September 2012-1

Newsletter of the U.S. Province of theMissionary Oblates of Mary ImmaculateOMI USA

Volume 15 No. 5 September 2012

4 new Oblate priestsfor Zambia delegation

By Musonda ChipiliOblate Deacons Humphrey Milimo,Chibwe Tembo, Sydney Musondaand Emmanuel Bwalya Mulengawere ordained to the priesthood byBishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI on July21st, at Mary Immaculate parish inLusaka, Zambia. Also ordained at thesame occasion was Redemptorist,Julius Masaiti.

Bishop Evans Chinyembaand the Delegation superior, Fr. Free-born Kibombwe were among otherOblates present to witness and offer theirprayers and support to the newly or-dained priests. Visiting Fathers PatrickChiso, OMI and Jim Chambers,OMI also joined in the vibrant celebra-tion.

Apart from various religiousmen and women who attended the cel-ebration were also families, friends andparishioners of Mary Immaculate who

filled up the church to its full capacity.The joy and excitement of the laity wasevident throughout the celebration.

Bishop Pfeifer, of the Dioceseof San Angelo, TX, urged the newlyordained to imitate the first Oblates thatcame to Zambia. He also told the newpriests to be men of deep faith and toalways trust in the Lord. The bishopalso told the newly ordained to help freepeople from injustices, inhumanity, cap-tivity and sickness, just like Jesus did.

Frs. Mulenga and Musondastudied in San Antonio, Fr. Milimo inCongo DRC, and Fr. Tembo in SouthAfrica.

Fr. Milimo has been assignedto the Oblate community of Kalabo; Fr.Tembo to the Oblate community ofLukulu; Fr. Musonda to the formationhouse in Lusaka, with ministry at MaryImmaculate parish; Fr. Mulenga to theOblate community of Shangombo.

The newly ordained being introduced, l-r:- Frs. Julius Masaiti, EmmanuelBwalya, Sydney Musonda, Chibwe Tembo and Humphrey Milimo.

Bishop Michael Pfeifer celebrating Mass with the newly ordained.

OMI-USA - 2

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Oblates are family.Certainly this was theintention of our Founder, St.Eugene. We gather aroundthe bedside of our brothersin their final hours. We visitour brother Oblates in thehospital. We share ourmeals and our temporalgoods. We work, pray andplay together.

A few years ago, Fr.Louie Lougen, thenprovincial of the UnitedStates, was asked at a

meeting by an Oblate nearing retirementif he would be able to “return” to hisfamily during his later years. Fr. Louiequickly responded: “No, you cannot,because this is your family.” At thetime, I felt his answer negated the valueof our families of origin, but over timethe meaning and value of his responsehas made more and more sense withinme. And yet, I still find his answerpersonally challenging.

Our Founder in 1823 wroteto Fr. Hippolyte Guibert, OMI, “Weform a family, of which all whocompose it wish only to have oneheart and one soul.”

We are often blessed by laypersons who see a special esprit decorps that we share among ourselves.They often see us as a “family” amongourselves. And then, to our surprise,our lay brothers and sisters point outthe positive qualities they see in ourcommunity or of an individual Oblatethat we ourselves do not see soreadily.

I believe it is good to payattention to these observations of others.Maybe they are telling us somethingimportant. What don’t we see inourselves as a community, perhaps as aprovince, that others “on the outside”do see? What are the positive qualities

we don’t see when we may tend to becritical of one another?

Even though the beginninginspiration of our Congregation wasessentially missionary, a “going out,” itwas simultaneously an inspiration to “livetogether” and share a common life. OurFounder believed a “religious life”sustained by a rule was essential andnecessary for active missionaries.

The very fact that we cometogether for prayer is one of the clearestvisible elements of a vowed life underone rule. Maintaining regular timefor community prayer, in the midstof the many and varied Oblateministerial situations, is a sign notonly of a living faith in God, but alsoan indication of our commitment toone another.

At times I am struck by the factthat a group of men can simply sittogether in silent oraison even if only for15 minutes. On one hand it is “counter-cultural” (although it is true that silenceis being sought more and more by someseekers in our contemporary culture) buteven more important, it is a moment ofsharing as a family the incredible gift oflife and of faith——of soaking in thereality that “all is gift,” and that we cantrust in the goodness of God. It is a

moment of communion. “Live in meas I live in you.”

