Omi Information n. 381
August 1999
The Vice-Province of Jaffna despite the Hardships
Despite the hardships, the Vice-Province of Jaffna decided to celebrate in January 1998 the
150 years since the arrival of the Oblates. Fr Marcello ZAGO, Superior General at the time,
had secured special authorization from the Sri Lankan authorities to go to Jaffna for the
celebration, together with Fr Bernard QUINTUS, Provincial of Sri Lanka (Colombo)
(seeOMI InfoApril „98). The people continue to endure similar enormous difficulties due to
the war. One with their people, the Oblates of the Vice-Province go on with their work
under the responsibility of Fr Jeevendra A. PAUL, the Provincial. He succeeded Fr
Philipiah JESUNESAN, who was elected General Councillor for Asia-Oceania at the last
Chapter.
It is close to twenty years now that Sri Lanka, and more particularly the northern and
eastern parts of the island, have been living under the trials of a civil war.... Newspaper
figures show the conflict has caused close to 60,000 victims, and that the number of
displaced persons is more than a million....
Writing about this conflict, Archbishop ZAGO said: “The war between the central
government – dominated by the Singhalese forces in the South – and the Tamil rebel forces
in the Northeast has one cause, or according to some, one pretext: the non-recognition of
the Tamil Nation and its rights as a people and a nation. The Tamils are considered by the
Sri Lankan majority as an ethnic minority that must adjust itself to the rest of the country.
In fact, Tamils make up 17-20% of the population. They are a people/nation with their
own very ancient culture, rich history, language, religion (traditionally Hindu), and
territory inhabited for thousands of years, with a long history of political independence
and their own particular social structures....” The administrative centralization wanted by
Colombo, and the decision to accept only Singhalese as the official language, set off the
conflict.... The clashes between the Sri Lankan Army and the “rebel” freedom fighters of
the LTTE, the “Tigers” – many under 18 years of age, some hardly even 14 – became more
and more severe. Until now all attempts for a solution, be they political, diplomatic or
military, have failed....
To help us better understand this difficult situation, we quote from some recent news
releases. The Newsletter of the Province of Sri Lanka (Colombo) reported last October:
“The worst news in the current period was the ferocious battle waged at Killinochchi from
29th September which led to the loss of the defence salient of Killinochchi-Paranthan and
the death of 1500 cadres on both sides.... The hopes of the return of normal conditions and
civilian administration to the peninsula were shattered by the assassination of the mayor
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of Jaffna on September 11th.... A civilian plane returning to Colombo from Jaffna crashed
into the sea on September 29th....”
FidesService, April 16, 1999: “Bishop Joseph Rayappu of Mannar has protested against the
army occupation of Madhu Church. In an April 5 letter to the President of Sri Lanka, Ms
Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Bishop wrote: “I appeal to your Excellency to give proof of
your noble disposition towards spiritual things and your praiseworthy commitment to
respect minority rights and feelings, by immediately ordering the removal of the Armed
Security Forces and all in military uniforms from the sacred area of the Madhu Shrine
consisting of 400 acres.” The shrine... is situated on forest-land.... It has already provided
shelter for 25,000 in the past seven years. The UN High Commission for Refugees
designated it as an “open camp”: people affected by the war could take refuge there
during the conflict and return to their homes at the time of a truce. The entire Madhu
region has always been a non-violence zone. In mid-March, the Army took control of the
Shrine revered by both Singhalese and Tamils.... According to some observers, the
presence of the Army in the Madhu area is necessary as a safeguard against a possible
attack by the LTTE.” We might add that Fr Anton THEVARAJ is assisting the refugees in a
camp near Madhu.
FidesService, May 7, 1999: “The Religious Alliance for Peace, formed recently to express
the solidarity of religions in the pursuit of peace, met with the President, Ms Kumaratunga,
to discuss peace initiatives. Previously, in February, the Alliance consisting of dignitaries
representing Buddhist leaders and Christian clergy had met members of the political wing
of the LTTE. Bishop Joseph Rayappu of Mannar co-ordinated this meeting. The President
stated that the Government was willing for peace talks with the LTTE provided they give
up their demand for a separate state and that a strict timeframe be agreed upon....”
Returning to Jaffna
In November-December 1995, together with the entire population, the Oblates had to leave
the city of Jaffna, which was under the control of the LTTE, then bombed and taken by
Government troops. They found “refuge” in the countryside and the forest, and some
further south in the Diocese of Mannar. The Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux – 244
professed Sisters in their Jaffna Province – experienced the same trials. In April 1996, Fr
Philipiah JESUNESAN, Provincial at the time, took the decision to return to Jaffna, a city
to be rebuilt. A major and symbolic event was the opening of the Columbuthurai/Jaffna
scholasticate in October 1997. Repair work at the juniorate was begun and in September,
the juniorate which had been provisionally housed in Madhu, was reopened in Jaffna.
Even the elderly Oblates, who had been taken to Madhu for awhile, were moved back to
Jaffna.
Fr JESUNESAN, wrote in September „97: “We have made the logical decision to return to
Jaffna and re-institute our various communities, and thus be with the people who are
coming back to their cherished homes. It is again a difficult time. I commend our men for
their steadfastness, audacity and the readiness to venture out on their journey back
home.... Now, we have the great task of re-building ahead of us, both on the community
level and on the level of the mission....” This context gave real meaning to the 150th
anniversary celebrations.
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Communication still remains very difficult. Jaffna is not accessible by land, because the
road remains closed. Sea and air links are risky and often disrupted. Moreover, special
authorization is needed to use them. Fr ZAGO was granted this authorization in January
„98, but Fr Clyde RAUSCH, General Councillor for Europe, was refused last November.
