Oblate Novena Prayer for Vocations 2020

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Oblate Novena Prayer for Vocations 2020

A number of years ago, along with some of the members of St. Patrick Pastoral Team, I had an opportunity to participate in the Amazing Parish Conference. We learned lots of practical ideas of how to be relevant Church in the modern world. The purpose of this movement is described as; “Amazing Parish exists to revitalize the Church by equipping her pastors and leaders with the training, resources and support they need to create vibrant and thriving parishes. Although every parish is unique, we’ve found that there are three common “building blocks” that form the foundation of an amazing parish.” Those blocks are: Prayer, Healthy Teamwork and Active Discipleship. And prayer is truly foundational for all strategies, vision and action.

We, as the Mazenodian Family, are often being reminded of the principal of prayer in our mission: “Oblate spirituality calls us to daily periods of silent prayer to rest in the Mystery of God. This experience makes us more generous in our vocational journey, in the way we relate to the poor and in apostolic community.” (Fr. Louis Lougen OMI: Letter to the Congregation on the Year of Oblate Vocations, December 8, 2017)

It has become a tradition that the Oblate family unite in prayer for vocations during the Oblate Novena Prayer beginning on May 21, the feast of St. Eugene de Mazenod, through May 29. This year we’ll be LIVE streaming the novena prayer from St. Patrick Parish, in the inner-city of Hamilton, ON, every day at 11:00am EDT. Tune in www.facebook.com/stpatrickshamilton or www.stpatrickshamilton.ca Following the LIVE stream the novena prayer will be also available on OMI Lacombe Canada Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/missionaryoblates

We will welcome some special guests though the week who will do some reading and reflection. You will also have a chance to “meet” the rest of the OMI Lacombe Canada Vocation Team.

Day 1: Fr. Cornelius Ngoka – Assistant General for Formation
Day 2: Fr. Susai Jesu – Oblate Vocation Team – West
Day 3: Fr. Ken Thorson – Provincial of OMI Lacombe Canada
Day 4: Fr. Arokia Vijay Deivanayagam – Oblate Vocation Team – Central
Day 5: Serena Shaw – Oblate Vocation Team – Oblate Associate
Day 6: Fr. Richard Beaudette – Oblate Vocation Team – East
Day 7: Fr. Tony O’Dell – Pastor of St. Patrick Parish Hamilton, ON
Day 8: Fr. Louis Lougen – Superior General
Day 9: Bp. Douglas Crosby – Hamilton Diocese

Let’s unite in prayer and boldly ask for new vocations to the Oblate religious life and priesthood. Let’s “leave nothing undared”!

Fr. M Courvoisier wrote: “Nil linquendum est inausum ut proferatur imperium Christi…”, states the text of the Preface of our Constitutions and Rules of 1826. As a literal translation, I suggest: “We must overlook nothing, leaving nothing undared, to advance, to extend the reign of Christ”. This apothegm has sustained and presently sustains the missionary thrust of the Congregation.”

Novena Prayer (text): https://frjarek.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/novena-prayer-2020.pdf

Invitation Video: https://youtu.be/IQdSNNLKXQg

Grateful for all your prayers,
Fr. Jarek Pachocki OMI
Vocation Director