WorldYouth DayRome: August 15-20
Fr. Edward Risi: New Bishop of Keimoes-Upington

GeneralNews

• New printing of the CC&RR
• OBCOM is chosen website of the week

Africa-Madagascar

• Lesotho – The HIV/AIDS challenge

Asia-Oceania

• CotabatoPhilippines – Fire atNotre Dame University
• Japan – A Pro-Life web site

Canada

• Assumption : A church on wheels
• St. Paul’s : A boating pilgrimage

Europe

• Polish Vice Province . Fr. Pierlorz honored
• Poland : Martyrs revisited
• European Mission Conference

Latin America

• Haiti : “I was a prisoner…”

United States

• The Oregon Mission : a doctoral thesis
• A “Healing” web-page

Books

Anniversaries

Personnel OMI 2000 . Corrections

New E-mail Addresses and Lan at Via Aurelia290

Suffrages for our deceased

Among the 2 million youthwho converged on Rome for the XV World Youth Day there were several groups– both big and small – organized by Oblates. One of these wasa group of close to 900 young people from 12 countries under the auspicesof the Oblate European Inter-provincial Conference. It was the first internationalmeeting of young people in contact with the Missionary Oblates.

“It's the realizationof a dream” said Archbishop Marcello ZAGO at the opening of theMass at which he presided in Pescara on August 14. The youth were fromItaly (271)Romania (6)Senegal (2)Uruguay (1)Canada (30)the U.S.A.(11)IrelandEngland and Scotland (75)Poland (175)Germany (85)Belgium (43)France (120)Zambia (2)and even Turkmenistan (48). Allwere not Catholicsand there were even some Muslims among them.

After the Paris WYD in 1998the European Provincials set up an ad hoc committee of Oblatesto prepare a joint Oblate event to concur with the WYD 2000 (cf. OMIInfo #374Dec. ’98). The committeewith the help of Fr SaverioZAMPA and many Italian Oblatesplayed an important role in making thisgathering a success. From Aug. 11 to 15 the various Oblate groups werethe guests of the Diocese of Pescara on the Adriatic coast in easternItaly. The groups came together on August 11 to get to know each other.The day was marked by songs and dances of the respective nations. Amongthe most pleasant was the folkdance by the 48 young people from Turkmenistan.This was their first visit to the West. In the evening of the same daySuperior GeneralWilhelm STECKLING presided at the international prayervigil.

The stay in Pescara wasmarred by the unexpected death of Francesco Taddeia 21 year old Italianyouth from Prato. He had a heart attack the morning of August 12. Francescohad been chosen as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist for theclosing Mass of the WYDto be celebrated by John Paul II on the Univeristyof Rome’s grounds at Tor Vergata on August 20. This unexpected eventforced all present to make a renewed choice for God and to live theirJubilee pilgrimage more intensely.

The groups moved separately to the Romearea on August 15. On the 16^ththey came together to makethe official pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica. Contrary to customthe church was open from 6:00 a.m. until midnight from the 16^thto the 18^th to permit the continuous daily procession of morethan 200000 youth to pass through the Holy Door into the basilica. Duringthese three days they met in various linguistic groups for the early-morningcatecheses.

Almost all of the Oblategroups were hosted by the town of Aricciato the south of the capitalin the area of the Roman Castelli. They were lodged in parish hallsschoolsand by many families who received the young people into their homes. Thegroups from Canada and Turkmenistan were welcomed at the Oblate novitiateat Marino and the scholasticate and Provincial houses at Vermicino. Aspecial climate of prayer and celebration marked the two concluding dayswith the Pope at the vigil and closing Mass on 19th and 20th. Many fromthe Oblate groups were right in front of the Pope’s podium and wereable to participate in the event from a privileged position.

Oblates of the Italian Provincewere actively involved behind the scenes in the preparation of most ofthe big WYD events like the opening ceremonythe Way of the CrosstheMasses and confessions at Circo Massimo. Fr Alfredo FERETTIformerlythe liturgy coordinator at Lourdeswas among the organizers. Fr FrancisVOLPINTESTA recorded a compact disk with songs to accompany the meditationtexts that were broadcast over loudspeakers along the Via della Conciliazionethe youths’ pilgrimage route to St. Peter’sand in the basilicaduring the young people’s endless procession on August 1617 and18. OMI Doc. plans a special issue this fall on WYD 2000 and Oblateparticipation.

