it is the language oftheir hearts.”

Fr. Chava went on to describesome differences in retreats for Hispaniccouples: “One big difference is that manyof these folks are recent arrivals, comingfrom many different countries withdifferent cultures. They feel isolated by

Fr. Chava (front, middle) with members of the presenting team.

Fr. Jacques with banners he designed.

language barriers and because they areseparated from family and friends backhome. So community for them isChurch. It’s the only place they feelsafe, welcome. Being around othercouples in the same circumstance canalmost be like group therapy. ”

This was the largest couplesretreat this year at King’s House. Twomore dates scheduled for 2018.

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To mark 60 years of ministry asan inner city spiritual oasis, StJoseph the Worker Shrine in

Lowell, MA launched an annualChristian Worker Recognition Award in2016.

Through his resolute action, St.Joseph demonstrated his faith, love and

Lowell’s St. Joseph the Worker makesChristian Worker Recognition Awards

acceptance of God’s will - under chal-lenging and even dangerous circum-stances. He took on immense respon-sibility humbly and without hesitation

Awardees are folks in thegreater-Lowell area who have demon-strated the Christian values of faith, hu-mility and outreach to the marginalized

in their personal livesas well as integrityand service in theworkplace. They areselected after a con-grega t ion-widenominating processfollowed by a dis-cernment renderedby the SelectionCommittee. Thetwo recipients of thisyear’s St. Josephthe Worker Awardwere Mr. KevinRoy and Mr. Frank

Stewart.Kevin Roy is a deputy sheriff

in Middlesex County – he is wellknown among his peers for treating alloffenders coming into the Sheriff’s Of-fice with a great deal of respect.

He has volunteered his carpen-try skills, single-handedly restoring andrefurbishing a series of outdoor enclo-sures housing the Fourteen Stations ofthe Cross that form part of a landmarkGrotto in the city.

Kevin counts his wife and 5young children as the center of his lifeand yet manages to enthusiasticallydedicate time and talent to church, workand community.

Frank Stewart, a MasterElectrician, is the owner of StewartElectric Company and is a parishio-ner at St. Michael’s in North Andover.He carries out his professional dutieswith a high degree of responsibility andunfailingly provides quality service .

Frank is very generous in ex-tending assistance to the Shrine – “in-kind” donations of time and materialsare most often the rule in his profes-sional dealings with us.

by Fr. Gene Tremblay, OMI

Left-r: Frank Stewart, Fr. Tremblay and Kevin Roy

Ten Oblates celebrated ordi-nation (O) and vow (V) an-niversaries at the Shrine of

Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville,IL on Sept. 13.Seated: l-r: Frs. Don Dietz (60-O),John Madigan (40-O); Standing: l-r:Frs. Tom Singer (65-V; 60-O),Sherman Wall (65-V; 60-O), UrbanFigge (65-V; 60-O), Thomas Ovalle(40-O), George Knab (50-O), ArtFlores (25-O), Joe Ferraioli (40-O),Lon Konold (40-O). (Unable to at-tend: Frs. James Lantsberger (65-V; 60-O), Archbishop RogerSchwietz (50-O), Frs. Patrick Casey(40-O), Gregory Gallagher (25-O).

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Approximately 600 people participated in a“Peaceful Protest Border Wall March/Rally”organized by Betty Perez of the Lower Rio

Grande Sierra Club.Beginning at the Oblates’ Our Lady of

Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission, TX, theMarch terminated at La Lomita Chapel. This chapel,dedicated to the Blessed Mother, “La Mission deMaria,” was constructed in the mid 19th century bythe first Oblate Missionaries who ministered both sidesof the Mexican/American Border. It served as a stopover for the missionaries in their travels on horsebackbetween Brownsville and Roma, Texas. The city ofMission took the name “Mission” from the Oblatechapel. Recently the city has adopted the chapelgrounds as a local Monument and a city park.

Some of the participants walked the four milesto the chapel, others traveled in their automobiles,bicycles, golf carts or motorcycles

Fr. Roy Snipes, OMI, pastor of Guadalupeparish, accompanied by former Oblate LouisDeAnda, led the march in his 1982 Ford Escortwith an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe mountedon the roof of the car and a processional Oblate crosstied to the front bumper. (Of course, Bendito, Newlyand Charlotte, three of Fr. Roy’s dogs, rode in thecar.)

Fr. Roy began the rally with a prayer,inviting everyone to join him in thanking ourHeavenly Father for all His blessings and askingour Lord Jesus for strength, understanding andperseverance in facing the present threat of the

border wall. A mariachi group from San Luis Potosi, Mexicoentertained the crowd.

