Convocation 2026
Mission Hill Experience
September 28, 2026

We began the work of Convocation with the Mission Hill Experience in St. Albert on Monday, September 28.

Gathering at Star of the North, Sandy Prather, HOMI, gave a short presentation on the history of the charism on Oblate Hill, beginning with the arrival of Albert Lacombe, OMI and Bishop Alexandre Taché, OMI, in 1861. Bishop Taché instructed Albert to build a mission on the hill overlooking the Sturgeon valley.

READ SANDY PRATHER’S PRESENTATION HERE

Brother Anthony Kowalczyk, OMI, was also a key figure in the history of the Oblates in Alberta and his memory is kept alive, as evidenced by the flowers and tributes at his grave.

We were invited to wander and ponder the charism expressed in the physical elements of the hill – first chapel, parish church, grotto, retreat house, Foyer Lacombe as well as the names of so many of the pioneers who are buried in the Oblate section of the cemetery. We were to reflect on “how does the charism resonate within as we wander and ponder? It was a time of remembering, discovering, reflecting, praying and imbibing the charism as it has been lived and expressed by so many in this particular place, which is a foundational establishment of our congregation in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, as well as parts of northwestern Saskatchewan.

We ended the morning with Eucharist celebrated in St. Albert Parish before returning to the Convocation venue to continue the process of these days together.