Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate  United States Province

OMI logo
News
Translate this page:

Recent News

News Feed

News Archives


Latest Video & Audio

More video & audio >

News Archives » News


2026 Season of Creation: Immersed in Living Water September 11th, 2026

(By Maurice Lange, Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)

The world is celebrating the Season of Creation, that runs from September 1 to October 4. It is a time to pray, reflect, and take action for the gift of our common home.
 
This year’s theme, “Living Water,” is based on Ezekiel 47:9,12, which invites Christians to recognize water as a source of life and a precious gift from God. It also reminds us that our care for creation is deeply connected to our care for one another.

These reflections are inspired by Pope Leo’s 2026 letter for the Season of Creation. Each ponders 1 of 9 topics in Leo’s writing, with focus given to the 2026 theme of “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.

“The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.” (Laudato Si #2)

READ: 4th part of Pope Leo’s letter for the 2026 Season of Creation (view PDF)

REFLECTION: How is your heart this Season of Creation? : Similar to the season of Lent, our observance of the Season of Creation has the ability to center us. Our special focusing these 34 days brings us to the heart. “…the human heart…the center of the person – the place where reason, desire, will and conscience converge.” Pope Leo points our attention to the condition of the human heart being linked to Earth’s degradation and war’s wounds. Such outward torment belies interior discord, division and distortion. 

* What integral ecology project, initiative or ministry inspires & challenges you?
* Where might you be feeling divided, distorted?
* What are you attending to?

ACTION: What if our culture spent some percentage of its time on healing of the heart as it does on social media?! It is this healing or “conversion of heart” that Leo calls for. To assist us in this conversion, I encourage you to make time for prayer in this regard: sit peacefully with this recent, deeply meaningful Hiroshima/ Nagasaki prayer service – co-sponsored by our Presentation Sisters.

DOWNLOAD  FULL REFLECTION

  • Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE

READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS


2026 Season of Creation Activities @ Sacred Heart Church September 8th, 2026

Celebrating the Season of Creation (September 1 – October 4, 2026) @ Sacred Heart Church, Oakland, CA

The GreenTeam at Sacred Heart Church is continuing to mark the 2026 Season of Creation with activities throughout September and into October.
 
These beautiful banners, displayed in the church garden this weekend, are just one visible reminder of this special season. 
 
There’s something happening almost every week, with opportunities to gather, reflect, learn, and take action.
 
FULL CALENDAR: https://bit.ly/4xAeTgf
 

Preparing for the 2026 Season of Creation August 24th, 2026

From September 1st through October 4th, people of faith around the world come together in prayer and action for our common home.

Inspired by Ezekiel 47:1–12, this year’s theme invites us to “step into the waters”—renewing our relationship with God, one another, and creation.

FIND 2026 Season of Creation Resources: https://bit.ly/4hS4jfo

 

Oblate Lay Congress Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Approval of Oblate Constitutions & Rules August 10th, 2026

The gathering was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois

(Contributed by Br. Lester Antonio Zapata OMI)

After some months of planning, this past weekend (July 31 to August 2, 2026), a 3-day National Gathering of Oblate Laity took place at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL. The last meeting of Oblate Laity for the USA Province was held about 10 years ago. The event marked the 200th anniversary of the Oblate Constitutions and Rules, approved by Pope Leo XII in 1826.
 
About 40 lay Oblate associates came from California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York. They had the opportunity to participate in the 83rd annual Novena to Our Lady of the Snows. Among the attendees was U.S. Provincial Fr. Raymond Cook, OMI, who inaugurated the Congress. Other Oblates who attended were Fr. David Uribe, OMI, Fr. Juan Gaspar OMI, Br. Lester Antonio Zapata and Br. Elisha Chisanga, OMI, also there was Honorary Oblate Mary O’Herron, former OMI JPIC staff.
 
During our time together, we embraced Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to pray for peace in our world. Each day, we joined our voices with his by praying the Prayer for Peace he led during the Vigil for Peace at Saint Peter’s Basilica on April 11, 2026. “Lord Jesus, you conquered death without weapons or violence: you shattered its power with the strength of peace. Grant us your peace …May the madness of war cease, and the Earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still know how to bring forth, protect and love life.”
 
Fr. Ray Cook, OMI, inaugurated the gathering and told attendees that each of them has an important call to live out our charisma. Some Oblate associates came from places where the Oblates are no longer staffing any parish or ministry, but they are the ones keeping the charism alive. He explained that the absence of an Oblate priest does not mean the absence of the Oblate charism. He also explained that charism was given by the Holy Spirit to the whole Church. It was never exclusively given to the ordained or vowed Oblate. We are also called to protect and share the charism left to us by St. Eugene de Mazenod.
 
Fr. Juan Gaspar spoke about the process of forming Oblates to embrace and live the Oblate way of life. Fr. David Uribe, OMI shared on Constitution 8: being close to the people, taking into account their values and aspirations, preaching the Word of God in a simple yet efficient way to reach their hearts, helping them realize their human dignity and daring them to live the gospel.
 
READ FULL ARTICLE: https://bit.ly/4q2Byi8
 

National Gathering of Oblate Associates in Belleville, IL August 10th, 2026

From July 31 to August 2, a 3-day National Gathering of Oblate Associates happened at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL.

The event was to mark the 200th anniversary of Oblate Constitutions and Rules. Among the attendees was. U.S. Provincial Fr. Raymond Cook, OMI, who inaugurated the Congress.
 
Oblate Lay Associates are men and women who recognize a Spirit-initiated call to live their baptism enriched by the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod. They volunteer their time to support the mission of the Church through the Oblates.

Photo 1 – Oblates from Florida -The Oblates are no longer in Florida

Photo 2 – (L to R) Mary O’Herron, former OMI JPIC staff & Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate and Br. Lester Antonio Zapata, OMI

Photo 3 – Lay Associates attending the gathering

 

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Return to Top