Expressingthe viewpoint of thegroups theyrepresented, otherspeakers included:Rep. VicenteGonzales of the USHouse ofRepresentatives;Martha Sanchezfrom La Union delPueblo Entero; JuanM a n c i a srepresenting theNative AmericanTexas Tribe “Carrizo

C o m e c r u d o ; ”Scott Nicol of theLower Rio GrandeValley Sierra Club; Imam Ahmad, Masjid Mosque in McAllen;Efren Olivares, attorney for Texas Civil Rights Project; andMariana Trevino Wright of the National Butterfly Center.

Fr. Roy summed up the group feeling: “It’s a great day inthe neighborhood!”

A second rally sponsored by the Lower Rio GrandeValley Sierra Club was held the following day close toBrownsville, TX, 85 miles east of Mission, where a proposedborder wall would threaten an animal wild life reserve.

Fr. Snipes begins the rally with a prayer of thanksgiving.

Marchers protest buldingdivisive border wall

-Story by Louis DeAnda; photos from Albert Solis.

OMI-USA - 10

The Justice, Peace and Integrityof Creation (JPIC) offices ofLacombe Oblate Province,

Canada, of U.S. Province, and St.Paul’s University sponsored a sympo-sium at St. Paul’s in Ottawa, Canada,on August 30, 2017, on the theme, TheCry of the Earth is the Cry of the Poor.”

The Symposium’s goal was toheighten awareness of the intercon-nectedness between care for the earthand concern for all of life, especiallythe poor in our midst. Chiefplanners for the day were Bro.Len Rego, OMI, Director ofJPIC–Lacombe and Fr. Anto-nio Ponce, OMI, Director ofJPIC–USA. Over 50 Oblates,Oblate Associates, professors,students, interested partiesfrom both Canada and the U.S.attended the one day event.Another 80 folks followed theproceedings on-line.

Mme. Chantal Beau-vais, Rector of St. Paul’s Ob-late University, welcomed everyone.Her brief introduction to the day includ-ed the plea for schools, especially col-leges and universities, to be placeswhere theory, speculation, analysis in-clude praxis in discovering ways to carefor the earth and the poor.

Fr. Gilberto Piñon, Ob-late missionary in Bolivia, joinedthe conference by Skype. He chal-lenged each Oblate community ofthe congregation to discover whothe poor are in our midst and thenuse some practical steps in accom-panying them. Oblates must givewitness to an Oblate spirituality andtheology of mission. That will form thebasis, be the underpinning, for our carefor the earth, for one another.

Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI,Consultant to JPIC and Advisor forCorporate Faith Based Investing, out-lined the Biblical tradition of who isidentified as the poor and spoke aboutwho are the “new poor” in our world.He reminded us of some more recent

strategies and plans in help-ing the poor: “halving thenumber of those below thepoverty line by 2020; theParis ecology summit; neworganizations founded forhelping the poor.

Sr. Linda Gibler,O.P., Professor at OblateSchool of Theology, San

Antonio, summarized how the papalencyclical “Laudato Si” emphasizes theunity of all of creation. “The earth is a

shared inheritance, given to all of cre-ation, by God,” she said.Mr. Joe Gunn, Executive Directorof Citizens for Public Justice, gavesome practical steps for the partici-pants to employ in caring for the earth,caring for each other. “Laudato Si,”he said, “is not so much new newsas it is good news. It is a new op-portunity for us to renew our care forone another, for all of creation, evenfor ourselves.”

Fr. Ken Forster, OMI, Pro-vincial of Lacombe Province, and I

gave a brief summary of the mainthoughts of the day and spoke abouthow the suggestions offered might bemore fully integrated into each of ourOblate communities in the Canada –U.S. region.

The 36th Oblate GeneralChapter spoke often about an “inten-tional interculturality, i.e., the conscious,deliberate integration of those from oth-er cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, asfully participating members in our Ob-late communities and ministries. Ourmandate to Oblates and to those whoshare our Oblate charism, from theChapter, is clear. Making the mandatepart of our lives is the challenge nowbefore us.

Fernanda de Castro, Secretary to JPIC-Lacombe, Dr. Chantal Beauvais, and Bro.Len Rego, OMI.

L-r: Provincials Ken Forster and Lou Studerwith Vicars Ken Thorson and Jim Bleackley.

