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2023 OMI JPIC Year in Review February 8th, 2024
In this video we are recap some of our activities in 2023, as we look forward to exciting opportunities in 2024. We express gratitude for the collective efforts that brought us together in 2023, making a positive impact on our world. Let’s carry this spirit into this new year.
Mystical Body Holding All February 5th, 2024
By Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
Who doesn’t love a foggy day when Earth is wrapped in mystery? In late January a dense fog unfolded during the night and filled sinkholes, ravines, woods, meadows and gardens, creating mystical views. The synchronicity of this fog with a reflection I had been pondering was a delightful surprise.
In her article “Mission: An EverEvolving Vortex of Love”, Sister Mary Ellen Higgins, IHM, deepened my appreciation of the Mystical Body, so I was primed to experience it in a broadened sense. My walk at La Vista that day became a mystical hike in the mystical body of Earth.
I was moved by her words, “Once we come to experience that vast spacious field of Love that is always available to us and for us within Holy Mystery, we come to realize our small yet unique place within the immense Mystical Body that holds All”. Her concluding thoughts are so motivating, “This lifelong mission echoes across the arc of our lives. It is an everevolving process of becoming a full participant in the living, loving, Mystical Body which encompasses all of creation.”
Gratefully the fog lasted for several days, allowing ample time to relish it as well as my place in the Holy Mystery that is the Mystical Body holding all.
Sister Mary Ellen’s reflection was published in:
The Occasional Papers, a journal of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
Celebrating 208 Years of Community! January 26th, 2024
By Jorge ALBERGATI, OMI, General Councilor for Latin America
Originally Published on OMIWORLD.ORG
Click here to see the article en Español
Greetings from the Central Government as we commemorate the 208 years of the First Community of the Congregation.
On January 25, 1816, the day the Church celebrates the conversion of Saint Paul, marks the beginning of our missionary family in Aix. As our history narrates, Eugene de Mazenod and his small group of missionaries officially move into the old Carmel Convent of Aix and experience community life. From day one, they strove to practice religious and communal life virtues within their small group, engaging in mission preaching and working with the youth.
For our missionary family, it has been 208 years of faithfulness to this received gift, walking with the people, serving the poor and most abandoned, especially the youth. The approach chosen by Eugene de Mazenod and his first companions in the mission was to work together as a community.
Recently, the central government and members of the Aix Community gathered at the General House in Rome. It was a profound encounter to share our lives, vocation stories, community life, and current mission. It was a moment to live the essentials, to unite in our following of Jesus, and to view our personal history through the eyes of the Crucified Savior, reviving the spirit of the first Oblate community. As Pope Francis stated, “Being a neighbor is an everyday task because selfishness pulls you down, being a neighbor is going out.’” (PEC Discourse by Pope Francis)
READ FULL ARTICLE ON OMIWORLD’S WEBSITE: https://www.omiusa.org/index.php/2024/01/24/celebrating-208-years-of-community/
Sunflower Trivia January 26th, 2024
Oblate Ecological Efforts Praised by Illinois Nature Preserves Commission January 18th, 2024
Thanks to Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI and Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Ctr.
EDITOR‘S NOTE: Fr Séamus Finn, Director of OMIUSA JPIC and OIP, shared an email from Ms. Debbie Newman of the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources praising the Oblate efforts in forest preservation around Godfrey, IL and the work of noted cave explorer and mapper, Fr. Paul Wightman, OMI. Fr. Finn’s enthusiastic introduction is just below, followed by Ms Newman’s email with links to various publications from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.
Originally published at OMIUSA.ORG
Thanks to Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI and Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Ctr.
EDITOR‘S NOTE: Fr Séamus Finn, Director of OMIUSA JPIC and OIP, shared an email from Ms. Debbie Newman, a Natural Areas Preservation Specialist with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, praising the Oblate efforts in forest preservation around Godfrey, IL and the work of noted cave explorer and mapper, Fr. Paul Wightman, OMI. Fr. Finn’s enthusiastic introduction is just below, followed by Ms Newman’s email with links to various publications from the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
Thanks to Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI and Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Ctr.
EDITOR‘S NOTE: Fr Séamus Finn, Director of OMIUSA JPIC and OIP, shared an email from Ms. Debbie Newman of the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources praising the Oblate efforts in forest preservation around Godfrey, IL and the work of noted cave explorer and mapper, Fr. Paul Wightman, OMI. Fr. Finn’s enthusiastic introduction is just below, followed by Ms Newman’s email with links to various publications from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.
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From Fr. Séamus P. Finn, OMI:
“What a terrific story that OMI USP through our property in Godfrey has been a part of for nearly 30 years. This story that needs to be told, replicated and celebrated.
Brings to mind the talk that Pope Francis delivered on Thursday to a group of visiting priests this week.
Pope to secular missionary priests: ‘Be in the world, for the world “
… Pope Francis began by underlining “the value of secularity in the life and ministry of priests.” “Secularity (secolarità),” he stressed, “is not synonymous with secularism (laicità)…
Secularity, he said, is rather “a dimension of the Church,” having to do with its mission to “serve and bear witness to the Kingdom of God in this world.‘
Special thanks to Sr Maxine Pohlman SSND who keeps this relationship alive for all of us.
The email clearly lays out the value of the Missionary Oblates Woods Nature Preserve in the big picture and the work we do there. It brings to mind the foresight and guiding hand of (the late) Fr. Bob Moosbrugger, OMI, who was integral to this project in the beginning. Enjoy! “
- Fr. Séamus P. Finn, OMI, Director, OMIUSA JPIC, OIP
Read the full article @OMIUSA.ORG
From Ms. Debbie S. Newman
Greetings Landowners, Partners and Volunteers!
Happy New Year to each and every one of you! I hope you had a good holiday season. I hope 2024 will be a great year for you.
Working with volunteers in the preserve are: Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, (far right) and next to her is Natural Area Preservation Specialist, for the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, and author of the email below, Debbie S, Newman.
Read the full article @OMIUSA.ORG