Come and See: Prayer – Mission – Community
“Young men who are discerning to join our formation programs will also experience cross-cultural exchange when visiting our houses of formation. It is here that we can display how the universal Church exists directly within the fabric of our communities. The witness of living out this hope on display can be a strong attraction for vocations (cf. C 53).” Acts of the 37th General Chapter 2022
Blessed Mario Borzaga Formation Community, also known as a scholasticate, in San Antonio, Texas is a place where young Oblates of Canada-US Region continue post-novitiate formation. It is indeed a cross-cultural community as it welcomes the Oblates from our missions in Kenya, Zambia, and other locations. It is a young, vibrant community embracing the journey and witnessing the Oblate vocation.
On the weekend of January 20-22, a number of inquirers entered the door of the scholasticate to experience the Oblate community and mission, to learn about the Oblate charism, to reflect and to prayerfully listen for God’s calling. The guiding theme of this “come and see” encounter was the Oblate prayer, mission and community. Those elements of our Oblate life are like a tripod that requires its balance.
The weekend began with a friendly soccer match followed by an informal gathering with pizza and wings. It gave an opportunity for the inquirers to meet with some of the scholastics and formators. Sharing stories, chatting about the day-to-day realities of life in formation, and building friendly relationships set the background for experiencing firsthand what the Oblate life and mission is all about.
The next day we visited some of the Oblate parishes in the area, Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos on West Side and Holy Family. Joining Madonna House, the Oblate retirement community, for Mass gave the young men the opportunity to encounter the wisdom and experience of our Oblate elders.
In the evening we visited the church of St. Mary’s located right downtown by the famous San Antonio River Walk. Enjoying the beautiful weather, the inquirers each took walks by the river with one of the scholastics for one-on-one conversation in the spirit of the journey to Emmaus. This peer-to-peer encounter offered the discerners the time to ask practical questions, share their own expectations and hopes, and more importantly, to discern their calling.
On Sunday morning we participated in the Mass at the Lourdes Grotto and Tepeyac de San Antonio. The relatively chilly weather for San Antonio didn’t cool off the enthusiasm and joy of praying together and showing support for those who are discerning their way of life. Fr. Juan Gaspar OMI, director of the pre-novitiate program, enthusiastically reminded us about this principle in discernment: “We have to humble ourselves to know that we are people in progress”.
You can watch the Mass here:
I greatly appreciate and welcome the opportunity to connect with the formators and vocation directors from the US Province in the true spirit of collaboration in, and support for, our vocational ministry efforts. Once again, the Oblate hospitality was exceptional! Thank you. Journeying with those young men discerning Oblate vocations gave me hope that God continues the call to missionary religious life. I hope and pray that Canadians will also hear and respond to this call.
While visiting San Antonio, TX, I also met with our scholastic (studying for the priesthood at the Oblate School of Theology) Br. Moses Wafula Kisha OMI from OMI Lacombe Canada – Kenya Mission. He’s doing well and looking forward to his regency in Canada later this year. Blessings on your formation journey!
The next “Come and See” experience is planned for October 2023 and will take place in the Oblate pre-novitiate in Belleville, IL – just next to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
By Jarek Pachocki, OMI
OMI Lacombe Canada – Vocation Director
