The Oblate Charism at the Service of the Poor

In September Fr. Kennedy Katongo, O.M.I. died of a heart attack at the Oblate General House in Rome.  He was just 36 years old.   A Native of Zambia, Fr. Kennedy was the Director of the Oblates international Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office for the past two years.  A few weeks prior to his death Fr. Kennedy wrote this article about the priorities of the JPIC ministry.

The late Fr. Kennedy Katongo, OMI

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministry is at the heart of our mission as Missionary Oblates.  JPIC is our way of life and our way of mission and forms an integral part in our process of evangelization.

Therefore, the ministry of JPIC is to be able to discern in light of the Gospel what is happening in our world today – our common home.  JPIC ministry assists us to see more deeply the structures that generate poverty, devastation of the environment, conflict and violence and how we might more fully make the values of the Kingdom more visible and functional.  We do this through our four JPIC congregational priorities.

Human Rights – We commit ourselves to promote the rights of all peoples, as individuals and as communities, with special emphasis on indigenous peoples and migrants. We commit ourselves so that all peoples should be respected in their right to life from conception to life’s natural end, and to have access to basic human needs as well as the right to enjoy the free exercise of civic, political, social, religious and cultural rights, and to have a healthy community to live in.

Peace and Reconciliation – We are also attentive to include in the initial and ongoing Oblate formation curriculum the specific training in the area of conflict resolution and reconciliation at the social, religious and political levels, for instance between ethnic groups in the regions that we are currently ministering.

Ecological and Economic Sustainability  – We commit ourselves to an integral relationship between humanity and nature as gifts of God, and protection of the environment and commitment to ecology.  As Pope Francis states: “the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet, the poorest and excluded, who are the majority of the planet’s population, and who are often treated in international discussions as an afterthought or as collateral damage.”

Education and Formation – We are committed to the promotion of basic literacy and education as a fundamental right so as to empower people in their search for greater dignity and opportunities. We act so that lay people and Oblates together assume responsibility for our mission.

Therefore, let us be renewed and resolved in our commitment to our mission and the ministry of JPIC.  May Mary Immaculate strengthen and inspire us, as she herself is a woman of justice who sang of the new world of God’s Kingdom where the poor would be given their fill and find freedom as sons and daughters of God.

World Day of Peace - January 1, 2017

In celebrating World Day of Peace on January 1, 2017, Pope Francis is calling families, faith communities, government leaders, and the international community to practice non-violence and work to build justice and peace. 

The theme for World Day of Peace is “Non-Violence: a Style of Politics for Peace.”  

January 1 is also a liturgical feast celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Peace.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12

Day of Prayer and Solidarity with Families of Immigrants

Oblate Professors Interviewed about the Feast of Guadalupe

The U.S. Catholic bishops recently declared that the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 will also be a National Day of Prayer and Solidarity with Families of Immigrants. The feast offers a good opportunity for solidarity with families of immigrants especially celebrating the gifts of refugees and migrants to the United States. In their statement, the Bishops speak about the environment of uncertainty that multitudes of immigrants and refugees and their families are currently facing, and the need for solidarity with migrant and refugee brothers and sisters. The Bishops are encouraging Catholics to pray for the protection and well being of this vulnerable population.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Hill - Oblates National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows - Belleville, Illinois

Two Oblate Professors interview with Catholic News Service about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Father Bob Wright, OMI, professor of systematic theology, Father Fernando Velazquez, OMI, associate professor of missiology, joined by Dr. Renata Furst, associate professor of Scripture and spirituality at Oblate School of Theology recently gave an interview to Catholic News Service about the cultural and religious symbols surrounding the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

• Read the interview of Oblate Professors here:Our Lady of Guadalupe's message remains alive across five centuries. 

Zambian Oblate Bishop: Advent Spirit and Care of the Environment

Bishop Evans C. Chinyemba, OMI's advent reflection examines the environmental challenges facing Zambia especially in the Western Province. The reflection appeared in the November 2016 Mongu diocese newsletter.

(From L to R): Fr. Antonio Ponce, Bishop Evans Chinyama Chinyemba, Fr. Jim Brobst and Fr. Barnabas Simatende on the Zambezi River, ZAMBIA

Banabahesu, our lives are connected to the cycle of our environment. From late October going through November, the communities in our region and other parts of the country take pride in catching caterpillars. In the Western region, caterpillar collectors use unorthodox ways of collecting caterpillars. They cut almost every tree that has caterpillars on them. This spirit of collecting caterpillars as if there is no tomorrow is bad for our environment. Some species of trees in the near future will not be found. When this happens, there will be no caterpillars. The same people cutting trees will turn and complain as to what has happened to caterpillars.

