Oblate Studies Contributing to the Writing of a New Page Of the Gospel with Mazenodian Creativity and Audacity

By Fr. Frank Santucci, OMI

When speaking about the mission of the Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies at Oblate School of Theology I can do no better than to make our own these words: “We must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.” (Sankofa Institute)

At OST we have many exciting academic dreams ahead of us – all aimed at helping the Mazenodian family to respond to the call of the new poor with their many faces. Our first project and immediate focus is to offer a Certificate in Oblate Studies by means of internet classes in English (hopefully also in Spanish and French in the near-future).

In August the program will launch with: “Saint Eugene de Mazenod. The historical background, life, and the key aspects of his spirituality, charism and mission.”

In 2018 and 2019 other courses will follow:

• “The historical expansion and development of the mission of the Oblate Congregation from 1816 to the present;”
• “The charism and the Constitutions and Rules.;”
• “Oblate religious life and spirituality;”
• and “Oblate mission today.” (For more details, see https://ost.edu/oblate-studies/)

Our aim is to involve as many qualified Oblates and associates as possible from around the Mazenodian world in the presentation of these courses. Our overall goal is to be of assistance to the Oblate Family to fulfill the mandate of the General Chapter “to write a new page of the Gospel with Mazenodian creativity and audacity.” May these studies provide a solid foundation and contribution towards new missionary expressions of this creativity and audacity for the whole Mazenodian Family throughout the world, and especially in our US Province.