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2017 National Vocation Awareness Week October 30th, 2017
National Vocation Awareness Week, November 5 – 11, 2017 is the annual event for the U.S Catholic Church to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.
Catholics through prayer and education are invited to support those who are considering vocations.
Visit this page for information on becoming a Missionary Oblate.
Watch this video about Oblate Mission.
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, Speaks at Georgetown University — Berkley Center October 23rd, 2017
Fr. Séamus Finn, in his role as ICCR Board Chair, recently spoke on Faith, Money, and Promoting Inclusive Development at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Joining him on the panel was Dr. Jo-Marie Griesgraber of New Rules for Global Finance, based in Washington, DC.
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) has a long history of leading and challenging notions of ethics and accountability in the financial system through robust engagement with private institutions and corporations. Founded with the mission of building a more just and sustainable world by integrating social values into corporate and investor actions, the ICCR is often faced with navigating complex and controversial issues, ranging from banking, to mining, to labor practices.
At this event, Fr. Séamus and Dr. Griesgraber explored the current challenges of inclusive and economically sustainable global development within a fragile and constrained ecosystem. They discussed how people of faith are contributing to these debates—both through the alignment of their investments with principles of their faith and by using their voice for advocacy in the public square. Dr. Griesgraber presented on the role of governments and global financial institutions and Fr. Seamus covered the role of the private sector.
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI is also Chief of Faith Consistent Investment for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate’s OIP Investment Trust. OIP manages the long term financial assets of the Oblate Congregation and serves over 200 Roman Catholic related entities.
The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of religion, ethics, and public life. Through research, teaching, and service, the center explores global challenges of democracy and human rights; economic and social development; international diplomacy; and interreligious understanding. Two premises guide the center’s work: that a deep examination of faith and values is critical to address these challenges, and that the open engagement of religious and cultural traditions with one another can promote peace. The Center was created in 2006.
October is Respect Life Month October 17th, 2017
October is Respect Life Month and is a time for us to renew our commitment to protecting those most vulnerable in our midst. There are many ways we can get involved in our parishes, and our own prayer lives.
Education
In a recent statement, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, President of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life activities, reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to protecting human life at all stages. You can read Cardinal Dolan’s entire statement here.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has prepared a number of excellent resources to share with members of our parish communities. Many of these are available to print for free.
Advocacy
The Missionary Oblates JPIC continues to advocate for passage of the Conscience Protection Act of 2017. Join us in urging your rep
resentatives to pass this important piece of legislation.
Prayer
Above all, let us remember to pray for an end to abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, war, and all violations of human life.
“Only with prayer – prayer that storms the heavens for justice and mercy, prayer that cleanses our hearts and souls – will the culture of death that surrounds us today be replaced with a culture of life.”
-Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Catholic Bishops
Mission Sunday 2017 – Catholic Diocese of Livingstone, Zambia October 16th, 2017
Mission Sunday is October 22, 2017. Organized by Propagation of the Faith, Catholics worldwide celebrate and reflect on their baptismal call of the gift of faith and re-commit to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and generosity in support of various young mission dioceses around the world.
Bishop Valentine Kalumba, OMI, was consecrated Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of
Livingstone, Zambia in September 2016. As part of the celebration to mark Mission Sunday 2017, Bishop Valentine Kalumba, OMI, shares about challenges, growing pastoral needs and opportunities for mission work in the diocese.
The Cry of the Earth is the Cry of the Poor October 6th, 2017
By Fr. Louis Studer, OMI
Fr. Louis Studer, OMI, U.S.Provincial
The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) offices of Lacombe Oblate Province, Canada, the JPIC Office of U.S. Province, and St. Paul’s Oblates’ University sponsored a symposium at St. Paul’s in Ottawa, Canada, on August 30th, 2017, on the theme, “the Cry of the Earth is the Cry of the Poor.”
The Symposium’s goal was to heighten awareness of the interconnectedness between care for the earth and concern for all of life, especially the poor in our midst. Chief planners for the day were Br. Len Rego, OMI, Director of JPIC – OMI Lacombe Canada and Fr. Antonio Ponce, OMI, Director of JPIC – USA. Over 50 Oblates, Oblate Associates, professors, students, interested parties from both Canada and the U.S. attended the one day event. Another 80 folks followed the proceedings on-line.
Mme. Chantal Beauvais, Rector of St. Paul’s Oblate University, welcomed everyone and her brief introduction to the day included the plea for schools, especially colleges and universities to be places where theory, speculation, analysis must happen in discovering ways to care for the earth and the poor but practical applications of these theories must follow as well. Involvement cannot be only textbook analysis but must include praxis at the university level.
Fr. Gilberto Pinon, Oblate missionary in Bolivia, joined the conference by Skype. He challenged each Oblate community of the congregation to discover who the poor are in our midst and then use some practical steps in accompanying them. Oblates must give witness to an Oblate spirituality and theology of mission. That will form the basis, be the underpinning, for our care for the earth, for one another. Watch a video of Fr. Gilberto’s presentation.
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI, Consultant to JPIC and Advisor for Corporate Faith Based Investing, outlined the Biblical tradition of who is identified as the poor and spoke about who are the “new poor” in our world. He reminded us of some more recent strategies and plans in helping the poor: “halving the number of those below the poverty line by 2020; the Paris ecology summit; new organizations founded for hel
ping the poor. Watch a video of Fr. Seamus’ presentation.
Sr. Linda Gibler, O.P., Professor at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, summarized how the papal encyclical “Laudato Si” emphasizes the unity of all of creation. “The earth is a shared inheritance, given to all of creation, by God,” she told us. Watch a video of Sr. Linda’s presentation.
Mr. Joe Gunn, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Justice, gave some practical steps for the participants to employ in caring for the earth, caring for each other. “Laudato Si,” he said, “is not so much new news as it is good news. It is a new opportunity for us to renew our care for one another, for all of creation, even for ourselves.” Watch a video of Mr. Gunn’s presentation.
Fr. Ken Forster, OMI, Provincial of OMI Lacombe Canada Province and I, gave a brief summary of the main thoughts of the day and spoke about how the suggestions offered might be more fully integrated into each of our Oblate communities in the Canada – U.S. region. Watch the closing remarks by Frs. Ken Forster and Lou Studer.
The 36th Oblate General Chapter spoke often about an “intentional interculturality, i.e., the conscious, deliberate integration of those from other cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, as fully participating members in our Oblate communities and ministries. Our mandate to Oblates and to those who share our Oblate charism, from the Chapter, is clear. Making the mandate part of our lives is the challenge now before us.
A joyful celebration of the Eucharist concluded our time together.