In the words of Pope Francis, it is said, ‘Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see, because they have been lost forever. The great majority become extinct for reason related to human activity’( LS 33).  Another environmental issue in our locality is the annual fish ban which government imposes from December to March. In the midst of this fish ban we are surprised to ding fishermen continuing to catch fish. Not only do they continue fishing, but they employ weird ways of catching fish using mosquito nets. This is a very bad habit which should stop. What will happen to our future generations? In Laudato Si, we are told, ‘We are not God. The earth was here before us and it has been given to us… Each community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations’ (Pope Francis, LS67).

Banabahesu, we begin Advent Season. The Church during this liturgical Season calls and invites us to be vigilant. Those who grew up in the previous republics will be familiar with what used to be called Vigilantes. This group of people was bent on being the eyes and mouths of government. They reported anyone who had a different voice in the community other than the voice of the ruling party. In some cases they even arrested those they suspected of being enemies of the community or the party. They were alert and vigilant to what was happening around them.  Well, this reflection is not a judgment about the bad or the good things the Vigilantes did in our communities.  It is about our vigilance as to what is around us during this Advent Season. A spirituality of vigilance leads us to be aware of who is to come, Emmanuel, God With Us. As we begin Advent, we ought to ask ourselves if we are vigilant in our dealing with the environment? Are we aware that the environment is ours to safeguard and responsibly manage; and not for us to abuse? During this Advent Season, and as we reflect on the themes of being alert, and of being vigilant what steps should each one of us take in order to be good stewards of our environment?

Indeed the spirit of Advent is that of vigilance. Our vigilance should lead us to a change of heart in doing what is good. In the Diocese of Mongu, Advent Season calls for a change of heart in the way we take deal with our environment. Is this not the time for our caterpillar collectors to change their hearts and find better ways of collecting and harvesting caterpillars? Speaking to on 27^th September 2008, Pope Benedict XVI said, ‘The resources of creation are an immense gift of God to humanity. Humanity is duty-bound to protect this treasure and to counter the indiscriminate use of the earth’s goods.’ Is the protecting of the earth not our responsibility? Banabahesu, if we all take time to act on behalf of our environment, Advent

Season will be a good experience for all of us. A change of heart is also needed in the way our fishermen do their fish business. Our fishermen must adhere to mandatory fishing cycle at the same time using recommended fishing gears and methods. In fact the spirit of Advent is that of adhering to the Word as announced in our hearing. It is about preparing the way in order to receive the Word that is coming to us. Adhering to good environmental practices

Banabahesu, an attitude of spiritual vigilance and a change of heart will be evidence of Christ at work in our lives. When we do this we shall not only await and prepare for the Messiah who is to come for us, but we shall be taking measures to safeguard what God, the Father of the Messiah whom we await gave to humankind.

Banabahesu, may Mary accompany us in our Advent Season. Mary Our Mother was vigilant and alert to the Words of God as proclaimed by Angel Gabriel. By so doing she accepted to be part of the story of human salvation. Let each one of us emulate Mary in her vigilance and alertness to the Word of God. This is a blessing I wish each one of us during this Advent Season.

Rt. Rev. Evans Chinyama Chinyemba, OMI

Bishop of Mongu, Zambia

Sr. Nathanael Lee Volunteers at Inner City Development in San Antonio, TX

Sr. Lee recently traveled to San Antonio, TX at the invitation of JPIC Committee board member Patti Radle. Patti, along with her husband, Rod Radle, run Inner City Development, a community-based organization in San Antonio, TX that has been operating in an economically poor area of the city since 1968. The organization provides educational, recreational and emergency support to the neighborhood.

While at Inner City Development Sr. Lee helped serve lunches to the homeless, assisted with their after-school reading program, and visited Haven for Hope (a transformation center for the homeless). She also toured the Oblate School of Theology and attended a public presentation on the bond and tax ratification election the local school district is trying to have passed in early November.  

For fun she played Rotengo (a hybrid of ping pong and tennis) at San Antonio Hemisfair Park on its one-year anniversary of redevelopment. The park is currently undergoing phases of renovation as part of a larger neighborhood redevelopment effort.