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Novice Pronounces First Vows |
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On Sunday, August 1, 2004, the birthday of St. Eugene de Mazenod, the Founder of the Oblates, two young Oblates professed their vows of Chastity, Poverty, Obedience, and Perseverance at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL. Their vows were received, in the name of the Superior General, by Fr. Thomas Singer, OMI, General Councillor for the United States. Also witnessing the vows was Fr. David Kalert, OMI, Provincial of the U.S. Province.
Julio Cesar Narvaez began his life as a professed Oblate upon the conclusion of his novitiate year in Godfrey, IL. Joseph Dowling renewed vows as an Oblate, after returning to the community from a brief leave of absence. Both Julio and Joe will be part of the Oblate House of Theology community in Chicago, IL.
Cuahinicuilapa, DF, Mexico, not far from the resort city of Acapulco, is home to Brother Julio Narvaez. He joined the Oblate pre-novitiate in Tijuana, B.C., in the fall of 2000. He also spent several months at the pre-novitiate in Miramar, FL, studying English prior to going to the novitiate.
Brother Joe Dowling is from the Chicago area where he taught in a high school before coming to the Oblates in 1999. He completed his novitiate in Godfrey in 2001. He is a graduate of Notre Dame University.
A large group of Oblates concelebrated at the vow Mass, including the Oblate Provincial Council that was in Belleville for a meeting.
Fr. Louis Lougen, OMI, the Director of Novices, presented the candidates for vows. Also present were the other members of the novitiate team: Fr. Sylvestre Lewans and Fr. John Collet.
The next class of novices will begin their novitiate on August 17. It is anticipated that there will be seven novices in the new class: three from the U.S., three from Zambia, and one from the Anglo-Irish Province. |
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