1. Albert Lacombe, OMI
1827 – 1916
Volume 8, Number 18 May 27, 2011
REFLECTIONS ON BEING
MISSIONARY TODAY
In this issue...
IT DEMANDS ALL YOU’VE GOT……….1
BEING A MISSIONARY TODAY……...…3
BEING MISSIONARY IN CONTEXT…….4
OUR VULNERABILITY TEACHES US TO
BE MISSIONARY……..…………………..5
UPCOMING DISCERNMENT
WEEKEND…………………………………6
Announcement…………………………...5
IT DEMANDS ALL
YOU’VE GOT
By Paulo Feeley, OMI
NEXT ISSUE OF INFO LACOMBE WILL BE
JUNE 03, 2011. Being a missionary today is an exciting,
challenging and difficult “career”.
Exciting because it demands ALL you’ve got
… above all, faith, courage and creativity.
Slowly, you begin to understand that this is
the Spirit’s work and you offer yourself to
work with her. This is faith in its deepest
dimension. Courage because, as Jesus said:
Saskatoon Office- Communications

2. Volume 8, Number 18
May 27, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
the time of Jesus. Knowing that someone has
physically beaten another is relatively easy to
point a finger and say it was wrong. Without
denying the value of correcting the
individual, today we see millions are beaten
by violence, hunger, war, etc. Even nature is
being beaten. It’s not that we don’t know it’s
wrong; it’s more that we haven’t been
creative enough in finding a solution.
And certainly, being a missionary today is
difficult. Our (western) world has its roots in
a Christian culture; and we ourselves in a
catholic culture. That might be good as an
historical statement but that is passé. The
world has a new culture. We’re not speaking
the same language.
But there is an added dimension to the
difficulty. To consider the mule as the only
means of transportation in the 21st century
would be ridiculous. Well, something similar
with the instrument of the Spirit – the church.
“We’re not speaking the same language” is
much broader than the words we use. The
Paulo Feeley OMI served as an Oblate people of the ‘50s and ‘60s tried to bring
missionary in Peru from 1964 - 2004. about the “aggiornamento” … and we’re still
trying with faith, courage and creativity. And
“… I am sending you like lambs among in case you haven’t heard: the splinter group
wolves.” If you think the persecutions in the called Pius X has stated there’s no way of
Roman empire required courage, try the accepting the “aggiornamento” of Vatican 2.
ferocious competitive life in today’s
corporations … even in sports! And
creativity is needed because the missionaries
must be “shrewd as serpents and simple as
doves”. You could argue with the Roman
magistrates but argue with the voracious
appetite of modern corporations demands a
market shrewdness that only the wise of this
world understand.
Being a missionary is challenging. Life is far
more complex and complicated than it was at
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3. Volume 8, Number 18
May 27, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
BEING A MISSIONARY
TODAY
By: Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate
Being a missionary today seems almost to
have taken on a new focus, or a ‘re-
focussing’. I am reminded a bit of the “Road
to Emmaus” story in scripture. Things are no
longer necessarily the way I expected them to
be or thought they would be.
Like you, I have found myself asking of God;
“What would you have me do, have me be?
Who are your poor, your most abandoned?
Who are the voiceless? Who does not know
of your awesome love for each of us? How
may I love, may I serve you?”
I believe that being a missionary today means
taking the risks and speaking out in the
workplace when l notice that one person who
seems never to receive the respect and dignity
that is theirs. It means that always I need to
speak the truth and ensure that all are treated
fairly and justly, that we are all created in the
image of God, no matter what each of our
jobs are. As a missionary I am called to give
voice to any injustice and to speak out – to
persevere until there is change – even if it
does become “career limiting”. To try to stay Eleanor Rabnett, ministers in Ottawa in St
awake with Jesus in the garden for that one Joseph’s Parish and works with the Oblate
long hour. Assoicates.
