Latest OMI JPIC News
Frs. Daniel LeBlanc, OMI & Valentine Talang, OMI Attend UN FFD Preparatory Meeting December 9th, 2024
Introducing a Champion Tree at the Missionary Oblates Novitiate November 26th, 2024
- Visit the National Register of Champion Trees to find one in your area: https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/
Church Leaders, Financial Experts Meet to Discuss Ways to Make Investments More Ethical & Effective November 12th, 2024
(Pictured L to R) Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James: Alan Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner; Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Academy of the Social Sciences; Cardinal Reinhold Marx, President of the Vatican Council for the Economy, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster; (Back row) Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, President of the Institute of the Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican Bank; Sr Helen Alford, OP, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences; Bishop David Urquhart, Advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury; Rev. Séamus P. Finn OMI, Chief Faith Consistent Investment, OIP Trust
READ FULL Religious Media Center article: https://bit.ly/3CwXrRP
Reflection on October’s Field Trip with OMI Novices November 8th, 2024
Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
Novices Alfred, Michael, Eliakim and Edwin (L to R) are pictured here in Great Rivers Park by a monument
honoring Godfrey, IL’s first mayor.
Carved into stone is a Native American quote, “The Circle of Life teaches we are all the children of the Earth. May we leave the Earth a better place than what was left for us.”
This quote reflects the mayor’s life as well as the life and service of the man we were to meet next.
This park is adjacent to the Great Rivers Land Trust, the destination for our trip, as we set out to explore ecological conversion from exploitation of land to “responsible stewardship” (Laudato Si, 116) Alley Ringhausen, who has been Executive Director of GRLT for 25 years, is a living example of a responsible steward. Under his leadership, five thousand acres along the Mississippi River bluff corridor has been preserved in perpetuity, protecting a thriving ecological habitat of oak and hickory forests and unique hill prairies. Home to migratory birds like the American bald eagle and the white pelican, those acres are an invaluable asset for wildlife. Were it not for the GRLT the hill prairies and forests might only be a memory, and several threatened and endangered species, along with many others, would have lost their habitat.
Ringhausen regaled us with stories of his cunning acquisition of land which often took many years to accomplish. Reflecting on his presentation, the novices wisely noted that patience, foresight and deep commitment are hallmarks of responsible stewardship.
Finally, we returned to the Novitiate, which is a beneficiary of Ringhausen’s efforts, as more than 150 acres of there are preserved. Once again, we are grateful to OMI for longtime efforts to care for our common home.
Video: Fr. Charles Rensburg, OMI & Fr. Daniel LeBlanc, OMI On Advocacy Efforts with the UN & the Importance of Partnerships November 7th, 2024
As part of his recent visit to New York City, OMI Treasurer-General Fr. Charles Rensburg attended NGO meetings with Fr. Daniel LeBlanc (Oblate Representative to the UN).
They later sat down to discuss Fr. Daniel’s advocacy efforts with the United Nations and the importance of partnering with faith-based and civil society groups.
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Watch the entire video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SuTq2nh21IU
