My Observation of Oblate Charism In Action

By Sr. Nathanael Lee  

Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI (top left); Fr. Andrew Small, OMI (top right); Fr. Daniel LeBlanc, OMI (bottom left); Fr. Antonio Ponce, OMI (bottom right)

ICCR Winter Conference (New York, NY, February 2-4) In February the ICCR (Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility) convened a conference over five days. Their agenda covered Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation issues. I was amazed at the quality of the speakers/presenters and also the questions asked by the audience. The question and answer periods further elaborated on topics and offered different perspectives. It was the first time I attended an ICCR conference. The conference was introduced by Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, the chair of the board of directors. The whole conference seemed to reflect his level of expertise and experience. Fr. Seamus appeared to be well-known by all in attendance. The atmosphere of the conference was different from what I have experienced at several other Washington, DC events. Fr. Daniel LeBlanc, OMI, also stopped by just to say hello to me, but he was on his way to the UN meeting of the 54th Session of the Commission for Social Development, being held at the same time.

The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United Stated (New York, NY, February 3) Fr. Andrew Small, OMI, is the current National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. His role and office were quite different from what I had imagined. The sophisticated red wall painting surrounding his office mirrors the artwork on the new missionary technology SNS, the Missio app. I had the chance to look up how Missio works and how it motivates people to be change-makers. Fr. Small took me on a tour of the office and introduced to staff. His hectic work travel schedule recently included visits to Cuba and London. 

All three of our Oblates in New York showed me their influential presence as an OMI.

Top Left: Fr. Seamus Finn speaking at the February ICCR Conference; Top right: Fr Antonio Ponce meeting with catechists; Bottom left: Fr Antonio Ponce saying mass; Bottom right: Fr Antonio Ponce with parishioner in La Morita, Tijuana, Mexico

La Morita, Tijuana, Mexico (February 5-8) I had no idea what Fr. Antonio Ponce, OMI, had been doing as outreach before I witnessed it. Gratefully, I was invited to a “Come and See” experience in La Morita, Tijuana where the Oblates US-Province operates a pivotal mission. It was culture-shock going from New York City’s skyscrapers to La Morita’s dusty landscape; I vividly took in the contrast.  Fr. Ponce led a small and humble group of regional catechists using an effective visual presentation about Eco-justice that mentioned Laudato Si’ as well.  Even though I could say  only five greetings in Spanish: “Hola! Como estas!”, “Buenos dias!”, “Buenas noches!”,”Gracias” and “Adios,” I survived through the warm welcoming of my friends in La Morita. After the session, Fr. Ponce celebrated Sunday Mass at four different chapels in the neighborhood. The children, altar boys, young-adults and elders all seemed close to Fr. Ponce who was a very down-to-earth missionary in La Morita. His stewardship there for the people makes the Oblate mission alive. 

Overall, my seven-day trip observing our Oblates in each of their four respective mission fields for the kingdom of God planted a seed in my heart as well. Live out our Charism!

Sr. Nathanael Lee is from South Korea and a member of the Little Servants of the Holy Family congregation. She is interning at JPIC's office in Washington, DC.

Young Catholics From Oblate Parish Journey to See Pope Francis

When Pope Francis addressed an estimated 50,000 in the city of Morelia in Mexico recently, present in the crowd were young parishioners from St. Eugene de Mazenod in Tijuana, Mexico. But according to Fr. Jesse Esqueda, OMI, youth minister and group chaperone, mental preparation for this once in a lifetime event started way before leaving Tijuana. Before beginning the trip Fr. Jesse gathered the group on several occasions to study Pope Francis’ writings and encyclicals. He also spoke to them about potential hardships during the trip: flying from Tijuana then driving two and a half hours by car to Morelia; being outdoors in the hot sun; limited access to food and water; and waiting in long lines for restrooms. He reminded the young men that they were ‘pilgrims not tourists’ and a certain degree of sacrifice was necessary for their experience to be successful. When they returned they would be expected to share their experience with others in their home and church community.

Left to right: Miguel Munoz, Alan Walle-(on one knee), Pedro Verdugo, Fr. Jesse, Luis Herrera, Luis Alberto Zepeda

The Oblate Mission in Tijuana, Mexico is a large parish consisting of fifteen communities: one church and 14 chapels. About 200 young people participate in youth ministry, not counting children in the Confirmation program.

The five young men selected for the trip range in age from 18 years to their early 20’s. They are either in college or about to attend college. Two are studying to become engineers. All are discerning a vocation with the Church.

Excitement grew as departure day approached. A day before the event they first traveled by air then drove two and a half hours to the city of Morelia. They spent their free time exploring the city, interacting with other young travelers and praying. One of the young men brought his guitar and played to small crowds. Being in a city renowned for gangs, drug violence, kidnappings and poverty, the young men suddenly realized that while Tijuana was similar to Morelia in many ways, in other ways Morelia’s youth maybe had it even worse.

  

On the big day the group arrived at the stadium at 7AM for an event set to start at 4PM. The crowd was exuberant as they waited to hear the Pope, whose native language, like theirs, is Spanish. Despite long lines for restrooms, limited food and water, and in the words of Fr. Jesse, ‘baking in the sun’ for nine hours, none of the young parishioners complained. Then about half an hour before Pope Francis took to the stage, the energy in the stadium escalated as the crowd sang, danced and waved colorful banners.  

The Pope’s message of hope resonated with an audience of young people eager for words of encouragement. Fr. Jesse said they were overcome with emotions and a few of them shed tears as they listened to the Pope’s message. When young people who were part of the program presented Pope Francis with a list of some of the problems they are facing, he addressed each in a ‘humorous and refreshing way’, noted Fr. Jesse. He described the entire experience as ‘very moving and motivating,’ a moment that ‘ignited a fire’ in them. “We were very impressed with the level of excitement the Pope generated among youth,” he said.

After both an exhilarating and spiritual time, the group returned to Tijuana and has since shared their experience with an audience of at least 120 youth.

Fr. Jesse offered some final thoughts on his experience as Youth Minister at St. Eugene de Mazenod. He described the young men he mentors as very driven with high aspirations. Many come from low-income families. Families offer emotional support but are less able to offer much monetary support. Most of the young men work minimum wage jobs, attend university and keep busy with the church.

Having also worked as a youth minister in California, Fr. Jesse expressed that he sometimes forgets the reality of young people in Tijuana.  He gave the example of their youth meetings, which sometimes extend into the evening. Young parishioners then have to scramble to catch a bus or two, or hitch a ride home. ‘Parents don’t drive up to get them like you would typically see at a California parish,” he said.

Fr. Jesse Esqueda, OMI is in his second year of Youth Ministry at the St. Eugene de Mazenod parish in Tijuana. Prior to that he served as youth minister at the Oblate parish of Santa Rosa in Los Angeles, CA. He has BA degree in Philosophy from D’Youville College and made his vows to become an Oblate in August 2013. He was ordained a priest in May 2014 and received his M.Div. from the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. For his pastoral internship, he spent a year at the St. Jude Shrine in New Orleans. He also served as a lay missionary in Honduras.