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Letter of the Superior General for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Letter of the Superior General December 8th, 2024
 

L.J.C. et M.I.

Holy Year: Renewing Our Oblation as Pilgrims of Hope

Dear Oblate Brothers and Members of the Charismatic Family,
 

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary!

“Rejoice, full of grace!” These words, spoken by God’s messenger to Mary,  in Lucan Greek are full of poetic and theological meaning: Χαίρε, κεχαριτωμένη. They stirred Mary’s heart as she pondered their meaning. Through her dialogue with the messenger, Mary came to embrace the extraordinary mission entrusted to her, sustained solely by the living presence of the Holy Spirit. Her “yes,” spoken in the humble village of Nazareth, shines as a light piercing through the darkness of her world and ours. This “yes” sparked a complete offering of self that led her to dedicate her entire being to the person and work of the Savior (C.10).

“Rejoice, full of grace!” These words resonate deeply in our hearts today. They might seem paradoxical as we witness the brokenness in our world, surrounded by the pain of war, the wounds inflicted on our Common Home, and the crushing weight of injustice that falls  heavily on the Poor. In these dark times, we search for a glimmer of light, a ray of hope to guide us forward.

“Rejoice, full of grace!” On Christmas Eve, December 24, the Jubilee of the Holy Year will officially begin, and we will celebrate Jesus Christ, our unwavering hope. As a charismatic family, we are called to embrace this time of grace as authentic pilgrims of hope and builders of communion. Each local community and group has undoubtedly reflected on how to live out this season of reconciliation and conversion. I invite each of you to discern, both personally and in community, how to respond generously to the Holy Spirit’s calling during this Jubilee Year.

“Rejoice, full of grace!” This simple message calls us to renew our personal missionary commitment. Like Mary, we must read the signs of our times through the lens of God’s saving will. Following her example, we are called to respond wholeheartedly, offering ourselves completely to the person and work of the Savior. Now is the moment to deepen our generosity, to pursue excellence in our offering, to examine how we can live the Gospel more authentically. Trusting in God’s grace, we must let go of whatever limits our freedom, whatever holds back our dedication—our attachments, our self-centeredness, our individualism. For some, this may mean answering the call to a new mission. Let us embrace the joy of conversion and renewed dedication.

“Rejoice, full of grace!” The Holy Year presents us with a sacred opportunity to examine our mission to the poor and ensure we truly walk alongside them as bearers of Good News. Each local community, together with our charismatic family members, should prayerfully consider what concrete, courageous steps we can take to better serve those in need. We must step beyond our comfort zones to fulfill Jesus’s mission—healing broken hearts, bringing freedom to captives, restoring sight to the blind, and proclaiming the Good News to the poor (Luke 4:16-21). We cannot neglect our duty to care for our Common Home, ensuring all creation shares in this time of grace. We must not fail the poor who place their hope in us.

“Rejoice, full of grace!” The Jubilee is a time of reconciliation. As pilgrims of hope, we recognize that “communion creates relationships that touch our very souls, opening paths of healing and reconciliation in our communities and in the world” (PEC 4). “Our Units must make time to address the challenging issues we face in our communities and create space for healing and reconciliation” (PEC 8.4). Mindful that our communities can and should be “places of dialogue and healing, of forgiveness and reconciliation” (PEC 17.1), I ask for your generosity in finding ways to bring this message to life. Let us not miss this opportunity that God extends to us through His grace.

“Rejoice, full of grace!” This greeting must also echo among those whom we were sent to serve but where, through our failings and sin, “our presence has not always been good news.” With humility, we must seek forgiveness and work together toward reconciliation and healing: this remains “a priority for all Oblates” (PEC 12). I call upon all Units of the Congregation to strengthen their policies protecting minors and vulnerable adults, and to ensure all Oblates and collaborators receive proper training to become active agents of protection, healing, and reconciliation. As missionaries to the poor, we must act decisively during this Jubilee year.

“Rejoice, full of grace!” This Jubilee is also a time of grace for our family as we move forward in hope, working to sustain our mission to the poor. We must carefully consider how to strengthen our solidarity within the Congregation and our charismatic family. Let us dedicate all our resources—personal and communal—to serving the poor and nurturing communion within our entire family. These resources encompass our human talents, professional skills, material goods, experience, and holiness of life. Remember: none are so poor as to have nothing to give, nor so rich as to need nothing from others.

Like Mary, let us move forward with joy to fulfill God’s will with humility. May we walk purposefully, attentive to the Spirit’s promptings, to become collaborators with Jesus and Good News for all, especially the poor. May St. Eugene and our Blessed Oblates help us achieve profound personal and community conversion and respond generously in this time of jubilee grace.

Good journey to all pilgrims of hope in communion.

Blessings to all pilgrims of hope united in communion.

Luis Ignacio ROIS ALONSO, OMI
Superior General