The Oblate
Missionaries of Mary Immaculate

Every time you did it to one of these, you did it to me.

The International Congress of the Volunteers of God, held in July 2022, left us with joy and a deep feeling of gratitude because it allowed us to reflect on the 5 attitudes of life and how to live them. Many of us felt the presence of God through the love, commitment and solidarity shown by all Congress participants. At the same time, we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit going from one another, letting us know that it is He who gives us the gift of languages. This allowed us to understand each other despite distance, different languages and cultural contexts, with the sole desire to give glory to God at all times and to share our experience of love.

For this, first of all, I would like to thank each of the Oblates who gave us their precious time, who shared their wisdom and their experience during each of their presentations.

For all this, as the song says: “What carefulness, Lord, have you had with me” so that each of us may be Your prophet, seeking to live the love of Christ everywhere in the present moment.

Secondly, let us recognize, as the Bible says, that God’s timing is perfect because the world today, more than ever, needs to know a spirituality like ours so that we can be better Christians and that we achieve holiness and happiness.

In this way, we must emphasize the desire to live the 5 attitudes of Christian charity, the perfect recipe for being happy.

1. Presence of God at all times, invoking Him, thanking Him and remaining available to Him.
2. Abstention from destructive criticism interior and exterior, always remembering that God is full of mercy and does not balk at our mistakes. Likewise, we should not focus on the mistakes of our brothers or sisters.
3. Abstention from useless complaint interior and exterior. Recognize all that God gives us which is good to live in this world. And all the difficulties that prevent us from moving forward in life, let’s take them as an opportunity to improve ourselves.
4. Being of service. Let us be this bridge of love and closeness with our brothers and sisters, which will contribute very effectively to establishing justice, which represents the first requirement of love.
5. And being peacemaker, which is a gift from God. That’s why you have to ask Him; it’s a ripe fruit of righteousness.

Finally, I would like to remind you of Father Parent’s message, OMI: Let us seek to relive with force the charity of Christ. “Jesus said to us: ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:34-40)

Esther Acuña Rios
Leader
Volunteers of God

Having respect for time does not mean that I have to have perfectionist, super-active attitudes. Too much organization is no more beneficial than a complete lack of order. Everyone has to discover their tendencies, to know that they have the resources within themselves to sort them out.

Time is a friend that helps me in all circumstances. I can use it as I wish, it never accepts excuses, it is there, waiting.

I only have to do what I can do, nothing more.

Time has the richness of our priorities. It accompanies the simplest actions, it can be used, it is docile by nature. To get used to making choices is to acquire wisdom. Everyone has a multiplicity of choices to make every day. One has the value of one's choices; time depends on their quality.

One must develop a capacity for concentration, in order to readjust as the days go by. One day at a time, never more, never less. In a race, the important thing is to have the right foot in the right place.

Excerpt from the “Collection Volontaires de Dieuˮ: Time… is Wealth / Father Louis-Marie Parent, OMI

On December 12, 2022, the group of Volunteers of God from La Tuque committed themselves once again to live the five attitudes for the next year. There were ten of us, including one future Volunteer.

We read a paragraph from the book by Father Louis-Marie Parent “In the Footsteps of Jesus”: “In the countries where they work, the Oblates have gathered together lay people of all ages and have formed a considerable group of committed Christians, “The Volunteers of God,” who live the experience of the five attitudes every day. These many lay people, spread over several countries, make a formal promise each year to consciously, freely and voluntarily live the five attitudes in order to be peacemakers, harmonious and peaceful elements and builders of serenity”. We then became aware of the strength of the union of God's Volunteers throughout the world.

Among the five attitudes, we chose the being of service: “A being of service is an intelligent living being, who freely and voluntarily sides with God and is ready to be a docile instrument to all His wills, as soon as they are known.” From the same book, we have to live this attitude more intensely with Christmas gatherings, solidarity with the less fortunate and our desire to serve this Child God.

We paid tribute to Mary Immaculate and her husband Joseph with prayers and songs. The theme of our sharing was the celebration of Christmas in relation to faith, hope and charity.
By Nicole Nault

I am grateful for all that I have received in the Institute during these 65 years
given to God and to the service of my brothers and sisters.

Our Lady has accompanied me and preceded me in all the events I have had to experience.
She has made me docile to the inspirations of the Spirit.
The Institute is my family and my identity. I give thanks to the Lord for this.

Louiselle Beaupré

Photo: Rudy and Peter Skitterians de Pixabay

As we find ourselves on the threshold of a new year, we can see in our world today the growth of frightening violence. Faced with this trend, we are invited to remain vigilant in prayer and charity, walking constantly in the presence of the Lord. We are also stimulated to live our five attitudes of life with even more intensity, especially since we now know that they constitute the driving force of our mission.