Because of the military situation, the group of Oblates in Jaffna is almost totally cut off
from the group in the Mannar area.
Last March, the new Provincial, Fr Jeevendra PAUL, wrote: “The experience of the abiding
presence of the Risen Lord was the source of encouragement, strength and renewal for the
disciples. I wish that this season awaken in our hearts too a similar experience. The dark
clouds of war, death and destruction that hover over us and our people should never be
allowed to darken the vision of our life and mission....”
Missionary activity and formation
The March „99 Vice-Province Newsletter,Yazha-Thoni, reports: “The most important event
of the year in the Diocese of Jaffna is the preaching of the Grand Mission. At the Bishop‟s
request, five of our young and able Oblates are already in the field. Fr Celestine
MASCARINGHE, who heads the team, and Frs Jacob YOGARAJAH, Wenceslaus
GNANAMUTHU, Francis LOSHINGTON, and Robert PERERA are fully involved in this
great undertaking. Fr Francis has joined the team after serving as a full-time preacher on
our preaching band at Vavuniya. It is important to know that travelling to Jaffna makes
everyone sick and frustrated.... We hear that Fr Robert is already at Trincomalee waiting
for the next ship. We hope and pray that he gets a place on the ship soon....
“The Grand Mission means a lot of work both for the parish priests and for the
missionaries.... Presently the Mission is being conducted at Point-Pedro Deanery, i.e. in the
parishes of Mirusuvil, Eluthumadduval, Palai and Chavakachcheri.... Two Claretians and
one Verbite are also on the team. We earnestly pray for the preachers so that they enjoy
good health and spiritual strength so as to achieve the purpose of renewal in the whole
Diocese....”
The Vice-Province has maintained what were at first temporary foundations in the Diocese
of Mannar. In 1981, there were two Oblates working in the diocese. Today there are ten,
either in parishes, or at the preachers house in Vavuniya, and we must not forget the
Father helping in the refugee camp at Madhu.
The Vice-Province also has missionaries abroad, in Pakistan, Korea.... Fr M. Sebastian
SANTHIAPILLAI is chaplain to the Tamils in Paris. He succeeded Fr S. Sebamalai
THURAM, who now works among the Tamil refugees in Southern India. Fr Nicholapillai
ARULNESAN, who will soon be 87, continues a work begun more than 20 years ago
among the migrant workers in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
There are presently 17 scholastics in the Vice-Province. Eight are at the scholasticate at
Ampitiya/Kandy and one in Rome. The others are at the Columbuthurai/Jaffna
scholasticate. They attend courses at the Jaffna Major Seminary. In January the juniorate at
Columbuthurai was able to send two pre-novices to the pre-novitiate at Maggona. The
Vice-Province has eight novices at the novitiate in Bandarawela. And finally we might add
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that 14 of the younger Oblates were able to meet for a two day session at Vavuniya in
February. Fr Norbert ANDRADI, Superior of the Ampitiya scholasticate, led the session.
General News
E-mail address for the Information Service
Since May 20, our Information Service has its own E-mail address:
[email protected]
A reminder that the address for the Administrative Services of the Congregation c/o the
General Secretariat is:
[email protected]
The old address (at the server) was discontinued as of June 2.
General House: Hospitality during the Holy Year
Fr Hubert LAGACÉ, Superior of the General House, has asked that we publish the
following notice concerning the different options for hospitality at the General House
during the Holy Year:
1. All Oblates are welcome. They will be given absolute priority for lodging at the General
House during the Jubilee Year, i.e. from December 1999 to January 2001. Since the number
of available rooms is limited, reservations should be made at least two months in advance.
2. Honorary Oblates are also welcome according to the availability of rooms. However,
reservations must be made during the two month period preceding the date of stay, not
earlier.
3. The same holds for family members of Oblates (only father, mother, brothers and
sisters). Reservations will be accepted only during the two month period prior to the
expected date of stay.
4. The length of stay may not extend beyond ten days. This will permit us to welcome
other pilgrims.
5. We regret that we will not be able to receive other persons, such as more distant
relatives, cooperators or friends of Oblates.
De Mazenod Experience, English group
Fr John O‟DOHERTY (Indonesia) sent the following report: “From January to March,
sixteen Oblates from eight countries took part in the De Mazenod Experience in Aix. Raul
BIASBAS (Philippines), Simon THOO (Lesotho), Richard BEAUDETTE (St. Pauls), Mike
DECHANT and John ZUNTI (St. Mary‟s), Robert LAROCHE (Manitoba), Sholto
DOUGLAS (Australia), Loorthusamy SOWRIAPPAN (Cameroon), Bill MASON, John
CASTRO, Bryan SILVA, James TAGGART (USA), Bosco PERERA, Ernest Premasiri
FERNANDO (Sri Lanka), Chris RICHMOND, and Enoch SHOMANG (Transvaal). The
animators were Ernest RUCH and René MOTTE from the Aix community, and John
O‟DOHERTY. Fr Eugene KING, Vicar General, gave some input on the Mission element,
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and also reported on the General Chapter. Fr John Fuellenbach, SVD spent four days with
us „throwing fire.‟ Throwing Fire is the title of his most recent book. The Ignatian style
retreat with its Oblate content was directed by John O‟Doherty. The guest house at NotreDame du Laus welcomed the group for the three weeks of retreat. Frs Mike HUGHES
(Anglo-Irish) and Ernest RUCH were also present for personal consultation.
“Living in the house of the first Oblates, the place where St. Eugene lived, is always an
important part of the Experience. But this year there was something „extra‟, namely dust
and noise (due to renovations). However in the spirit of community life we endured these
hardships for the sake of a better future. The changes and repairs to the ground level
section of the building, the restoration to its original condition, will be very beautiful. If
you want to know, come and see for yourself and take part in the De Mazenod Experience!”