The General House andWYD

A normally quiet place inAugustthe General House was bustling with activity during the WorldYouth Days. A total of 318 young people from 17 countries were welcomedat the G.H. between Aug. 9-22. Some were overnight guests: TransvaalSo. Africa (8)Japan (8)Haiti (16)Poland (17)Lesotho (23). Accommodationswere simplea blanket or sleeping bag on the floor in the library readingroom or one of the conference rooms. Breakfast was available to all. Agroup of 11 youths from Laos met here each day for Mass and their dailycatechesis which was directed by Bishop Alessandro STACCIOLIformer VicarApostolic of Luang Prabang.

Some groups stopped by forMass or a visit to pray in St. Eugene's chapel. They were from Tahiti(17 seminarians)Canada (24 Native People)U.S.A. (35)France (12)Indonesia (6)Turkmenistan (48)Quebec (24)Polish Vice Province (45)Belgium (7)Australia (17). Besides these young people18 other Oblatesstayed at the General House. Some were leading groups that were lodgedelsewhereor had come as individuals for this event. Fr. Hubert LAGACÉSuperiorand other members of the General House communities were welloccupied coordinating lodging placesMass and visit schedulestransportationto and from the airportnot to mention keeping the refrigerators stockedwith cold drinks! Frs. Edward CAROLAN and Nicola FERRARA were among the2000 confessors available for many hours a day in the "tent" confessionalsat Circo Massimo.

On July 15His HolinessJohn Paul II announced the appointment of Fr. Edward RISI as future Bishopof the Diocese of Keimoes-Upington in South Africa. Fr. Risi is presentlynovice master for the Oblate Province of Transvaal.

Fr. Edward Risi was bornon January 61949 in JohannesburgSouth Africa. He received both hisprimary and secondary education in Johannesburg and later earned a BAdegree from the UNISA University in Pretoria. After completing the OblateNovitiate in GermistonTransvaal in 1968he studied philosophy and theologyat St. Joseph’s Oblate Scholasticate in CedaraNatal from 1968 to1974.

Since his priestly ordinationin Johannesburg in 1974Bishop-elect Risi was actively involved in parishministry for ten years before being appointed Provincial Superior of theOblate Province of Transvaal in 1984. Upon completion of these obligationsin 1990 he became novice master for the Transvaal Province. He is fluentin EnglishSesothoZulu and Afrikaans.

Bishop-elect Risi will succeedthe Most. Rev. John B. Minderan Oblate of St. Francis de Sales. TheDiocese of Keimoes-Upington covers an area of 272265 sq km – aboutthe combined size of Great Britain and Lesotho.

This diocese in northwesternSouth Africa is the largest ecclesiastical circumscription in South Africa.It extends from the South Atlantic Ocean to the west along the entireborder of Namibia and part of Botswana to the north. According to theFides agencyIt was made the Orange River Prefecture Apostolic on June 20, 1898. The Vicariate took the name of Keimoes on July 9, 1940 and was elevated as a diocese with the same name on January 11, 1951. On February 8, 1985 the diocese took the name of Keimoes-Upington.Itis a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bloemfonteinwhere Buti TLHAGALEis the archbishop. Of the 317000 population 68000 are Catholics. TheAnnuario Pontificio lists a total of 17 priests4 secular and13 religious. The religious are mostly French Oblates of St. Francis deSalesmany of them getting on in years. There are also 44 Sisters and4 major seminarians.

New printing of the CC&RR

A new printing of the completetext of the Constitutions and Rules in FrenchEnglish and Spanish appearedin mid-July. The text is the same as that of the 1982 editionrevisedaccording to the amendments made by the Chapters of 19861992 and 1998.Howeverthe numbering of the Rules of the first two parts has been changedaccording to the principle adopted in 1998 for the revised Third Part.This means that every Rule bears the number of the Constitution to whichit is related. The text of the Third Partthat came out of the 1998 GeneralChapteris the one that was published as a temporary booklet in 1999.

It should be noted thatthe Select Indexas well as the Administrative Summary forSuperiors and Councilshave been revised and expanded. We owe a debtof gratitude to Alexander TACHÉLaurent ROYFermin DEL BLANCOand Théophile LE PAGE for the publication and distribution of thistri-language edition.

