Within two months, the 2025 Jubilee Year, proclaimed by Pope Francis under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, will come to an end. I would like to share with you how this pilgrimage came about for me. As an Oblate in my Region, it was an experience of communion with the universal Church in the service of the Institute. I was called upon by the Regional Council to assist them in preparing for the Regional Assembly in October 2025. I accepted the challenge, confident and assured that this was part of my apostolic project!

Inspired by the movement and theme of this year's Jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope,” it seemed prophetic to me that we too could adopt this spirit, this breath of life, in preparing for this Assembly. Yes, as pilgrims of hope, we had to become aware of our regional reality: rapid decline in the number of Oblates able to take on responsibilities in the immediate future, difficulty in imagining a more flexible way of operating, etc. Therefore, we need hope and confidence to be able to embrace boldness, fresh perspectives and new paths.

As the pilgrim of hope I wanted to be, I knew there would be risks, suffering, darkness and death along the way, but I was certain that this journey would lead to resurrection. And we had to experience it together!

Throughout the preparation for the regional pilgrimage, we journeyed together with all our companions, first of all by positioning ourselves as Oblate pilgrims at the heart of the world. We had to accept our frailties, our loss of abilities and our grief… We clung to our pilgrim's staff, identifying ourselves as people consecrated to bear witness to the Father's unconditional love through our apostolic attitudes. Our five points helped us to explore new ways to live a simpler way of doing things.

What a wonderful journey we experienced through 12 living-room meetings. Fifty-five companions participated wholeheartedly, with their love for the Institute and concern for each other. Aged but full of life, along with the three members of the Council, 24 Oblates said Present as participants in our fourth Regional Assembly.

In preparation for the elections, the pilgrimage concluded with a period of reflection, during which the sharing of experiences was invaluable. Everyone offered what they could to the Region, sharing both their strengths and their limitations. I experienced the end of the Assembly's pilgrimage there, filled with so many blessings emanating from the richness of my companions.

Magnificat for all Lord!

Céline Girard, North America East Region
November 15, 2025