Renovation work at Notre-Dame de Lumières, where traditionally the Experience has
made the Ignatian retreat, led to asking the Guest House at Notre-Dame du Laus to
receive us. Laus is near Gap in the Hautes-Alpes. “Beautiful countryside, excellent
atmosphere for a retreat, tremendous hospitality..., and for us Oblates there was a strong
sense of “Home Coming.” As is known, it was in 1818 that Notre-Dame du Laus became
the second community of the Missionaries of Provence. The Oblates remained there until
1842 when the diocese decided to take back the Shrine. In bidding the group farewell, the
Rector of the Shrine said that their coming there for retreat would be a high point in the
history of the Shrine, and he hoped that there would be other such occasions. We also note
that twelve scholastics – eight from the International scholasticate in Rome and four from
the Italian Province scholasticate in Vermicino also went to Laus for the retreat in
preparation for perpetual oblation and diaconate. Fr Piero BONOMETTI and a group of
Indonesian pilgrims were also at Laus in May.
Europe
Germany : The Provinztag at Hünfeld
Traditionally the Provinztag – an assembly of the German Province – is held every six
years, six months after the General Chapter. Already last year, the Provincial Fr Alfred
SCHELLMANN, had announced it for April 12-15, 1999 in Hünfeld, and set up a
committee to prepare it: Frs Theo GILDEHAUS, Karl-Heinz VOGT, Josef KATZER, Martin
BENNING, Thomas KLOSTERKAMP and Martin WOLF.
A questionnaire was sent out to the Province. More than half of those under age 50
answered. The ratio is considerably lower for those above 50. Here are some of the
answers. 75 to 80% of the confrères live in communities of more than six Oblates. The
greater majority answered that they feel comfortable in their present work, but about half
of them added they were open to other work. More than three-quarters said they feel at
home in their community. The proportion of those who said they feel “spiritually at home”
was only slightly less.
Some think that the Province‟s future will not be “so good” because, they say, of the age
pyramid, daily spiritual practice, individualism.... Some use adjectives like “disturbing” or
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even “ossified” to describe the state of the Province. Those under 50 are definitely more
optimistic about the future than their elders. Regarding priorities, those over 50 point to
parishes, parish missions, youth ministry. The younger members propose a broader
spectrum of priorities in their answers.
Those over 50 are also more concerned than their younger colleagues about the mission
territories historically linked to the German Province, Namibia, South Africa and
Paraguay. Yet some would readily accept that the German Oblates undertake a new
mission. “This would give a new thrust, a new missionary impetus to the Province.”
The Assembly was broken into four work groups: community life/witness as community,
religious life, our mission, lay associates.
The presence of Fr Wilhelm STECKLING – his first contact with his Province of origin
since his election as Superior General – was much appreciated. In his address he said:
“The question to ask is, „What mission for the German Province?‟ – A Province needs a
clear, concrete and communicable missionary orientation. The young will ask: What are
you doing? Where do you work? When we can answer: in this or that country, with this or
that group of people, in such and such a kind of work, then we have a face and we are
more than just a mere institution....”
In a circular letter dated May 19, the Provincial drew some conclusions about this
assembly. “We spoke very openly about the missionary orientation of the Province. That
youth ministry linked with vocation ministry, be considered an essential missionary work,
is something new.” The Provincial underlined that the presence of the Superior General
had added a special note, and that this was the first time that a murmuratio had been held
to prepare the upcoming consultation for the nomination of a new Provincial.
Germany : 25 years working for the Weinberg
After working in the communities at Hünfeld, Engelport and Schiefbahn, Bro. Berthold
BURSCHEL received an obedience for Mainz in 1973 to help at the Weinberg, the monthly
magazine published by the German Province. As he himself says, he prepares the soil for
the grape harvest. (Weinberg means vineyard.) His work is well organized. In agreement
with the parishes, an Oblate priest preaches at the Sunday Mass. Then Brother himself
addresses the parishioners to present the magazine and encourage subions. This is done
before setting out to visit them in their homes. In its October issue, Weinbergnoted that in
25 years Bro. Berthold had gathered 13,922 new subions.
Germany : The new church at Kirchberg
We are more used to speaking of the construction and consecration of churches in mission
countries rather than in our own countries, remarked Fr Günther KAMES last September
in the Weinberg. However, on June 20, 1998, Bishop Reinelt of the Diocese of DresdenMeissen, consecrated the church at Kirchberg, near Zwickau in Saxony.
This diaspora parish, which was entrusted to Frs Hans-Joachim LÜNING and Robert
HALLER – who just died at the age of 76 – has 650 parishioners dispersed in the city of
Kirchberg and 17 other localities in the vicinity. In Germany the diaspora refers to those
Catholic communities set up in mostly Protestant regions especially at the end of the war
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as a result of the forced displacement of people. Thus, the proportion of Catholics in this
diocese is just under 4%.
The church is dedicated to Mary Queen of Peace. The construction was possible thanks to
the work of volunteers, and to financial cooperation of the parishioners, as well as aid
from other regions in Germany. “With this day, God calls us to build the Church, and to
fill this church of stone with life, so that it may become more and more a community.”
America
St. Paul’s (Canada) : Historic Church Restored
Dawson City, at 500 km northwest of Whitehorse, not far from the Alaskan border, is the
northern most city of the Yukon. It was famous a hundred years ago when the Klondike
and surrounding region attracted thousands of gold prospectors. The population then was
more than 30,000. Today it has just over 1,500. The Oblates have been there since 1898. The
Catholic community, in the care of Fr Timothy COONEN, its pastor, numbers thirty or so
families.
