The third day of the Inter-Chapter had the Latin America region presenting to the session on their region. Frs José Ariel MARTINEZ and Jésus FUERTES presented the joys and the challenges of the Latin America region. The social problems and human rights violations are some of the issues that the region faces. The Inter-chapter participants commended the Oblates of the region for the work they do in trying to implement the vision of the 36th General Chapter especially through media channels such as the four Oblate radio stations present in the region.
The participants concluded the morning with a moment of sharing in small groups. This sharing allowed the participants to reflect on the reports presented by the regions. The time of sharing in linguistic groups was concluded by regional Eucharistic celebrations. The afternoon was dedicated to the feedback by groups to all participants. The groups gave a great appreciation for the work and the presentations that were done by the regions. These group feedbacks were divided into three crucial questions that accompanied the groups in their reflections. These questions were:
- What set my heart on fire during the regional report presentations?
- What are the areas of resistance that still exist? And lastly,
- What important aspects were missing in the regional reports?
This was a great time of fraternal sharing aimed at the advancement of the 36th General Chapter vision and its implementation. The groups gave concrete proposals to help advance the work and mission of the Oblates throughout the world.
Day 4: Report from General Administration
The fourth day of the inter-chapter session in Obra began with group photo sessions. This set forth a relaxed yet focused climate for the proceedings of the day. There were other reasons to celebrate on this fourth day of the inter-chapter. These included the 243rd Independence Day for the United States of America, and the 10th priestly anniversary of Fr Antonio PONCE from the US province.
The participants of inter-chapter were very eager to hear the report from the Central Government of the congregation. This report, presented by members of the General Administration, gave an overview of how the Central Government has responded to the calls of the 36th General Chapter. It covered all six calls of the chapter. It also put forth the vision for the next three years paving the path for the next General Chapter.
In the discussions between the Central Government and the participants of the inter-chapter, some of the issues that stood out (amongst many others) were: ongoing formation, (Oblate) missionary identity and the structuring of the JPIC. A number of committees have been setup by the Central Government to share the tasks of implementing the decisions that were taken at the last General Chapter. The afternoon session was dedicated to the call to re-structure some of the units. The Cruz del Sur, OMISA and Mediterranean provinces shared their experiences on the journey to the restructuring of their units.
The Superior General, Fr Louis LOUGEN, thanked the regions for the work done so far in putting into action the six calls of the General Chapter at the regional level. A call to a more vibrant participation of the laity to the mission and charism of the congregation was made.
Day 5: Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Adults
The inter-chapter is drawing to the end of its first week in Obra. The Church has been very much challenged by the sexual abuse scandals on minors and vulnerable adults. The Church has continuously called all religious congregations to reflect on how they handle the sexual abuses of minors and vulnerable adults. It is in response to the calls of the Church and the 36th General Chapter that the inter-capitulars dedicated to a session on safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults.
Mrs. Suzanne Phelan, designated liaison officer for the Anglo-Irish province, animated the day. She gave rich personal and professional experiences to the inter-capitulars pointing out important issues around the sexual abuse cases. She made an invitation to help, not only the victims of abuse, but also the perpetrators. She invited the superiors to deal with the cases with great humanity.
Suzanne reminded the inter-capitulars of the Gospel call to allow the little ones to come to contact with God. The responsibility of the Church is to listen to the voices of the little ones. The discussions amongst inter-capitulars revealed how much the congregation is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Day 6: Evaluation of the First Week
The sixth day of the Inter-chapter meeting focused on what has been going on during the first week. Frs Leo PHILOMIN and Adriano TITONE led the session inviting the inter-capitulars to take time and reflect on the week’s events. The main objective of this session was to look back at how the calls of the 36th General Chapter have been lived out in our missionary activities since the end of the Chapter.
The inter-capitulars noted that all of the six calls of the chapter have been integrated into the missionary activities of each unit. However, this integration and implementation of the calls have not been an easy journey. Each unit has tried to prioritise the manner in which they respond to them according to the resources they have. There was a strong call from the inter-capitulars to a stronger collaboration within units and at a regional level. The calls to interculturality, to the restructuring of units, and to focus on the first and ongoing formation, were amongst those at the centre of the day’s proceedings.
Day 7: First day of Retreat
During the weekend, the inter-capitulars had some time to rest and visit the city of Poznan. The visits included a tour of the city square and the Holy Eucharist and a festive meal at the provincial house of the province of Poland. The archbishop of Poznan, His Grace Stanislaw Gadecki, welcomed the inter-capitulars to his episcopal palace later during the day. In his address, he thanked the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate for the great work they do within the archdiocese of Poznan. He praised their zeal in the pastoral activities of the dioceses.
After some time of rest and visits, on Monday, the inter-capitulars entered into a 2-day retreat. This retreat comes to revive the inter-capitulars and remind them that all missionary activities are centred on the person of Christ. The retreat-master, Fr. Vlastimil KADLEC, reminded the inter-capitulars that the charism of the founder is still alive and vibrant in our contemporary society. Centred on the experience of the disciples of Emmaus, he invited the inter-capitulars to take some time and heave three deep sighs which he referred to the ‘three oufs’. The first sigh is of gratitude, the second of being assured, and the last sigh of relief. His morning and afternoon sessions were centred on love: the love of God for the world, and his loving presence in times of trial. He reminded the inter-capitulars that God’s Love is at the centre of life. He insisted on the fact that The Love of God is founded on what humanity gives to God, it is about what God has done and continues to do for humanity.
Constitution 4 reminds all Oblates that the Cross of Christ is at the centre of their mission. It is in line with this constitution that the day concluded with a celebration of the Cross. As Fr. Vlastimil had greatly insisted on reconciliation and mutual love in community life, time for personal confession was accorded to all inter-capitulars.
Day 8: Retreat Day II
Today the inter-capitulars entered into the second and last day of the retreat animated by Fr. Vlastimil KADLEC. The retreat is centred on the experience of the two disciples on a journey to Emmaus. On this second day, the inter-capitulars were invited to look at the past and also to consider the future.
The current experiences can be influenced by what happened in the past and they can equally be conditioned by the hope of the future. To live a truly Christian life is to live in the present, Fr. Vlastimil said to the inter-capitulars. Christians are invited to use their past experiences and their hopes for the future as supportive structures of a meaning present. The Eucharistic celebration presents the dimension of the past, the last supper, and it also has an eschatological dimension as we await the return of our Saviour. Fr. Vlastimil insisted that these two dimensions are to help enlighten our life in the present moment.
The disciples of Emmaus presented their disappointments, doubts and deceptions to the Risen Lord. For spiritual growth, Fr. Vlastimil invited the inter-capitulars not be afraid of questioning all that they took for absolute truth. Oblates should not be afraid to question their faith, their personal and community life. The process of questioning our realities leads to a true and deeper friendship with Christ.
Frs. Louis DIEDHIOU, Paulus KHAN, and Adriano TITONE shared their experiences of interculturality, interreligious dialogue and the new faces of the poor respectively. Their witnesses illustrated how the congregation is responding to the calls of the 36th General Chapter within different parts of the Oblate World.
Prior to Eucharistic celebration, which concluded the day, the inter-capitulars were invited to enter into the experience of Emmaus. They were sent out two by two to listen to each other’s history of salvation “zikkaron”, to share their joys and challenges, and lastly to give praise for all that the Lord has done for their units.