The number of copies printedwas based on the principle that the text of the Constitutions is reservedto Oblates. It was calculated with a projection of the number of newlyprofessed in the next twenty years.

The printing of the textin languages other than FrenchEnglish and Spanish is left to the discretionand initiative of the Provinces where those languages are in use.

OBCOM is chosen website of the week

The Oblate Communicationsnetwork website <www.omiobcom.org> was chosen as the website of the week by APIC (Agence de presse internationale catholique).Here is their statement.

“The arrival of theInternet network offers impressive advantages to religious communitiesthat are truly international. The access to a telephone line and the useof a modem permit the local communityregardless of where it be situatedto join instantaneously other members of the same community. The Internetsignals both the end of prohibitive costs tied to the production of printeddocuments and long postal delays!

“The community of theMissionary Oblates of Mary Immaculatea pioneer in the use of lnternetoffers direct linkage to community concerns and items. Information onceonly accessible to Oblates can now be read today and is accessible toanyone who possesses a computer and an Internet hookup. Official publicationsof the Congregation such as OMI Information and OMI Documentationare available in several languages.

“One can read herereports of pastoral activities carried out by these missionarieswhetherthese be in the extensive Canadian North or the small Kingdom of Lesothoin Africa. Ordinationsbirthdays and deaths are underlined faithfully.At the same time important documents for pastoral and theological reflectionwhich can be used in local community life are also available on this webpage.”(FribourgAugust 102000APIC)

This award is without adoubt due to the new image given this web site by webmaster Fr VicenteLOUWAGIEand his efforts to continuously update the homepage. The siteis attractive and easy to navigate in. Your e-mail address or notice ofyour homepage or website are always welcome.

Lesotho

The HIV/AIDS challenge: "Let's breakthe silence."

AIDS is known as the plagueof Africaand local governments are at odds as how to stem the tide ofthis terrible disease. In conjunction with the 13th International AIDSConference held in DurbanSouth AfricaFr Augustinus BANELesotho Provincialappealed to the members of his Province to have the courage to “breakthe silence.” Here is his message from the front page of the AugustProvince newsletterMaoblata a Lesotho.

“The killer diseaseAIDShas invaded the human community for a number of years now. Duringthese yearswe have found neither a cure for the disease nor a way toprevent the spread of the virus. We have also failed to offer collectivehuman care and support to those afflicted with the disease. Despite theconsciousness-raising efforts of some organizations and some well-turnedphrases of the politiciansour response to the epidemic does not indicateyet that weas a communityare sensitized to people with AIDS or toindividuals at risk of being HIV-positive. It is in this line that I wouldlike to raise some few points for reflection.

“There are some difficultand challenging issues to face if we are to be both a prophetic and caringChurch community in this regard. I believe we must be a Church which presentsHIV/AIDS education programs andhome-based care and counselingwhichare in accordance with Gospel values and our moral ideals. But we mustalso be a Church which can speak a word of hope and enlightenmenta wordwhich touches the heart of the matter for people who are facing profoundlyhuman challenges and are struggling to cope with the reality of livingand dying with AIDS.

“The challenge facingus is to provide a welcoming atmosphere for people with HIV/AIDSaboveall by ensuring that they maintain the awareness of God’s love whichknows no limit. It is also our duty to educate our congregations to acceptand support these peopleand not to reject them; it is often the fearof rejection which forces people to conceal their illness. Our judgmentalsermons and casual approach to the tragedy of this epidemic can only serveto exacerbate the situation. There can be little doubt that we are oneof those institutions which are perhaps best equippedin this regardto offer educationadvicesupport and practical care as well as thestrength that faith in God brings. For the sake of our suffering brothersand sisterspleaselet’s break the silence.”

According to the InternationalFides Service (No. 4205)in South Africawhere the InternationalConference was heldthere are 4.2 million sufferers and most of thosewho died of AIDS last year were aged between 15 and 49. In sub-SaharanAfrica more than 22 million have HIV/AIDS. The United Nations AIDS programmereports that seven out of ten people in the world with HIV live in Africa90% of them under 15 years of age. Less than 10% of those affected areaware of their condition and unknowingly spread it. Indeedthere is needto “break the silence.”