Being a missionary today may mean living in Perhaps being a missionary today means
the freedom to step out of my old comfort simply to make myself available to you and
zone and “share” how God transforms my supporting you in your life. I may teach you
life. Open myself up and truly give you the how to use a computer; feed you when you
gift of who I am - so that together we walk come to the door of the Supper Table for
with each other on our journey of faith and dinner; support you as you work each day in
life. the Women’s Centre giving yourself so that
there is a safe place for women to gather,
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4. Volume 8, Number 18
May 27, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
make sure that I notice you if you to sit alone
in at church on Sunday with no one to speak
to – to introduce myself and let you know that
you are an important part my life. I will take
the time to thank you and let you know that I
cannot do it alone and when today you feel
you have no voice, I will take the time to
listen. If you feel all alone on your journey, I
will walk with you.
As a missionary today I must share all of the
many the gifts that God gives to me – to open
myself to you and others and love in whatever
way is needed and in all the ways that I am
able.
Yes, perhaps being a missionary today means
to keep loving all those I come in contact
with. Loving in the many ways and forms –
giving of the talents and gifts that God has
given me – letting that awesome love God has
bestowed onto me to simply overflow and fill
you. Then like the two disciples in the gospel
I will recognize who I am with and notice
how my heart burns within me.
Nestor Gregoire, OMI, serves as pastor of St.
Joseph’s Parish in Saskatoon and serves as the
editor of INFO Lacombe.
BEING MISSIONARY IN
local community. People say, ‘the church is
CONTEXT full of grey hairs’ but so are all the service
By Nestor Gregoire, OMI clubs. We are now in the decade when so
many of the service clubs are combining with
several other groups to at least have one
What we are experiencing as church is not service club that gives volunteer service to the
unique to religious organizations. Parents community. Will volunteer organizations
lament that ‘none of my children ever go to disappear from our society?
church anymore’ and there are serious We are living through a tremendous social
moments of guilt that they did not do a good shift where the individual wants to and must
enough job in raising their children. rely on their own resources. There is no large
But we must stand back for a moment. They family to support you through the difficult
are not coming to church, but they are also periods because all your close relatives are
not getting married or being involved in the
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5. Volume 8, Number 18
May 27, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
scattered all over the country and literally the
world.
We do not know what this means for our
Church or for our religious congregation. We
do not have the tools to rebuild church and
society into a nurturing and sustaining whole.
Where do we stand?
This is the long trek through the desert where
we have only the ‘cloud by day’ to guide us.
It is our living faith in Jesus Christ who will
lead us through this season of emptiness and
seeming unproductivity.
Our faith is a Paschal faith which means that
from the ashes (i.e., the lack of any results,
the indifference and the criticisms that are
tossed our way) will emerge new life.
One part of being missionary today is to hang
in there when no one else appears to want to
walk with us. It is faithfulness through the
long, hot summer of exodus. It is walking in
radical trust and confidence that God will
birth new life from these dry, dry ashes.
OUR VULNERABILITY
TEACHES US TO BE
MISSIONARY Kathy Stack is a ‘minister on her feet.’ She knows
the people of the street on a first name basis and
By Kathy Stack. walks with them.
“…walking in radical trust and confidence of members, in those deeply committed
that God will birth new life….” religious orders serving this area for so many
These words echo some hopeful possibilities years, is bringing about a gradual change in
emerging from our community here in ministries, leaving gaps to be filled.
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside parishes. Inspired by the history, dedication and
Sacred Heart, St. Paul’s and Kateri example of those who came before, another
Tekakwitha Centre, make up a small Catholic generation of missionaries now struggle to
presence in the Downtown Eastside, the discern how they are called.
poorest neighborhood of our city. The aging
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6. Volume 8, Number 18
May 27, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
As members of the Down Town East Side and members of our families.
parishes, we began to reflect on what we What does it mean to us to be missionaries
might have to offer, considering our limited today?
numbers. Empty for a decade and having
fallen into disrepair, one of our physical It seems each of us are being led to examine
resources, the old Sacred Heart elementary ourselves, as we endeavor to be people of
school had begun to mirror the loneliness and service. We struggle with what it really
despair, manifest in the sick, homeless and means to be ‘caring neighbors’ in an area that
addicted souls roaming our streets. is home to many who are deeply affected by
poverty, addiction and mental health issues.