We came together as a familyover this past year in order to reviewand re-work our Province mission. Inthe “Renewing the Province Mission”process, we tried to appreciate thevariety of our missionary andministerial efforts throughout theUnited States and beyond. We arenow in the third phase of this process,the “ACT” phase, during which weimplement the decisions the provincialcouncil eventually made.

There is one implication in thisprocess which we can easily overlook,and that is this: if this is a renewalwhich affects us as a family, as acommunity, then our verycommunity life requires renewal aswell. The implementation of the“Renewing the Province Mission”decisions will be ineffective if it is notat the same time a process of“Renewing the Province Community.”RPM implies RPC.

This above-mentionedpractice of oraison as well as otherpractices in community could well bere-considered and re-enforced in ourlives. At the same time, we will need

Every Wednesday afternoon during the summer, ten to twenty Oblatesgather at the camp in Salem, NH and enjoy a cookout.

September 2012-3

to be able to name those “practices”which are less tangible and morespontaneous, which actually serve asthe invisible “infra-structure” for ourOblate community and family life. Forall the essential importance of a “regularlife,” we also know that “a habit makethnot the monk.” We could never becontent with simply a well regimentedcommunity life, with a schedule postedand observed by everyone withoutvariation, or we would miss out onappreciating other values in our lives asOblates.

This is essentially a situation orcase of “both-and.” These are thesometimes intangible yet essentialmoments and dynamics that point to ourbeing a functional family (as opposedto a dysfunctional family). I have ahunch that this begins with good andhonest communication and thewillingness to go out of our way for oneanother. May the good religious habitswe observe externally or attempt toimplement in our community livesinclude the intangible “infra-structural”habits of communication, listening andcaring.

As in the Gospels, some ofthese moments of family and communityhave to do with food, some with riversand lakes, and others with bedsides.They have always had to do withhospitality in the broadest sense ofwelcoming others in our lives. Weenjoyed the Foppe family, mother andfather and five children, in WashingtonDC. We likewise have been happy tohave with us visiting Oblates, thewomen and men religious and visitingprofessionals in our community.

On one occasion, during thesesummer months, I was blessed to beable to sit staring for several hours at alake in Vermont while conversing with

our two brothers who are responsiblefor the Shrine in Colebrook, NH. Welistened to one another and watched theducklings try to keep up with theirmothers; and with their mothers, wekept a count. In another lake scene, Ihave experienced the fraternal sharingof Oblates from the Tewksbury andLowell area at their weekly summergathering at the “Camp”. We haveshared barbecues in Washington DCand popcorn while watching anoccasional movie. The Rio GrandeRiver near La Lomita was the sceneof a great noon-time banquet andample Oblate hospitality some monthsago.

As for bedsides, I have alsobeen blessed over this past year byaccompanying at least three of mybrothers to the local emergency roomin order to get some needed medical

attention. On one occasion, three ofus gathered in San Antonio at thebedside of an Oblate bishop visitingus from Bangladesh whose life washanging in the balance after a massiveheart attack. Thankfully, he hasreturned to his diocese with a newlease on life.

We can all think of the lakesideand river scenes, the table fellowshipand bedside care during which we, asOblate community and family haveshared the concerns, the dreams andideas, the differing viewpoints and thesolid convictions which we can onlybuild on as we renew our provincemission and community life. We mayalso grow in seeing what our sisters andbrothers who are our Oblate friends,benefactors and collaborators see in usand share with us. -Fr. Bill Antone, OMI

Continued from page 2From the Provincial

Almost 10 years ago Fr. Lawrence Mariasoosai, OMI came to theU.S. through an agreement between his Provincial andBishop Wilton Gregory. After some time at the Meredith Retirement

facility in Belleville, the Bishop assigned him to a parish in Sparta, IL as adminis-trator. While there he earned a Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies from AquinasInstitute in St. Louis. He regularly joined St. Henry’s Community for prayer andrecreation. On completing his service to the diocese, he went to Our Lady ofGuadalupe Parish in Midland, TX to help the Province before returning to India.

Belleville Area Oblates gathered July 31 to send him off to his new mission.

L-r: Frs John Madigan, Mariasoosai and Bro. Vic Capek at farewell party.

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The meeting of the CROCUStreasurers from the provinces ofthe Canada-US region was held

on July 3-5, 2012, in Washington, DC.The meeting was coordinated by Fr.Joseph Hitpas, former treasurer ofthe US province. All four provinces inthe Canada-US region were invited tosend their treasurer and a staff personfrom their finance office.

