Fr. Provincial’s Reflection on the Convocation and the New Moment
Shortly after the Convocation, the Core Team met with Dr. Carol Kuzmochka, D. Min., our facilitator, to have an initial reflection of our experience of Convocation 2018. We wanted to review our objectives that we set before the event, to see if we met the stated goals. Firstly, we had a goal “For participants to have a life-giving, hopeful experience of Living the Call and Encountering each other in community” In hand we had a summary of the evaluation forms of those who filled them out. Yes, we could say “Amen” to that. Comments like, “Incredible experience of solidarity” were both written and verbally expressed. It truly was evident that Oblates and Associates enjoyed being together and renewing our friendships and celebrating the gift of one another.
Dr. Carol Kuzmochka, D. Min.
Other objectives included “good honest conversation about where we are and where we need to go”, “to discern/ find our way forward with important current themes /topics”, “to open the way for discernment for choosing the next leadership”. This was one of the topics for our “break-out” groups one evening. A good number of Oblates came to share ideas in relationship to this as we are just over a year away from a new leadership team being installed. This past week Fr. General and the General Administration contacted us with their preferred time-table regarding the naming of the new Provincial. They want to initiate in OMI Lacombe Canada, a process that has been embraced in other Provincial Administrations. i.e. They want to name the Provincial in the Jan-Feb General Council Meeting and the Councillors at their May meeting, thereby giving more time to discern Council and assure that the incoming Provincial has those who will best serve with him. Therefore, the consultation necessarily will take place September -December 2018. A process will be developed now to be in place by September.
Bishop Sylvain Lavoie in his Facebook summary stated, “Fr. Roger Schroeder, SVD encouraged us to be intentional in moving from the norm of ethno-centrism (my culture) to interculturality (the Reign of God) involving a mutuality of cultural interaction. He used three biblical icons of transformation: (Canaanite woman, Samaritan woman and the Good Samaritan) challenging us into a paradigm shift. Interculturality is grounded in the inner nature of the Trinity as family, relationships, over-flowing love and involves prophetic dialogue.”
Fr. Roger Schroeder, SVD
Fr. Roger Schroeder, SVD gave fine presentations, breaking open the topic of “Interculturality”. We know this is a special “Call” of the 36th Chapter to OMI Lacombe Canada. The reality is that our vowed Oblates in the Province originated from twenty different countries. We will either, in the next number of years, embrace “interculturality” or we will choose “to live together separately”, according to Anthony Gitten’s terminology. This can become a conversation that deeply enriches our community lived experience in the next few years. These efforts will necessarily be part of all District and Community gatherings. Storytelling! Even as the disciples on the road had hearts that were burning when the story was told by the master, were not our hearts burning when our own brothers and sisters spoke of the marvellous things that were being done with Inuit, with prisoners, with First Nations, with Retreat Centres, with young adults, vocation promotion, Kenya, MAMI, Associates and JPIC. Yes! not only burning but filled with pride.
Jennifer Henry, Executive Director of KAIROS Canada, was not our first choice to lead us into the arena of the TRC and “Calls to Action”, but was truly “God sent”. Phil Fontaine due to health concerns was unable to commit to being with us, and Jennifer came and, as a non-aboriginal, spoke gave a stirring and impassioned talk that moved us to see what God is calling us to be and do, if we are to be faithful to God’s call to action. Jennifer, encouraged us to intentional risk-taking and shared a fascinating biblical spirituality of solidarity with the oppressed, based on Pharaoh’s daughter and the Hebrew midwives resisting the oppression. We need to withdraw our consent to the systems that oppress others and privilege us. As Sylvain mentioned in his Facebook page, “She shared a goal of equity and mutuality where there is no oppressed and in which our name changes from colonizer to friend, repairers of the breach.” Can I be an ally to the Indigenous peoples of Canada? In practical responses to the 96 Calls to Action we may continue to remain uncertain, but I do believe the Spirit settled in our hearts and helped each of us to respond, “Here I am. I know now that I am an Egyptian. I know now that I must stand as an ally even though it undermines my own privilege.”
Jennifer Henry, Executive Director – KAIROS Canada
Just today Phil Fontaine left a message on my answering machine regarding the aftermath to the public statement of the CCCB announcement concerning “Apology” by Pope Francis. He would like to speak with me about reactions he has heard from those within the church. Where to from here?
Core Team of OMI Lacombe Canada – (From left to right) Frs. Ken Thorson, Ken Forster and Jim Bleackley, OMI
The Core Team in answer to consultation with the Province regarding our leadership received many appreciative comments about our efforts as a team, but we also received some serious questions regarding a lack of consultative dialogue with local District leadership and individual Oblates. Some questioned whether we had abandoned the initial Vision for OMI Lacombe Canada Province and stuck it in a drawer. The truth is that we have moved to more centralization of authority and much less subsidiarity. This is particularly true in relation to transfer of the men as we became more aware of the Provincial needs. We have just completed consultation regarding ministries in the Province. A list of “Obediences” will be available to the Province next week. Thank you for your generosity in responding to calls.
Blessings everyone! May the long-awaited Spring bring joy in our step.
By Ken Forster, OMI
