Notre-Dame-du-Cap: A Wind of Renewal Begins

With an average age of 85, the Oblates of Notre-Dame-du-Cap might seem like a group nearing the end of their journey. However, during their provincial assembly this week, they discovered that a new wave of renewal is just beginning to sweep through their mission.

A day of listening and discernment

On March 10, 2026, about forty of us gathered in Richelieu for our provincial assembly. These moments are more than just meetings. They are times of grace that allow us to look back on the road we have traveled, to see where we are currently serving, and to discern where the Spirit is leading us next.
This year feels especially significant for our community. We are celebrating two centuries since our Constitutions and Rules were approved, and we are also marking 185 years of our presence here in North America. Notre-Dame-du-Cap has a long history because it is the mother province of the whole continent. But we also need to be honest about our present situation when we think about that long history.

An aging province with a living mission

Our province is no longer young after almost 200 years of history. To be honest, neither are we. Today, we have 79 Oblates with perpetual vows and one in formation. Our eldest brother is 101, our youngest is 43, and our average age is about 85.
If we only look at these numbers, it would be easy to tell a story of decline. It may appear that we are a province nearing the end of its journey. However, the atmosphere during this first day of the assembly told a much more hopeful story.

A Conversation in the Spirit

We chose to work using a method called Conversation in the Spirit. This is a way of sharing and listening that comes from the synodal way of the Church. It invites us to listen carefully to the experiences of our brothers and to figure out together what the Spirit is saying to our province today.
From our very first conversations, it was clear that despite our age, we still believe in the vitality of the mission entrusted to us. In our shared prayers and moments of brotherhood, we felt something real. It felt like a light at the end of the tunnel or a fresh wind of renewal beginning to rise.

A missionary family wider than ourselves

This momentum is not just a feeling. Our provincial report gave us concrete signs of hope. We are starting to realize that the Oblate mission is not just our responsibility. Today, the Oblates, our associates, our youth, and the many laypeople who work with us live it out.
We are learning that our missionary family is much bigger than we thought. No matter how old we are or how many of us there are, everyone is a part of this mission that has always been bigger than us.

Listening to the Spirit

Our current challenge is to understand what the Spirit is communicating to the Oblates of Notre-Dame-du-Cap today. We are thinking about how we can share our mission and spirit with more people who are already walking with us. We want to open up more space for the Spirit to call new young people and other laypeople to join this family.

In the next few days, we will discuss these questions further. But even on the first day, a conviction is starting to form. Even in the heart of our fragility, the Spirit is still bringing forth a future for our mission.

By Nnaemeka Ali, OMI

Published on the OMI World website