In a March „98 article in Oblate Missions, Fr Terry CONWAY tells about the restoration of
“One of Dawson‟s jewels,” Old Saint Mary‟s church. The second-floor auditorium of a
school built in 1904 was turned into a church in 1920, and it still serves as a church today.
Thanks to the help of the Catholic Church Extension Society and the Yukon Territorial
Government, and a host of many benefactors and friends, the restoration was undertaken
and successfully completed. On June 12, 1996, Bishop Thomas LOBSINGER of Whitehorse,
blessed the restored church.
Fr Pandosy’s trees
In 1847, 23 year old scholastic brother Charles PANDOSY (1824- 1891), a native of
Marseilles, arrived in Oregon with the first group of Oblates. He was ordained a few
months later. A “Friday FAX” from St. Paul‟s Province recalls that he loved to garden.
When he arrived in the Okanagan, he brought seedlings with him and showed people that
the area they lived in was good for tree fruit farming. One of Fr Pandosy‟s original trees
survived until the very cold winter of 1949. Today, a graft of that tree is still growing at the
Agriculture Research Station in Summerland, British Columbia.
Celebration of Creation by the Squamish
Saint Paul‟s Indian Church in North Vancouver was built in 1884. It is the oldest one in the
area. Saint Paul was chosen as patron because of Fr Paul DURIEU (1830-1899), the future
Vicar Apostolic of British Columbia and first Bishop of New Westminster. Fr Dennis
ALEXANDER is the present parish priest.
At the request of the Squamish Nation, Archbishop Adam EXNER of Vancouver, was the
celebrant of the blessing of the refurbished church and surrounding property. The
ceremony was a “celebration of creation,” which opened to the beat of traditional
Squamish drums. Accompanied by the Squamish Princesses, the Archbishop proceeded to
bless the exterior of the church, the bell which dates from 1881, the old cross from 1900,
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then he stopped for a prayer at the memorial for the war veterans. There was another
ceremony at the totem.
“The church gardens – about 40m by 10m – are formed by three ponds. The Pond of
Creation represents the Creator. There is a waterfall between the Pond of Creation and
the Pond of Transition, which represents Jesus coming into the world to teach us a better
way to love our Creator. The procession then moved to Adam’s Bridge, representing Jesus,
the new Adam, the bridge between God and humanity. The lower pond, Tranquillity,
represents the work completed in us by the Holy Spirit.”
Bishop Exner also blessed a statue of the surrendered heart of Mary, depicted as a native
Squamish woman. Squamish traditions and chants had a special place in the Mass. The
closing song was the traditional Paddle Song of the Squamish People.
The Baja California Mission in Northern Mexico
Desert and mountainous areas cover the greater part of the Mexican Baja California
Peninsula. The population is concentrated in the North on the United States border,
especially in the two cities of Tijuana (2 million people?), and Mexicali which has about
one million. This is where Oblates of the former Western U.S. Province founded what was
to become the “Baja California Mission in Northern Mexico.”
The foundation at Mexicali is the oldest. It dates from 1971. Today, there are three Oblates
in charge of the La Sagrada Familia parish, which is really a “community of communities.”
It is made up of poor worker families gathered around eight churches. Fr William
ANTONE, the parish priest, is also Superior of the Mission. “The construction of the new
church is progressing very nicely, reports the March OMI USA. They now have a roof....
Pews have been received from Mary Immaculate parish in Pacoima, California. Much of
the local funding comes from the sale of tamales and coffee after the Sunday masses. The
Oblates have plans to begin three more churches this year.”
Fr Roberto CALLAHAN, age 73, is the parish priest at St. Eugene de Mazenod parish near
Tijuana. The Oblates accepted to build up this new parish. Thousands of families in the
area are struggling to make a living in sprawling shanty towns nestled
around maquiladoras. These are foreign-owned factories which “provide employment with
wages that compete with the world market (less than one US dollar an hour).”
In an interview by the Italian review Jesus (Jan. „99) the Bishop of Tijuana, Romo Muñoz,
explained that Tijuana is “the city with the highest rate of growth in Mexico. It increases
by 80,000 new inhabitants every year. It is impossible both politically and civilly to deal
with this growth.” He also noted that Tijuana is “the busiest crossing point in the world.”
Each year there are 30 million “crossings” here on the border between the United States
and Mexico....
The Casa Estudiantil de Mazenod, one of the three pre-novitiates in the United States
Province, has been located here in Tijuana since 1990. Fr Jaime FEE and Bro. Peter
VASQUEZ are the formators. Describing last year‟s group of pre-novices, Jaime says they
were all born in Mexico, but had lived in such places as California, New York, Mexico,
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Veracruz and Chiapas. Age wise, they are in their upper 20‟s and 30‟s. This is “a factor we
try to respect in the call to personal responsibility and the exigencies of entering into real
contact with Oblate history as a group of missionaries in the Church.”
“There is no doubt that we are with the materially poor and the many poor in knowing
who Christ is. The city jail bespeaks subhuman conditions of incarceration. There is also
pastoral care for a colonia, a mission subdivision of the local parish: liturgy, catechetics,
youth, family visitation. Three other members minister with Fr Callahan in St. Eugene‟s
parish, where thousands of families live in humble homes, made of orange crates and
garage doors, on mud roads, without a church yet. Our pre-novices are with them on the
ground floor of a new faith- community.”
Puerto Rico Mission to be entrusted to the Peru Oblates
The Council Chronicle of the U.S. Province, dated 15-21 March reports: “The Peru province
(sic) has agreed to assume the responsibility for the ministry in Puerto Rico. The U.S.
Province will be asked to continue some financial assistance, as it has done in the past.”
