(Editor’s note: During this Year of Oblate Vocations, from time to time, we hope to publish news from the formation communities in the Oblate world. As of January 2018, there were 576 professed Oblates in First Formation throughout the world, not counting the juniors, prenovices, and novices. We would like to receive brief articles about them and their communities.)

Oblate Prenovitiate at Sumaré, Sao Paulo, Brazil

On February 15, the Oblate prenovitiate in Sumaré-SP officially began its formation year with a Eucharist presided by the provincial, Fr. Francisco RUBEAUX. He was joined at the altar by Frs. Lindomar FELIX, superior of the prenovitiate, and his associate, Fr. Antonio PEREIRA.

This year, the formation community has seven candidates: one in the third year of philosophy; one in the second year; and five in the first year. They attend the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas.

Santo-Eugênio Post-Novitiate, Sao Paulo, Brazil

In his homily, the provincial highlighted the important pillars in the formation for Oblate missionary life: study, spirituality, prayer and community life.

On the next day, February 16, the post-novitiate or scholasticate of Santo Eugênio officially began its activities for the new school year. Again, the Eucharist was led by the provincial, Fr. Rubeaux, and concelebrated by the superior of the scholasticate, Fr. Cardoso PEREIRA, Fr. Rubens Pedro CABRAL, and Fr. Genivaldo CORDEIRO.

Casa-da-Missão (“House of the Mission”), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

The scholasticate counts the presence of eleven young Oblates, Brazilian and from other countries. They make their theological studies at the Instituto São Paulo de Estudos Superiores.

Taking part in the celebration were the prenovitiate community, along with members of the José Cebula Group of Oblate Associates who live and spread the Oblate charism in the city of São Paulo. It was also an occasion to celebrate 192nd anniversary of the February 17th pontifical approbation of the Oblate Constitutions and Rules by Pope Leo XII in 1826.

As part of the commemoration of that event, the Province of Brazil launched a new website: www.omi.org.br. (Fr. Sérgio DE SANTANA)