Also in attendance were Frs.Rufus Whitley, Treasurer General,Marc Dessureault, Treasurer Gen-eral designate and Warren Brown,General Councilor for Canada-US.

Two provincials also attended:Frs. John Malazdrewich, provincialof OMI Lacombe province, who ispresently president of CROCUS andLuc Tardif, provincial of Notre Damedu Cap province, presently vice presi-dent of CROCUS.

Due to the power outages atthe US provincial house caused by re-cent storms in the Washington area, themeeting was held at a hotel in Arling-ton, Virginia.

The first such meeting of trea-surers since the 2010 General Chap-

ter, the gathering provided an opportu-nity for members of the Central Gov-ernment to review the statements of the2010 General Chapter regarding finan-cial stewardship and financial solidarityin the Congregation.

The meeting also provided anopportunity for the treasurers and laystaff members to meet each other andshare on some issues of common inter-

CROCUS treasurers meetby Fr. Warren Brown, OMI

est, such as formation for current andfuture treasurers, financial training aspart of first formation, the sale and theuse of Oblate properties, healthcareprovisions for traveling Oblates, and thestatus of Oblate Investment Pool.

One conclusion reached at theend of the meeting was that such meet-ings of treasurers should be held moreoften to have better coordination amongthe Oblates of the region and to pro-vide ongoing formation for the treasur-ers and their staff members.

CROCUS meeting in Arlington: Front Row, l-r: Fr. Ray John Marek,Thelma Newsome (US Business Finance Manager), Fr. Peter Gioppato(Assumption Treasurer). Back, l-r: Frs. John Malazdrewich, MarcDessureault (Treasurer General designate), Tim Coonen (Lacombe Trea-surer), Robert Meilleur (Lacombe CAO), Joe Hitpas, Luc Tardif, GastonMorin (Notre Dame du Cap Treasurer), Rufus Whitley & Warren Brown.

Prior to the CROCUS treasurers’meeting, the management board of

the Oblate Investment Pool met at 391

in Washington. The board is presentlycomposed of five Oblates from differentareas of the Oblate world: Frs. Rufus

Whitley, Rome; Chris Pulchny,Assumption province and Lesotho;Marc Dessureault; Mario Azrak,Kenya, Africa; and EduardoTanudtanud, Philippines.

Also present were Fr. SéamusFinn; Messrs. Geraldo Gonzalez,Investment Advisor; and RichardKardys and Helmut Kammerlocher,Board Consultors.

Left, members of the OblateInvestment Pool at lunch.

September 2012-5

Fr. Ashok Stephen, OMI, hailsfrom Sri Lanka. Shortly afterordination he was asked to pursue

law studies at the Faculty of Law of theUniversity of Colombo. Having receivedhis degree he began working in theColombo Law Court System, defendingthe poor.

Earlier this year he traveled toNew York to spend time working with Fr.Daniel LeBlanc in the United Nations. Afterthat, he came to spend time with the OblateJPIC office in Washington, DC. Later inAugust he will return to his work in SriLanka.

Left, in the JPIC office, l-r: MaryO’Herron, George Ngolwe, Fr. Ashokand Christina Herman.

For the second year in a row, HolyAngels Church in Buffalo, NY,hosted an anniversary celebration

on Aug. 5 for three Oblate priests withconnections to the city.

Following last year’s celebra-tion for native sons Frs. Dan Crahenand Jim Fee, and long-time Holy An-gels resident, Fr. Steve Vasek, thisyear’s 40th anniversary celebrationbrought more than 350 people to thecity with the longest history of con-

tinuous Ob-late ministry inthe USA.N a t i v eBuffaloniansFrs. Bill Ma-son, TonyRigoli and Fr.R i c h a r dSudlik cel-

ebrated together, joined by 5 fellowOblates and including Superior GeneralFr. Louis Lougen, visiting Buffalo onvacation. Fr. Fee, pastor, welcomed

the congregation to the celebration andintroduced the celebrants and otherOblates present.

The celebration was organizedby long-time Holy Angels organist and

parishioner,Bob Cham-bers, alongwith the parishstaff and anumber of vol-u n t e e r s .D’YouvilleCollege pro-vided theflowers for thealtar, and theOblate pre-

novices assisted the Holy Angels choir,lectors and servers at Mass.

Fr. Rigoli reminded every-one that 5 loaves and two fish mightseem too little to feed 5000, but itturned out differently. He said thateach of us must bring whatever wehave, even if it seems insignificant,

to the Lord’s service. He thankedfamily members, friends and parish-ioners for helping the jubilarians todo so duringthe past 40years.

F r .Lougen, aformer pastorof Holy An-gels, spoke atthe end ofMass, high-lighting the im-pact each of the 3 jubilarians had onhim in his Oblate life, and expressed thethanks of the Oblates for the religiouswomen who were present from theGrey Nuns of the Sacred Heart and theSisters of St. Mary of Namur. Mem-bers of both congregations have a longhistory of working with Oblates, includ-ing the jubilarians.

After Mass, a reception washeld in the D’Youville College center.

by Fr. Bill O’Donnell, OMI

Holy Angels fetes jubilarians

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Please remember in prayer

our recently departed

Ruth Grotzke, 89, sister of Fr. James Taylor, OMI,died on July 2 in Palos Heights, IL.Gabrielle Rattey, 92, sister of Fr. John Morin, OMI,died on July 5 in Kingston, RI.Bro. Anthony Szklarski, OMI, 77, died on July 11in St. Paul, MN.Joan Davis, sister-in-law of Fr. Bill Davis, OMI, diedon July 12 in San Antonio, TX.Maureen O’Hara, sister of Fr. Michael O’Hara,OMI, died on July 13, in Syracuse, NY.Eugene Tremblay, 94, father of Fr. Eugene Tremblay,OMI, died on July 15 in Lowell, MA.Jack Dietz, 82, brother of Fr. Don Dietz, OMI, diedon July 17, in Moline, IL.Fr. Norman Pahl, OMI, 79, died on July 23 in St.Paul, MN.Doris Davis, 65, sister of Fr. Gerry Bolduc, OMI,died on July 31 in Lewiston, ME.Janine Nassaney, 84, mother of Fr. Daniel Nassaney,OMI, died on July 31 in Lincoln, RI.Alex Kons, 84, former Oblate and Scandinaviamissionary, died on Aug. 2 in the Philippines.Fr. Joseph Vaillancourt, OMI, 91 (Haiti), died onAug. 10 in Lowell, MA.Isabelle Blais, 83, sister of the laste Fr. RomeoMurphy, OMI, died on Aug.8 in Berlin, NH.

Most Christians can probablypoint to a few instances in their lives thatthey would call truly sacred. While ourworld, our lives, our very beings aresacred, there are particular momentswhen we experience a closeness toJesus, a time when it seems we can prac-tically reach out and touch Jesus; He

seems that close to us.Although we believe that Jesus is always close to us,

this person in whom “we live and move and have our being,”there are special experiences we are given in which an un-usual oneness of ourselves with God sometimes happens.These moments are more than merely feelings of joy, com-passion, or love. These experiences tend to involve not onlyour emotions but a union of who we are with God, withother people, even with ourselves.

The “original sin,” if you will, brought about achasm between who God is as opposed to some poorchoices we make and others make as well. All of usexperience this tension in misunderstandings, poor com-munication or none at all, difference of opinion, per-sonality conflicts, even at times how we understandGod, along with differing ecclesiologies, differences inour view of reality. Rising above these tensions can bea difficult challenge.

A number of years ago, I spent a couple hours visit-ing our deceased Oblates at St. Henry’s Cemetery inBelleville. I had visited and prayed there before but thisdamp though sunny winter afternoon began differently fromother times I had been there. Times before as I walked there,I reflected on the personalities of the Oblates whose gravesI gazed at. Often I dwelt on some traits or characteristics ofsome of these Oblates with whom I found fault or misunder-stood.

This December afternoon was different. I looked atthe graves before me in the context of prayer. The Spirit ledme to see the gifts and talents of these Oblates lying in peace.I recognized the gift of preaching in one; a particular kind-ness toward me in another; a gentle, delightful sense of hu-mor in one; stimulating, well prepared high school classes inanother.

As I recognized how these Oblates had helped mein my own struggle, had taught me, brought me closer toChrist, as well as other Oblates not buried here, and thenothers – parents, siblings, friends, relatives – I experienced atrue union of myself with Jesus and with all these good peoplein my life.

As the large, fluffy snowflakes gently fell on thegraves, then quickly melted, I was reminded how fragilelife itself is and how it quickly passes. We are made for theKingdom and our hearts are restless until then.

The sense of gratitude I began prayers with thatafternoon helped me unite myself more closely to Jesus, tothe presence and action of Jesus in the lives of all thesegood people and to a deeper desire to praise Jesus in myown life.

