Global Oblate Fundraiser
Dedicated individuals from Italy, Germany, Ireland, Poland, United States, Rome and Canada (members of the Global Oblate Fundraisers [GOF]) met in Saskatoon June 9 – 12. Members from Australia were unable to attend. The GOF, a service of the General Administration in Rome working with the General Treasurer’s office, are responsible for approving and overseeing funding requests from the Oblate missions around the globe.
An informative and productive meeting was completed with agreement in many important areas including a policy for safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, the use of social media, and the importance of maintaining a database of project requests and funding.
The development of a policy of protection for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults was first mentioned at the 2004 Chapter and raised again at the 2010 Chapter. In the 2016 Chapter a whole section was dedicated to this item and the Inter-Chapter in Poland in July 2019 will designate a full day to this topic.
The GOF recognize the importance of this policy and appreciate the congregational support that has brought this issue to the forefront. Supporting and protecting the most vulnerable is a core value of Oblate missions.
Consequently, the GOF has developed and agreed to a policy that funding requests will only be considered if the group requesting funds has a policy in place for the protection and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, as well as a qualified supervisor for the project.
A signed letter of support from the GOF will be sent to Fr. Louis Lougen, our Superior General, before the next Inter-Chapter meeting.
In addition to discussing the importance of maintaining the database designed for tracking all project requests, Fr. Shanil Jayewardena, the Director of Communication for the congregation in Rome, provided an informative, inspiring presentation on social media via Skype.
Fr. Shanil stressed the importance of sharing our stories (the joys, the sorrows, the feelings and emotions) and being present to the people where they are. Today that means having a strong presence on all social media platforms. We can no longer expect people to come to us; we have to go to the people. For some, the new church is through social media.
As well as tending to topics on the agenda, the GOF members enjoyed a presentation from Joe Gunn from the newly formed Centre Oblat at St. Paul’s University, Ottawa on Fundraising for Ministries of Justice; a visit to the Western Development Museum; and were able to spend quality time socializing with the Saskatoon Oblate community.
The value of face-to-face meetings was evident in the rich discussions and decisions reached by the group.
By Emily Cherneski
Back row: Marian Lis, OMI (Poland), Glenn Zimmer, OMI (Lacombe MAMI), Marc Dessureault, OMI (General Administration Treasurer), Joe Gunn (Centre Oblat), Mariusz Bosek, OMI (Poland), Flavio Facchin, OMI (Mediterranean) and Rocky Grimard, OMI (USA). Front row: Adam Filas, OMI (Assumption), Diane Lepage (Lacombe MAMI), Barbara McCauley (Ireland), Monika Abbing (Germany), Graciela Etchart (General Administration), Emily Cherneski (Lacombe MAMI) and Aloys Terliesner, OMI (Germany).
