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JUBILARIANS REMINISCE... |
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The Oblates who celebrated their anniversaries of vows and Holy Orders recently in Lowell have written some of their thoughts on this occasion. The thoughts are given here in alphabetical order. |
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Fr. Michael Amesse, OMI First Vows, August 1, 1977 I simply want to quote my favorite Oblate, Father DROUART..."The Oblates have made me everything that I am." Also I am grateful to my parents, especially my mother. She cooperated with God's grace and through her pilgrimage to Our Lady of Hope Shrine in Essex, New York, a young man from Montreal heard God's call. |
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Fr. Francis Bagan, OMI Ordained June 2, 1952 “I sing of mercy.” Those words sum up what it has meant for me to be a priest. Mercy in my mysterious calling. Mercy in my training and education. Mercy sought and received for my infidelities. Mercy incarnate in the Masses I’ve celebrated, in the Confessions I’ve heard. Yes, the priesthood of Jesus shared with us in the Sacrament of Holy Orders is, above all, Mercy. To be an intimate collaborator, channel, recipient for fifty years is immense mercy. I am thankful and offer thanks with and through the Mother of Mercy. |
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Fr. Charles Bérubé, OMI First Vows, August 2, 1942 To have worked for so many years in the service of the poor in Haiti was a grace from God. Living in close contact with these people, in their simple life style, sharing in their sorrows, their joys, their abandonment to God's Providence is for the missionary a school of formation in spirituality that is true to the manner of Saint Eugene de Mazenod. I give thanks to the Lord for so many blessings. |
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Fr. Francis Campbell, OMI Ordained, June 21, 1942 I entered the Oblates in Ottawa as a member of the St. Peter’s Province. My first assignment was to teach Dogma at Holy Rosary Seminary. With time I came to the United States and spent most of my priesthood in parish ministry, especially in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I particularly enjoyed the many opportunities to minister in prisons. To our young Oblates, I would say: “Keep the Spirit.” |
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Fr. Michael J. Devaney, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1952 Before I was ordained on June 8, 1957, I could hardly wait for that wonderful day. It was a heartfelt desire from the age of twelve. I wanted to do so many things to carry the good news to the ends of the earth like Bishop Turquetil OMI, who spent forty years to convert the first Eskimos in the Arctic Circle. I wanted to be a Fr. Bill Leising OMI, who flew across the frozen tundra to bring the Good News to the most abandoned. I wanted to be a Sheldon Kelly OMI and bring the message of Christ to the deepest points of Africa, and be like all the missionaries who visited us during our seminary years. Finally the day came when obediences were given out, and my classmates went to Brazil and Japan, and I was assigned to the United States. The phrase “Blossom where you’re planted” was foremost in my mind. Gad has blessed me with forty-five grace-filled years to the sacred priesthood; countless Confessions, countless Baptism, anointing of the sick and hundreds of conversions. The joy I feel is still the same. God privileged me to be able to found and build a church in honor of His Holy Mother. The strength to accomplish the daily tasks is derived from the celebration of the Eucharist and the good example, encouragement and support of brother Oblates. Seminary professors and missionaries with whom I worked and Oblates with whom I lived, wrote lines, chapters and paragraphs in my life. I was able to accomplish the things I wanted in writing and preaching, and I am happy to say I have served in the various ministries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. I taught high school, gave retreats, preached missions, served as a substitute military chaplain, served as a hospital chaplain and as a parish priest. These years were not only interesting but also joy-filled. There was no assignment that seemed difficult, and that was because of my basic Oblate training. I fest I could accept any challenge, and was certain God would give me the grace to accomplish any assignment and send me the right people to help me fulfill it. It’s hard to believe that forty-five years have passed, and I hope that I have years yet to serve. The joy in the priesthood of Jesus Christ has been my greatest happiness. I feel that I have accomplished to the best of my ability all that God has asked of me. I fall far short of the model Christ has given me to be like Him, but I’ll never stop trying. My only hope is that other young people will stop and think about what is the most important thing in life – to do God’s will. As we read in St. John’s Gospel, 6:40:”Indeed, this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the last day.” To bring that message to the world has been God’s greatest gift to me. The high point of these forty-five years was being permitted to attend the canonization of the founder, Eugene de Mazenod OMI, in Rome on Dec. 3, 1995. The moment was unforgettable, and my hope is that all Oblates can grasp the tremendous missionary spirit of our founder to preach the Gospel to the poor and to live that message.