Ms. Erin Ryan, Oblate Associate and Sympo-sium Panelist, Fr. Ken Forster, OMI, Provincialof Lacombe Province, and Fr. Jim Bleackley,OMI, Lacombe Vicar Provincial

Canada, U.S. JPIC offices join St. Paul Uin sponsoring a Laudato Si Symposium

By Fr. Lou Studer, OMI

NOVEMBER -2017 -11

Each year, Oblate scholastics frominternational houses of formation

from Rome, Poland, Italy and US gatherfor a summer experience in the birthplace of the Missionary Oblates: Aix-en-Provence in France.

The Aix experience forscholastics allows them to see, feel andto be touched by our Oblate origins,particularly the life of St. Eugene deMazenod and his first companions. Theexperience invites the scholastics to letSt. Eugene speak to them in all theevents and encounters.

The assistant general forformation, In a homily during Mass, Fr.Cornelius Ngoka, OMI, the assistantgeneral for formation, invited thescholastics to carry the Oblate heritageover to the next generation. Thatheritage can be lived by charity, zeal forsouls, community and mission.

In my opinion, this invitation

That’s Sch. Bro. Felix Nyambe in the 2nd row, sporting a Texas T-shirt.

Oblate Scholastics engage inAIX-en-Provence experience

by Sch. Bro. Felix Bwalye Nyambe

can be extended to all Oblates,especially as we celebrate The year ofOblate vocations.

Led by the Holy Spirit andwhile responding to the signs of time,“The Church is counting on us to

respond to the needs of the poor today,and to ‘write new pages’ in the historyof evangelization”. (Letter of Fr. LouisLougen, OMI, for “The year ofOblate vocations”.) Every Oblateshould live and share the OMI heritage.

Left: Looking south toward Belleville: the Missionary Association of MaryImmaculate building is in the background.Bottom, L:, Looking north toward St. Louis: the exterior of the Hofbraurestaurant is complete. That’s the Minds Eye radio tower in the middle back.Bottom, R: View of restaurant with the brewing tanks affixed.

Work on the Hofbrau restaurant on the grounds opposite the Shrineof Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL is expected to be finished

by Nov. 15, 2017.

OMI-USA - 12

The inaugural Christian Invest-ment Summit took place at theBilly Graham Training Center

just outside of Ashville NC August 16– 18. The event brought together in-vestment and financial thought-leadersto learn more about Biblically Respon-sible Investing.

The event was steeped in theevangelical tradition that drew from theJewish and Christian scriptures, thepreached word and many rich hymnsand songs of praise. These morning andevening services wrestled with themeslike “Marketplace Faith” and the howthe value system of Jesus Christ mightinform the principles and the decision-making processes that guide both theadvisory services and transactions thatinvestment practitioners offer to theirclients each day.

I was invited to talk about myexperience in the larger field of faithbased and socially responsible invest-ing and to participate in the conversa-tions and exchanges that were an im-portant part of the way the summit un-folded.

The stories and experiences ofsome 30 speakers and participantswere both profoundly personal whenthey spoke about personal conversionsand about the challenges faced whenany biblical principles and priority val-ues were broached in the more con-ventional investing environment andfirms where they worked.

My morning meditation fo-cused on the elements that are found inthe prophetic and wisdom traditionsand that are available to us each day.These elements may call us to denouncea certain type of behaviors or products

Finn speaks on BiblicalResponsible Investing

by Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI

and announce those products and ser-vices that we find to be constructive.The wisdom tradition calls us to be in-clusive of future generations in ourjudgments and to care for the earth inall its beauty and bounty in our discern-ment and decisions.

At another session, I exploredthe common approach that believers

Recently, Fr. Finnparticipated in thevisit of the

Community of InterestAdvisory Panel from theMining Association of Canadato the Raglan mine region inNunavik in northern Quebec.

The weather did notcooperate with scheduledtravel to visit the Kangiqsujuaqso a visit to the Kangiqsujuaqis still being consideredweather permitting (plenty ofwind, rain, and chillytemperatures in the area.) Theformer was replaced by aroad trip to Deception Bayand smaller groupconversations with workers atthat shipping site.

The map below details the areaincluding the surrounding localcommunities, the land area and the

coming from different faith traditions fol-low as they seek to align the manage-ment of their assets with their beliefs. Acommitment to responsible ownership ofshares in a company or investments indifferent funds must include a commit-ment to “engagement” with the repre-sentatives of those companies or fundsabout the policies, practices and issuesthat need to be improved.

surrounding waterways, bays and inlets,including “Deception Bay”.

Oblates from Notre Dame duCap province served in the region ofthe mine and the Oblate Lacombeprovince maintains a missionarypresence in the Nunavut territory, westof Hudson Bay and in the Churchilldiocese.

