Oblate Gathering Pozuelo

image1Representatives of the OMI family from across Europe, Oblates and lay people, gathered from Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Ireland and Great Britain for the meeting in Pozuelo, Spain. Fr Daniel Corijn OMI listened to us and led us to reflect on what we had heard and to consider three points for discussion:

1. How far are lay people exercising their baptismal right and duty of spreading the Good News in our parishes? In what measure are they exercising ministries and leadership roles? Is it purely a question of shortage of priests, or is it also a question of the common priesthood of the faithful? What are the obstacles to such a vision?

2. How is the faith transmitted from one generation to the next in our parishes? How do we reach the youth of today? The Oblate General Chapter took youth ministry as a priority so how do we put that into practice in our ministry?

3. Do we have a missionary spirit in our parishes? Do we encourage people to reach out to others? How do we care for the poor, the old and the sick people? How do reach the un-churched? How do we do mission and not just maintenance in our parishes?

After two days of sharing and discussion, Oblates and lay people working in parishes came to the following conclusions:

  • Concerning the involvement of lay people in parishes, a lot is already being done with people undertaking ministries in the liturgy, charitable commitments and administration. It was felt that more could be done on the level of sharing in leadership roles. It was acknowledged that for this to happen certain obstacles would have to be overcome: it was stated that lay people are generally not aware enough of their common priesthood, and priests can find the sharing of leadership challenging.
  • Concerning youth, it was agreed that faith is transmitted from one generation to the next through the witness of parents and /or grandparents, supported by the catechetical programmes of the parish. It is often difficult to keep young people engaged in parish life once they have received the sacrament of Confirmation. Youth groups are in place in some parishes and activities such as pilgrimages and Justice and Peace actions are organised by both parishes and movements. But it is felt that more needs to be done if we want young people to remain in touch with Christ and his Church.
  • Parishes served by Oblates need to have a missionary attitude. Generally speaking people in parishes do reach out to the poor, the sick and the old. However, more could be done to reach the un-churched and unbelievers. In many parishes there exist groups that help overseas missions and thus create a missionary spirit within the parish. Oblate parishes should be seen as permanent missions.

Fr Daniel Corijn OMI concluded his reflections by stating, “Parishes, and especially Oblate parishes, should be mission-driven. We are called to be missionaries and to see our parishes as permanent missions. Being a mission-driven parish is certainly possible, but it demands planning, setting goals and objectives, and a constant evaluation of existing structures within the parish. We need to create gostructures instead of come-structures. Above all, it demands from us, Oblates, Lay Associates and active lay people in general, a missionary attitude, an outgoing attitude, a spirit of reaching out, a spirit of being near to the people, especially the poor, the old and the sick; to bring them the all-embracing grace of a loving God is our first task. The parish is not first of all a structure, but persons in communion, a community of believers who receive and give pastoral care to their brothers and sisters, so that the reign of God may be present and growing.”

We made our return journey encouraged, challenged and aware of the need to continue this dialogue within our own faith communities.

Pauline Thomas (First published in Oblate Connections Dec 09)