The May OMI USA gives more details in an article signed by Fr David KALERT,
Provincial of the United States: “The transfer of the mission will take place officially on
September 8, 1999, the feast day of the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre....
The Oblates from Peru are dedicated to committing three Oblates for the first three years.”
Fr Victor TORRES will be the first to arrive. As of December 31, the Peru Delegation,
where Fr Victor SANTOYO is Superior, had 13 Oblates in initial formation. The Delegation
is part of St. Peter‟s Province (Canada).
Fr Kalert gives special recognition to Fr Pablo HUGHES, who has been a part of the
mission from the beginning – for almost 25 years – and to Bro.Valmond LECLERC, who
has also worked tirelessly for seven years with the people of the parish and the poor in the
surrounding area.
Cuba : Rebuilding the churches and the faith
It is now a year and a half since the Oblates from the Vice-Provinces of Mexico and Haiti
have been at work in Cuba. They are now five. Fr Gilberto PIÑON is Superior of the
Mission. Fr François THOMAS, from Haiti, as well as two Haitian scholastics still await
their visas. Remember that the sea between Haiti and Cuba is only a hundred kilometers
across.
In keeping with the initial plan, the Oblates are in charge of three parishes in three
different dioceses. These parishes, like many others, have been without a priest for many
years, and they impatiently hope for other Oblates to come to their aid. In the Diocese of
Matanzas, the Oblates care for the San Francisco Javier parish at Marti; in the Diocese of
Cienfuegos, the Ariza parish at Abreus; in the Diocese of Santa Clara, the parish of San
José y Nuestra Señora del Carmen at Yaguajay. Procedures with the communist civil
authorities and Cardinal Ortega are well under way for another. The Cardinal Archbishop
of Havana would like to entrust the Oblates with a parish about thirty kilometers from the
capital, where they could set up their central house and a formation house.
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Some news on the situation has been received from Fr Pablo FUENTES. In the
December Weinberg: “Religious ignorance is widespread. The formation of catechists is
most urgent. They would be not only for the children, but also for the youth, for young
adults and for couples. There is a need to renovate churches that are threatening to
collapse and to build others....” In the November Nosotros: “We have yet to finish the
church roof. It is a tile roof, but a temporary tin covering has been used. In another church
which I visit on Sunday, only the facade is standing. In the beginning there were only four
people coming, now there are twenty or so.... More people are coming to church than ten
years ago. So, we are busy rebuilding temples as well as the faith.... People lack all sorts of
things, but there is no misery in Cuba where poverty is socialized.” These remarks from
Pablo were gathered by Fr Angel VILLALBA, a Spanish Oblate who is a missionary in
Texas.
Africa-Madagascar
Kenya : Many children, a vibrant liturgy
It is just over two years since Oblates from Canada came to help in the Diocese of Meru,
Kenya. This Mission is under the responsibility of the Oblate Conference of Canada. Fr
Leo MANN, Provincial of St. Mary‟s, is the “liaison Provincial.” There are presently three
Oblates in Kenya, Fr Kenneth FORSTER, from St. Paul‟s, who is the Mission Superior, and
Frs Harold KAUFMANN and William STANG, both from St. Mary‟s.
They have had several visitors whose reports have reached us. Fr Ray L‟HENAFF, former
Provincial of St. Paul‟s writes: “One thing that impressed me was the number of young
people. Especially when you see them at the schools in Timau. There are children all over
the place.... There, every child is in a uniform and the different schools have different
uniforms.... Bill has such a gift in this area. In his own gentle way he attracts the children
to himself. He knows everyone of these young students by name....”
“The liturgy was another thing that really impressed me. For the morning Mass the
children at Timau all had their uniforms on and the Church was packed. The children
would get up and do the readings, lead the singing, play the drums – every day they
would take turns.... They love their singing, dancing, and moving around. It‟s not just
confined to the children, it‟s all the people of the church. They sing with their whole
bodies....”
From Peter GALLOWAY (Transvaal) : “All along the way Ken and Bill had been telling
me about their difficulties in starting the mission – one being the initial decision as to
which language to learn. They decided to learn Kimeru, the local language, as opposed to
Swahili, more widely spoken in Kenya but not the first language of the local people. There
is no written grammar of the Kimeru language, making it much more difficult for
Westerners to learn. About a third of the verbs are exceptions!”
“The countryside at Kionyo is beautiful, situated in the foothills of Mount Kenya. It is
surrounded by tea plantations, as well as coffee on a smaller scale. These are owned
mainly by small growers. Pickers take the tea a basket at a time to a central point, from
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where it is collected for processing. They work for what most of us would consider a
pittance – $1.75 per day, says Ken. Something to consider the next time you enjoy a cup of
tea. Some of the tea fields are owned by the church, which helps them to be selfsufficient....”
In the March „99 St. Mary‟s Province Newsletter Ken FORSTER speaks about the life of the
Church: “Many seeds have already germinated and are bearing the fruit of joy and hope.
Our catechists have had an opportunity to attend two sessions of formation, each one
week in duration, with other catechists of the diocese. We are very grateful for the efforts
of the Consolata Fathers in developing this program. We are unable to provide this
training because of the language barrier. These sessions are very inexpensive (about $12.00
each, per week, including food). The catechists, who until now have been unable to attend,
return filled with enthusiasm. We are working with the catechists offering marriage
preparation sessions and beginning an RCIA process....
“We are confident that many young men would want to join us in our mission if we had a
formation program to welcome them.... The three of us have requested the Canadian
Region to seriously discern and generously offer some younger Canadian Oblates to join
us. We know that this is a very difficult request.... But we feel that we cannot even begin to
foster Oblate vocations in Kenya if we do not have some younger Oblates who, having
been immersed in Meru culture and language, will be able to walk with and accompany
young Kenyan Oblates.”