To determine whether the building was
salvageable, we set to work removing the Our hope is to live compassionately, keeping
mold, rot and damaged materials. What our hearts open to the gifts of others.
remained was a beautiful, sound, well-built
old structure with much potential. We now UPCOMING
find ourselves in the early stages of a plan to
re-develop the old school, renamed ‘Sacred DISCERNMENT
Spirit Center’. Buoyed by the interest, energy WEEKEND
and generosity of other Catholic parishes,
trade unions and a variety of folks committed
to the common good, we hope that our Center June 2-5… Seeking God’s Will in Northern
will enhance the life of our worshipping Saskatchewan
congregations and provide a place where we
can build community with our neighbors. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
and the Sisters of the Presentation will host a
As part of this process, we also took part in a retreat weekend for young women and men
faith sharing series, helping us to discern the (18-35 years) who are interested in discerning
meaning of ‘service’. In weekly sessions, we God’s path in their lives. We’ll be camping at
began to clear out the mold and rot of St John Bosco Camp, three hourse north east
judgement and pre-conceived notions about of Saskatoon. Bosco is a northern camp set
‘the poor’. We came to recognize that charity and will provide us the opportunity to listen
requires more than one being the ‘giver’ and for God’s voice in the beauty of nature, as
one the ‘receiver’. well as in our prayer and conversation
throughout the weekend. In addition to some
Shared reflection helped us uncover our own
good food and some good fun, this retreat
aversion to vulnerability, and has caused us to
weekend will offer you some principles of
cringe somewhat, at our eagerness to name
discernment and prayer, and will give you the
and treat another’s weaknesses.
opportunity to spend some time talking with
We began to recognize ‘those people’ on the priests and sisters. Please get in touch with Fr
street, Ken or Sister Mary Jane for more details
are us, about the weekend.
our friends,
our neighbors
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7. Volume 8, Number 18
May 27, 2011
175 MAIN STREET ● OTTAWA ON K1S 1C3 ● TEL: 613-230-2225 ● FAX: 613-230-2948 ● www.omilacombe.ca
[Read More] The Residence is centrally located in Ottawa in
a tranquil setting by the Rideau River near St
For more information or to register contact: Paul’s University. Springhurst offers a spacious
private suite with ensuite bathroom. Monthly
Sr Mary Jane Beavis (306) 244 rent includes all meals, housekeeping, laundry
0726 maryjane.beavis@gmail.com facilities, access to chapel, shared reception
Fr Ken Thorson OMI (613) 884 rooms and outdoor patio and garden space. A
4144 vocations@omilacombe.ca level of assisted care is available as needed but
residents must meet established physical and
ANNOUNCEMENT: mental criteria for independent living.
Oblate Mission Travel- Peru Mission Trip,
July 2011. Experience life with the Oblates For further information, contact Marlene
in Peru on this 2-3 week mission trip. For Leonard, Residence Administrator;
more than 50 years, the Peru/Canada Oblate Telephone: 613 567 0371 Fax: 613 567 0967
relationship has flourished. This mission will
take us from the busy, inner city parishes in Email: springhurstadministrator@oblates.ca
Lima along the coast to Chincha, Alta,
WHO USES INFO LACOMBE?
heavily damaged by the 2007 earthquake. We
will travel to the high Andes and the missions
of Orcotuna and Aucayacu. Finally, we will
travel by boat to Sta. Clotilde deep in the During the month of April, 2011, we had
jungle along the Napo River where Father 2410 visits to our web page. The average visit
Moe Shroder’s hospital was founded almost was three minutes and one second. In the
30 years ago. It will be the experience of a business a ten second visit means that the
lifetime. For more information, contact Neysa person had started to read and examine the
or Teresa at 604 736 3972 or page.
nmfinnie@yahoo.com or teresa@nfinnie.com.
There is also a mission trip to Kenya Where do our visitors come from? The break
September 14-October 04 led by Fr. Ken down is as follows: Canada, 2146; United
Thorson, OMI. States, 89; France, 26; Italy, 20; United
Kingdom, 15; Kenya, 13; Australia, 12;South
Qu’Appelle House of Prayer. website: Africa, 11; Poland, 9; Hong Kong, 6.
www.qhpstillness.ca
The Springhurst Residence, an Oblate
community of retired and active residents,
currently has a vacancy. We are open to
applications from Oblates seeking a full
service facility in a welcoming, quiet
environment to enjoy retirement, pursue long
term studies or other employment.
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