Meet Some Oblate Associates
Cathy Holden Saretsky and Greg Saretsky
Hello, our names are Cathy (Holden) Saretsky and Greg Saretsky and we are members of the Oblate Associates of the Taché community.
I (Cathy), having grown up in St. Albert and attending the Oblate parish on “the hill”, was exposed to the Oblate charism throughout the years,( really without knowing it.). There were many dedicated priests and brothers who exemplified this, one of which was Fr. Duchesneau. I was greatly influenced by his instruction of theology and youth programs. He taught us to put our faith into action and offered opportunities to do this through the P.I.T.C.H. and S.P.I.C.E. choirs and placements to northern First Nation communities during the summers. We worked along side the Oblate missionaries, implementing children’s and teen’s activities both in the community and the church. Because of these experiences, as well as being involved in the parish, I grew deeper into the Oblate charism. Later, I attended Newman College and met many Oblate professors whose influence added to this commitment. I have worked with persons with disabilities for over 40 years and bring this ministry to the group.
My husband, Greg, is originally from Humboldt, Saskatchewan. He grew up with the spirituality of the Benedictine’s of Muenster and even worked at the abbey there in the guest department and library. He moved to Edmonton to study theology at Newman College and this is where he first met the Oblates. Many of the professors were from the Oblate order and their theology and charism really left their mark on him. After graduation, he also began working with persons with disabilities and had a client who worked at the Star of the North retreat house. Greg was very impressed with the sense of welcome and acceptance there, which also reflected the Oblate charism of working with the poorest of the poor.
When we met, we realized that the Oblate community and charism was a connection that we both really prized and wanted it to be a part of our life. Having heard of the Oblate Associate group, we decided to join as a way of having spiritual support on our Faith journey, with other Lay and Consecrated Oblates.
We have found that we have enjoyed learning about the charism of St. Eugene, with persons we trust and respect and who can help us apply the teachings to our every day lives and ministries. We look forward to deepening our relationships and understandings as we continue our journey.