Here is a little suggestion to help us stay in the presence of the Lord and to help us keep peace in all that we see and experience: the practice of blessing. The act of blessing brings peace to our hearts and to those around us.

Blessing is a spiritual tradition that goes back three thousand years. It goes back to the time of Moses when the Lord taught him a prayer of blessing for the cohanim (priests) to spread this blessing among the people: May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord shine his face upon you and bring you his grace! May he turn his gaze upon you and give you his peace! (Num 6:24-26).

When we are confronted with violence, let us remember this blessing and repeat it time and again, directing it at those who provoke violence. It may be as simple as saying, “Lord, bless this person who is not comfortable in their own skin.” Through our baptism, we can, in turn, in the name of Jesus and in the Holy Spirit, become bearers of blessing for a light that shines up in the darkness.

And there is also the blessing offered as a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for the positive things we experience! “Blessed are you God of the universe, who gives us this bread, this work, these friends, this family, etc...” This is the formula used at Mass of course, but it comes to us first from the Jewish world before we began using it in our liturgy.

Jesus, being the good Jew that he was, repeated this type of blessing every day - getting up in the morning, before eating, drinking, receiving visitors, etc... Hebrew spirituality is fundamentally rooted in thanksgiving and blessing. We only have to reread the psalms to be aware of this.

The Lord grants unexpected graces through our good will in the act of blessing, of wishing good to people. It is a matter of believing in it!

Let us all be blessed at the beginning of this new year, in Christ Jesus our light and our strength!

Violaine Couture

Photos de Pixabay
Baptism: Анатолий Стафичук
Stained glass: yann-1
Chain blessing: timokefoto

Many people solicit time.

We are not alone in life. We must take others into account. We have rights, but we also have duties. Human beings are so different that they are, by necessity, obliged to resort to one another.

We need others every day, just as others need us. I need food, soap, a piece of furniture; at the end of each need, there is a crowd of people who work to fulfill my needs.

During a general strike, I am really deprived and I realize that, if I were alone, I would return to the stoneage and I would be in unbearable misery.

We live in an interdependent world, which means that we must have the time to share, to exchange views. Someone around us needs attention, sometimes it's a person who is ill, sometimes it's someone needs a favor.

Many people solicit us for a listening ear. There is always someone who feels the need to be heard. At the same time, it can happen that what I demand for myself, someone else also demands.

The others do not have to take us in hand, they need not to dominate us or manipulate us to bring us to their way of thinking. The most they are allowed to do is to make suggestions, to give their opinion without imposing it. We are always free to accept or reject a recommendation.

By protecting ourselves, we also protect time, this wealth that I cannot be without.

Extract from the Collection Volontaires de Dieu (Volunteers of God): Le temps est une richesse (Time is Wealth)/ Father Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I.

Time… is wealth (1)

Time… is wealth (2)

Picture clock: Gerd Altmann de Pixabay

A few weeks ago Joseph received some disturbing news: He had to go to Bethlehem to be registered with his family, because his descendants are from that region. Even though his wife was ready to give birth, he had to go. It was an order from the Emperor Augustus.

As an obedient man he saddled me with a tub, placed a woven latanier bag on each side of my back. He put some food, water, 2-3 blankets for the journey. I even brought some hay for the desert places. And here we are, bumping and grinding for about 160 km of road between valleys and mountains. Marie, pregnant, is sitting on my back. In spite of the weight of my load, I try not to rush my movements because it was not easy for her to make all this road...

Several days of fatigue finally brought us to Bethlehem. Phew! It was time. Mary was about to give birth. As they were refused a place in the hostel, "a woman is going to give birth in the midst of so many people, it is not done, come on!" Then someone showed us a stable with a little straw, an ox was already there. At least, with our breath, they will be warm.

But all along the road, despite the fatigue, thirst, hunger sometimes, I was happy, because I a donkey, I the animal of the poor-- I carried the Savior of the world...

Dear donkey: I am amazed at your perseverance along this road, your gentleness in protecting Mary from the shocks of the road and your faithful service to the end: even in the stable.

You make me think: no complaint, no "hi-an" either... no criticism of the difficult road and the weight on your back... By helping Mary as best you can, you are "present" in your own way to this God who comes among us. I find in you, our 5 attitudes of life.

Jesus, here I am near you, I am filled with your presence: I want to develop perseverance in my actions and gentleness towards those who irritate me or overwhelm me a little too much...

By my benevolent attitude I can welcome others by being of service according to my capacities and, peacemaker. Thank you Mr. Donkey for your example, thank you Jesus for your help in my everyday life...

Marie-Thérèse Gagné. December 2022
Trois-Rivières

The International Congress of the Volunteers of God was held on July 16th and 17th, 2022. On the second day, we were graced with the participation of Volunteers of God who spoke to us from the farthest parts of the world about their way of living the spirituality of the attitudes of life.

