2010 Year of Oblate Vocation

Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the “Year for Priests” which began on June 19, 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The year is “meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today's world.”

As part of the Oblate response to this call from the Holy Father for renewal, we invite the Oblate Family to make a year starting from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on the December 8th, 2009 a year to promoting vocations to the Oblate way of life and mission. It will be an opportunity to celebrate Oblate Life and Mission through prayer and action. Oblate priests and Brothers embody the charism of St Eugene in a unique way as vowed religious and their witness gives nourishment and growth to the Oblate charism in the lives of people who work with and walk along side them. Likewise, men and women who identify with the Oblate charism are a source of strength and encouragement to Oblates.

A vocation to the priesthood or religious is something that grows over time. It is something we all have a responsibility to help grow. Pope Benedict reminds us of this when he says, "Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the sacraments, is the first means by which we come to know the Lord’s will for our lives. To the extent that we teach young people to pray, and to pray well, we will be cooperating with God’s call. Programmes, plans and projects have their place; but the discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God’s call."

During year of Oblate Vocation which will conclude on the 8th December 2010, we invite all members of the Oblate Family to unite together in prayer and action so that young people from our communities may respond to the call of God and be daring for the Gospel in the footsteps of St. Eugene, the Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Some suggestions:

  • The vocation Prayer could be said each day either during or after Mass with the people in your parish or ministry. It could also be placed within the recitation of the community Rosary.
  • Send information about the Oblate vocation to people who may be interested. A DVD will available in all parishes for this purpose.
  • Encourage the housebound and also the young people in your schools to pray for vocations.
  • Can you organise an evening of prayer and invite people to come and pray for Oblate Vocations? It could take the form of a Taizé Prayer evening or an open table of prayer, food and sharing on the Oblate life. Invite your local Oblate to share on their experience of Oblate life and mission.
  • Give your friends and family a copy of the 2010 Oblate calendar that reflects this theme.