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Fr.. Adhémar Deveau, OMI Ordained June 12, 1952 Very young, I developed an interest in the priesthood. I would say that this attraction was due to the strong faith that my parents passed on to the siblings. Besides, the high respect of my parents for the priests of the parish and the nuns at the school influenced my early formation. As a consequence of the family’s strong faith, three elder sisters entered Religious Life; this also awakened my interest in the priesthood. My seminary years were interesting, but often difficult, because my learning was relatively slow; apparently, this was partly due to near-sightedness trouble at a very young age, which rendered my reading slow and difficult. Yet, the priesthood remained my goal and challenge. Foreign missions were a hoped for challenge. Yet, my first assignment was Ste. Jeanne d’Arc parish in Lowell. I served in parishes, a Retreat House, hospitals, Our Lady’s Shrine in Colebrook, at nursing homes, at the Foreign Missions Office and at the Fund Raising Office. The people I served have strengthened me in my Faith and in my vocation. I thank the Lord Jesus for allowing me to participate in His priesthood; and I thank Mary for leading me into the family of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. I am grateful to my family and others who influenced me in my vocation; also my gratitude goes to my brother-Oblates for their loving support. |
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Fr. John Drexel, OMI Ordained 1962 Unfortunately, I will be in the States at a later date and will not be able to attend the jubilee celebration. Who knows, maybe we will be able to celebrate our fiftieth jubilee together. Here in Brazil we will be celebrating our fortieth ordination anniversary and we will certainly remember all our fellow jubilarians who celebrate the date of this special calling of service and dedication. |
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Fr. Joseph Ferraioli, OMI Ordained May 21, 1977 On May 21, 1977 when I knelt before Bishop Philip Smith, O.M.I. to be ordained an Oblate priest I was filled with idealism and a great desire to make my mark! For my ordination card I had chosen a quote from Alfred Delp which I thought captured my desire for ordained ministry, it said this, "When through one man a little more love and goodness, a little more light and truth comes into the world, then that man's life has had meaning." I guess I've always been searching for that meaning and my 25 years of priesthood have certainly provided it. I've carved out an identity in the Province of being a missionary to the African-American community. This has not been my exclusive work these years, but the work that has particularly defined me. I have been educated to the real world in this ministry and have always tried to bring a little more love and goodness, a little more light and truth, to those I've been sent to serve. It's been a great experience! All glory be to God for looking beyond my sin and allowing me to be His presence in so many situations. I pray my next 25 years will be as fulfilling and that the people of God will be served by my efforts. My anniversary card will have the same quote on it from Alfred Delp... this time not as a hope, but as a conviction of the truth of that thought. Being an Oblate priest for the past 25 years has certainly given my life meaning, and hopefully touched a few along the way. |
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Fr. Gerald Flater, OMI First Vows, September 8 1952 Fifty years of gifts and blessings from the Lord through the intercession of Mary Immaculate! How to give thanks? The invitation to contribute to the 2002 Memory Book provides one way. The opportunity to publicly acknowledge one of these blessings provides another, especially as it is closely related to the taking of my first vows. On the morning of first vows, just before the start of the Mass, I asked Our Lady, Mary Immaculate, to obtain through her intercession the gift of Faith for my father. How, when, or under what circumstance this prayer would be answered I had no idea. That it would be answered I had no doubt. In April of 1957, I received a call from my father. He told me that he had just completed a course of instructions, and was ready to enter the church. Could I come home for the ceremony? Permission was readily given. Just a month before my ordination, I had the privilege and the joy of receiving my father into the church, and giving him his first Holy Communion. For this gift and blessing, and countless others over the period of fifty years through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Mother and Patroness, L.J. C. et M.I. |
