Father Daniel LEBLANC is the
Oblates' representative to the United Nations. As such, his work can positively impact the lives of
millions of people. Needless to say, Fr. Daniel works in a frenzied and stressful environment.
Much of his day is spent meeting with people
from around the world to examine issues of major importance - eradicating poverty,
promoting the rights of indigenous people, combating human trafficking of women
and children and reducing the impact of global warming.
“By having contact with country representatives and U.N. personnel, I have the opportunity to bring to their attention the realities and perspectives of people from around the world with whom the Oblates work,” said Fr. Daniel. “Often I can provide information that
is truly unique because of our experiences working
among the world's poor.”
Issues that the Oblates are involved with that Fr. Daniel has discussed with U.N. personnel
include: land-grabbing by the government of Bangladesh against the Garo and Khasi indigenous people, promoting peace and reconciliation during the civil war in Sri Lanka,
and efforts along the U.S./Mexico border to
promote justice for migrants and immigrants. Father Daniel is also
presently at the forefront of efforts to
have the U.N. declare 2011-2020 as the Decade for Interreligious and
Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and
Cooperation For Peace.
Father Daniel works at the United
Nations because the Missionary Oblates are recognized there as a
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). In addition, the Oblates are members of VIVAT International,
a consortium of religious congregations at the
U.N.
Ordained
in Canada in 1978, Fr. Daniel's first assignment was to the missions of Peru. He would
spend nearly 30 years there, working among the
urban poor of Lima, the capital city, and in
the high jungle.
For many
years Fr. Daniel was a member, as well as chair, of the Oblate's Latin
American Commission of Justice, Peace and Integrity
of Creation. He worked on a variety of justice issues: assisting
victims of terrorism, investigating mass
graves and helping to bring perpetrators to justice.
On June
5, 1992, Fr. Daniel was a victim of a terrorist
attack. A car bomb with 600 kilos of dynamite exploded outside
a television station located across the street from the Oblates' provincial
house. Father Daniel was asleep at the time. He suffered serious
injuries that left him unconscious for
days. “At one point they had declared me dead
but that turned out to be a little premature,”
Fr. Daniel now jokes. “There were about
70,000 people killed during Peru's
20-year civil war, but I was not one of them.”
“Our work at the U.N. is a fulfillment of one
of St. Eugene's rules that he established for his congregation,” said Fr.
Daniel. “We are to be a voice for the poor, and the U.N. is
a place where we can make sure that their voice
is being heard.” (Oblate World,
February 2011)