How I wish I could have stayed there, like Peterdesired to do. How I wish my attitude could always bewhat it was that snowy afternoon. -Fr. Louis Studer, OMI

September 2012-7

Oblates joined members of other faith-based organizations and leaders at anumber of venues at the 19th International

AIDS Conference, held in Washington, DC, July22-27, to discuss their efforts to respond to theHIV/AIDS epidemic.

Members of the Interfaith Center onCorporate Responsibility (ICCR) – in which theOblates are active – presented on one of the panelsabout the long-standing faith-based dialogs withpharmaceutical companies

The Global Village at the International AIDSConference has been a platform for communities,activists and practitioners representing diversity andsolidarity. The Oblates were represented by JPICStaff George Ngolwe, summer Fellow Fr. AshokStephen OMI (Sri Lanka). Fr. Joseph Phiri,OMI (Zambia) volunteered at the Global Village.

Nine men from the Southwestarea will be entering the Ob-late novitiate or pre novitiates

this year.Including family members and

local Oblates, over 60 relatives andfriends gathered at the Oblate GrottoCenter in San Antonio on August 3rdto honor five of them.

Fr. Charlie Banks led theprayer service that preceded supper.

Frs. Warren Brown and Art Floresspoke a few words to the assembly ingratitude to the young men’s generousresponse to their sense of Oblate mis-sionary vocation.

Sergio Gonzalez (Midland),Austin Gutierrez (Spring), DanielBourg, Phillip Cantu and JohnBarrientes (all three from San Anto-nio) were able to attend the event.Sergio and John will enter the novitiate

at Godfrey, IL. Phillip, Austin andDaniel will be at the pre-novitiate inBuffalo, NY. Manuel Romero (Hous-ton) and James Trevino (Laredo) re-turned to Buffalo before the August 3rdgathering, as did Waldo Ortis imme-diately after his discharge from the mili-tary. Fulgencio Reyes Ochoa (SanAntonio) entered the Tijuana pre-novi-tiate program in late July.

OMIUSA will have a rundownof those in all states of Oblate formationin the November issue.

SW area holds send-off for seminariansby Fr. Charles Banks, OMI

Relatives and friends join Oblates in a blessing ceremonyfor seminarians heading for novitiate and prenovitiates

Right-left: John Barrientes, Phillip Cantu, DanielBourg, Austin Gutierrez, and Sergio Gonzales

Oblate Fr. Stephen joined in the call for pharmaceuticalcompanies to be more responsible in the AIDS struggle.

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It was a hot and humid evening, butthe neighbors and parishioners of St.Casimir’s church on the east side

of St. Paul, MN, were out in force forthe second annual parking lot dance.

Inspired by the music of WillieWalker and the We, more than 100people spent all or part of Saturdayevening, June 23, listening and dancingto the jazz and blues offerings, drinkinglots of water as the sun beat down, andpartaking of the hot dogs and othergoodies the parish provided.

“It’s an effort by the parishto remind people in the neighbor-hood that we are here as a positiveinfluence, and are trying to be goodneighbors”, said Molly Holian,chair of the parish’s outreach com-mittee. “We started this last year,

Parishioners find wayto beat heat

On June 24, 2012, St. Ann’sParish in Waubun, MN cel-ebrated its 100th Anniversary

as a parish in the Diocese ofCrookston, located on the White Earth

with a much smaller attendance, butthis year brought out more people,”she added. A committee of volunteersset things up, provided the refreshmentsand cleaned the lot afterwards.

Frs. Bill O’Donnell, OMI,pastor, and Harry Winter, OMI were

in the crowd enjoying the music, al-though neither made it to the dancearea.

The parish plans to make thisan annual event, rain or shine.(Photo by parishioner Kathy Domeier)

by Bill O’Donnell, OMI

Indian Reservation in NW Minnesota.Over 200 parishioners filled the

church with friends, visitors and twoOblates who served as Pastors beforethe current Pastor, Fr. Dwight

Hoeberechts,OMI. Fr.Ron Meyer,traveled fromWillimantic,CT, while Fr.Bob Leisingventured infrom Belleville,IL. Remem-brance wasmade of theBenedictinepriests whostaffed theparish prior to

the arrival of the Oblates in 1994.The principal celebrant and

homilist for the centennial celebrationwas Bishop Michael Hoeppner ofthe Diocese of Crookston. Whilethere, he confirmed a young parish-ioner, Kyle Erickson, just as the firstbishop of Crookston, Bishop Timo-thy Corbett, did in 1912.