The opening was launched by France Robitaille, who, for a period of 20 years, was the coordinator of the Volunteers of God Core Team. She reflected on the potential of our spirituality, inviting us to adopt the Christian attitudes that are so effective in touching the hearts of others. Accordingly, she asked that we, Volunteers of God, all show by our attitudes the strength and courage to make God known by being witnesses of the Gospel, bringing hope and intensifying our outlook of benevolence, compassion and availability, especially towards those who need us most.

Volunteers of God from different parts of the world followed sharing with us how they live our spirituality in their daily lives. Volunteers from India, Thailand and Vietnam shared how they make known the presence of God by abstaining from criticism, abstaining from complain and constantly supporting each other as a group. A touching moment of the Congress was the performance of the hymn of the Volunteers of God from India. The performers were dressed in their traditional ceremonial dress.

Some Volunteers of God, especially those from French-speaking Canada, shared how the pandemic has transformed their way of living the spirituality, using technological means to draw closer to each other, continuing to sow the seed of God at the heart of the world. Similarly, those in Cornwall, Ottawa and Gatineau, shared their conviction that the Gospel and the 5 attitudes of life are the perfect recipe for peace and happiness.

Volunteers of God from Ecuador told us how their experience with the attitudes of life has helped to build their personal and family life, day by day, by being of service to each other within the Volunteer groups.

An English-speaking Canadian Volunteer couple presented their experience of living the five attitudes of life in relation to their married life. The spirituality allowed them to grow as a couple by developing positive attitudes that are also reflected in their intimacy with Christ and their relationship with others.

In the Spanish-speaking countries, including hispanophone Americans, Volunteers testified how their personal and team lives have been transformed through difficult times by living the five attitudes. Volunteers from Cuba mentioned how the spirituality helped them to listen to each other. Those from Spain also experienced how the five attitudes of life associated with the Gospel helped them greatly in getting through the pandemic.

From the Caribbean, the Haitian Volunteers shared how they reflect together on their past actions to analyze their mistakes and face them without fear. They invited us to remain open to the Spirit in order to continue to promote brotherhood and solidarity among us.


I conclude by simply thanking God for such a wonderful work that is expressed in the diversity of the Volunteers of God who, day after day, strive to continue living the Oblate spirituality centered on the charity of Christ.

Esther Acuña Rios
Leader of the Volunteers of God

Hello, I am Pax, I was created to talk about spirituality.
I also have a friend Mia that I will intruduce you to.
I wish you to be a bearer of hope in the heart of the world.
May you have a wonderful Cristmas and a year filled with joy and Peace.
Until next time.

Following our GA of the Belgian Conference of Secular Institutes and after having participated in the process on synodality in the Church of Belgium, we deepened and moved forward on the question of our place in the Church of tomorrow as consecrated seculars.

For several years now our societies have been experiencing a crisis: there is a break between the civilization of yesterday and that which is emerging as best it can today. We are convinced that this crisis calls for new responses and radical callings into question.

We have to look for ways out, for keys leading to something else. The question is no longer to be optimistic or pessimistic, but to know how to experience changes by finding meaning in them, for us personally, but also for humanity.

How should we look today at an uncertain changing world and at our contemporaries? Is it a gaze that sees only the obstacles and the difficulties in life? A look at what is collapsing in our societies? Or a look that focuses on situations, events, a look that opens up a future for humanity?

In our today, hope is no longer self-evident. This upsets not only our human hope but also our Christian hope. However, hope is part of the human condition: we cannot live without hope, because our existence extends between a past, a present and a future. We can no longer intervene on the past; the present is fleeting and disappoints us because it escapes our grasp, however, we can try to make our mark on the future.

The crisis is not only economic or cultural, it is also a crisis of the system of the explanation of the world. To hope is to bet on the future, it is to consider that a future is possible for a person, for a society.

But, if hope is no longer self-evident, this may mean that it is of the order of a choice, a personal decision, an act of the will.

Our Christian faith does not tear us away from our human condition, it is part of our fundamental attitudes as consecrated people. Even more, Christian hope requires us, members of secular institutes, to live the fight for charity and justice in the midst of the world. Hope, therefore, is not demobilizing, but it becomes a stimulus to act. (GA, National Conference of Belgian Secular Institutes, October, 2022).

For us, Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, we must be sowers of the charity of Christ, to be another Christ, according to Father Parent. Our spirituality must mobilize all our cells, the five evangelical attitudes must become integrated norms in the making, in order, like the disciples of Emmaus, to be pilgrims.

We are immersed in the world where we must let ourselves be joined by the Unknown, Christ. We have to go through all the stages, without stopping on the way, or making a U-turn. We need to stop at the “inn” to share our experiences, to listen to each other and look at our miseries, our successes so that our being becomes a witness of Christ.

Francoise Lequarre
Belgium – Europe

Pictures:
World: Gerd Altmann de Pixabay
Dove: Ian Henderson de Pixabay