“The Church in Meru is young and the youth need and want the direction and teaching of
the Church. I have made a commitment to celebrate Mass in three of the high schools in
the area once a month. This was requested by the youth themselves, not by the teachers or
principals. We have also started to have occasional Masses in the eight primary schools in
the parish....”
Last year in July, Fr Leo MANN wrote this about the future: “On May 13, Bishop Silas
Njiru of Meru signed a contract with the Oblates. Ken and Bill will be the parish priests in
Kionyo, and Fr Solasius (a Kenyan diocesan priest) will stay with them at least until
December 1999. Fr Protasio (another diocesan) will stay at Timau until June 1999 so that
Harold can follow a language course.”
Lesotho : News briefs
– The Villa Maria Novitiate celebrated the 60th anniversary of its foundation last year. The
first novice master in 1938 was Fr Henri THOMMEREL (1883-1971), a French Oblate. In
the Province newsletter, Bro. Urbain MAILHOT recalls how the land had been sold to the
Oblates by a Protestant minister.... This explains why the novitiate is flanked by two
imposing schools belonging to the Evangelical Church of Lesotho. The present novice
master is Fr Gérard LALIBERTÉ.
– Two scholastics from Lesotho were scheduled to go to the Senegal Delegation for their
year of regency. After some time learning French, they will be able to go the missions for
pastoral experience.
11
– Fr Gilbert TRUCHON, who has been in Lesotho since 1952, has been awarded the
golden medal of the Legion of Honor by the French government. Fr Truchon did much to
set up the Foyer de Charité at Mahobong in the Diocese of Leribe.
– Ten candidates entered the pre-novitiate at Maryland where Fr Emilianus TSASANE is
in charge. The pre-novitiate year started on April 1.
Books: Africa / Asia
Jean-Pierre BWALWEL (Congo) : Famille et habitat.... (Family and Habitat. Ethical
Implications of Urban Explosion. The case of Kinshasa.) Publication of a doctoral thesis by
Fr BWALWEL, presented in OMI Info, April „98. Peter Lang, Bern-Berlin-New York-ParisVienna, 1998, 407 pp.
Yousuf GILL (Pakistan) sent the Oblate Library a 200 page book in Urdu on the theme
Church and Evangelization.
Mick NGUNDU (Congo), editor : L’Engagement politique des fidèles... (Political Involvement
of Christ‟s Faithful according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law). Publication of the Acts of
the First Canon Law Days of Kinshasa, organized by the Catholic Faculties and the Institut
de Mazenod, June 14-15, 1997. Baobab, Kinshasa, 1999, 72 pp.
Jacques OMPEY (Cameroon) : Pourquoi honorer Marie? (Why Honor Mary?) 34 pp.
Vice-Province of Japan : 50th Anniversary Celebration. On the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the Oblates‟ arrival in Japan (Cf. OMI Info Jan. „99), the Oblates published a
magnificent album with numerous photos in both Japanese and English. Following the
letters of congratulations, there is a brief history of the Oblates in Japan and Korea, articles
by members of the Vice-Province, some articles from or about other Oblates, and finally
about twenty articles by Japanese Christians. Frs William MAHER, Jan van HOYDONCK
and Raymond BOURGOIN were the editing committee. 112 pp.
Jaroslaw ROZANSKI (Poland) : Misje w kraju Betsimisaraka (A mission in Betsimisaraka).
After a recent visit to Madagascar, Jaroslaw presents this book on the nearly twenty years
of mission work of the Polish Oblates in this country. Abos, Poznan, 1998, 260 pp.
Dino TESSARI (Indonesia) : Beato Yoseph Gerard. A brief life of Blessed Joseph Gérard in
Indonesian. Tarakan, 1998, 96 pp.
Logos Vol. 36, Nos. 1 & 2, publishes two studies: one by Ramanie Jayatilaka on
“Globalization and Rural Women. A Case Study of Two Villages in the District of Galle.”
The other by Yoga Rasanayagam: “Globalization and Flexibility of Female Labour. Case
Studies of Selected Villages in the District of Kurunegala.” Centre for Society and Religion,
Colombo, June and July 1998.
12
Anniversaries
Episcopal Ordination
1.8.1969
Most Rev. Jean Pasquier, Bishop of Ngaoundéré (Cameroon)
75 Years of Religious Profession
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
(Province)
02.08
3974
Fr. Joseph Lyons
USA
12.09
4133
Fr. Gabriel Lesage
France
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
15.08
4697
Fr. René-Alfred Schneider
France
15.08
4729
Fr. Raymond Shevenell
St-Joseph
15.08
4808
Fr. Gaetano Liuzzo
Italy
15.08
5028
Fr. Manuel Recalde
Argentina
15.08
5231
Fr. Jean-Baptiste Guthans
France
08.09
4750
Fr. André Nottebaert
Belgium-North
08.09
4756
Fr. John Hennessy
St. Paul’s
29.09
4987
Fr. Jean Philippe
Manitoba
(Date)
(No.)