CotabatoPhilippines: Fire at Notre Dame University

Situated in Central Mindanaothe locus of a war between government troops and Muslim separatist forcessince April this yearthe third floor of the Notre Dame University Libraryand Data Resource Center was struck by fire on August 8 about 3:30 pm.The whole third floor was completely destroyed gutting the UniversityResearch Centerthe Education Media Centerthe Center for Non-PrintEducational Materialsthe Speech Laboratory and the University Culturaland Ethnic Museum. Cause of the fire is yet unknownbut damages are estimatedat $200000.

NDU presidentFr. Jun MERCADOhas launched an appeal to help rebuild this important section of the university.He says that there is an immediate need of US$100000 to bring the fourdestroyed centers to a minimal operational level. Another $200000 willbe needed to rebuild the whole third floor at a later stage. Fr Jun says“I believe that with the help of God we will be able to rebuild andmake a new beginning. It is our strong belief and hope that we shall overcomeour present travails and forge ahead to fulfill our OMI Mission in SouthernPhilippines notwithstanding the war.”

Notre Dame University isthe leading university in Central Mindanao and it plays a pivotal rolein forming and educating the peoples of the Autonomous Region in MuslimMindanao and Central Mindanao (Region XII). It is a Catholic Universitywith about a 43% Muslim population. The University is a worldwide modelof active inter-religious dialogue and a strong advocate for peaceespeciallyin war-torn Mindanao. The University’s Peace Center is recognizedfor its pioneering Peace Education as an integral part of the curriculumand as an active participant in the peace process in Southern Philippines.The Center oftentimes acts as the active secretariate in various peaceinitiatives between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Before the explosion ofthe war on April 28 this yearNDU had always been in the forefront inPEACE ADVOCACY and inter-religious dialogue. Since the war broke out theUniversity remains the strong voice calling for the cessation of hostilitiesbetween the Government and the Moro National Liberation Front and theirreturn to the negotiating table.

The ongoing war in Mindanaohas displaced 350000 people (95% Muslim) and affected four regions inMindanao. Central Mindanao is the worst affected by the warbecause itis where the MILF has a concentration of its armed forces. The Universityhas been badly affected by the war since many of its students are amongthe displaced. There was a drop in enrollment in June 2000 by almost 800students (from 6000 to 5200).

Japan: A Pro-Life web site

August saw the launchingof a new Oblate web site: www.lifeissues.net. This site was setup by Fr. Jerome NOVOTNY of the Vice Province of Japan. It aims to provideclear thinking about crucial issues. Jerry says“There are crucialissues that face us today: abortionAIDSbioethicsbirth controlwhenlife beginspopulation concernspost-abortion healingetc. But fartoo often our public debates are long on emotion and short on clear thinking.Along the wayrespect for the dignity of human life gets lost in therhetoric."

Initially in EnglishaJapanese version of the site is foreseen by the end of the year. Besidesarticles by competent writers on the above issuesthere are a "YouthQuestion & Answer" areadiscussion forumsa message boardand homilies.Among the writers are Dr. Dianne N. Irvingprofessor of the History ofPhilosophy and of Medical Ethics at Georgetown University and the CatholicUniversity of America; David C. Reardona biomedical ethicistdirectorof the Elliot Instituteand editor of their quarterly publicationThePost-Abortion Review.

A particularly interestingaspect of this site is its accessibility to people with sight and hearingdisabilities. It has been approved by two related screening agenciesand bears their logos on the homepage. This innovation makes it accessibleto more than 6 million disabled viewers.

Lifeissues.net isa project of the Japan Pro-Life Movement for Oblates worldwide begun byFr Jerry in 1979. The JPLM beginnings were very humble. The initial inspirationgrew out of a Values course that he was teaching at Kochi State Universitywhere he has been a professor for more than 25 years. One of the themesof the course was “the value of life.” On graduation day thatyear a student approached Jerry to thank him for that particular lecture.“It changed my life” he said. The young man had had relationswith a female student and decidedagainst the will of both their parentsto marry her and that she should give birth to their child rather thanabort it.

That was the spark thatled Fr Jerry to a deeper study of life issues and to begin discussingthem with others. The responseeven in Christian circleswas at firstlow key to say the least. His first public lecture in a Catholic parishwas attended by only 4 womenall aged between 70 and 80. Three said theywanted to help make others aware of the sacredness of life. In October1987 these three “young” ladies helped mail out the first issueof the Pro-Life Newsletter to the 700 Catholic parishes in Japan.Today more than 5000 copies are distributed monthly free of charge. TheSeptember issue is #119; eight A-4 size pages in color. Despite a coolreception from Church authorities in the early yearsto date 12 of Japan’sresidential bishops have contributed feature articles. The even-numberedmonth issues are aimed at a Catholic audiencewhile the odd-numberedissues are directed more to the general public.

