2014 Annual Partnership Meeting
- At October 17, 2014
- By Admin
- In Meetings & Events, News, Partnership News
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The Oblates and Missionary Oblate Partners gathered in Belleville, Illinois for their Annual Meeting on Friday evening, October 10. Against the back-drop of the natural beauty of The National Shrine of Our Lady of The Snows and Novitiate located in Godfrey, the gatherings, meeting and meals created a complete experience – perceived by the mind, seen through the eyes, absorbed through the heart and tasted on the palate.
Missionary Oblate Partners, Novitiate, Godfrey, Illinois
Saturday, October 11, 2014
The opening social and dinner, held in the dining room of the Shrine’s visitor center, was followed immediately by a tour of the offices of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate (MAMI) across the highway from the Shrine. The tour was led by Father Jim Chambers, OMI, and post-presentation was given by Father Billy Morell, OMI, Oblate Associate and Executive Directors of The Oblate Missionary Society, Inc. (OMSI). Since the mid-1940s, the mission of OMSI is to build caring, faith-based relationships with benefactors in order to provide spiritual and financial support to the ministry of the United States Province. OMSI’s ministry at MAMI and Oblate Missions (OM) in San Antonio is built on several foundations, to which the Oblates remain ever-faithful. The first, St. Eugene de Mazenod’s direct mail appeal in 1815 to help establish the first Oblate House, and later, in support of the Propagation of the Faith and Oblates when their missionary endeavors extended beyond France. Moreover, OMSI understands and responds to the benefactors’ needs and requests for prayers. Finally, OMSI helps benefactors live their call to participate more deeply in the life of the Church which is fundamentally missionary. The eye-opening tour unveiled each step of the self-contained and finely-tuned direct mail process and personal outreach to benefactors, and demonstrated the care and ministry given to the Oblates’ benefactors, reflects the “reach”, i.e., extension of the charism, and the resources required to maintain its continuous donor outreach and operation.
On Saturday morning, the Partners headed for nearby St. Louis to take in two of its most famous sites: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and Gateway Arch. They received a personally-guided tour of the Cathedral Basilica. The Cathedral Basilica is one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world, covering 83,000 square feet, and containing 41.5 million pieces of glass tessare, employing over 7,000 colors. En route back to Belleville, the Partners had the chance to view the Gateway Arch from various vantage points. Sizable waiting lines prevented the willing Partners from taking the capsule-ride to the top of the Arch.
After Saturday’s lunch, the Partners were honored by the presence and expertise of 94 year-old Reverend Clarence Zachman, OMI.
Rev. Clarence Zachman,OMI shown in the Main Lobby of the Visitors’ Center at the starting point of the tour as
Artie Pingolt looks on.
He provided a history-packed, guided tour of beautiful grounds and the iconic amphitheater, completed in 1962 as a national Oblate center for devotion to the Blessed Mother. The visitor’s center, Shrine Hotel and Church of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows were added over the years. As rich as the tour by Father Clarence was, it was too short to do justice to “an experience of the Shrine” and its extensive ministries, programs and facilities. For the record, Father Clarence stood during the entire length of the Trolley tour of the grounds.
By mid-afternoon, the rainy skies began to lighten as the Oblates and Partners made their way to the Novitiate located in Godfrey, Illinois. As if to greet the Partners after nearly two days of continuous rain, the sun shone brightly through the tall pine and oak trees. The program included the Partnership Annual Review via PowerPoint, a presentation of the Oblate Ecological Initiative by its director Sister Maxine Pohlman, SSND. Sunday vigil Liturgy followed and then the dedication of the John Collet OMI Room.
Rev. John Collet, OMI, Rev. Bill Antone, OMI, Provincial,
Rev. Thomas Horan, OMI, Novicemaster, and
John and Gee-Gee Whitehurst, Oblate Partners
As a perfect ending to a perfect day, the late afternoon sun gave way to a spectacular sunset over the wide Mississippi shimmering below the bluff where the novitiate is located. Not to be outdone by a beautiful sunset, Father Jacques “Jack” Lau, OMI and Novices prepared a sumptuous harvest organic dinner. Father Jack is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and shared his gifts and talents in abundance. The supper’s vegetables were harvested from La Vista Garden, an organic garden maintained by the surrounding community – located on the grounds of the Novitiate. Truly, the supper experience was beyond adequate expression and gratitude to Father Jack Lau, OMI and the Novices.
Rev. Jack Lau, OMI, Chef.
Graduate, Culinary Institute of America
The evening concluded with a presentation of “The Oblate Novitiate Experience” which included a brief biographical talk by each of the four Oblate Novices. They are: Vincent (“Vinnie”) Adaikalasamy, NOMI, from India, Daniel James (“Jim”) Bourg, NOMI from St. Paul, Minnesota, Thomas (“Tom”) Gerald Franklin, NOMI, from Buffalo, New York, and Antonio Guerrero, NOMI, from Leon, Nicaragua.
Oblate Novices (NOMI) with Rev. Lou Studer, OMI, Vicar-Provincial. Left to Right: Vinnie Adaikalasamy, Jim Bourg, Rev. Lou Studer, OMI,
and Antonio Guerrero. Missing from photo: Tom Franklin
The Oblate Partners’ Autumn experience brings a fruitful harvest of deeper appreciation for the Oblates, the Oblate charism, required resources, and the great potential of the collaborative efforts of the Oblates and Oblate Partners through their bonds of spiritual friendship and practical experience.
…and God is Present…
Diane Conocchioli,
Missionary Oblate Partnership
