Fresh air wafts through Oblates

Refounding process revitalizes 177-year-old order

By BYRON PRICE
Special to the WCR
Calgary

So he turned his attention to the spiritual and material needs of a society in chaos. His new perspective also took in the needs of the Church.

Spurred on by what he saw, St. Eugene decided to take action.

And in 1826 a new religious family was formed - the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).

The need was great in France, but St. Eugene had the heart of Christ and also sent Oblates to far off places such as Canada to bring the Good News.

The Oblates in Canada today face no fewer challenges than their founder did all those years ago. It is with this sense of respect and renewal that a refounding process is now in motion with a new generation of Oblates and their lay associates.

Oblate Father Glenn Zimmer, is the coordinator of the process Towards a New Province. On May 29 to June 2, 140 Oblates and lay associates met at the University of Calgary to continue discussions on the formation of a new province which began at Cap-de-la-Madeline, Que., in September 1996.

The theme of that conference was Dare to Live Out the Oblate Charism in the Canadian Context. The formation of a single province, OMI Lacombe Canada, was a major outcome of the conference.

The Oblates are amalgamating five provinces (Grandin, Manitoba, St. Mary's, St. Paul's and St. Peter's) into a new province called OMI Lacombe Canada. Its headquarters will be in Ottawa.

Oblate Father Leo Engel, a retired 90-year-old, expressed the significance of this historic process: "This is an event that I would not have missed. It is the end of one Oblate presence and the beginning of a new movement."

This is a pivotal moment in Oblate history in Canada. The order is facing tremendous difficulties with a lack of personnel and resources. This is further complicated by a huge litigation process which could potentially affect the survival of the order in Canada.

Oblate Father Roy Boucher, who chairs the community committee in this process, states: "Even with all the problems we are experiencing at present, our Oblate community chooses life and we choose it creatively. This is evident in our refounding process. This will be a very inclusive process as Oblates and lay associates collaborate for the good.

"It is the end of one Oblate presence and the beginning of a new movement." - Fr. Leo Engel

"This historical process has profound implications. We are articulating a new vision for ourselves to call us to new ways of living in community with the poor - being open and welcoming to men and women who are non-vowed. We will be working with our lay associates in creative and imaginative ways in the living out of our mission."

Oblate Father Rick Kelly, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ottawa, agrees with the profound and positive implications of the process: "There is great hope for the future as a community of Oblates with our lay brothers and sisters. Even though there are decreases in the congregation, the Oblate charism continues to live within the Church.

"We will see lay people participating as completely as possible in a variety of ways, in Oblate community life, at the local, provincial levels and the corporate ministry of the province. It smells like Vatican II - a bit of fresh air."

Zimmer explains, "The meeting we are having in Calgary is the last step we are taking as a group as we move towards a new province. We will be approving our mission statement of the new province - OMI Lacombe Canada. We will also continue the discussion of involvement of the lay associates.

"We are in a process of discerning the quality and attributes for the core of central leadership for the new province. Our process is prayerful and discerning in understanding Church as people of God. The emphasis is on being available to the most marginalized in the Church and society.

"As Oblates, what is our prophetic voice today? There could be different forms of community life with a variety of callings - married, single, widowed. If we look at our goals and objectives seriously, we are consistent with Vatican II. I guess it boils down to: How do we as Oblates living in community interpret the vision of Church as people of God?"

Zimmer continues: "Don't get me wrong, this is not an easy process and we chose a very difficult model. We chose a prayer and discernment model to facilitate this process. We involved the grassroots to ensure that they have a part in this process and their part is respected and taken seriously.

"The model is based on consensus which truly gives people a chance in freedom to say what they hold dear and what we do not see eye to eye on.

"On Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, there will be a ceremony which will launch the new province, OMI Lacombe Canada. There will also be a celebration of the gifts of the five provinces and their historical presence in various parts of Canada. This celebration will say goodbye to the five historical provinces and welcome the new province into a rejuvenated Oblate family."

Boucher concludes: "This process has all the angst of change, but what I am seeing is a generation of new enthusiasm and hope that I have not seen in a long time. We feel strongly about working with the poor, sharing power, and most of all, living out the Oblate charism with those lay people who share the same spirit in community life.

"We will have to reconfigure our communities across the country. This process is not often attempted and is fraught with historical realities - cultural, ethnic, and language contingences. However, the spirit of peace is alive and well."

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