Lowell Associates' Retreat and Pilgrimage

The Easter Season spirit propelled the Northeast Area Oblate Associate retreat on the first warm sunny weekend in New England since last summer.  Thirty-five retreatants gathered at the Oblate residence in Tewksbury on April 8 and 9 to immerse themselves in St. Eugene’s charism.  On Sunday, retreatants  walked a pilgrimage in Lowell to pray the Oblate story, “listening to the voice of Eugene speaking to us on this pilgrimage.” 

Inspired by the tenth anniversary of Eugene’s canonization that is approaching, the local Associate board planned this retreat weekend drawing from the experiences at the International Congress on Association (May 1996) and the DeMazenod Experience in Aix.  Retreatants came from local parishes as well as the Lowell and Tewksbury Associate communities and local Oblate communities. 

Retreat master Fr. Bill Martin, OMI, broke open the themes of faith and charity with multiple examples from the life of the Founder.  “Make a choice to flourish!  Go out there and spread the news that Jesus Christ is alive!  We can make the world a better place!” he urged.  Trust in God to reveal God’s plan to us, “not in a book, but through our lives.”   We live at the dawn of a new church, a church “on the way”, on the journey to the future, all the while talking, forgiving, mending, helping.  “The needy are a blessing because they help us to be less selfish.”  “To live is to change and to be perfect is to change often.”

The challenge is to recognize God’s grace in life’s struggles and that the mystery of our vocations is that we are called continually to live charity.  Dynamic, comical and moving, Fr. Martin radiated the resurrection and the awesomeness of embracing the mission. 

Laughter

Friday evening came to a close with a soirée de famille led by Fr. Gil Boucher, OMI.  Here Oblates and associates shared funny stories and songs that were dear to their families. 

Prayer and Celebration

A variety of communal prayer was shared while retreatants also spent quiet time in the chapel, on the peaceful snow-cleared grounds and in the prayer spaces created in the large meeting room.  The DeMazenod statue from Hudson retreat House, the Oblate cemetery, and the new wall-size Oblate cross were inspirational and comforting.

Different Voices

A panel and table discussions on Saturday focused on holiness.  Family life, prayer, community and mission were all mentioned as aids to growth in holiness.  Panelists were Cecile Fortier, Bro. Gus Coté, OMI,  Fr. Jim Taggart, OMI, and Mark Wood.

In the afternoon, Fr. Frank McCartin, OMI, brought laughter and tears to the group as he spoke of his experiences on the preaching band.

Pilgrimage

Sunday’s pilgrimage in Lowell was a joyful experience.  “The spirit of St. Eugene de Mazenod pervades the very air that we breathe and becomes tangible in the people and places we will journey to this morning.”  At 9 a.m., the pilgrims began at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine with readings and prayer.  Then they journeyed on foot or by van (thanks to Bro Charlie Gilbert, OMI, and Tom Coughlan) to nine other significant sites.  At each place, the pilgrims paused for a prayer and a text from the Founder, Fr. Tempier, other Oblates, and Oblate and Associate documents.  Fr. Lucien Sawyer, OMI, also shared some Oblate history. 

The Resurrection Narratives’ cross and the yellow candle that has burned at Associate gatherings all year and weekend led the way to each stop, culminating at St. Patrick’s Oblate Parish for the 11:30 Mass.  All along the way, people waved and  smiled.  Some blessed themselves.   At St. Patrick, Frs. Taggart and Gonzalez, the Sisters and parishioners warmly greeted the pilgrims with Alleluias.  The Spanish-language liturgy was vibrant!  Fr. Chava spoke of the Founder.  At the recessional, associate Suzanne Trudeau carried the yellow candle from the altar to the portrait of St. Eugene. 

Courtesy of Carmela Coughlan