Happy Feast Day!
“Happy Feast Day to all those who live the Oblate charism!” is the Superior General’s greeting to us as we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and as we begin the year of Oblate Vocation from December 8, 2017– January 25, 2019. Each of us is invited to pray the Oblate Prayer for Vocation in such a way that we renew our faith in God and in young people and reaffirming our belief that God continues to call young people to religious life and their desire to generously respond to the prompting of the Spirit.
As I reflect on my own discernment process, I remember the quiet voice of the Spirit drawing me to consider the possibility of becoming a religious, but it was the joyful witness and generosity of an Oblate Brother who gave me the courage to make that possibility a reality. One day, he told me that his novice master reminded his group that it was the task of each Oblate to find his replacement. Without realizing the sacrifice or the commitment required, his sharing made me boldly proclaim that I would be his replacement. His gentle invitation helped me to recognize and explore the call of the quiet voice of God.
Young people today need the same encouragement and each of us has the responsibility to make our charism known and invite young people to consider our way of life.
The theme of this year of Oblate Vocations is “The Joy and Generosity of Oblate Life” and we are invited to keep these two words in our thoughts and near our hearts throughout this year and to rediscover the dynamism of growing into our oblation and becoming more fully Oblate throughout our lives. In our prayer and the witness of joy and generosity in our lives may we awaken a vocational interest in young people.
Also, as we begin the year of Oblate Vocations, to support the members of our Province who have accepted to take the lead in promoting vocations in our Province. A special thank you to Mark Blom & Mario Azrak who this week are in Vancouver, B.C. promoting vocational awareness in the Oblate parishes, Vancouver College and B.O.C.’s in the area. Please keep this endeavor in your prayer this week.
By Jim Bleackley, OMI
Prayer for Oblate vocations
Holy Father, we come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make of their whole life a total oblation to you, to become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and to proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you en-kindled in Saint Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption. Mary Immaculate, who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray.
