195 YEARS LATER: AN OCCASION TO SEE THE OBLATE CHARISM, WITH ITS GREAT FLEXIBILITY AND FOCUS ON THE URGENT NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, RISING TO THE OCCASION TO RESPOND WITH UNMEASURED ZEAL.

The Letter of Superior General to the Congregation on the Anniversary of the Papal Approval of the Constitutions and Rules – February 17, 2021

Pope Leo XII formally approved our Constitutions and Rules on February 17, 1826. To this day, revised and adapted over the past 195 years, they remain “a privileged means for each Oblate to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ “(C # 163). The Preface to the CCRR expresses the vision that burned in Eugene’s heart: motivated by his love for Christ, he called together others who would embrace a life of holiness, announcing Christ to the poor and working to rebuild the Church. The virtuous life of those preachers was essential to effective evangelization.

This year, February 17th falls on Ash Wednesday, and we will celebrate our feast day on Tuesday, February 16th. All over the world marked by the pandemic, we will gather as best we can to give thanks for the grace of our vocation. The COVID-19 virus has been an occasion to see the Oblate charism, with its great flexibility and focus on the urgent needs of the people, rising to the occasion to respond with unmeasured zeal. Oblates have found creative ways to minister spiritually, as well as assisting many people in their material needs.


With our collaborators and Associates, we have provided needed financial help for the unemployed and for essential needs such as rent, food, water, medicines, cleaning needs, gloves, masks, and even some lodging. Together with the Treasurer General’s office, the Office of Oblate Mission Sustainability and Global Oblate Fundraisers have assisted many Units in reaching out to the most vulnerable sectors of society at this time. OMIWORLD.ORG has been publishing the many creative efforts that Oblates have developed to attend to the needs of the people we serve.

… We are blessed that a dimension of our charism is missionary flexibility and adaptability as we consider new approaches to our life and ministry.

Father Louis Lougen OMI

Superior General

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1 Response to 195 YEARS LATER: AN OCCASION TO SEE THE OBLATE CHARISM, WITH ITS GREAT FLEXIBILITY AND FOCUS ON THE URGENT NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, RISING TO THE OCCASION TO RESPOND WITH UNMEASURED ZEAL.

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    My first inclination this morning was to think how sad it is that we are not able to all meet together this February 17 and to celebrate in person with each other. No hugs, no handshakes, no eating a meal together.

    I am reminded that with love all things are possible; the world might not look the same but love is still there and perhaps we just need to let go of the some of our old ways of seeing so as to clear our eyes to new ways.

    This pandemic continues to be an invitation to look deeper, to go within ourselves where the Beloved resides. I thank of St. Paul who on meeting Jesus became blind and so was able to learn to see others differently.

    It is not about what we can or cannot “do”, but rather in how we “be”.

    Once again the words of OMI Lacombe Province Mission Statement come to mind:

    “…we stand with the voiceless, hearing and making heard their cry,
    which is a cry to God who brings down the powerful
    and lifts up the lowly.

    In so doing, we risk finding ourselves among the marginalized
    of our community, our society and our church,
    taking our place among the poor and the powerless,
    walking with those who, like us, hold within themselves
    tremendous beauty, strength and gifts
    as well as weaknesses, brokenness and limitations,
    that together we may help one another experience the love of God,
    so we may be healed and give of ourselves in the service of the continuous unfolding of the reign of God within creation.

    “… We are blessed that a dimension of our charism is missionary flexibility and adaptability as we consider new approaches to our life and ministry.” And we give thanks.

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