O-BOC Pilot: Online Community

After much discussion and planning, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, we hosted our first afternoon ‘Online Basic Oblate Community’ (O-BOC). This ZOOM gathering offers Professed Oblates and Associates from across the country a monthly opportunity for community and ongoing formation, especially those living in places where in-person gathering is not possible, or for those who are facing mobility challenges.

We started the afternoon O-BOC at 3:00 pm MDST, after opening the ZOOM link thirty minutes earlier to encourage informal conversations. Following an opening song (Circle of Friends) and opening prayer, we spent thirty minutes witnessing a ’round the screen’ introduction of the 30 people present. It was so wonderful to see so many familiar faces spanning from B.C. to Ontario. We then posed some questions for the whole group to consider:  What are your expectations of this OBOC? Should it be an open group (able to join when you are unable to attend your local BOC in person) or a closed group (for those without a group to attend in person or faced with health challenges)?

There was a real sense of synodal listening that included the following comments:

-If these gatherings get to be large, great!  If not, great.
-Good to be with people; such a large geography.  How else will we get to know one another?
-Biggest gift of being with and knowing each other.
-Sharing from our hearts; gives permission for others to be comfortable.
-Sharing is life giving.
-Totally agree with this on line gathering.
-This will help us get into ministries together.
-There will be no shortage of topics; I know my own Oblate heart.
-We are on the same journey.
-Anything I would say or what to hear would be very rich.
-Open ourselves to the unknown, to see what it has to give us.
-I have difficulty sharing; but Oblates/Associates help me get out of that anxiety.
-Let’s take advantage of this technology.
-This is another form of community; it is exciting.
-Another concept of Oblate Community; we can have access to this.

We were pleased with the openness and eagerness expressed by all those present when we introduced the structure we intend to use for ongoing formation in the months ahead using the CC&RR Animation Tools provided by the Congregation during the 37th Chapter.

We look forward to meeting together on-line with many Oblates and Associates who will join us from across the country and beyond. All are welcome!

By Dan and Joanne Friedt
Provincial Oblate Associate Animators
OMI Lacombe Canada