The Japan Pro-Life Movementhas distributed tens of thousands of pamphlets and is the sole distributorof the Japanese language version of Dr. Bernard Nathanson’s film“The Silent Scream”. Thousands of copies of this film have beensold in Japanaveraging 30 to 40 orders a month. The launching of thisnew Oblate web sitenow reaches beyond the limited audience of 5000 readersto the millions of internet surfers. Fr Jerry looks forward to contactwith Oblates and “all people of good will” who are concernedwith propagating “clear thinking” on life issues. He also welcomesall written and audio and visual contributions – articles and researchpapers.

Assumption : A church on wheels

It was in the early 1940’sthat the people of InvermaySaskatchewan built their church and dedicatedit to St. Andrew Bobola. Over the years it fell into disuse because ofthe lack of people. Fr Wojciech WOJTKOWIAKhaving heard of this emptychurchapproached the Archdiocese of Regina asking if the church couldbe moved and put on one of the Reserves in which he was ministering. Andso the task began.... The church was eventually moved over 200 km to thenew site. It was quite a sight to see a church on wheels crossing theprairie. Because of the insistence of the peoplethe Archbishop finallyagreed to have the church re-named. It was officially rededicated to St.Eugene de Mazenod on June 4. (Assumption News & ViewsVol. 8no. 25)

St. Paul’s: A boating pilgrimage

“O.M.I.T.” stands for the OBLATE OFMARY IMMACULATE TREK led by Fr. John Tritschlerpastor of Precious BloodChurchSurreyBritish Columbia. The Trek was to honor the Oblate priestsand brothers and our Blessed Mother under whose patronage the Oblatesbrought the Catholic faith to the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Thisboating pilgrimage replicated in part the Trek which Fr. Leon FOUQUETand some native paddlers underwent when they boated from St. Peter’sNew Westminster to Mission in 1861. The Trek was by canoe or kayak fromNorth Vancouver to MissionAugust 14-19.

Polish Vice Province: Fr. Pielorz honored

The well known Oblate historianand writer Fr Józef PIELORZ was recently honored with the titleof “Honorary Citizen” of Imielinhis native townnear KatowicePoland. The occasion was the 50^th anniversary of his ordinationto the priesthood. This awardwith an appropriate certificate and silvermedal were granted in recognition of his outstanding pastoralsocialscientific and patriotic activitiesand to thank him for his attachmentto his native cityeven though he has spent many years of his priestlyministry in Belgium as a member of the Polish V. P.

Chronologically he is thesecond of 25 priests from Imielinbut the first to have survived to celebrate50 years of priesthood. Several died in the Nazi concentration campswhere he himself was interned for a number of years. He is the first priestto be granted the title of honorary citizen.

Fr. Pielorz was previouslyhonored with the Cross of Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta andthe Cross of Auschwitz.

Poland: Martyrs revisited

Following up on the attemptat an Oblate martyrology of the 20^th century (OMI Info.No. 390May 2000)Fr. Józef PIELORZ has brought to our attentionseveral other Polish confreres who suffered and died for their faith duringthe Second World War.

• Scol. Józef GEMBIAK25shotat MichalowSept. 121939
• Scol. Franciszek GLADOS22shot atMichalowSept. 121939
• Scol. Franciszek MUNKO22shot at MichalowSept. 121939
• Scol. Józef ROGOSZ25shot atMichalowSept. 121939
• Scol. Henryk TRZASKA27exterminatedat GnieznoJan. 121940
• Bro. BoBeslaw KULISZ29killed at LidaDec. 311943
• Bro. Antoni ADAMSKI67shot at LuniniecMay 71944.

European Mission Conference

The annual meeting of theCEM (European Mission Conference) was held this year in KodeDPolandfrom June 16 to 23. The main theme wasMission in an Ecumenical Context.KodeD lent itself well as the venuesince it offered the possibilityto meet with Oblates working in BelorussiaUkraine and Turkmenistanas well as with representatives of the Orthodox and Uniate Churches.