02.08
02.08
70 Years of Religious Profession
(Province)
65 Years of Religious Profession
(Name)
(Province)
5823
Fr. Bernard Julien
St-Joseph
5913
Fr. Jean-Joseph Vallieres
USA
02.08
5917
Fr. Herménégilde Charbonneau
St-Joseph
15.08
5824
Fr. Georges-Honoré Lemieux
St-Joseph
15.08
5846
Fr. Engelbert Machinia
Germany
15.08
5849
Fr. Ernesto Favero
Italy
15.08
5851
Fr. Kazimierz Labinski
Poland
15.08
5857
Fr. Paul Ischler
USA
15.08
5923
Fr. Alphonse Hammond
St-Joseph
15.08
5924
Fr. André Dorval
St-Joseph
15.08
6102
Fr. Antonio Crisci
Italy
15.08
6252
Fr. Alphonse Marchal
France
15.08
6253
Fr. Guillaume Mathieu
France
28.08
5938
Fr. Marcel Bolduc
USA
08.09
5939
Fr. Georges Debruyne
Belgium-North
08.09
5941
Fr. Kees Verspeek
N.-D.-du-Rosaire
08.09
5944
Fr. Albert Detremmerie
Belgium-North
08.09
5949
Fr. George Buckley
USA
08.09
5956
Fr. Charles Gilles
USA
08.09
5959
Fr. William Leising
USA
08.09
5967
Fr. Robert Kilroy
USA
08.09
5970
Fr. Robert Colfer
USA
08.09
5971
Fr. Louis Marien
Belgium-South
08.09
5985
Fr. James Sullivan
Australia
08.09
5996
Fr. John Wall
Anglo-Irish
08.09
6224
Fr. Bernard Boyce
Transvaal
22.09
5976
Fr. Wilfred Scott
St. Paul’s
29.09
5998
Fr. Thomas Magee
Anglo-Irish
29.09
6001
Fr. Vincent Denny
Anglo-Irish
29.09
6286
Fr. Arsène Caby
France
29.09
7540
Fr. Joseph Guilbaud
St. Paul’s
13
60 Years of Religious Profession
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
(Province)
02.08
6955
Fr. Jean-Paul Chicoine
St-Joseph
02.08
6958
Fr. Charles Moreau
USA
02.08
6962
Fr. Francis Mitchell
Haiti
15.08
6932
Fr. Jean-Louis Arel
N.-D.-du-Rosaire
15.08
6933
Fr. Philippe Montgrain
St-Joseph
15.08
6934
Fr. Paul Pellegrin
France
15.08
6967
Fr. Noël Lefebvre
St-Joseph
15.08
6968
Fr. Paul Lebel
Manitoba
15.08
6971
Fr. Alfred Lagacé
N.-D.-du-Rosaire
15.08
6973
Fr. Alphonse Prince
St. Mary’s
15.08
6975
Fr. Arochiasamy Michaelsamy
Jaffna
15.08
7036
Fr. Marcel Keller
France
15.08
7050
Fr. Gerard Coleman
Transvaal
15.08
7078
Fr. Régis Carret
France
15.08
7093
Fr. Louis Anthonypillai
Jaffna
22.08
6980
Fr. Joseph-Marie Quirion
St-Joseph
05.09
7051
Fr. John O’Brien
Transvaal
08.09
6984
Fr. Francis McCarron
USA
08.09
6989
Fr. Willem Geijs
Holland
08.09
6990
Fr. George White
USA
08.09
6991
Fr. William Smith
USA
08.09
6994
Fr. Roger Vivier
Belgium-South
08.09
6995
Fr. Fernand Moyse
Sri Lanka
08.09
6996
Fr. Frans Claerhout
Central So. Africa
08.09
7001
Fr. Edouard Wouters
Belgium-South
08.09
7003
Fr. Alfons Kusters
Holland
08.09
7004
Fr. Kees Nijsten
Holland
15.09
7015
Fr. Patrick McMahon
Natal
15.09
7019
Fr. Myles Byrne
Anglo-Irish
15.09
7020
Fr. Patrick Cronin
Anglo-Irish
15.09
7024
Fr. John Ryan
Anglo-Irish
29.09
7029
Fr. Charles Mazé
France
29.09
7030
Fr. Auguste Luneau
France
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
(Province)
06.08
7862
Bishop Edmund J. Fernando
Sri Lanka
06.08
7865
Fr. J.B.Clinton Anandappa
Sri Lanka
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
02.07
9441
Bro. Jacques de Laage
France
02.08
8682
Fr. Joseph Trifiro
St-Joseph
02.08
8684
Fr. Myles Cyr
USA
02.08
8685
Fr. Real Bourque
USA
02.08
8690
Fr. Francis Demers
USA
02.08
8693
Fr. Irénée Aubé
St-Joseph
02.08
8694
Fr. Bernard Belley
USA
15.08
8654
Fr. James Wynne
USA
15.08
8655
Fr. James Kohmetscher
Recife (USA)
15.08
8656
Fr. Alfred Zaby
Namibia
15.08
8657
Fr. Justin Huelsing
USA
50 Years of Priesthood
50 Years of Religious Profession
(Province)
14
15.08
8658
Fr. Gennaro Pacelli
Italy
15.08
8659
Fr. Alcuin Henger
USA
15.08
8660
Fr. James Pillar
USA
15.08
8662
Fr. William Clark
USA
15.08
8663
Fr. Virgilio Bonatti
Manitoba
15.08
8664
Fr. Vittorio Gazzola
Italy
15.08
8665
Fr. Natale Lessio
Italy
15.08
8667
Fr. André Jodoin
St-Joseph
15.08
8668
Fr. Nicola Ferrara
General Adm.
15.08
8669
Fr. Léo-Paul Nobert
N.-D.-du-Rosaire
15.08
8702
Fr. Gilles Comeau
St-Joseph
15.08
8704
Fr. Liguori Belzile
St-Joseph
15.08
8779
Fr. Lino Maddalena
Italy
15.08
8852
Fr. Paul-Antoine Hudon
Grandin
15.08
9255
Bro. Clément Charest
St-Joseph
15.08
9258
Bro. Antonio D’Amico
Italy
15.08
9467
Bro. J.-Maurice Cantin
N.-D.-du-Rosaire
08.09
8708
Fr. Leo Casey
St. Paul’s
08.09
8709
Fr. Vincent LaPlante
St. Paul’s
08.09
8710
Fr. Pierre Chevroulet
Thailand
08.09
8714
Fr. John Mahoney
Japan
08.09
8716
Fr. Lode Nagels
Belgium-North
08.09
8717
Fr. Raymond Crowe
USA
08.09
8722
Fr. Antoni Lesz .