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Fr. Gerald Forkin, OMI Ordained June 2, 1952 I began my Oblate career as a teacher of Latin and Religion, at Bishop Fallon High School in Buffalo. I enjoyed teaching, Later I went into parish work, which I did for most of my life. I gave occasional retreats and novenas, but that was not my main ministry. I am grateful for my wonderful years in the parishes, especially in Marysville, Pennsylvania. |
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Fr. Jim Gibbons, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1962 I will not be in the States on the 3rd of June. When I visit the States now I go to South Dakota, where my mother, who is now 97, lives. I will spend the month of July in the States, as that is the month of the semester break of the Pre-Novices who are studying philosophy. We have 10 who come from 4 different groups in Brasil. I left the Novitiate last year to join the staff here. A Brasilian Oblate and an Irish Oblate are the rest of the team. I don’t have any profound thoughts to give for your Book. Jack Deely and myself are left from the group that was the first to make vows in the building that you will use for the celebration. We came down from Essex NY where we had started our novitiate, and made vows on the 8 of September. Give my regards to the men in Tewksbury. We have some former Brasilians, Joe Ryan, John Lyons and Ed Hayes. Brendan Hunt is my old superior at the minor seminary. I will be praying with you on the 3rd. I hope all in Lowell are well. |
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Fr. Richard Harr, OMI Ordained June 2, 1952 These 50 years have gone by quicker than I can imagine. They’ve been good years and blessed ones to. God is good! |
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Fr. Edwin Hayes, OMI Ordained, June 2, 1952 After ordination I was assigned to the missions of Brazil. I was sent to help Father Kevin Walsh. At my at my arrival, he began to complain of pains that we thought could be an attack of appendicitis. I drove him to Sao Paulo in a Jeep. There, on his 30th Birthday, the doctor diagnosed the early stages of Polio, and was able to obtain one of the only two Iron Lungs that were available in the city. The prognostic was not very encouraging, but we were able to get Father Walsh back into the states, where he lived for another 20 years, with only 85% of his body functions. He was an inspiration to all of us. Following wonderful years in the missions, I returned to the states and did parish work in racially mixed parishes in Georgia in Florida. The parishes were very poor, and many priests were reluctant to minister there. But, if I may be allowed a bit of boasting, I think I succeeded in all of ministry, and I am grateful to God. |
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Brother Michael Holly, OMI First vows, August 1, 1977 I entered religious life at age 40. In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, it is interesting to have lived two life styles in this lifetime. |
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Fr. André Houle, OMI Ordained February 2, 1952 Surprisingly 50 years go by fast, and by the Grace of God, a lot of Grace, and under the protective mantle of Our Blessed Mother, I have arrived at this milestone in my Oblate priestly life. I am grateful for the constant support of my confreres, of my parents and relatives, and my many friends among those I ministered to. Their prayers and encouragement were and are very precious to me. As a fitting way to celebrate this half-century as an Oblate, I bought a CASSOCK and will now wear my Oblate Cross once more. That’s what attracted me to the Oblates in the first place. A French-Canadian Oblate preached the eighth grade retreat at St. Ann’s in Lawrence MA, and I was hooked. I don’t know how many more years of service I have left in me, but I feel that the best is yet to come. |
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Fr. Ralph Karl, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1952 In my senior year at St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland, Ohio, an announcement was made that several vocation talks would be given at 1:00pm in the library. I was inquisitive and attended one talk and movie by a Fr. William Lawless OMI. We talked afterwards and he arranges a trip to Jefferson, Ohio, to meet some Oblates stationed there. The first Oblate pastor I met was Fr. Ray Danahey OMI. That was the beginning of a life long friendship and a vocation to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. After graduation I went to the Juniorate in Newburg, NY, then to the novitiate in Ipswich, MA, and finally to the Scholasticate in Washington, DC. In 1957, on my birthday, I was ordained and graduated from Catholic University. Although I studied Portuguese for two years to join the missionaries in Brazil, my first Obedience was to the Eastern