Frs Kazimierz JEDRZEJCZAKand Leon WITEK presented the mission in Belorussia. Fr Jacek PYL spokeabout Oblate apostolate in the Ukraineand Fr Andzrej MADEJ about themission in Turkmenistan. Mr. Krzystof GoBbiowskia journalist from theCatholic Press Agencygave a lecture on the history of the Eastern OrthodoxChurches and the Catholic Churches of Oriental Rite (Uniates).

There was also time forvisits with the Uniate Archmandrite of KostomBoty and with Orthodox clergyat the monastery at JabBeczna. After these visitsFr Jarek Ró|aDskia member of the Polish Provinceinvited as a resource personpresentedfive questions for reflection on the delicate relations with both theOrthodox and Uniatesand the attitude necessary for the evangelizationof the 44% population of non-believers that will not lead to irreparabledamage of the good relations with priests of the other Churches.

All the participants expressedtheir appreciation for the work of their Oblate colleagues in EasternEuropein this painful and complex situation where Christianity stillremains divided.

Haiti: “I was a prisoner...”

One question Fr. Jean-MarieOLLIVIER has often been asked is: “Why are you so concerned aboutthe fate of prisoners?” He answers simply: “I myself was a prisoner.I experienced living in an 3 x 2 meters1.5 meter high underground celltogether with twelve other innocent men. We had no water nor latrines.Brought before the firing squadwe escaped death thanks to the miraculousintervention of a colonel who had the courage to stop his jeep in frontof us. That was in LaosFebruary 131961. Since this adventureI ampersuaded that most jails of the world overflow or hide forgotten innocentvictims with no defense. Do you want some proof? The following happenedone Easter Sunday at the jail in Gonaïves:

– Totowhy are you in jail?
– I stole. I was hungryvery hungry.
– How old are you? -- Twelve years old.
– It was not theft. You took what was yours by right.

It was sufficient for meto spend a good part of my morning lying down on the lawn of the prisoncolonel’s house so that Toto could be freed that very day. The colonelcongratulated me saying: “Fatherit is not for you to thank me;I thank you for doing your work as a priest.”

Fr. Ollivier has been amissionary in Haiti since being expelled from Laos by the communists.(OMI - HaitiProvincial NewsletterNo. 1April-May 2000).

The Oregon Mission :a doctoral thesis

“You have honored ourfaculty with a work like this.” Roest CrolliusS.J. could not havechosen better words to praise Fr Ronald YOUNG’s doctoral thesis:The Mission of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to the OregonTerritory (1847-1860). Ron was awarded a summa cum laude bythe Gregorian University in Rome for this scholarly missiological historyof the joys and struggles of the sixteen Oblates who labored for thirteenyears in the Oregon Territory.

The aim of this work isto examine the question: Was the Oblate mission to the Oregon Territorya failure? “The conclusions” says Ron“are complex becausethe data indicate both successes and failures.” Given the fact thatthe Oblates were eventually withdrawn from this mission has led a numberof Oblate historians to judge it a failure.

The author of this thesissuggests that “there is no cause for shame in this historyalthoughit may seem to be a missionary failure. The principal failure of the Oblateadministration and the missionaries appears to be that they failed toappreciate the extreme political and ecclesial instability of the region.The missionaries had no real control over the events that destroyed theirmissionary efforts in a blaze of fire during two wars. Thusthey wereleft with few alternatives. Neverthelessthe later Oblate successes westof the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia can clearly be attributed tolessons learned in this unforgiving mission. Thusthe self-evident fidelitythrough hardshipsdisputes and even failures in the mission... led toa life-giving missionary fruitfulness for all the Oblate missionariesthat followed in their footsteps.”

To write this history Rontraveled 103078 kilometers in EuropeCanada and the United States togather thousands of pages of original documentsmany of which lay untouchedin archives for almost 150 years. He even came across a copy of a heretoforeunknown letter of Bishop de Mazenod (cf. Vie Oblate LifeVol.571998pp. 529-537). Since the 762 footnotes and 35 pages of bibliographymay be a bit too formidable for the faint-heartedRon proposes to publisha popular edition of this exciting adventure.

Fr Young is now a memberof the teaching staff at Oblate School of TheologySan AntonioTexas.