Following the Mass, the Bishopand the church congregation gatheredat the Waubun Community Center fora meal with plenty of time to talk andremember many past experiences.

The celebration ended with aCemetery Walk at St. Ann’s Cemetery,organized by the Mahnomen CountyHistorical Society. At the cemetery,people in period clothing stood by par-ticular family headstones and shared thestories of the first parishioners and pio-neers who made up the community ofWaubun.

Waubun parish celebrates 100 yearsby Fr. Dwight Hoeberechts, OMI

Fr. Meyer, Bishop Hoeppner, Frs. Hoeberechts and Leising

September 2012-9

Fr. Medeiros, OMI writes from São Paulo

Oblate parish marches for environment and peace

We, members of the parish St.Eugene de Mazenod in SãoPaulo, Brazil, are

participants in two marches every yearBoth are -terminated with an outdoorcelebration of the Eucharist with ourbishop, clergy and hundreds of laitywho take part in the marches. Bothmarches are accompanied with trucks,loudspeakers and animators who singand pray during the marches.

The Water March is celebratedat the end of May, month of Mary inhonor of Our Lady, mother of Jesus.The civil reason for the march is tohighlight the need to preserve and carefor our reservoirs which furnish waterfor the four million people in our area.

Actual environmental statisticsshow that if we do not preserve and

protect our reservoirs now, then by2050, we will not have enough waterfor life’s basic necessities. The moveto protect our reservoir, Guarapiranga,is in its 7th year and the 14 parishes ofour M’Boi Mirim sector enter into itwith much faith and enthusiasm.Accompanied by the military police, wewalk 8 miles in 2 1/2 hours.

Our March for Peace occurson the 2nd of November, All Souls Day.It starts in the parish, Holy Martyrs,passes through Our Lady of GraceParish, our parish, St. Eugene deMazenod, and ends up at the cemeterySt. Louis Gonzaga.

We schedule this march onAll Souls Day, because our southernarea of São Paulo is one of the mostviolent in the metropolis. Warbetween gangs and police isconstant. After 10:00 p.m. thestreets are mostly vacant. Fifteenpercent of the cemetery is occupied byvictims of homicides. Our marchersdress in white as a sign of peace. At thecemetery we celebrate the Eucharistwith our people and bishop.

These two marchesdemonstrate the Church’s pre-occupation with the security and well-being of our people. Social justice andhealth were always one of the greatestpreoccupation of our Master, Jesus, andthey are ours also.

Please pray for us in ourstruggle to evangelize the poor and tokeep the people aware of their rights tolive in health, dignity and peace.

Above, Fr. Paul (middle) celebrates Massat the march. Right: Part of the crowdof marchers.

George Ngolwe, Janice Cooke, Thelma Newsome, Sr. Ann Diehl, CSJ, andFr. Ray John Marek tour the garden planted by Gail Taylor (partially

visible behind Fr. Marek) on the back lot of the provincial headquartersin Washington, DC. Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, eggplant and someherbs are being harvested.

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The Merrimack Valley HousingPartnership (MVHP) , teamingup with the International

Institute, recently added anotherlanguage, Arabic, to its home buyertraining series.

The Lowell, MA organization,to which the former Oblate Easternprovince made a sizable loan, and towhich the Sharing Fund has continuedto contribute, was founded in 1986 byThe Ethic Covenant to promoteaffordable home ownershipopportunities for low and moderateincome earners.

In its early years threecondominium complexes, the firstfive units of which were named forFr. Larry Griffin, OMI, were builtin Lowell and Lawrence, MA.

Oblates who have served onthe board include Frs. Séamus Finn,Jim Fee, John Cox and JamesTaggart.

In 1991 MVHP instituted acomprehensive series of home buyertraining seminars consisting of 10 hoursof instruction over four eveningsessions. Over 13,500 families havecompleted this “Project Genesis”program. The classes have been offeredin English, Spanish, Khmer and now inArabic.

Other services providedinclude: individual financial and creditcounseling, Landlord Training seminars,and administrative and technical supportfor down payment assistance programsfor first time home buyers.

Fr. Walter Butor, OMI andseven members of St.Benedict’s parish and the sur-

rounding area in Ogema, MN attendedthe annual Tekakwitha Conference,July 18-21, in Albany, NY. Fr. GerryBrunet, OMI also came from An-chorage, AK to attend the event.

