Oblate News

Update on the 36th General Chapter

Rome, September 14th – October 8th

Fr. Louis LOUGEN, the Superior General, officially opened the General Chapter on 14 September 2016 at the Casa LaSalle in Rome. This is a “Jubilee Chapter” in two senses: the Oblates of Mary Immaculate are celebrating the 200^th anniversary of their founding; and it is taking place during the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy for the universal Church.

Prior to the official inauguration of the Chapter, the 82 members of the Chapter and the 38 priests, Brothers and scholastics who are serving as Auxiliary Personnel, gathered with Oblates from various communities around Rome and with invited guests to celebrate Eucharist and call down the blessings of the Holy Spirit on the assembly.

The Chapter began with the liturgical celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross of Jesus. In his homily, Father General invited the Oblates “…to ask God for the gift of faith as we open this General Chapter, the Chapter of our jubilee. We come here, first of all, as men of faith, and this means men who have vision, who see deeply what is not evident and who possess wisdom. We believe that Jesus brought us here as his missionaries. He desires to breathe the newness and power of the Spirit on us, this special body of Oblates called the General Chapter.”

On September 17th the Region of Europe to presented its report to the Congregation. Five provincials took turns in identifying the reality and challenges within the calls of conversion from the 35^th Chapter in 2010: Mission, Community and Formation.

Fr. Raymond WARREN (Anglo-Irish) gave a general introduction to the report. Fr. Alberto GNEMMI (Mediterranean) spoke on the Mission in Europe. Fr. Antoni BOCHM (Poland) focused on the challenges and problems that face the Oblates. Fr. Stefan OBERGFELL (Central European) spoke of formation; Fr. Vincent GRUBER (France) talked about community life.

Most Rev. Louis Lougen, OMI reports to the Chapter

On September 19th the Superior General, Fr. Louis LOUGEN, reported today on the “state of the Congregation,” giving a summary of his sixty-six page written report which the members of the Chapter had received and were able to study before their coming to Rome.  After Fr. General’s report, the Capitulars moved into regional groups to discuss what they had heard and to formulate some comments and questions to be presented to Fr. General.

In the afternoon session, Fr. General had divided questions coming from the five regional groups into various categories: Mission, Specific Ministries, Leadership, Apostolic Community and Formation. His responses touched on many themes that he has experienced and reflected upon during his six years as Superior General. The topics included such things as restructuring; the role of the Superior General in transferring Oblates from Unit to Unit; the priority of the mission in every aspect of our Oblate lives, and many others.

Reflecting on Wednesday 21st activities Fr Ray writes:

We have spent the past week listening to the many Reports and sharing on them. Today, I would say that the past government is now dissolved and we are all together as members of the Chapter beginning now to face our present and future.

The emerging key issues are what you would expect:
– Mission that includes our interculturality  and what that means for this time.
– The deeper integration of JPIC in the Congregation and throughout all our local communities and personal lives.
– Our inclusion and relationship with laity and the particular mission with young people and creating the environment for vocation discernment.
– Formation that is appropriate and responds adequately to the world ad environment of today.
– Authentic apostolic community that is true and sincere for the God of the mission
– A call to look more intently at the way we address the sharing of financial resources across the Congregation and how we might better relate on the needs for mission and formation, with particular regard to building up more local responsibility in regard to development  for the good of the mission.

We will, I’m sure, during these days hear and discuss more on these important missions for the very life of the Congregation.

Current Superior General, Most Rev. Louis Lougen (R) greets the former Superior General, Bishop Wilhelm Steckling.

Special prayer service for Day Two’s Theme: “Reconciliation”

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If you would like to know more about the General Chapter have a look at the following introduction: