BC District Associates

Fr. Andrzej Stendzina, OMI, Superior for BC District of OMI Lacombe Canada, invited all Oblates together to celebrate the Nativity of Mary on Monday, September 7th at St. Augustine’s Parish, Vancouver. Some of the priests gathered for a socially distanced supper in the hall, followed by greeting about 15 Associates as we walked into the church for liturgy. Acknowledging various anniversaries included the Renewal of Commitment for Oblate Associate Chuck Luttrell. Following Mass, Oblate Associate “Birthday Gal” Neysa Finnie-Brown provided treats as we continued to observe the protocols of covid-19, and just as importantly, celebrated what a gift we have in being Oblates.

Ruth Liston

On Tuesday, September 29, former Oblate parish St. Joseph’s in Chemainus (now part of All Saints Catholic Parish Ladysmith-Chemainus) hosted a Memorial Mass for Oblate Associate Ruth Liston (March 15, 1925-August 12, 2020). Thirteen people from Salt Spring Island, Nanaimo and Vancouver were happy to gather to remember Ruth now fully with God, and were handed paper mementos to take back to those Oblate Associates on Salt Spring Island who could not attend. Afterward, “Salve Regina” was sung as the accompanying photograph shows.

Memorial Mass Booklet – Ruth Liston

L-R: Behind: Frs Jim Dukowski and Jules Goulet, OMI. Front: Mike and Jo Creedon, Rita Balachandran, Lois Hobbs, Madeleine Cooper, Michael Doyle, Kacey Chee, Georgina Marcotte and David Sax.

Gatherings of Oblate Associates in British Columbia have adapted with the covid-19 pandemic. The Salt Spring Island group has included a meal in their own “bubble” gatherings.

The Mainland B.C. gatherings are still scheduled for the fourth Monday evenings of every month, and now includes Zoom. As this is new technology for most of us, there have been light-hearted “glitches” getting online but thanks to Oblate Associate Linda Arnold of Vancouver, we’ve have two “Zoom” meetings so far. We fruitfully continue to share our lives using as a springboard Bernard Dulliers “15 Days of Prayer With St. Eugene de Mazenod.”

We hope this gives a “taste” of how we continue to “walk in the footsteps of St. Eugene” as Oblate Associates in British Columbia.

Peace in Jesus our Lord and Mary Immaculate,

By David & Karen Sax – BC District Animators