Missionary Oblate attends Indigenous Pastoral Ministry Leadership Program in Canada

During the latest stage of initiation into Indigenous Pastoral Ministry this summer, Nigerian Missionary Oblate to Canada, Fr Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius OMI participated in a Pastoral Ministry Leadership Program, organized by Saint Paul University in collaboration with The Kateri Native Ministry, Ottawa.

Fr Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius, OMI. Photo courtesy of Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa, Canada

The program took place at Saint Paul University from August 17 to 21 and commenced with a one-day retreat based on indigenous spirituality. About thirty participants attended this year’s program, including priests, nuns, deacons, professors from Saint Paul University and other pastoral agents. Most of the participants were indigenous people. The program was organized around the relationship between Indigenous and Christian Spirituality.

The facilitators, who were either indigenous participants or experts on Indigenous and Christian Spirituality, were tasked with giving us the tools to recognize the relationship between Native and Christian worship. The program was well organized, highly motivating, greatly instructive and spiritually enriching. It was, in a nutshell, the perfect event for a solid initiation of a Christian perspective into indigenous Spirituality.

We concluded the end of our formation at an Oblate parish, Canadian Martyrs of Ottawa, with a beautiful prayer service to the sound of drums. 

Left, Fr Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius, OMI and program participants.  Photo courtesy of Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa, Canada

Missionary Oblates of Mary have vibrant ministries amongst indigenous peoples. It is a truly Oblate ministry deeply rooted in serving "poorest of the poor." Learn more about various Oblate Missions with Indigenous Peoples around the world.

By Fr Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius OMI.Canada.