Superior General Appoints Fr. Louis Studer, OMI New U.S. Provincial

Rev. Louis Studer, OMI was officially announced as the new Provincial of the U.S. Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on April 27, 2017.

The announcement came in two communications: an official announcement from Rev. Warren Brown, OMI, General Councilor for Canada-US,  and a congratulatory message from the current Provincial, Very Rev. William Antone, OMI.

In his message Fr. Antone said,

“I am happy to announce the appointment of Fr. Louis Studer, OMI, provincial of the United States Province, for a first term of three years. 

I received a call from Fr. Warren Brown, OMI, this morning and I was able to call Fr. Lou to congratulate him and promise prayers and support as he prepares to serve his brother Oblates and lead the province in our Oblate life and mission.

I have worked closely with Lou and I am confident he will bring his deep faith in God and his commitment as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate to this service.  He is a generous man of many gifts and will take up the task with energy and enthusiasm.  Let us now keep him in prayer as he prepares for this important service of leadership.”     –Fr. Bill Antone,  OMI,  Provincial

The consultation for provincial councilors will begin shortly, the new leadership team would be expected to be in place for the scheduled meeting in June.

Here is a short biographical sketch of Fr. Studer:

Rev. Louis Studer, OMI, was born in Wesley, Iowa, in 1949. As one of seven children born to Paul and Sally Studer, he grew up on the family farm.

At 13, Fr. Studer entered the Oblate’s Minor Seminary, Our Lady of the Ozarks in Carthage, Mo. While at Carthage Fr. Studer made his decision to pursue religious life. Moving on from high school, he went on to the college seminary program at Lewis University. From there, he entered the Oblate novitiate in Godfrey, IL, where  he professed temporary vows in 1972. He did his theology studies at Weston School of Theology in Boston. He made his perpetual vows in 1975, and was ordained in 1976 at his home parish of St. Joseph’s in Wesley.

After a first assignment as Associate Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in McCook, Nebraska, Fr. Studer, served as principal of St. Henry’s Seminary in Belleville, IL, 1977-84. He spent several years more in vocation and formation ministry before being named Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois.  While at the shrine, he also assumed the duties of Director of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate, a major fund-raising ministry of the U.S. Oblates.

After 10 years at the Shrine, Fr. Studer served four years as Director of Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, Minnesota. In 2012, Fr. Studer was appointed Vicar-Provincial / Personnel Director for the U.S. Province of the Missionary Oblates and it is from that position that he now assumes the office of U.S. Provincial.