Province. The Provincial assigned me to be Chaplain at the Medical Center and Indiana University, St. Bridget’s, Indianapolis. I had six hospitals to cover (two emergency wards) plus parish Masses on Sunday. In 1961 I was given the obedience to the Columbus State School for the mentally retarded and St. Simon and Jude, West Jefferson, Ohio. This assignment continued for 28 years. The memories come flooding back of the thousands of clients I have known and worked with, bringing God’s message of love and faith. The joy these people had in their daily Mass and Sacraments! Being a Chaplain, God’s instrument during the time of danger, death, joy and love, has been the most gratifying experience imaginable. I thank God for the opportunity my Provincials have given me to be a “CHAPLAIN” all my priestly life. When asked to write a reflection of my years in the Oblates, I realized how much was owed to so many Oblates in each phase of my brief career. Each Oblate made an indelible impression that shaped my life. I began to make a list of those involved. My thanks are extended to the following: Juniorate – Father Joseph Supple, John Morrissey, Steve Boudreau, James Scheen, Francis Flanigan, George Croft, Tom Cantwell, Tom Scanlon and Francis McConville. Scholasticate – Fr. Emmet Lane, Ed Talbot, Raymond Hunt, John “Doc” Kennedy, Daniel Kennedy, Joseph Wild, Garret Barry, William Atkinson, James MeDermot, Francis Crump, Joseph O’Keefe, Edward O’Sullivan, Thomas Manning, Paul Newman, Fred Higgins, Most Rev. Bishop Arsene Turquetil and Brother Tom Cruise. St. Bridget’s – Frs. William Ryan, Clarence McIntyre, Charles Coppins, Walter Mack, Charles Lenord and Frank Galvin. West Jefferson – Fr. William McFadden, Sheldon Kelly, Bud Coppins, Joseph Kane. William Lantagne, William Denzel, Ed Moan, Dominic Quinn, John Lyons, Martin McMahon, James Blaney, Raymond Crowe, and John Walsh. The summer replacements were: Matthew Casey, Francis Campbell, Fred Gilbert, Joseph Pucci, Lawrence Deery, Thomas Reddy, George White, John Wholey, Martin Walsh and Ray Danahey. The members of the Class that took vows on September 8, 1952 are Ed Duffy, Ed Lowney, Michael Devaney, Francis Gorham Gerald Flater, Richard Stratton, George Kirwin, Richard Hanley, Joseph Minor, James McGee, John Murphy, Brother Jim Lucas, Msgr. Robert Vincent, Cornelius Lynch, John Burns, Donald Joyce, James McCarthy, Edward Williams and myself. I am thankful that these Oblates have been a part of my life. Shared experience, adventures, good times and bad are a part of every life and help me to grow into the person I have become. Our journey through life continues. These Oblates continue to influence me and I owe them a debt of gratitude. Although I am now physically handicapped, my prayers and thanks are with them. Congratulations to all those celebrating their anniversary. |
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Fr. George Kirwin, OMI First vows, September 8, 1952 First of all, I am grateful to God for the call to be an Oblate; my life has been exciting and happy. I am also grateful that each of my classmates in the novitiate who is still with the Oblates is alive and seemingly well. They are a great group. Our novitiate was memorable in many ways not the least of which is the fact that we had Fr. Charles Costello as novice-master. Every day was a new adventure! He kept us on our toes and even sometimes on our knees. Ipswich was a great place for the novitiate except for the trees and all those leaves which had to be raked every day in the Fall and the grass which was cut regularly and the vines (my specialty) which clung to our beautiful house. One of the novices (he shall go unnamed) the year before we arrived cut one of the main stocks of the vines and it went unnoticed until our year when that part of the house was rather bare. I t would be great if we could all get together for just a few hours--certainly that will happen in heaven. With gratitude and many fond memories of these fifty years--- |
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Fr. Lon Konold, OMI Ordained June 7, 1977 As a Missionary Oblate of May Immaculate, I am presently assigned to the Immaculata Retreat House in Willimantic CT, although I am a native of Minneapolis MN. My training for the priesthood has been in such varied places as Onamia MN; Hastings NE; Godfrey IL; Omaha NE; San Antonio TX; as well as various workshops and seminars throughout the US and Scandinavia over the years. My perpetual profession of vows as an Oblate was in March 1976, and I was ordained to the priesthood in June 1977. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton University in Omaha NE, and a Master of Divinity degree from Oblate School of Theology, in San Antonio TX, specializing in Christology, Sacramental Theology, and Liturgical Theology and praxis. Upon ordination, I served for 13 years in Scandinavia. I was one of the founders of the Oblate mission in Norway. During my 10 years in that country I was a vicar of the parish in Stavanger and pastor of the parish in Haugesund. From Norway, I was asked to move to Herlev, Denmark, where I served as pastor, prison chaplain, and national chaplain for “Faith and Light”, founded in France by French Canadian Jean Vanier for ministry with mentally and physically challenged. Having returned to the United States in November, 1990, I first attended a renewal course in St. Louis MO; after which I ministered in a parish in St. Paul MN, while helping to organize the Oblate Preaching Team to conduct Parish Renewals (Missions). I began that ministry in December 1992, and remained on that Preaching Team until August 1999. After a year of further study, I was assigned to the preaching staff at Immaculata Retreat House in August 2000. I come to the ministry of preaching with a cross-cultural background of many years, as well as extensive knowledge and experience in ecumenical ministry and study. I even come from an ecumenical family, in that my father was Lutheran and my mother was Catholic, and many of my siblings belong to various denominations. |
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Fr. Richard Kulwiec, OMI First Vows, August 1, 1977 I give thanks to God, to my brother Oblates and to the people of God for the privilege of serving in the Kingdom of God as an Oblate and a priest. |
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Fr. Leo Leblanc, OMI First Vows, August 2, 1962 I am amazed that 40 years have passed since I professed first vows in the Colebrook NH chapel! They have been good years, and at times, tough years, but all of them challenging and growthful years. I worked in only three parishes and four formation settings during these years. All the parishes were poor: Lincoln, ME (six churches at that time), Lowell MA (with Hispanics before they became an independent parish), and in Carol City FL. I also worked in all levels of formation: vocation counselor for one year, prenovitiate formation for one year, the theology house of studies in Cambridge MA for six years, and, at present, the novitiate at Godfrey IL. Each of these experiences has challenged me: they have all been growthful. I thank God and the Oblates for that blessing. I ask myself: “What have I learned from these years of experience? How have they influenced me?” I mention just a few of these “learnings”: appreciation and appropriation of the Oblate charism, the centrality of prayer, the unity of contemplation and action, the Spanish language and various Hispanic cultures, discernment of spirits in all important decision-making, “evangelization” as our most basic mission and ministry, and commitment to justice, peace and integrity of creation in all I do. I thank God and the Oblates for these 40 years, and I ask God to bless all those who have journeyed with me until now. And I look forward with hope to the new challenges and blessings in the years to come. |
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Fr. Raymond Lebrun, OMI First vows, August 2, 1962 As I recall forty years of religious life in the Oblate Fraternity, the one thought that stand out in my mind is the sense of gratitude to all of you who helped me in any way to embody the founder’s charism of charity in life and ministry. What you “elders” passed on to me I hope to share with those future Oblates who might cross my path. |
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Fr. Edward Lowney, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1952 What I enjoyed most during my 20 years in Japan was the opportunity to work collaboratively with Oblates from all parts of the world who were assigned to that mission. We had a common spirit that was remarkable. I studied the Japanese language for two years, to prepare for parish ministry. During this time I also taught English at the High School and at the University. When I returned to the United States, I did parish work in Florida. I particularly enjoyed ministering in prisons. After returning to Massachusetts, I was happy serving for 12 years as chaplain at the Tewksbury Hospital, where I made many friends among the residents and the staff. My little weekly newspaper “The Heavenly Herald” became very popular there. I’m grateful that I was blessed with the collaboration of many volunteers. |
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Brother James Lucas, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1952 “You have not chosen me, I have chosen you.” Thank you Lord. “Before you were born in your mother’s womb, I knew you and loved you unconditionally.” Thank you Lord. I would like to give special thanks to my late novice master, Father Costello OMI. If I persevered thru his difficult testing, I felt I could survive any given situation in life, and I have thus far for fifty years as a dedicated and faithful Oblate Brother. Thank you, Charlie. |
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Fr. John Lyons, OMI Ordained May 28, 1942 As an Oblate, I am very grateful that God blessed me with 60 years in the priesthood. At first, I planned on going to the Philippines, but the bombing of Pearl Harbor changed that. Then, in 1945, four of us went to open a Mission in Brazil. After 14 years there, I returned to the States, --working in a small parish in New York State; then as a Chaplain in Columbus, Ohio; then helping in Virginia; South Carolina; North Carolina; Northern Florida and finally in Lowell, Mass. Now I am living in retirement at Tewksbury but am grateful to be able to say Mass each day. I thank God for the many blessings given to me over the 60 years of my priestly life. |
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Fr. John R. Madigan, OMI Ordained May 21, 1977 I can’t help but reflect gratefully on my ten years in Lowell. I was exceptionally blessed to have lived at the Immaculate and the Sacred Heart. There I served with so many wonderful Oblates who by example and word spoke to me of the Espoused Values of our Missionary Family. It seems to me, prayer and, particularly, Eucharistic Prayer is at the Heart of these Values For the last nine years of my Oblate Life I have lived in the Archdiocese of Miami. The Motto of this Local Church is: “From the Rising of the Sun Even Until its Setting, Let the Name of the Lord be Blessed!” On the Twenty First of May, the Ordination Day of Fr. Joe Ferraioli OMI and me, I will name those Oblates who have impressed and edified me by their attention to Prayer and to the Eucharist. Surely, I will name Fr. Bill Brown OMI and Father Kevin Walsh OMI. These good men and so many others, were Icons for me of Prayer during my early years at Holy Angels, Buffalo. Fr. Larry Griffin OMI and Fr. Emmet Lane OMI showed me how I must prepare for and celebrate the Eucharist. “From the Rising of the Sun Even Until its Setting” on May 21, 2002, I will gratefully recall all of those who showed me the Way of Faithfulness. |
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Fr. Francis McCartin, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1932 I spent 35 happy years on the Mission Band. I was assigned early on to our residence in Ligonier, Indiana, where 6 of us went about and opened up the Midwest to Oblate preaching. I enjoyed my priesthood from the time of my ordination at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Most of the time, I conducted missions by myself, and I never minded this, because I always met a heartening response from the loving and grateful people I met on the farms of the Midwest. I am grateful for my Oblate life which I enjoyed immensely. |
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Fr. William McSweeney, OMI Ordained June 2, 1952 As I look back and as I look over these past 50 years of my life, I certainly want to give thanks to the Lord for calling me to His sacred priesthood in the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and for giving me so many opportunities to serve His people. How well I’ve taken advantage of these opportunities, only God can judge. I was ordained in Washington DC, on June 2, 1952. For my first seventeen years as a priest I was on the faculty of the former Our Lady of Hope Seminary in Newburgh, New York. After that and until now, except for two years in our then provincial house in Boston, I have been in parish ministry: St. Williams’s in Tewksbury, Massachusetts; Holy Angels in Buffalo, New York; Immaculate Conception in Lowell, Massachusetts; St. Anne’s in Sumter, North Carolina; and now at St. Francis of Assisi in Riviera Beach, Florida. We’re all saddened, terribly saddened, by the recently-revealed scandalous and very hurtful conduct of some of our fellow priests. But this must not take away from the essential joy of our anniversary celebrations. After all, it’s basically the Lord’s holy and sacred priesthood we celebrate. This priesthood is eternal and never lets us down, never disappoints. And now in a much lighter vein. . . Father Bob Colfer, who’s stationed with us at St. Francis of Assisi, has a nice sense of humor. Sometimes after a community meal or after some other Oblate gathering he likes to use this expression: “It’s been fun, real fun.” I don’t want to steal Bob’s line so I won’t use it to describe how I feel about the priesthood at this point in my life. I’ll simply say that these past fifty years have been very happy years. Not all fun, of course, but good and happy years. I especially thank the Lord for this. And I also thank the Mother of Priests, our Immaculate Mother Mary, for her love, guidance, and support – and so many, many others I’ll leave unnamed for now. |
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Fr. Joseph Murphy, OMI Ordained June 9, 1927 Question: How does it feel to be the oldest Oblate in the world? Answer: “Wonderful” Question: What do you remember about your ordination? Answer: “The building in Washington was still under construction. We had to study and prepare in the basement. I was ordained in the chapel of the Sulpicians, across the street.” Question: Who were your favorite Oblates? Answer: “Wade Smith and Larry Tighe. They were great priests and they helped me a lot.” Question: “What would you…” Answer: “That’s enough questions, I want to watch the Red Sox play the Yankees.” |
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Fr. Romeo Murphy, OMI First Vows, August 2, 1942 In fact, not only does 2002 mark my 60 years of religious life, it also marks my 55th of priesthood: a time to rejoice and to be thankful to the Lord for so many years of a fulfilled life as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate. I am grateful for the many places I was called to serve, whether it was in the parish ministry, the closed retreats, or even now, in the health care apostolate, to crown the remaining years of my consecrated and priestly life. I whole-heartedly embrace the sentiments of a prominent Jesuit priest who wrote recently: "I LOVE BEING A PRIEST. To be a priest is to be invited to serve people.... and help make God more present in our world. Such convictions may strike some as inconceivable in today's world, but they are true for me and for so many who have chosen to minister as priests in the Catholic Church and as religious consecrated men." I am thankful to all the Oblates who have been part of my life, and touched me by their brotherly love and exemplary religious life. |
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Fr. Francis Ouellette, OMI Ordained June 2, 1952 To paraphrase Saint Paul: We have been running the Race, and fighting the great Fight. We are hoping that the Crown of Glory that awaits us will fulfill all of our Faith-filled expectations. We also fervently pray that Mary Immaculate and Saint Eugene will continue to guard, guide, and protect us always as Oblates of Mary Immaculate. During these past 50 years, we have been fortunate to be part of a large Community. This was a great protection and encouragement especially during our younger and formative years. To survive, you had to be a "joiner" rather than a "loner." As part of a Faculty Team, a Parish Team, we fed and grew from and through each other. We talked to each other, and prayed together as Community. We worked hard and sincerely tried to fulfill our role as Oblate Missionaries. If some Oblate needed help, the Community stepped in. The Oblate work was always varied, even though we had a Primary Assignment. We were teachers of our youth, we preached every Sunday, gave Days of Recollection, Week-end Retreats, 40 Hours Devotions (great in the Buffalo area), Novenas. After 21 years, we were assigned to Parish work, which included Hospital work, and I was sent on my first Mission to Kane, Pennsylvania; no one else was available for Holy Week. In these past 50 years, we have touched quite a few bases -- wonderful experience, looking back. We probably could have done a lot better. Yet, we work with the ability that God gives each of us. We have tried and are still trying. We are still running the good race; we are still fighting the good fight. Our Faith tells us that it will be worth the effort. Saint Eugene, Pray for us. |
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Fr. Paul Ouellette, OMI First Vows, August 2, 1962 It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I celebrate 40 years of vows. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. The journey with the Lord has been both a challenge and a delight. There are hopefully many years to go; and with Him at my side I hope to finish the Journey! |
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Fr. George Protopapas, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1937 Every day, in gratefulness to God, I make mine the Psalm-prayer at the end of Psalm 90 (Thursday of Week III, Office of Readings): “Eternal Father, you give us life despite our guilt and even add days and years to our lives in order to bring us wisdom.” On the 65th anniversary of my first vows, I realize that God is giving me more ample time on earth in order that I get closer to Him than I have been in the past. |
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Fr. Joseph Ryan, OMI Ordained May 28, 1942 Thinking back on my Juniorate days, I still remember the Director’s wise admonition: “In omnibus, respice finem.” |