The Oblate presence in thearea is rich and historic and detailedin different OMI archives andpublications and recently in thebiography of Fr. Jules Dion,OMI,“Fifty Years Below Zero.” Fr.Dion is living at the OblateRichelieu residence in Quebec.

Fr. Jules Dion, OMI, receives the gold medalfor exceptional merit from the Lt. -gover-nor of Québec, J. Michel Doyon.

NOVEMBER -2017 -13

Haitian Oblate Fr. Jean Francois, who presided and preached at the closingliturgy, is joined by, from left, Charlie Rotunno (Raskob), Fr. Joe Corriveau,OMI, Fr. Mazile, OMI and Artie Pingolt.

The Missionary OblatePartnership, through MissionProject Service (MPS), its new

joint ministry with the Oblate School ofTheology, delivered a three day work-shop in Port au Prince October 6-8.

The workshop was convenedby the Haitian Religious Conference,while the Haitian Oblate provincial. Fr.Loudeger Mazile, served as the offi-cial host for the weekend.

In addition to Fr. Loudegerand three other local Oblates, nearly50 religious as well as representatives

Partnership deliversgrantwriting workshop

by Artie Pingolt

from the Haitian Bishops Conferenceattended. Partnership President ArtiePingolt delivered the workshop, to-gether with Fr. Bill Johnson, SJ andMr. Charlie Rotunno, from the RaskobCatholic Foundation in the US.

Sessions on congregationalsustainability, project cycle manage-

One of the six Workshop Presenters on staff, Fr. Bill Johnson, SJ a Jesuitpriest from Milwaukee (front)

ment, grant research and drafting ofan application request and full proposaldocument were part of theweekend.

The Latin America Commit-tee of the USCCB underwrote theevent, held at the Haitian ReligiousConference headquarters.

“Some branches ofresearch, in fact, utilize

human embryos,inevitably causing theirdestruction. ...“But we

know that no ends,even noble in

themselves, such as apredicted utility forscience, for other

human beings or forsociety, can justify thedestruction of human

embryos.” -Pope Francis, May 18, 2017

OMI-USA - 14

Fall Meetings held in MN, MA

The Province Fall Gatherings took place in Belleville,IL, Sept. 13-15 at King’s House; Buffalo, MN, Oct. 2-4 atChrist the King Retreat Center; Tewksbury, MA, Oct. 10-

11 at IHM Residence; San Antonio, TX, Oct. 16-18 at the OblateRenewal Center; and San Fernando, CA, Oct. 24-26 at Poverelo ofAssisi Retreat House.

Besides a Plenary open discussion session, othersessions focused on Mission and Ministry and the Roleof the Superior; two sessions led by Fr. Greg Cholewa,OMI, on province healthcare; finances; and a dialogue withthe provincial council. (Photos are from two meetings thattook place before OMIUSA went to press.) Above, in Tewksbury, l-r: Frs. Jim Chambers, Dwight

Hoeberechts, and Don LozierBelow, in Buffalo, l-r: Fr. Jim Deegan, Bro. Dan Bozek,Frs. Paul Nourie, Joe Hitpas and Dan Nassaney

Below, in Tewksbury, l-r: Frs. Paul Noruie, Charlie Beausoleil, GregCholewa, Bill O’Donnell, Greg Gallagher

Above, in Buffalo, Frs. John Cox andGreg Cholewa

NOVEMBER -2017 -15

Early this year, the first plank waslaid in a construction project ina mountainous region of Haiti to

rebuild a Catholic church destroyed inan earthquake in 2010. Attending thegroundbreaking included an engineerwho had organized the project.

Fr. Real “Joe” Corriveau,OMI, a Winthrop, ME native who firstmoved to the Caribbean nation in the1960s, founded the parish, St. Anthonyof Padua, in the town of Fond Oies.

When they heard of the disas-ter, several of Fr. Corriveau’s child-hood friends in Winthrop began afundraising campaign for the roughly$250,000 construction project. Theyhave so far raised $180,000, which wasenough to begin construction on theconcrete building, which is 80 feet longand 40 feet wide. -Story by Charles Eichackeroriginally published by the Kennebec Journal

Fr. Corriveau, (C), with Raymond Fleury, (L), and Lou Carrier, (R) who wereamong those friends whose fundraising enabled the rebuilding ofSt.Anthony Church. - Staff photo by Charles Eichacker.

