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Oblate JPIC Director facilitates Parish leadership retreat in California February 3rd, 2016
On January 30, JPIC director Fr. Antonio Ponce, OMI, directed a parish group’s leadership retreat at Santa Rosa Catholic Church in San Fernando, CA. More than 200 group leaders were in attendance. The theme of the retreat was “Mercy and Justice”, merciful, like the Father is merciful. Thanks to the local pastors and parishioners for their hospitality and openness to host this event. This is part of an ongoing JPIC office initiative to conduct outreach and animation at Oblate parishes.
200th Anniversary Message From U.S. Provincial, Fr. William Antone, OMI January 27th, 2016
January 25, 2016 The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle
200th Anniversary of the founding of the
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Dear Brother Oblates and Friends,
We celebrate with gratitude our 200th Anniversary and we look forward with hope and deep faith to a new century as a Congregation at the service of the poor.
Read the full letter here.
Homily of the Superior General Fr. Louis Lougen, OMI, on the Occasion of the 200th Anniversary January 27th, 2016
Homily of the Superior General Fr. Louis Lougen, OMI, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate
– Aix-en-Provence – January 25, 2016
With a sense of reverence and affection for the Missionaries of Provence, our first fathers, we commemorate our beginnings exactly two hundred years ago in this very place. We stand on the shoulders of these men: Fathers De Mazenod, Deblieu, Tempier, Mie and Icard who left their homes and gathered here, to form a community for the work of the missions. Read the full Homily.
“Oblate hearts are stirred whenever we recall how the community began on this date in 1816 in makeshift quarters and with a certain poverty that did not discourage these first missionaries, but even evoked good humor and happiness.” – Superior General Fr. Louis Lougen, January 25, 2016
De Mazenod Conference – January 22-24, 2016, San Antonio, TX January 21st, 2016
Cardinal Timothy Dolan on 43rd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade January 21st, 2016
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York issued a statement for the 43rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision asking us to recommit ourselves to a vision of life and love and to unite in prayer and action for the protection of life at every state and in every circumstance. He opens his statement by recognizing the tragic irony that every year in December we celebrate “the birth of the baby Jesus, fruit of Mary’s humble ‘yes’ to God’s gift of new life…and then we turn, as we must each year, to recall a legal decision that said ‘no’ to new life and has deprived a whole class of people – pre-born babies – of their right to life.”
Cardinal Dolan invites us to ask where we are 43 years after Roe v. Wade and where we need to go – how best to present our pro-life vision to others. He notes that many Americans “who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as ‘pro-life’. [Therefore] let us never be distracted by the false charge that this life-affirming cause is merely a political or partisan issue. It is an essential moral vision that lifts up every human person…May God bless our efforts to uphold human life!”
How to get involved:
1) Read the full text of Cardinal Dolan’s message.
2) Prayer. A 14 – hour prayer vigil begins Thursday at 5:30. A full schedule of Washington events can be found here. For those who are unable to attend in-person, join us by praying in your own communities.
3) Action. Many cities around the country will be holding pro-life rallies on Friday. Attend one close to you and encourage others to do the same.
The Roman Missal designates January 22nd as a particular day of prayer and penance. Consider using these resources in your local parishes.