A “Healing” web-page

“Fr McAlear’sMinistry of Hope and Healing” is the title of Fr Richard McALEAR’sweb-page on the internet. This is an informational web-site about theLord’s ministry of healing as experienced by Richard. It also presentssome of his booksarticles and audio cassettes. You can also get hisschedule for the year 2000. Look him up at: http://www.frmac.org/ Youcan even send him a prayer request.

Fr Mac travels extensivelyministering lovingly to the Body of Christespecially to the poor andthe disadvantaged. He has traveled throughout AustraliaGuatemalaAsiaNorth and South Americaconducting workshopsseminarsretreats andhealing services. He is a member and leader of the Association of ChristianTherapists (ACT).

His goal is to strengthenspiritual values and to administer healing through prayer. This ministryis dedicated especially to bringing Christ’s message to people whoare suffering in mind or in body. “The healing ministry” writesFr McAlear“is a way of proclaiming the word and work of Jesus inour age. It is a dramatic proclamation of Christ’s living presencein the world today; it is a real experience of His love. As suchit continuesthe Oblate tradition of ministering to the hurting people in the world.”

Audacieux pour l’Évangile.(Daring for the Gospel). A revised edition of the album first publishedin 1986 by the Province of France. This edition presents the missionarylife and work of Oblates around the world and is directed especially toyoung people. Éditions du Signe200048 pp.

Javier BaptistaS.J.50años de presenzia de los Misioneros Oblatos de María Inmaculadaen Bolivia. (50 Years of Oblate Presence in Bolivia.) A documentedhistory with a lengthy index of personal names. A private non-commercialpublication. Misioneros Oblatos…CochabambaBolivia2000312pp.

Raymond BOURGOIN (Japan): St. Eugene de Mazenod. Japanese translation of Aimé ROCHE’sBlessed Eugene de Mazenod. Private non-commercial publication byBro. Nobuhiko YAGI. AkiJapan178 pp.

Fabio CIARDI (Italy) : Sottolo sguardo di Dio (Under God’s Eye. True short stories from thelife of a priest.) Brief selections from his diary that show the constantpresence of the love of God during his 25 years of priesthood. EdizioniPiemmeCasale Monferrato2000180 pp.

P. Leonard GAOWACKI (Poland): KazaB mi i[... (He made me go...) A spiritual historyof the Servant of God Anthony Kowalczyk. The figure of Bro. Anthony ispresented against a rich historical background. This is the first attemptto draw from the sourcesshowing the figure of Bro. Anthony based onarchive materialsthe testimony of those who knew himand some of hispersonal confidences. It is an approach that corrects an often simplisticand unfair view of the Servant of God. Missionary OblatesPoznan1999175 pp.plus 40 pp. of photos.

P. Leonard GAOWACKI (Poland): Wmiw |iti u skrutnij as (He Knew Some Difficult Times). Ukrainianversion of Fr GBowackis well-known vocation brochure on the Founder. Heintroduces the person of the Founder and his charism in eighteen briefchapters. Missionary OblatesKiev199873 pp.

P. Leonard GAOWACKI (Poland): Droga Krzy|a Drog |ycia. (Way of the Cross Way of Life). Meditationswith colored photos of the original wood carved Stations of the Crossat the Oblate Marian shrine at KodeD near the border with Belorussia.Stimulating meditations of a spiritual and missionary character. MissionaryOblatesLublin - KodeD199732 pp.

Jean GUÉGUEN (France): Missionnaires sans bateau. Les racines de la mission. (Missionarieswithout a boat. The roots of the mission.) Two papers from the writingsof Madeleine Delbrêl. Éditions Parole et SilenceSaint-Maur2000119 pp.

Willi HENKEL and Marek ROSTKOWSKI(General House) : Bibliographia Missionaria. Vol. LXIII (1999).Pontifical Urbaniana UniversityVatican City2000374 pp.

Sylvain LAVOIE (St. Mary’s): Northern Nuggets. Stories from 25 years of missionary work amongthe aboriginal Cree and Dene in northern Saskatchewan (Canada). This bookletcelebrates the faithvalues and lives of the northern aboriginal people.Marian Press Ltd.200064 pp.

Wilfried ROSSEL (BelgiumNorth) : Een Vader als geen ander. (A Father Like No Other). Tenbiblical meditations. HalewijnAntwerp200072 pp.