Polish V.P
08.09
8728
Fr. Allan Noonan
St. Paul’s
08.09
8729
Fr. Clarence Lavigne
St. Peter’s
08.09
8730
Fr. Joseph Navaratnam
Philippines
08.09
8733
Fr. Rajmund Grzesik
Poland
08.09
8734
Fr. Jan Severins
Belgium-North
08.09
8736
Bishop Hubert O’Connor
St. Paul’s
08.09
8739
Fr. John McCann
St. Paul’s
08.09
8741
Fr. Jan Jop
Poland
08.09
8745
Fr. Lester Kaufmann
St. Mary’s
08.09
8746
Fr. Gaston Alwines
Sri Lanka
08.09
8748
Fr. Joseph Kane
St. Peter’s
08.09
8749
Fr. George McLean
USA
08.09
8751
Fr. John Wells
St. Peter’s
08.09
8752
Fr. Brunon Wielki
Poland
08.09
8757
Fr. Jean Gaudin
France
08.09
8758
Fr. Alexis Fuseau
France
08.09
8854
Fr. Robert Kelly
St. Paul’s
08.09
8985
Fr. Ignace Vermeersch
Cameroon
08.09
8986
Fr. Pierre Ven
France
08.09
8999
Fr. Rik Demol
Belgium-North
08.09
9004
Bro. Paul Le Verge
France
08.09
9216
Fr. Louis Hernot
France
08.09
9378
Fr. Bernard Rivoal
France
29.09
8764
Fr. Jean-Marie Toussaint
France
29.09
8953
Fr. François Péron
Thailand
29.09
8987
Fr. Jean-Marie Chuffart
France
25 Years of Priesthood
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
15
(Province)
25.08
11842
Fr. Eliseo Mercado
Philippines
02.09
11711
Fr. Jabulani Nxumalo
General Adm.
22.09
12092
Fr. Gérard Jacques
France
28.09
12108
Fr. Ryszard Sztylka
Polish V.P.
25 Years of Religious Profession
(Date)
(No.)
(Name)
(Province)
01.08
12251
Fr. Manuel Villarreal
USA
01.08
12253
Fr. James Loiacono
USA
01.08
12309
Fr. Dennis Alexander
St. Paul’s
08.09
12269
Fr. Boniface Patrick Bastian
Sri Lanka
08.09
12270
Fr. Gerard Rosairo
Sri Lanka
08.09
12271
Fr. Thomas Pillai
St. Peter’s
08.09
12272
Fr. Claude Justinian Perera
Sri Lanka
08.09
12273
Fr. Modestus Fernando
Sri Lanka
08.09
12278
Fr. Shelton Perera
Sri Lanka
08.09
12299
Fr. Norbert M. Andradi
Sri Lanka
08.09
12305
Fr. Joachim Thaninayagam
Grandin
08.09
12313
Fr. Pawel Panicz
Polish V.P.
08.09
12314
Fr. Czeslaw Motak
Poland
08.09
12315
Fr. Roman Nisiewicz
Assumption
08.09
12448
Bro. Andrzej Kaczmarek
Polish V.P.
29.09
12327
Fr. Antonio Camelo
Italy
29.09
12328
Fr. Giovanni Soddu
Italy
29.09
12329
Fr. Giuseppe Giordano
Italy
29.09
12330
Fr. Sante Ronchi
Italy
29.09
12333
Fr. Alfredo Feretti
Lourdes (Italy)
29.09
12334
Fr. James McMahon
Anglo-Irish
29.09
12335
Fr. Brian Maher
Anglo-Irish
29.09
12430
Fr. Dermot Monaghan
St. Peter’s
16
Official
Suffrages for our Deceased
July 1999
(No. 56-64)
Name
Born Vows Ordained
Date
In
Fr. Léopold Thibault (St-Joseph)
1911 1934
1939
19/05/1999 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Fr. Patrick Cott (Anglo-Irish)
1916 1935
1940
21/05/1999
Dublin
1933
01/06/1999
Marseille
02/06/1999
Hünfeld
Fr. Louis Bruyéron (France)
1908 1927
Bro. Leopold Stolz (General House)
1913 1931
Fr. Cornelius Herlihy (St. Peter’s)
1911 1931
1936
05/06/1999
Ottawa
Fr. Kees Rentmeester (Holland)
1909 1930
1935
08/06/1999
Hoogerheide
Fr. Sylvester Pheku (Lesotho)
1936 1960
1965
10/06/1999
Roma (Lesotho)
Bro. Don Marcelline Kuruwita (Sri Lanka)
1920 1954
Fr. Roch Ducharme (Manitoba)
1928 1948
1954
15/06/1999
Kohuwela
16/06/1999
Sherbrooke
OMI INFORMATION is an unofficial publication
of the General Administration of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
C.P. 9061, 00100 ROMA-AURELIO, Italy
Fax: (39) 06 39 37 53 22 E-mail : [email protected]
E-mail address of the Information Service : [email protected]
Editing Team: Michel Courvoisier (director), Ronald LaFramboise
Giovanni Canfora, Fermín del Blanco, Wieslaw Lyko, Werner Rörig
Printing: Zygfryd Lakwa Circulation: Théophile Le Page
17