Oblate Lay Associations Congress 2022 – An Update

A message from the Core Team

On behalf of the core team charged with planning and organising the participation of lay people associated with the Oblates of the Anglo Irish Province in the recent Oblate Lay Associations Congress, we would like to thank you very sincerely for the very many ways in which you engaged with the Congress and the pre-Congress activities.  Maybe you were present for the Congress at the Crewe Retreat Centre, perhaps in London, or maybe you joined in from home or with friends?  In whatever way you participated, we want to express our deep appreciation for that support.

In the lead up to the Congress we wanted to listen to what you had to say so that we could reflect that voice in our contribution at the European regional gathering for the Congress that took place in Kokotek, or indeed, in Rome, where Pauline played a leading role during the three days of the Congress.  Quite honestly, we were happily surprised by the level of engagement, both by the participation in the survey, and by the participation in our Conversation Evening that happened in April. 

Our goal was to listen to your voice, your experience of being an Oblate person, and to authentically represent that at the Congress.  

There was so much to listen to in Kokotek in the sharings and talks during the worldwide Congress.  For those of us who went to Kokotek, we learned so much from the other lay people we met there and who had travelled from all over Europe.  Needless to say, we shared many things in common and we heard about how lay people in the other countries of Europe are living out their lives in the context of the charism of the Oblates and of St Eugene de Mazenod.  We were enthused, inspired, excited, and hopeful by all that we heard and by those whom we met.  It was an exceptional experience.

We have consistently said that the Congress was part of a journey, never a destination, and the evidence of its success would be in what would happen afterwards.  We’re happy to tell you that since the Congress, the team has met twice and that sense of energy, of hope and of expectation, has continued for each of us.  Our work right now is to put together a plan or programme that can build on the success of the Congress, enabling all who participate in the Oblate mission, whether a parish, an outreach activity, the Lourdes pilgrimage, or any one of the many other Oblate missions throughout Britain and Ireland, to be part of this journey.  Fr Oliver Barry OMI has restated the message of the Congregation and of the Congress, which is that he is looking to the many lay associates of the Oblates to drive these activities forward.  This is a challenge that we must, and do, accept.  

We will be in touch with you before the end of the Summer once our outline plans are a little more developed.  We plan then to engage with you once more as we refine the outline plan into actions that can put in place locally.  A Zoom meeting will be arranged in the Autumn to continue the process begun at the Congress and it is our hope that you will find these plans relevant to you and the Oblate people engaged in your Oblate mission.

Thank you!

Tags: OLAC 2022