Marek ROSTKOWSKI (GeneralHouse) : Un passato ricco di avvenire (A Past Rich with the Future).Revised and abridged version of a dissertation presented for the licentiatein missiology. A short history of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculatewith particular reference to the development of this association in theItalian Province. An extensive bibliography is noteworthy for its listof heretofore unpublished documents. Non-commercial publication by theAMMIFrascati (Rome)2000120 pp.

Nicanor SARMIENTO T. (St.Peter’s) : Caminos de la Teología India. (The Pathsof Indian Theology). A native of Perunow a missionary among the Inuitin LabradorNicanor analyzes the theological and missiological contentof three international conferences held between 1990 and 1997 on the themeof Amerindian theology. Editorial Verbo DivinoBolivia2000246 pp.

William H. WOESTMAN (St.Joseph) : Ecclesiastical Sanctions and the Penal Process. A Commentaryon the Code of Canon Law. (Books VI and VII). Includes twenty-oneappendices with related texts of the Holy See’s documents “forthose who do not have an extensive library.” Faculty of Canon LawSaint Paul UniversityOttawa2000292 pp.

Ronald Wayne YOUNG (U.S.A.): The Mission of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to the OregonTerritory (1847-1860). A dissertation for the doctorate in Missiology.Pontificia Universitas GregorianaRome2000295 pp.

65 Years of ReligiousProfession

50 Years of Priesthood

25 Years of Priesthood

Eugene King’s oblationnumber is 10799 (as correctly indicated on p. 402) not 11326.(Apologies to former Vicar General Daniel Corijnwhosenumber was taken in vain.)

Fax number for the Zambia DelegationOffice should be: Fax: +260 1 262 308 (not the sameas the Tel. number).

Telephone number for 4 COLOMBO: OblateFathers22 Gunasekara LaneBorellaColombo 8Sri Lankashouldbe listed as: +94 1 68 26 80 (not +94 68 26 80).

P. Dumont André (3. MONTREAL:Notre-Dame-des Missions -Centre Miss. Oblat) is a member of N.D.-du-Rosaire Province (not Grandin)

P. Thill Georges’ telephone numbershould be +32 2 230 93 2 (not +32 2 230 93 25)

Missing from the members of the DistrictRavensbos is the name of former provincial: P. Kusters AlfonsHeerenstraat 796237 NCMoorveldNederland.

For the Italian Province Scolasticate (3ROMA SCOLASTICATO: San MatteoScolasticato OMIVia Tuscolana 172100044 Frascati RMItalia.)the telephone and fax numbers are each missingthe last digit. They should be: Tel: +39 06 72 65 03 53; Fax: +3906 72 65 08 44.

Please send additionalcorrections to the Secretary General (C.P. 906100100 Roma-AurelioItaly)so that we may correct our records and enable everyone to make correctionsin their own copy.
Thank you.

New E-Mail Addresses and LAN at Via Aurelia 290

Superior General

1^st Assistant

General Secretary

General Administration Regional Councillors

+ 14 June 2000 in Durban

+ 17 June 2000 in Ottawa

+ 25 June 2000 in Saskatoon

+ 5 July 2000 in San Giorgio del Sannio

+ 6 July 2000 in Verviers

+ 10 July 2000 in Vancouver

+ 12 July 2000 in Essen

+ 24 July 2000 in Hünfeld

+ 25 July 2000 in MonklandOntario

+ 26 July 2000 in Colombo

+ 3 August 2000 in Saskatoon

+ 3 August 2000 in Placid PlaceEdmonton

+ 7 August 2000 in Saskatoon

+ 9 August 2000 in Cape Town

+ 14 August 2000 in Richelieu

+ 14 August 2000 in Fontenay sous Bois

+ 15 August 2000 in Belleville

+ 19 August 2000 in Richelieu

+ 20 August 2000 in Vancouver

+ 29 August 2000 in Bemmel

+ 1 Sept. 2000 in Shawinigan

OMI INFORMATION isan unofficial publication
of the General Administration of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
C.P. 906100100 ROMA-AURELIOItaly
Fax: (39) 06 39 37 53 22 E-mail <information@omigen.org>
Editing Team: Ronald LaFramboise (director)Giovanni Canfora
Fermín del BlancoWiesBaw AykoWerner RörigFrancis Plantin
Printing & Circulation: Théophile Le Page