Religious order eyes RP for international formation house

MANILA, Philippines - The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) order's Asia-Oceania Regional Conference has decided to establish its international formation house for theologians in the Philippines. A statement on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Web site (www.cbcpnews.com) Friday evening said the decision was reached during a joint session presided by OMI superior general Rev. Wilhelm Steckling. Steckling said they hope the international Theologate "will bring together candidates from various Oblate units in the region" and even other parts of the world and "offer them an experience of community life while pursuing academic studies." The CBCP said the OMI's governing body expects a preliminary report on the matter by yearend. Also, the Oblates will explore the possibility of establishing a pilot international community ministering to the youth. The community is to be composed of at least three Oblates from the region and perhaps include youth associates much later "to witness and minister to and with, young people in the spirit of the Oblate founder Eugene de Mazenod." At least three youth events scheduled in Australia in July will include the International Oblate Youth Experience in Melbourne, and the World Youth Day and the Oblate International Congress both scheduled in Sydney. Such events are expected to improve collaboration and programs of youth ministry in Oblate units all over the world. Fr. Steckling underscored the need to strive to proclaim the Good News "in the diverse and oftentimes difficult context that is Asia-Oceania." He identified the areas of Enculturation, Justice and Peace, Inter-Faith Dialogue and Mission to Secularity as the dominant characteristics of how Oblates are sent to minister to the poor in the region. Also, he challenged the Oblates to "create better Oblate apostolic communities and open up to ministering with lay partners in the mission, particularly the youth." He likewise reminded his confreres of the critical tasks in forming present and future Oblates in the charism of the Founder and of the best values of the congregation. Twenty-six delegates participated in the joint session, eleven of which were from the central government led by Superior-General Wilhelm Steckling and Rev. Frs. Eugene King (Vicar General), Oswald Firth (Assistant General), Paolo Archiati (Assistant General), Federico Labaglay (General Councilor for Asia-Oceania), Jean Bosco Musumbi (General Councilor for Africa-Madagascar), Loudeger Mazile (General Councilor for Latin America, Luis Ignacio Rois (General Councilor for Europe), Marcel Dumais (General Councilor for United States and Canada), Thomas Coughlin (Secretary-General) and Rufus Whitley (Treasurer-General). Fourteen Major Superiors of the Oblate Units in Asia-Oceania attended the event. They represented Oblate communities in Australia, Indonesia, Jaffna, Colombo/Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Korea, Turkmenistan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The lone representative from China failed to come due to illness. Fr. Christopher O'Leary, director of the Oblate Missionary Center facilitated the joint session. - GMANews.TV