Aix 2025: Charting New Paths for Oblate Laity
Last week, August 3-10. 2025, in Aix-en-Provence, lay people from all around the world gathered together to the Holy Spirit and discern new ways forward for promoting the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod among the laity.
They came from all five Oblate regions and brought with them hopes and ideas that they can use to live the charism of the founder in deeper communion, with stronger identity, built on excellent formation, so as to meet the poor of the world in mission. The delegates participated in extensive preparations for the gathering, including online sharing and briefings, as well as spiritual discernment on the central themes. They read foundational documents, such as the Acts of the 37th General Chapter, the Aix 1996 Congress document, and the 2016 Directory of Oblate Associations, among others, to understand the past so as to look to the future with concrete actions and proposals.
Beginning the week with personal sharing and communal formation was an important first step in being open to the will of the Holy Spirit. Participants shared their own experiences of the charism of St Eugene de Mazenod, as well as their personal journey of faith. Delegates also shared presentations and data from each region detailing the known state of lay associations and lay associates in their region. This sharing allowed them to know each other better, so that later in the week they would be able to respond to the needs of Oblate Laity today. The first part of the week finished with an important ‘pilgrimage’ through Aix-en-Provence, led by Fr Paolo of the Aix community, to understand the beginnings of the congregation as well as the beginnings of the work of God in the life of St Eugene.
Delegates then set to work on the important task of discerning the will of the Holy Spirit in the gathering, to understand what God is asking of the Oblate laity at this moment. A set of four sessions of synodal listening began on Wednesday asking key questions of the delegates:
- What is my dream regarding a common vision in the Oblate laity?
- What are some concrete steps we can make to grow in communion?
- What is the kind of formation we dream of and how can we make it happen?
- What do I dream for regarding ‘mission,’ in a co-responsible way, for Oblate laity and what do we need to do to get there?
Through this process of listening, sharing, reporting in plenary, and writing, the delegates have tried to listen to God and find new ways forward for Oblate laity to be a more united family, and to take up the charism of St Eugene to announce the Good News to the poor.
Friday was a day for the delegates to be immersed in the later years of St Eugene’s life through time spent in Marseille. They visited key sites in his life, such as where the Marseille mission was held, and where the first General Chapters were held while he was still alive, and this culminated with Mass celebrated by the Superior General at the tomb of St Eugene in the cathedral. This was a moment of great communion of Oblate laity, professed Oblates, and the communion of Saints as we gave thanks for the life of St Eugene which has led to more people knowing the love of Jesus Christ, the crucified saviour.
The whole week was surrounded with important moments of prayer which were prepared by the regional groups. Each day began with morning prayer, creatively animated with music and action, and included the celebration of the Eucharist before lunch each day. Forming their spiritual lives and growing in love for Jesus Christ was an essential foundation to the work of the gathering, to ensure that the house is not built on sand.
As delegates leave to return home, they have prepared a report of their work, including proposals and recommendations for action, that will be shared in the near future. Their hope is that these proposals set a trajectory for the future for Oblate laity that brings people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, through the Charism of St Eugene de Mazenod, and announces Christ’s love for the world.
By Kyle Hoad
Published on the OMI World website