Founded in1939, the con-ference has fo-cused on NativeAmerican is-sues, spiritualityand petitioningfor the canoni-zation of KateriTekakwitha, the

Algonqion-Mohawk woman born in1656 in what is now New York State.Known as the “Lily of the Mohawks,”she will be canonized in Rome by PopeBenedict XVI on Oct. 21, 2012, thefirst Native American saint.

Highlights of the conference in-

cluded keynote addresses by Fr. JimNisbet and Deacon Ronald Boyer, anda visit by JakeFinkbonner, asixth-grader ofLummi descentfrom Bellingham,WA, whose mi-raculous cure of afatal, flesh-eatingdisease was at-tributed to the in-tercession of Bl.Kateri, resulting in her canonization.

The three days included Eu-charistic celebrations and healing andreconciliation services. On the lastday, many attendees went to FondaNY, birthplace of Kateri and homeof the Kateri Shrine and Museum,then on to visit the Shrine of OurLady of Martyrs in Auriesville, NY.

In October, Fr. Butor andsome friends and parishioners plan toattend the canonization in Rome.

Oblates attend Tekakwitha Conferenceby Fr. Walter Butor, OMI

Lowell organizationadvances operations

Interior of Our Lady of the Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, NY.

Fr. G. Brunet

Fr. W. Butor

September 2012-11

Before becoming a bishop, Ilived in a religious family, theMissionary Oblates of Mary

Immaculate. I don’t often speakpublicly of that family’s life, since Ihaven’t lived in my religious communityfor over 20 years. But what I learnedabout prayer and community andthe mission of the church as anOblate of Mary Immaculate hasshaped my way of life as much asdid growing up in my natural familyhere in Chicago or living as a bishop inthe Diocese of Yakima, WA., and theArchdiocese of Portland in Oregon.

Regularly I receive a copy ofthe newsletter from the Oblate GeneralHouse in Rome, reporting on the life ofthe Oblate congregation around theworld. Like many Catholics in Chicago,I first turn to the obituary section to seewhether someone I studied with or oncelived with in various communities aroundthe world has gone to the Lord. Foreach of those who have died, I celebrate

Chicago’s Catholic New World carried a moving reflection onMemorial Day remembrances by Cardinal Francis George, OMI.

the ordination was celebrated in theshadow of the assassination of a wellknown Christian man just days before.

From Thailand, there was newsof an Oblate I once knew fairly well,who was now sharing the life of anindigenous tribe from Burma that hadcrossed the Thai border and had beenheld in a detention camp for over two

a Mass, as I do for each of thedeceased priests of the archdiocese.The last issue of the Oblate newsletterreported the death of a man I had meton several occasions. FatherAlexandre Kayser, O.M.I. He wassickly as a seminarian, and so he wasnever sent outside of his native France.He died in Strasbourg, France, at theage of 108, in his 89th year of religiouslife and his 83rd as a priest. The storyreported some of his last words: “Ilove the good God; I love the VirginMary; I love the Congregation of theOblates of Mary Immaculate.”

News of other members of theOblate family included the ordination ofthe first priest from the PakistaniProvince of Baluchistan, an Oblate whowas ordained by the vicar apostolic ofQuetta, Bishop VictorGnanapragasam, O.M.I., with whomI lived when he was a seminarianstudying in Rome. Quetta is on theborder between Pakistan and Iraq, and Continued on page 12

Fr. Alex Roque, OMI and parish-ioners of St. Stephen’s, Miramar,FL, were among the U.S.

churches that celebrated special

Masses, prayer services and candlelightprocessions to mark the Fortnight ofFreedom. This 2-week period of prayerand fasting drew attention to the viola-tion of social justice embedded ingovernment’s HHS mandate demand-ing that Christian individuals and insti-

tutions violate their conscience byproviding health insurance cover-age for immoral abortion, steriliza-tion and contraceptive services orface prohibitive penalties. Many in the media have por-trayed the HHS-mandate fight as afight about contraception,but this re-ally is a fight about religious liberty.

”Faced with the tribulations ofour times, Catholics will use theirgreatest weapon - prayer,” FrRoquesaid in his homily.“One rea-

Hequoted from GeorgeWashington’s 1789 letter to the Vir-ginia United Baptist Churches: “IfI could have entertained the slight-est apprehension that the Consti-tution might possibly endanger thereligious rights of any ecclesiasti-cal society, certainly I would neverhave placed my signature to it.”

Fortnight of Freedomobserved in Miramar

After Mass, Fr. Roque led aprocession around the east parking lotof the church, which borders StateRoad 441. He stopped at the four cor-ners of the lot to pray for variousgroups, among them soldiers, the presi-dent and his cabinet, representativesand senators and the cities surroundingSt. Stephen Church.

Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

son we became a nation is the freedomto practice our religion.”

OMI-USA - 12

End

Runs

OMI - USA

MOVING? WANT TO CONTINUE RE-CEIVING OMIUSA? PLEASE SEND USYOUR NEW ADDRESS! Or, if you do notwant to continue receiving it (whether youmove or not), please let us know so we arenot sending unwanted copies. Thank you.

Newsletter of the U.S. Province of theMissionary Oblates of Mary Immacu-late.-391 Michigan Ave., NE Washing-ton, DC 20017-1516President and Publisher:Very Rev. BillAntone, OMIEditor: Fr. Charles Hurkes, OMIDirect all submissions, inquiries andcomments to Charles Hurkes, OMI atthe above address or Fax (202) 529-4572; Tel: (202) 529-4505 e-mail:chasomi@omiusa.orgPublished six times a year for Oblate per-sonnel and their friends and supporters;distributed from the U.S. Provincial Of-fices in Washington, DC.

ÖÖÖÖÖ The parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Monroe, NC, which theOblates of the former Eastern US Province served for many years, re-ceived on July 10 as pastor a diocesan priest who spent 2002-04 at thepre-novitiate in Buffalo, NY, and 2004-05 at the novitiate in Godfrey,IL. Fr. Ben Roberts welcomes all Oblate visitors and is profoundlygrateful for the formation he received from us. For one of his first Masses,he returned to Buffalo, NY and celebrated Mass at Holy Angels Churchon June 5, 2009.ÖÖÖÖÖ Michael Parker wrote to clarify a point from last issue’s storyon When the Wolves Came. While he had a great deal to do with helpingFather Pfeifer produce the book on which the documentary was based,credit for the DVD should go elsewhere. The producer was Airspeed

Television, a San Antonio firm, in the person of its president, Antonio GarzaMeyer, and his wife, Nancy. From the very start of the project, Judy Pfeifer,along with a dedicated committee, was the impetus behind everything that wasaccomplished. Before the foundation became involved, the committee alreadyhad raised more than $50,000 from a variety of sources. So, while the foundation’sgenerosity allowed us to complete the project and pay for it, it was not by anymeans the only donor.ÖÖÖÖÖ An archival note: Who translated many of the famous Lucien Deisshymns (Biblical Hymns and Psalms, Vol. 1; WLSM, 1965) into English? Inthe summer of 1964 George Brown, OMI and Richard Beauchesne, OMIjoined Kevin Seasoltz, OSB, Christiane Brusselmans and one or two othersworked on translating the text, while Fr. Deis did the musical adaptation. Theresults were taken to Trinity College, where the sisters taking summer courseswould try out the settings.ÖÖÖÖÖ On Sept. 1, Schol. Bro. Juan Manuel Gaspar, OMI, pronouncedhis perpetual vows in the Immaculate Conception Chapel of the Oblate Schoolof Theology in San Antonio, TX.ÖÖÖÖÖ St. Benedict’s parish, San Benito, TX, celebrated its centennial in July.The original wood church was built and blessed in 1910 by Fr. Isidore Chateau,OMI. Two years later, the parish was formally established. Oblates served theparish for 86 years, building a rectory, schools, a convent and a CatecheticalCenter. At one time the parish served half of Cameron and Willacy counties.

years. The Oblate reported that his attempts to negotiate their status with thegovernment were bearing fruit and that the tribe was going to be allowed to gofree. Oblates in Guinea Bissau, Africa, reported on how they and their peoplehad come through the recent coup d’etat. A young Oblate from Lesotho in southernAfrica described the difficulties of adapting to life with the Inuit or Eskimos ofnorthern Canada, to whom he had been sent. There was news from Chad, Peru,Paraguay, Guatemala, Senegal, the Philippines, Italy and Texas!

All of this serves to remind me not only of a religious family with whom Inow have only intermittent contact but also of places I’ve visited and people whohave been part of my life. It reminds me as well that even a great archdiocese likeChicago lives in dependence upon the network of universal Catholic communion,of which it is a quite small part. Our context of life and death, as Catholics,is the globe and, finally, the kingdom of God.

Cardinal George reflections continued from page11

Radiate the word oftruth that the LordJesus has left us.

Pope Benedict XVI

World Mission Sundy

October 21, 2012