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Approximately 350 persons attended the Forum on Secularity, a four hour dialogue between Cardinal Francis George, OMI and Professor Charles Taylor, Professor of Law and Philosophy at Northwestern (cf. OMIUSA, November 2009, p.5). For the next 15 months, follow-up teams of leading religious scholars from across the country and beyond will aim to identify a new and deeper focus appropriate for life in an increasingly secular age.
Forum organizer, Fr. George McLean, OMI invited the principal participants to 391 to continue the discussion with the community, including the “Under Five” Oblates and a lasagna dinner.
Oblates Begin Mission With Secularity
Who are “the poor?” Most people would answer this question by referring to people who have limited finances. But “the poor” can also refer to people who are “poor in spirit.” And a group of Oblates has undertaken a new ministry to reach out to these impoverished people.
“As missionaries we seek to be available for God to send us to the poorest of the poor, the most abandoned and marginal,” explains Fr. John Ettensohn, O.M.I. “Sometimes that may mean not only those who are economically disadvantaged but also, and especially in this well-to-do country, those who are mired in a spiritual poverty that can breed despair, depression and chaos in their lives.”
Last summer Fr. John, along with Oblate Brothers Pat McGee and Paul Daly, began a Mission with Secularity initiative that reaches out to people who are poor in spirit in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. This team of Oblates is working to bring hope to people who are caught up in the secular world, people who see no need for God in their lives.
The three Oblates are concerned with the ever-increasing number of people in this country who don’t believe in God, who haven’t heard much about God or who don’t see the need for God in their lives. Father John explains that the people they are trying to reach are simply unaware of the dignity that is theirs as people made in God’s image and likeness.
“For now it is important for us to go out and meet people, trusting that God will lead us to make connections, network and forge partnerships with others who live in this city and seek to make the world a better place,” adds Bro. Pat.
With the blessing of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the team has rented a small house near Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI). The university has 30,000 students and no Catholic chaplaincy. In addition to reaching out to students and faculty at IUPUI, the team is also working with a variety of neighborhood associations and businesses in downtown Indianapolis to get the word out about the new program.
Brother Paul noted that he has been in contact with members of the Center for Inquiry in Indianapolis. The center is for people who openly proclaim their atheist or agnostic position.
“I have made it a point to drop in occasionally and have conversation,” says Bro. Paul. “So far I have not met with any open hostility or rejection.”
Finding people who are “poor in spirit” has been the first task of the team. Since these people are not at church, retreat houses or other spiritual environments, the Oblates are hitting the pavement to visit local clubs and get involved in community activities. In the future they may be involved in more overt activities such as giving brief presentations at local coffee shops as a way of getting to know and engage people in conversation.
“This ministry has rekindled anew the missionary fire in me,” says Fr. John. “I’m looking forward to addressing what I have no doubt will be some very real challenges in this work. I ask for your prayers as we take on this new ministry that we can be open in mind and heart to God’s Spirit, who I believe will go before us leading the way.”
To learn more about the Oblate Mission with Secularity program, visit www.missionwithsecularity.org
News from the Oblate Mission with Secularity in Indianapolis:
In June 2008, three Oblates of the United States Province established a community in Indianapolis, Indiana, in order to begin their new “ministry with secularity.” After their first year-and-a-half in their new home, Brother Patrick McGEE tells about their first tentative steps in this new endeavor. Other members in this new mission are Brother Paul DALY and Fr. John ETTENSOHN.
Since moving here in June, we have often found ourselves encouraging one another with words like: patience, take it slow, don’t give up! Having been used to years of ministries with clear parameters and pastoral activities, it is awkward to find ourselves without a guidebook and list of tasks. We like to say we are in an initial phase of “getting to know you, Indianapolis”.
Much of the direction of this new missionary presence depends upon relationships. We are spending our time getting to know people: our neighbors and the neighborhood association; a number of the Catholic parishes and pastors, especially those close to us; the worlds of students and faculty at Indiana University/Purdue University, and also the staff of the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture located there; staff persons at the Center for Inquiry; people at Butler University; people at Indianapolis Downtown Inc. This is only a partial list. For now, we know that it is important for us to go out and meet people, trusting that God will lead us to make connections, network and forge partnerships with others who live in this city and seek to make the world a better place.
Our community life is a source of strength and an anchor for each of us. The celebrations of Morning Prayer, Eucharist, Evening Prayer and Oraison give shape to our week, as do the evening meals we prepare for each other. Occasionally, we invite others in to share dinner and conversation. We have enjoyed receiving Oblate guests, and remind you that we have two guest rooms, and would be happy to have a visit from you.
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has been most welcoming. We look forward to meeting the local clergy, religious and pastoral ministers. The diocesan newspaper, The Criterion, is going to publish an article about our community and mission soon. We expect soon to have Archbishop Buechlein over for dinner.
At times, it feels like things are going very slowly! That’s when I remind myself that six months ago, we hadn’t even begun our trek this way. Keep us in prayer, as we do you and yours!
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MISSION WITH SECULARITY
