Dare We Hope?
Convocation 2024
Wednesday, May 15, 2024

On Wednesday morning, the Core Team urged us to confront our current realities regarding personnel, resources, and ministry, reviewing key developments such as Fr. Warren Brown’s mandate letter and the provincial “Forward Together” process. Subsequent presentations offered a candid look at our Indigenous ministries, demographics, and elder care.

Presentation – Core Team

In the morning presentation, the Core Team invited us to situate ourselves in the reality of the moment regarding our personnel, resources, and ministry. We reviewed the building blocks that have led us to this time of decision and planning, starting with the mandate letter of Warren Brown, our Regional Councillor; our provincial “Forward Together” process; and the impetus from our last chapter, “Pilgrims of Hope in Communion” and “Care for the Earth”.

The presentations that focused on our Indigenous relationships, OMI demographics, ministries, and elder care were transparent and sobering. OMI Lacombe Canada has physical assets to be sold as needed to sustain personnel and ministry, including our responsibility for the Kenya mission. We realize as we drop four million a year that that is the future. It is projected that in ten years, our Lacombe membership will be 42 Oblates. How many of these will be necessary for internal ministry even if the restructuring of provinces takes place?

From the presentation, we see an embrace of Indigenous ministry in action and commitment, with hopeful steps forward. At the end of August, Oblates in active ministry will meet to move discernment forward.

By Ken Forster, OMI

CORE TEAM – FULL VIDEO PRESENTATION

Presentation – Indigenous Ministry

Fr. Mark Blom, OMI, highlighted the historical context of Indigenous ministry, tracing back to St. Eugene de Mazenod’s mission for evangelization. The complex legacy includes pressure for assimilation amid the Oblates’ efforts to translate the Bible into Indigenous languages while supporting residential schools. Responding to Archbishop Smith’s call two years ago, five Oblates now serve Indigenous communities in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. They offer diverse support, from chaplaincy in prisons to pastoral care in various parishes. At Sacred Heart Parish, cultural workshops and daily lunches foster healing and community for urban Indigenous populations. This reflects a commitment to reconciliation and humility in walking alongside Indigenous peoples today.

By Lucie Leduc – Executive Director – Star of the North Retreat Centre

Presentation – Discernment Process / Community / Ministry

Building on the input since the beginning of the Convocation, the Core Team led us in a discernment process on community and ministry. Steps taken by the team were outlined, with a stress on progress towards reconciliation and a renewed relationship with the Indigenous Peoples. Statistics revealing where we are at now in terms of ministries, personnel, finances and elder care were presented. Significantly, we were over 300 vowed Oblates at the outset of OMI Lacombe Canada Province; now we are 103. The fact that our legacy lies not in buildings but in our ministry and relationships was stressed.

As table groups, we shared our thoughts and feelings about the presentation, offered suggestions for moving forward, and how we might grow our communities. Elements that emerged are appreciation for transparency, gratitude for the hard work of the leadership team, our commitment to Indigenous ministry, a sense of realism, gratitude for the empowerment of women as equals, and hope and joy that the charism of St. Eugene will live on, even as we diminish.

By Bishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI