A Charism – when planted, its growth will surprise you
A charism is a gift, and while we all know this gift comes from the Holy Spirit it still must be planted – but how. Well it appears that this was understood by Fr. Jette who carefully avoided defining the Oblate charism and instead preferred to tell its story.
Telling the story, as we all know requires patience, for this method takes years before one sees its fruits. The older Oblates know this only too well for the Oblate charism continues to be told in story and sometimes with surprise that it has established such strong roots.
In China there is a tree, called the Moso tree which serves as a good metaphor for surprising and strong growth. When it is planted it does not break the soil for up to five years however once the sprout appears above the ground it grows three feet a day to a total height of 90 feet. And while this is fact, the lesson lies in those first five years. During those five years it is growing an extensive root system beneath the soil, in fact so extensive that it spreads in every direction for great distances. Imagine growing three feet a day to a total of 90 feet.
While the Oblate charism was planted in the heart of St. Eugene it is fair to assume that he could not have seen it growing as strong and vital as it is today. Perhaps we can say that his service to both the poor and his brothers were those extensive roots that enabled its growth.
This past November on U.S. Thanksgiving my wife and I flew to Boston to bury one of my older brothers. He had lost his wife 10 years ago to cancer and he lived well in the embrace of his five kids and their families consisting of 11 grandchildren. Pete, like all us five kids, grew up in the state of Maine in a devout home dedicated to service. My brother and his wife were able to keep their faith active and strong, however it only translated into one of his five children. In many ways it is a parable for today – good kids from good homes doing so much good but not active in the church.
Every few years I would get to see Pete’s family and marvel at how successful they were in life and in love. While church attendance was rare I was always impressed how they looked out for each other as well as for those around them especially the poor and needy. They were, in fact, much like their dad looking for ways to care for others.
Many insights came during the five hour wake and hearing stories of Pete’s life from his kids gave clear evidence that his generosity to those in need had a profound impact on his children. Pete spent his career working the Amtrak rails leaving at 4 am and while his kids knew he worked long and hard hours it was the fact that he would leave each day with a jacket, a blanket or whatever he could find to lessen the pain of some homeless man he would meet each day.
I recall well how Pete was so proud that the Boston Archdiocese was the largest provider of social services in the Boston area and how his pride was so shaken in the abuse crisis. But sixty-five years later Pete remained at heart my 14 year old sibling who got in trouble at home because he took his first pay (cash in those days) and bought all the kids in the neighbourhood treats at the corner store. The charism is seen in the story.
Pete never encountered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate but he would have been proud to know them because he shared much of the same charism. So it is in the story that we tell of the charism and of the Oblates and Associates who give witness to what St. Eugene planted 200 years ago.
By Chuck Luttrell – Provincial Associate