Resources for Deeper Reflection and Shared Communion

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Resources for Deeper Reflection and Shared Communion

During my travels around the Oblate world, communities are often looking for materials to foster sharing at the local level, whether for Personal, House, or District gatherings. The irony is that many are available, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start! Our Oblate Communications Service gives updates regularly. But we are inundated with information these days. It’s easy to skip another email or simply to forget what’s available as we move from one task to another. So below is a helpful list of recent materials mandated by the 37th Chapter.

There are three current areas of focus that have risen to the surface since the last General Chapter, “Pilgrims of Hope in Communion.” They are:

  • The Chapter Document itself, “Pilgrims of Hope in Communion,”
  • Our Constitutions and Rules on this 200th Year of their Promulgation, and
  • Laudato Sí, on its tenth anniversary.

There are two very rich, newly developed materials that are immediately available, and two more to be published within the next two months. Anyone wishing to do so can download them (now or soon) from our OMIWORLD Website.

First, the Chapter Document itself can be a rich source of reflection, found here: Acts of the 37th General Chapter | OMI World (Menu à Resources à Public Documents à Acts of the 37th General Chapter  ). Especially appropriate for discussion are Pope Francis’ address to us as a Congregation (Section I of the Chapter Document) and Section III, which deals with each aspect of its title: Pilgrims, Hope, and Communion. Since we are now almost halfway through the six years of this mandate, it’s a good time to review what we have done, not done, or still hope to do at the local levels. This coincides with the Inter-Chapter meeting later this month.

Second, on January 25th of this year, the Central Government published an animation manual for local use, found here: ANIMATION-MATERIAL-CCRR.pdf (Menu à Resources à Public Documents à ANIMATION MATERIAL CCRR). This booklet provides very brief materials on a number of topics involving our CCRR, with several different ways of reflecting on them. In developing it, 19 animators selected from all five Regions were trained to help local units and communities to use these materials. Your Unit Superior should be able to put you in touch with Regional Oblates or a Lay Associate to further assist you in using them for Oblates’ or Associates’ gatherings in your Unit. Use their expertise!

Third, the 14th edition of Studia Oblatio is nearing publication and will soon be available on the website. This new edition focuses on Constitutions 1-74 and 163-168, which are particularly suitable for reflection, as other CCRR address governance and administration. Each Constitution is thoroughly presented with its historical context, a list of additional articles for further reading, and practical insights. This comprehensive work compiles the thoughts of over 100 contributors from the Congregation and our broader Charismatic Family. An official announcement will precede its availability here: Oblatio | OMI World (Menu → Resources → Library → Oblatio).

Finally, in September, we will officially launch Praying with Laudato Sí. This is a booklet of 10 individual reflections from around the Oblate world, each just a few pages in length. They are designed to be used individually or grouped as desired for one or more days of reflection or even a retreat.

Of course, many other resources can be found on our website, as well as other locations. The greatest source for renewal is, however, the wisdom and experience of Oblates, prayerfully shared and discerned and in local communities. These tools can enhance our common mission and charism to serve the poorest and most abandoned as a Missionary Congregation with committed members, not simply as committed individuals with a Congregational support system.

By James Brobst, OMI – General Councillor for Canada-USA

Published on the OMI World website