The Oblate Vocation teamsponsored a “Come and See”weekend Oct. 6-8 at the Oblate

pre-novitiate in Buffalo, NY. Ten youngmen ranging in age from 18 to 37 camefrom California, Oregon, Texas,Louisiana, and Illinois to meet the Oblatesand look at the possibility of religious lifethrough the eyes of a peer group of youngmen already in formation as pre-novices.

Frs. Richard Hall, HaroldFisher and Tuan Pham accompaniedthe discerners. Director of the pre-novitiate, Fr. Alex Roqué, OMI, madethe weekend’s presentations. The pre-novices hosted a “Getting to know you”session, wherein the discerners sharedtheir stories with the Pre-novices who thendid the same. The pre-novices themselvesset the schedule and designed theweekend.

The next “Come and See” willbe held the weekend of January 12, 13,14, 2018 in San Antonio, where theOblate Scholastics will be involved.

Fr. Hall and San Antonio OfficeManager Irma Noyola (r) meet someof the Texas group at the airport.

How can one come to Buffalo, NYwithout visiting Niagra Falls?

OMI-USA - 16

End

Runs

OMI - USA

MOVING? WANT TO CONTINUE RE-CEIVING OMIUSA? PLEASE SEND USYOUR NEW ADDRESS! Or, if you do notwant to continue receiving it (whether youmove or not), please let us know so we arenot sending unwanted copies. Thank you.

Newsletter of the U.S. Province of theMissionary Oblates of Mary Immacu-late.-391 Michigan Ave., NE Washing-ton, DC 20017-1516President and Publisher: Very Rev.Louis Studer, OMIEditor: Fr. Charles Hurkes, OMIDirect all submissions, inquiries andcomments to Charles Hurkes, OMI at

the above address or Fax (202) 529-4572; Tel: (202) 529-4505 e-mail:chasomi@omiusa.orgPublished six times a year for Oblate per-sonnel and their friends and supporters;distributed from the U.S. Provincial Of-fices in Washington, DC.

Remember to check out the province’s websiteRemember to check out the province’s websiteRemember to check out the province’s websiteRemember to check out the province’s websiteRemember to check out the province’s websitefor more information and links to other Oblatefor more information and links to other Oblatefor more information and links to other Oblatefor more information and links to other Oblatefor more information and links to other Oblate

news items.: www.omiusa.orgnews items.: www.omiusa.orgnews items.: www.omiusa.orgnews items.: www.omiusa.orgnews items.: www.omiusa.org

Fr. Scott Hill, OMI, recently partici-pated at one of several Bay Area dem-

onstrations resisting the growing wave ofhate, bigotry, and xenophobia as well asmanifesting solidarity with theCharlottesville resistance movement.

Insane for the Light: Spirituality for our Wisdom Years: 5thAnnual International Retreat with Fr.. Ron Rolheiser, OMI. Feb.25-March 1 2018 at Oblate School of Theology. Today, thanksto better health practices and contemporary medicine most of us candelay much longer both the debilitations of aging and the onset ofdeath, but that leaves us with the question: How should we live outthese latter years? Is there a second generativity beyond that of ouryoung and middle years? We are in dire need of spirituality for bothour latter years and for how we should ideally face our own death.Drawing upon literature, psychology, the arts, scripture, theology,and spirituality, this retreat will try to begin some formulations to-wards A Spirituality for our Wisdom Years.√√√√√ Fr. Antonio Ponce, OMI (photo below, far l) joined the

Franciscan Action Network (FAN) and other groups at a vigil in front of theWhite House aimed at bringing together immigrants, their families, friends, andsupporters to fight for youth and their futures, with supporters rotating shifts daily.

And whatever you do,And whatever you do,And whatever you do,And whatever you do,And whatever you do,whether in word orwhether in word orwhether in word orwhether in word orwhether in word ordeed, do it all in thedeed, do it all in thedeed, do it all in thedeed, do it all in thedeed, do it all in the

name of the Lordname of the Lordname of the Lordname of the Lordname of the LordJesus, giving thanks toJesus, giving thanks toJesus, giving thanks toJesus, giving thanks toJesus, giving thanks to

God the FatherGod the FatherGod the FatherGod the FatherGod the Fatherthrough him.through him.through him.through him.through him.

Col. 3:17Col. 3:17Col. 3:17Col. 3:17Col. 3:17√√√√√ Check out the October 2017, volume 9 of Ecumenical Trends for aninteresting article by Fr. Harry E. Winter, OMI: A Commentary on the Statement“Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World.” OMI/USA ran an article by Fr.Winter re-ferring to the Statement in the July 22017 issue on page 7.