The Oblate
Missionaries of Mary Immaculate

In August 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer; I was a bit shaken by the news. Then our beautiful training to LIVE the present moment helped me to regain my composure. I shared my prayer with my Oblate companions and friends.

My team and a friend came to my house and I was administered the anointing of the sick by a priest friend. For me, it was a moment rich in grace and friendship. I felt stronger and more serene to live through these difficult times because I was well supported by their prayers. It was incredible how strong my personal prayer and that of those friends has sustained me.

Blessed are you, Lord, for giving us the faith and the certainty of your love through all these people around us.

Danielle M.

Photo: Julius H. de Pixabay

I had never thought of consecration in a community or in a secular institute of which I was unaware. When I got to know the Institute of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, I was fascinated by spirituality, the possibility of going to mission countries and the idea of giving my life to Jesus while remaining in the world.

I have been happy to live this adventure for 53 years and I am still convinced that is the Lord who chose it for me.
I got to know Father Parent, the founder, and I thank the Lord for that favor.

Maria P. Italian

Photo: Daniel Reche de Pixabay

1. Happiness is considered by the Wise to be true medicine.

Happiness can be seen in happy people, it is really a state of mind in which one entertains optimistic, realistic, positive and pleasant thoughts. Then, one’s whole being is bathed in peace; thoughts are serene, feelings warm, emotions calm and well rested physically. It is often said that everyone is the maker of their own happiness.

In every human we discover qualities of love, attention seeking and affection. We feel that they want to understand others, communicate and establish friendly relationships. You can tell they are hungry for freedom, that they want others to accept them for who they are.

If everyone strove to live just one positive quality per day every 24 hours, the whole world would be transformed. Each would become an orchestral conductor who would bring to light, on themes of peace and happiness, the genius of the musicians who are listening.

To be happy is to refer back to the source of happiness that is within oneself. This source is never lost, it sleeps within oneself, it is up to each one to awaken it in order to draw one’s joie de vivre from it, peace and order and the need to share with others.

The foundations of happiness are the positive qualities, the various strengths deposited in the human being by the Author of nature, the Creator. This happiness, I can make it spring from my being if I am aware of its dynamic. I must use these riches for the development of my personality.

From the Volunteers of God Collection: "Is it possible to be happy? »Louis-Marie Parent, O.M.I.

Read also: Is it possible to be happy ? (2)

Read also: Is it possible to be happy ? (3)

In 2019, I was diagnosed with cancer, a tumour. I stopped working and asked people to pray.

I can tell you that I felt all this grand and merciful love from the Eternal Father and his son Jesus. They made me understand that I was loved by them, and I experienced this love through all the stages of this illness and still today. Thanks to all the people who helped me, listened to me, took care of me (family, priest, doctors, volunteers, oblates…)

I saw and felt this presence of love that makes you happy, joyful, confident. This inner well-being. With words, it is not always easy to describe but to live in the present moment, it is wonderful.

This year, I started to work gradually again. It is so beautiful to see nature and all that God has created. I give thanks to Him, to His Son Jesus, to the Virgin Mary, our mother.

I am now in remission. I abandon myself to the Lord. Live in the present moment with the Lord. I ask Him to share this love with our neighbours. With all this pandemic, we need the Lord.

Christine Brunet, Hull-Gatineau Volunteer

Photo: Kevin Phillips de Pixabay

The arrival of a member of the Secular Institute The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate in my hometown (Amos) was the beginning of an adventure that continues to this day.

From my first contacts, I was won over by spirituality, by the freedom of members to choose their workplaces and by the joy that emanated from the teams. I also had the opportunity to realize my dream of going to the missions and living for many years in foreign countries.

The mission continues after 56 years in the Institute; there are countless reasons to give thanks to the Lord.

Georgette L.

Photo: Gerd Altmann de Pixabay

Following the centenary celebration of Fr. Roger Gauthier last year, we are fortunate to mark his 101st birthday this year.

He remains the smiling, welcoming, serene man with a heart full of love. Paralysis of his entire right side keeps him in a wheelchair, but he is still present and attentive to others.

In 1957, Father Parent asked him to produce a brochure on the spirituality of the Oblates. He puts his whole heart, his faith and his intelligence into it.

Over the years, he has helped many Oblates in their journey of faith and he still does so when we visit him, even with the limitations of what he calls "his handicap". His sense of humor, his listening skills and his wisdom inspire us. From him we learn "the grace of aging" as one of his publications is titled; a book which depicts an authentic model of fertile aging. Criticism and complaint are not part of his daily life and he never ceases to marvel at all that life gives him from day to day.

Over the years, Fr. Gauthier has preached numerous retreats and given conferences to the Oblates; as well, he produced a series of Study Circles. To this were added retreats to religious communities, sessions for couples, retreats on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius then the Exercises in everyday life, mainly for the laity.

He told us last week that every day he likes to review various paths in his life. Every day, too, he includes us in the Eucharistic celebration.

What a man of God, of heart and of light!

May he stay with us for a long time to come.

Jeannine G.
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu

I met Maria, 64, who tells me she didn't go to mass because she had forgotten when Easter was.

Then she tells me how she took care of a young undocumented Ghanaians immigrant, who, for two years, had lived in a garden hut that only protected him from the rain.

I sensed she was deeply moved by this man's situation. She looked for people who could help and several did: an association took charge of him. An apartment was found, shared with two other people; he acquired a medical card and a transport card. He got a job offering little or no pay.

He said to Maria, "You are an angel who has come to help me."

With the angels in the sky, I too rejoice.

Even without attending mass, God looks down upon her with tenderness!

Annick F.
France

Photo: Sibahk de Pixabay

In few words, it was my desire to become a missionary that inspired me to become an oblate. Little by little I came to understand the secular dimension of our Institute.

It’s that simple.

Cécile L.

When I felt within me the call to the total gift of self to God I rejected it with all the vigor of my18-year-old self. I wanted to marry and have children. I had in my hands a booklet presenting the oblate vocation.

My first reaction was, this is a sisterhood for the zealous. But the Spirit leads where the Spirit wills; no one knows from where the Spirit comes or where the Spirit goes. Six months later I picked up the booklet again and decided that that was what I wanted.

It was some Father Parent’s words that convinced me: “Your cloister is the world,” he said, and, “[an oblate is] a gift that gives, that gives herself, that forgives” and “the mission is charity.”

Annick F.