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Fr. Roland St. Pierre, OMI Ordained June 12, 1952 There is always a dominating factor in any vocation, especially in one that centers on the priesthood as its ultimate goal. In my case one extraordinary individual was the primary mover in my quest for a lifelong career. That person was Father Louis Collignon, OMI, Superior of the Oblate Scholasticate in Natick MA. This stalwart Oblate preached every annual retreat that I attended during my grammar school years. His presentations were most inspiring and vocation-oriented. I was, therefore, most receptive when he sought to recruit me for the Oblates. Although my years in the ministry have placed me in different and varied fields of activity, I still remember most fondly the parish missions and closed retreats that I conducted. Those endeavors made me feel that I was continuing Father Collignon’s work. |
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Fr. Leo Wetzel, OMI Ordained June 2, 1952 I am from a rural area near Thurmont, Maryland. My home is a short distance from Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg. Our parish school of St. Anthony’s, Emmitsburg had the Sisters of Charity as teachers. I am grateful to the Sisters and to the seminarians who taught us in high school CCD for helping me in the call to the priesthood. I had never known the Oblates and my connection came through Dr. Philip Caulfield. My mother and I mentioned it to him while he was caring for Fr. Jim McDermott OMI in a Washington hospital…The Oblate story goes on from there for me with the Juniorate in Buffalo NY, Seminary in Washington and ordination in 1952. My brother Earl became an Oblate Brother with first vows in 1955. After 46 years of faithful service, God called him in June of last year and I am grateful that I was present when God called him here in Tewksbury. (Earl chose July 26 as his vow day because it is our mother’s birthday. . . . I join him in special gratitude to Mom for all she did to encourage us in our choice of this vocation in life.) My years from NORTH TO SOUTH after ordination were served IN VERMONT as pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Brattleboro; IN MASSACHUSETTS in Lowell at Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart Churches; in Tewksbury as Superior of the Oblate Residence; in Boston as Superior and Director of Missions at the Provincial House; IN WASHINGTON DC as member of the Staff at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; IN VIRGINIA in Ashland as Pastor St. Ann’s Church and Missions; IN GEORGIA as Assistant and later Pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Douglas and Churches in Alapaha, Baxley, Fitzgerald and Willacoochee; IN FLORIDA as Pastor of the Churches of St. Vincent de Paul in Madison, St. Margaret in Monticello and Immaculate conception in Perry; and in St. Petersburg as Assistant at St. Joseph Church. As grateful as I am for all of the experiences from NORTH to SOUTH, the most memorable one is the one for many of us: ‘the first one, the break–in one.’ This was the south Georgia assignment with Fr. Tom McGrady. It was a pleasure to work with him in 5 Churches with the rectory and St. Paul’s in Douglas and the other Churches as listed above. With these Churches we were responsible for 12 counties. Yes, the congregations were small, the mileage was high for reaching people. . . The lesson learned was that wherever we are, the need is to reach out to people whether they are near or far away with THE GOOD NEWS we are privileged to have and live in our holy faith. I thank God for those beginning years and those that followed, and am grateful to be an Oblate of Mary Immaculate and a priest. I am sorry for any mistakes or hurts in ‘reaching out’ efforts in these 50 years. . . And to all my family, and all from north to south or whatever place, for reaching out to me in word and example, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. |
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Fr. Edward Williams, OMI First Vows, September 8, 1952 Thinking about the last fifty years as an Oblate, a multitude of blessings come to mind. Putting them all on paper would take an unconscionable amount of paper and time. So I will just speak of one thing. It is not the only thing, but for a person of my temperament, it looms very, very large. I speak of people, the people into who’s lives God has lead me; the people whom he has brought into my life. The words of the Our Father come to mind, “Hallowed be thy name.” These people have caused me to bless God, to thank him every day of my life. Leaving America some 44 years ago, I left all the people I knew and loved behind, only to find that God had prepared a fest of people for me in the years ahead. |
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| MANY THANKS TO FR. LUCIEN SAWYER, OMI, WHO GATHERED THESE MEMORIES. | ||
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